Best Emergency Loans for 2025
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Emergency loans are personal loans you use to pay for urgent, unexpected expenses such as medical care or home repairs.
| Lender | NerdWallet rating | Est. APR | Loan amount | Min. credit score | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.5/5 Excellent for same-day emergency loans | 8.99-35.49% | $5,000-$100,000 | None | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
3.5/5 Excellent for secured emergency loans | 18.00-35.99% | $1,500-$20,000 | None | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
4.5/5 Excellent for emergency loans with credit-building tools | 11.69-35.99% | $1,000-$50,000 | 560 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
4.5/5 Excellent for emergency loans for thin credit | 6.70-35.99% | $1,000-$75,000 | None | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
4.0/5 Excellent for emergency loans for bad credit | 9.95-35.99% | $2,000-$35,000 | 550 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
5.0/5 Excellent for joint emergency loans | 7.90-35.99% | $1,000-$60,000 | 600 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website |
Best for
same-day emergency loans
SoFi Personal Loan
8.99-35.49%
$5,000-$100,000
None
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- Multiple rate discounts.
- Large loans available.
- Has a joint loan option.
- Hardship assistance or program for borrowers in need.
- No option to choose initial payment date.
- High minimum loan amount.
- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent or non-permanent resident, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers.
- Must be employed, have sufficient income from another source, or have an offer of employment to start within the next 90 days.
- Origination fee: 0% to 7%.
- Late fee: None.
Best for
secured emergency loans
OneMain Financial
18.00-35.99%
$1,500-$20,000
None
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- Option to choose and change your payment date.
- Joint and secured loans.
- Fast funding.
- Direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.
- Seven-day cancellation policy.
- Rates are high compared to other lenders.
- Charges origination fee.
- No rate discounts.
- Limited loan amounts.
- Pre-qualification doesn’t show APR.
- Must have a taxpayer identification number.
- Must be 18 or older in most states.
- Minimum credit score: None.
- Minimum credit history: None; this lender prefers some minimal credit history.
- Minimum number of accounts on credit report: 1 active account.
- Minimum income: None, but borrowers must have sufficient disposable income to make the monthly loan payment. This lender accepts income from employment, alimony, retirement, child support and Social Security payments.
- Origination: $25 to $500 or 1% to 10%.
- Late fee: $5 to $30 or 1.5% to 15% of the payment amount, depending on your state.
- Nonsufficient funds fee: $10 to $50.
Best for
emergency loans with credit-building tools
Universal Credit
11.69-35.99%
$1,000-$50,000
560
View details Close details
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Same- or next-day funding.
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Wide range of loan amounts.
- Charges an origination fee.
- No co-signed, joint or secured loan options.
- Minimum credit score: 560.
- Minimum credit history: Two years and one account.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage.
- Must be at least 18 (or the age of majority in AL, MS or NE)
- Must be a U.S. citizen, have a Social Security number and provide proof of residency.
- Must have a valid U.S. bank account and email address.
- Origination fee: 5.25% to 9.99%.
- Late fee: Undisclosed.
Best for
emergency loans for thin credit
Upstart
6.70-35.99%
$1,000-$75,000
None
View details Close details
- Accepts borrowers from across the credit spectrum.
- Same- or next-day funding.
- Has a secured loan option.
- Wide range of loan amounts.
- Origination fee.
- Only two repayment term options.
- No joint or co-signed loans.
- No direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.
- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must have a valid U.S. bank account, U.S. residential address and email address.
- Must provide valid Social Security number.
- Must provide verifiable source of income.
- Minimum credit score: None.
- Minimum annual income: None.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50%, not including rent or mortgage, in most states.
- Origination: 0% to 12%.
- Late fee: 5% of the unpaid amount or $15, whichever is greater.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
Best for
emergency loans for bad credit
Avant
9.95-35.99%
$2,000-$35,000
550
View details Close details
- Accepts borrowers across the credit spectrum.
- Low income requirement.
- Fast approval and funding.
- Hardship program for borrowers in need.
- Seven-day customer service availability.
- Charges an origination fee.
- No co-signed, joint or secured loan options.
- No rate discount.
- Does not offer large loans.
- No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Minimum credit score: 550.
- Minimum monthly net income: $1,200.
- Must have a Social Security number, valid U.S. bank account and email address.
- Must not be in active bankruptcy.
- Must not live in CO, HI, IA, ME, MA, NY, VT, WA or WV.
- Origination fee: Up to 9.99%.
- Late fee: $25.
- Nonsufficient funds fee: $15.
Best for
joint emergency loans
LendingClub
7.90-35.99%
$1,000-$60,000
600
View details Close details
- Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Same- or next-day funding.
