Understand before you borrow
Clear answers to real loan questions
Learn how a request becomes a lender decision, compare the cost of borrowing and consider alternatives. Start with the question you need to answer, rather than a promise of approval.
Guides are educational, not personalized offers or guarantees of product availability. Read our editorial approach.
Borrowing basics
Borrowing basics
Personal loan requirements
Understand personal loan eligibility, documents, affordability and the difference between a matching request, lender approval and funding.
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How installment loans work
Learn how personal installment loans work, how they differ from payday loans and credit cards, and how to compare payments, fees and terms.
Read the guideBorrowing basics
Same day and emergency loans
Looking for same day loans? Learn what decides how fast an emergency loan is funded, how to compare costs and the alternatives to check first.
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Matching service or direct lender?
Understand who receives a loan request, how matching services may be paid, and why a partner connection is different from an approved lender offer.
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Credit and eligibility
Credit and eligibility
Borrowing with bad credit
Explore personal loans with bad credit, what lenders may review, how to compare the full cost and alternatives to guaranteed-approval claims.
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Fair and limited credit
Understand fair-credit and thin-file borrowing, the information a lender may consider, and credit-building options that differ from emergency loans.
Read the guideCredit and eligibility
Credit checks and prequalification
Understand soft and hard credit inquiries, prequalification versus approval, and what to ask before a loan-matching request is sent to partners.
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Costs and comparisons
Costs and comparisons
Planning a $5,000 loan
Plan a $5,000 personal loan by checking net proceeds, fees, monthly payments, eligibility and alternatives. Illustrations are not lender offers.
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Debt consolidation decisions
Compare a debt consolidation loan with your existing payments, fees and payoff dates. Learn how consolidation differs from debt settlement.
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APR, interest and fees
Compare a personal loan’s APR, interest rate, origination fees, net proceeds and total repayment. Understand why the lowest payment may not cost least.
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Short-term borrowing
Short-term borrowing
$500 loan options
Need a $500 loan? Compare installment loans, credit union PALs, payday loans and paycheck advances, with example costs and how to request one online.
Read the guideShort-term borrowing
Understanding payday loans
Thinking about payday loans online? Learn how they work, how a $15 fee becomes a near-400% APR, what rollovers cost, state rules and cheaper alternatives.
Read the guideShort-term borrowing
Alternatives to payday loans
Compare bill extensions, credit-union payday alternative loans, assistance and other small-dollar options before taking a high-cost short-term loan.
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