No credit check loans

No-Credit-Check Loans in 2024

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Written by Annie Millerbernd
Assistant Assigning Editor
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Edited by Kim Lowe
Lead Assigning Editor
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If you have limited credit history or no credit score, a no-credit-check loan is one way to get funds when you need them. Cash advance apps, “buy now, pay later” companies and high-interest installment lenders all provide loans without a hard credit inquiry.

Each option comes with its own set of risks, so compare no-credit-check loans to low- or no-cost borrowing alternatives, and have a plan to repay the funds to avoid financial risk.

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6 no-credit-check loans in 2024

OppLoans: No-credit-check, high-interest loans

OppLoans are short-term loans with triple-digit interest rates.

How you qualify:

  • OppFi does a soft credit pull.

  • OppFi reviews your bank account transactions.

OppLoans
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OppLoans

1.5

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Min. credit score

None

Est. APR

160.00-179.00%

Loan amount

$500-$4,000

An option for borrowers with bad credit; due to high rates, OppLoans should only be considered as a last resort.

Possible: No-credit-check, high-interest loans

Possible Finance is an app that provides small loans to consumers with poor or no credit.

How you qualify:

  • Possible reviews your bank account transactions.

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Possible Finance

1.5

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Min. credit score

None

Est. APR

151.70-248.67%

Loan amount

$50-$500

Possible Finance loans are available in an emergency, but you may have cheaper options.

EarnIn: No-credit-check cash advances

EarnIn allows borrowers to take up to $750 from their paycheck before payday in $100 daily increments.

How you qualify:

  • Provide EarnIn with proof of income, either through bank account access, location tracking or responding to EarnIn emails via your work email address.

EarnIn
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EarnIn

3.5

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Min. credit score

None

Loan amount

$100-$750

EarnIn provides reasonably large advances to qualified users. It’s best for one-time emergency situations when you’re confident you can pay the app back.

Brigit: No-credit-check cash advances

Brigit is a budgeting app that provides small cash advances and charges a monthly subscription fee for access to advances.

How you qualify:

  • Brigit reviews your bank account transactions.

Brigit
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Brigit

4.0

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Min. credit score

None

Loan amount

$50-$250

Brigit’s cash advance is smaller than some competitors, but the app offers repayment flexibility and tries not to cause an overdraft fee when it takes repayment.

Afterpay: No-credit-check buy now, pay later loans

Afterpay splits purchases into smaller payments.

How you qualify:

  • Afterpay does a soft credit check.

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Afterpay

4.0

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Min. credit score

None

Est. APR

35.99%

If you’re looking for a simple, zero-interest BNPL plan, Afterpay offers a pay-in-four with no fees if you pay on time.

Affirm: No-credit-check buy now, pay later loans

Affirm provides zero-interest pay-in-four plans.

How you qualify:

  • Affirm does a soft credit check.

Affirm
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Affirm

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
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Min. credit score

None

Est. APR

36.00%

Loan amount

$50-$20,000

Affirm is a standout BNPL provider, thanks to numerous term lengths, zero fees and no-interest offers.

Editor’s note: NerdWallet uses different methodologies to rate high-interest personal loans, cash advance apps and buy now, pay later apps. Read more about star rating methodologies for personal loans, and cash advance and BNPL apps.

How to shop for no-credit-check loans

If a loan with no credit check is your best option, here are a few tips to avoid a predatory lender.

  • Look for the APR. An APR helps you evaluate the loan’s affordability and compare it with other loans. Lenders are required by law to disclose the loan’s APR before you sign a loan agreement.

  • Find a lender that assesses your ability to repay. Reviewing your bank account information, doing a soft credit pull, checking alternative credit bureaus and requiring proof of income are all signs that a lender wants you to repay the loan. A lender that doesn’t check your ability to repay may be counting on you to refinance the loan for one with a longer term or get a second loan to pay off the first, which is how a debt cycle begins.