- Has a joint loan option.
- Options to choose and change your payment date.
- Charges an origination fee.
- Minimum credit score: 600
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 40%.
- Must be at least 18 (or the age of majority in AL, MS or NE).
- Must be a U.S. citizen, provide a Social Security number and provide proof of residency.
- Must have a valid U.S. bank account, government-issued photo ID and email address.
- Must provide proof of employment or income.
- Origination fee: 0% to 8%.
- Late fee: $15 or 5% of the unpaid amount, whichever is greater.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
Our picks for the best emergency loans
We considered factors such as minimum credit score requirements, annual percentage rates, loan amount ranges and funding time when choosing the best emergency loans among dozens of personal loan lenders. All the lenders on this list can fund a loan the day after approval or sooner, which is important when you’re dealing with an emergency.
SoFi: Best for same-day emergency loans
Why it made our list: If you’re approved for a SoFi personal loan, you can typically receive the funds the same day you apply as long as required documents are signed before 6 pm ET. Fast funding is a crucial factor for an emergency loan.
OneMain Financial: Best for secured emergency loans
Why it made our list: OneMain Financial lets you secure a personal loan with collateral, which can help you qualify or get a lower interest rate.
Universal Credit: Best for emergency loans with credit building tools
Why it made our list: Universal Credit offers free credit score access, credit monitoring and a credit score simulation through its parent company, Upgrade.
Upstart: Best for emergency loans for thin credit
Why it made our list: Upstart considers loan applicants from across the credit spectrum, including those with a thin credit file. The lender uses an underwriting model that factors in data points like the applicant’s education background or employment history rather than solely relying on credit scores.
LendingPoint: Best for emergency loans with flexible payments
Why it made our list: Once you get a personal loan with LendingPoint, you can change your payment date once per year. The ability to change your payment date can be helpful, for example, to accommodate a new payday schedule if you switch jobs.
Avant: Best emergency loans for bad credit
Why it made our list: Avant has a minimum credit score requirement of 550, which makes it a fitting lender for those with bad credit (scores from 300 to the high 500s).
LendingClub: Best for joint emergency loans
Why it made our list: LendingClub offers joint personal loans, so you and a co-borrower can get an emergency loan together. This can be useful if you need money for a shared expense (for example, car repairs for a vehicle you co-own with your significant other) or if you’re adding a co-borrower with better credit or a higher income to your loan application to boost your chances of approval or a lower interest rate.
Best uses for emergency loans
Though lenders may ask why you’re borrowing, there are few restrictions on how you can spend the funds from an unsecured loan. Examples of emergencies you can pay for with a personal loan include:
Medical or dental bills.
Home repairs.
Car repairs.
Bills after a loss of income.
Unexpected travel expenses.
How to get an emergency loan
Check your credit. Most lenders prioritize an applicant’s credit score in a lending decision, so check your credit report for any past-due accounts or errors, and correct them before submitting an application. You can view your report for free on NerdWallet or at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Determine what you can afford. Review your monthly budget to determine how much you can afford to pay toward a loan. Use our personal loan calculator to estimate the loan amount, interest rate and repayment term needed to match your desired monthly payment. This will help you compare loan offers and choose one that fits within your budget.
Pre-qualify and compare offers. Most lenders let you pre-qualify online to preview the loan’s rate, amount and repayment term. It typically just takes a few minutes, and your credit score isn’t affected. Even if you’re in a hurry, it’s worth the extra time to pre-qualify with multiple lenders to compare rates and terms. The loan with the lowest APR is the least expensive overall.
Gather documents and apply. Once you’re ready to move forward with a loan offer, find the documents you need to formally apply for the personal loan. This can include W-2s, pay stubs, a government-issued ID and proof of address. You could get an instant approval decision, but it might take a day or two.
Tips to get an emergency loan with bad credit
A bad credit score (below 630) doesn’t automatically disqualify you from getting a loan, but many lenders weigh your credit score heavily on an application.
Here are a few tips to get an emergency loan with bad credit:
Add a co-signer or co-borrower: A co-signer or co-borrower can help your chances of qualifying or getting a good rate. A co-borrower on a joint loan has equal access to the funds, while a co-signer does not. If you can’t make loan payments, the co-applicant is responsible for them.
Add collateral: Some lenders offer secured personal loans and consider the item used as collateral (usually a bank account or vehicle) when assessing an application. Adding collateral can improve your chances of qualifying, but the lender can take the collateral if you miss too many payments.