  • Understand the repayment terms. Whether you agree to repay the money in two weeks or a few months, know your payment date and how the lender will collect the money. If the lender debits your bank account, review your budget to make sure the money will be there so you don’t overdraw.

  • Review the amortization schedule. If the loan requires multiple payments, ask to see the amortization schedule, which is a table that shows how much of each payment goes toward principal and how much to interest. At least part of each payment should pay down the loan’s principal.

  • Look for the lender’s license. Lenders usually must register in states where they operate. Many list their licenses on their websites. 

  • Beware of scammers. A reputable lender won’t ask you to pay them before you get a loan. If the lender asks for a gift card or cash before they lend money, it’s likely a scam.

How to get a loan with no credit check

Before you get a no-credit-check loan, consider all your alternatives. In general, the easier a loan is to get the more expensive it could end up being.

  1. Check your credit and bank account histories: It’s helpful to know what lenders will see when they review your application. Even if a no-credit-check lender only does a soft credit pull, it’s helpful to check your credit reports before you apply to understand what may be working against you. Because these lenders often look at cash flow information in your bank account, it may also help to see how much money you’re keeping in the account after your bills are paid.

  2. Do your research: The last thing you want when you apply for a loan is to be scammed, so research the lender to evaluate their legitimacy and learn the pros and cons of borrowing with them.

  3. Gather required information: In general, even a lender that doesn’t check your credit will likely ask for the basics: Your name, birthdate, address, email, phone number and Social Security number. The lender may also ask you to connect your bank account. Be sure to have this information ready before you apply.

  4. Apply: Once you request a loan, the lender may do a soft credit check, but rest assured that the lender must notify you before doing a hard inquiry, per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The lender should give you an approval decision quickly after you apply.

  5. Make a plan to repay: Payday and high-interest installment lenders must disclose the loan’s APR before you sign an agreement, but cash advance apps and BNPL companies don’t have to. Before you accept a loan, make sure to understand how much you’ll be required to pay and when so you can make a firm plan to make the payments on time and avoid getting stuck in a cycle of debt.

Did you know...

Per the Military Lending Act, lenders can’t provide loans with APRs above 36% to active duty military members or their dependents. That’s why, if you’re a military member or dependent, you may be rejected for a high-interest no-credit-check loan outright.

Frequently asked questions

A no-credit-check loan doesn’t require a review of your credit history or credit score. Omitting credit checks is common with payday lenders and other companies that offer high-interest loans.

These loans are often a few thousand dollars or less and can be used to cover an emergency or bridge an income gap. They typically have short repayment terms of a few weeks or months.

Not knowing your credit history makes the loan risky for the lender, and many no-credit-check installment lenders balance that risk by charging sky-high annual percentage rates. The loans’ short terms can also make them difficult to repay on time and potentially trap borrowers in a cycle of debt.

Even a no-credit-check lender may do a soft credit inquiry. This type of credit check can be done without your knowledge, but it doesn’t affect your credit score. Soft checks happen when you pre-qualify for a personal loan or receive a credit card offer in the mail.

A hard credit check requires your consent. It’s triggered when you submit a formal application for credit, like a mortgage or car loan, and it usually causes your credit score to dip by a few points. Hard credit inquiries typically affect your credit score for one year but stay on your report for about two years.

A one-year, $2,000 loan with a 36% APR will have monthly payments of $201. That same loan through a no-credit-check lender with an APR of 200% would run you $396 a month — nearly double the cost.

Here are examples of that same 12-month, $2,000 loan repaid at different APRs.

Credit score

Example APR

Monthly payments

Total payments

Excellent (720 or higher)

11%.

$177.

$2,144.

Poor (629 or lower)

36%.

$201.

$2,411.

No-credit-check

200%.

$396.

$4,746.

Safe no-credit-check loan alternatives

Before you borrow a no-credit-check loan, consider low-and no-cost alternatives.

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