Add up income streams: Your monthly income is another important factor on an application. Most lenders want to see that you have enough to cover regular expenses, make the new loan payment and have a little leftover. Many lenders consider things like Social Security, alimony or child support as part of your income.
Using no-credit-check loans in an emergency
High-interest loans, such as pawn, car title and payday loans, should be considered as a last resort after you’ve exhausted all other options. These emergency loans can be fast and easy to get because lenders aren’t typically checking your credit, but they are expensive and could lead to long-term financial damage.
No-credit-check installment loans are available online and at storefronts. These lenders don’t review your credit score or history to determine whether you’re able to repay the loan and what a fair rate would be, which is why many no-credit-check lenders charge rates above 100%.
Repayment terms on these loans may be longer than you need or a lender may encourage you to refinance the loan multiple times, resulting in exorbitant interest costs over the lifetime of the loan.
Pawn loans require you to hand over a valuable item to a pawnshop as collateral for a small loan. You have to repay the loan, with interest, or the pawnshop will keep your item. APRs can reach above 100%.
If repayment takes too big a bite out of your bank account, you could end up borrowing from the pawnshop again.
With car title loans, a lender assesses the value of your vehicle and lends you a percentage of that amount. If you accept, the lender holds the car title and you receive your loan. The lender doesn’t usually review your credit history and can charge APRs of 300%.
If you can’t repay the loan, the lender will take your car.
Payday loans are high-cost, short-term loans that are risky — even in an emergency. Payday lenders’ fees can equate to APRs of 400%, they don’t check your credit score and may not confirm your ability to repay the loan.
Borrowers who aren’t prepared to repay the loan on their next payday often borrow again, causing them to slip into a cycle of debt.
Emergency loan alternatives
Cheaper alternatives to borrowing aren't always fast or convenient, and sometimes they require asking for help. But NerdWallet strongly recommends exhausting alternatives first, even in an emergency.
Here are some possible alternatives to an emergency loan.
Local financial assistance programs
Best for: Help meeting basic needs.
Community organizations such as charities, food banks and free loan associations can help you with home weatherization, free food, transportation to job interviews and other basic necessities. Contact 211 to get connected to nonprofits and financial assistance programs in your area.
Friend or family loan
Best for: A no-credit-check loan with low- or no-interest for any purpose.
Though it may be uncomfortable to ask, borrowing from someone you trust may be the most affordable and safest option. A loan from a friend or family member will probably not require a credit check. You can draw up a loan agreement that includes when and how the money will be repaid as well as any interest the lender chooses to charge.
Medical bill assistance
Best for: Paying off medical debt at a low cost.
When you get a high medical bill, start with your free options: Set up a payment plan with your provider and negotiate the costs on your own. If you still need help, you can research low-cost medical credit cards or find a reputable medical bill advocate to negotiate on your behalf.
» MORE: How to pay down medical debt
Paycheck advance
Best for: Fast cash quickly if you’re able to meet other financial obligations.
If you need money for a one-time emergency like a car repair or vet bill, try asking your employer for an advance on part or all of your paycheck. You can also use a cash advance app with potentially low mandatory fees. These options effectively let you access your own money early, rather than providing additional cash that you repay over time, so be sure you can meet all your other monthly financial obligations with a rearranged pay schedule.
Buy now, pay later
Best for: A large purchase that you want to repay over time.
“Buy now, pay later” apps can help you make a big purchase such as a mattress or laptop and pay for it over time (typically four biweekly payments). This option is offered at most major retailers. Because making multiple BNPL purchases in a short period can lead to overextended finances, it’s best to make one purchase with BNPL at a time and pay it off in full before making another.
Last updated on March 20, 2025
Methodology
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Emergency Loans for 2025- SoFi Personal Loan: Excellent for same-day emergency loans
- OneMain Financial: Excellent for secured emergency loans
- Universal Credit: Excellent for emergency loans with credit-building tools
- Upstart: Excellent for emergency loans for thin credit
- Avant: Excellent for emergency loans for bad credit
- LendingClub: Excellent for joint emergency loans
Frequently asked questions
You can use an emergency loan to pay for unexpected expenses if you don't have savings or don't want to max out a credit card. In a true emergency, they're a fast and convenient source of funding for borrowers who qualify.
It may be possible for borrowers with low income to qualify for a loan since some lenders care more that you have steady income versus a specific amount. Learn what it takes to get a loan with low income.
You can get an emergency loan through a bank, online lender or credit union. Online lenders can fund loans quickly — sometimes the same or next day after you're approved — and many let you check your rate before you apply. It usually takes a few minutes to apply for a loan if you have all the required documents ready. It's best to compare emergency loans with alternatives to find the cheapest way to borrow money.