Best Short-Term Loans for Bad Credit
We at the MarketWatch Guides team reviewed dozens of personal loan lenders to assess their interest rates, repayment terms and other loan features. Here are our top picks for the best short-term loans for bad credit.
- Upstart: Our top pick
- Upgrade: Best discounts
- Avant
- Universal Credit
- OneMain Financial: Best for physical locations
When You Might Consider a Short-Term Loan for Bad Credit
Short-term loans for bad credit can be helpful for big emergency expenses, like unexpected medical costs or car repairs. Installment loans have fixed rates for the life of the loan, which often makes them more affordable than high- and variable-interest credit cards. Personal loans are also fast and flexible, putting money in your bank account for just about any expense — often within one business day with direct deposit. An affordable short-term loan could even help you build credit if you make your payments on time.
But a bad-credit loan is not for everyone. If you can’t afford the monthly payments that come with a personal loan, it’s best to avoid it altogether. Defaulting on a new loan would only cause more damage to your credit. Before committing to a short-term loan, consider connecting with a low- or no-cost credit counselor if you’re wary that the payments may not fit your budget. A local nonprofit may provide counseling, or you can look online for reputable credit agencies.
How To Get a Short-Term Loan With Bad Credit
Qualifying for a short-term personal loan with bad credit is possible. Take these steps to ensure you’re making an informed decision that can help keep you moving forward financially.
- Check your credit health: Review your credit report and score before applying for a loan to know where you stand and how you compare to lenders’ requirements. You can also check for errors on your credit report and get ahead of them by filing a claim.
- Prequalify with multiple lenders: In most cases, you can see the interest rate and repayment terms with an online lender without impacting your credit score. Prequalification will show you your personal rate, which can be different from the interest rates advertised on the website.
- Calculate monthly loan payments: Once you have a few loan offers, use a personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payment. If it doesn’t fit your budget, you may want to pass on the loan and seek the help of a low- or no-cost credit counselor.
- Choose the offer that meets your needs and your budget: If you find an affordable offer, you can move forward by submitting a loan application and completing any verification requests. You’re likely to get final approval and your money more quickly if you respond to requests as quickly as possible
Key Considerations When Choosing a Lender
The best bad-credit loan should meet your short-term needs without sacrificing your longer-term personal finance goals. Compare loan offers from several lenders and pay attention to interest rates, fees and repayment length. In most cases, you can see what offer you’d qualify for with a soft credit check that won’t impact your credit score.
Many online lenders will list requirements that applicants must meet to qualify for a loan. This could be a minimum credit score, specific debt-to-income (DTI) ratio or requiring a co-borrower on the loan application. Get an idea of the application process and any documents you’ll need.
Check the annual percentage rate (APR) range on the lender’s website. The APR will include your interest rate and any fees that may come with the loan, like an origination fee. Ideally, you want a lender that offers low or no fees.
The repayment period impacts your monthly payment. You can spread your payment over a longer repayment term for a lower bill or choose a shorter term to pay it off quickly (and pay the least in interest).
Many lenders have simple online applications and can send the money within one or two business days of approval. You may also have access to features like flexible due dates, 24/7 customer service and rate discounts (like an autopay discount) that can make repayment a lot smoother. These benefits may seem small but can go a long way when you need money fast.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need excellent credit to qualify for a short-term personal loan that covers emergency expenses. Our top lenders offer fast, flexible loans at competitive rates for borrowers with credit scores that are typically 600 or lower. Consider your financial situation before committing to a personal loan. If you struggle to keep up with payments and default on your loan, you could hurt your credit even more. If you don’t think a short-term loan can fit into your budget, try connecting with a free or low-cost credit counselor for financial guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Short-Term Loans for Bad Credit
Bad-credit loans are typically offered to borrowers with fair, poor or no credit. The range of credit scores varies across the three major credit bureaus. Generally, a good credit score is 670 or higher. A lender may consider a borrower with a score below 670 a high-risk borrower and could offer higher interest rates or require a joint applicant to mitigate their risk. A bad-credit loan can be a less costly way to cover unexpected expenses than a high-interest credit card. You can also use a bad-credit loan to build your credit.
Loans for bad-credit borrowers work similarly to loans for borrowers with good credit. By checking your credit history and score, lenders will determine the interest rate and repayment terms for which you qualify. Some lenders factor in other variables in the application process, like your education, income and employment, to better understand how likely you are to repay the loan. Bad-credit loans often come with higher interest rates. Depending on the lender, you may also be limited to lower loan amounts and shorter repayment terms.
Co-signed or joint loans are often the easiest loan options to get approved for with bad credit. They allow a co-signer or co-borrower who will share responsibility for the loan and usually has a credit history that meets the lender’s requirements. Secured loans are also easier to qualify for with poor credit since they require you to put up collateral, like a vehicle or savings account, to cover the lender if you default on the loan. No credit-check loans, like payday loans, are easy to get, but they often come with dangerously high interest rates and short repayment terms.
Apps like Earnin and Dave offer emergency loans by giving you early access to your paycheck, sometimes in exchange for a subscription or other fee. The money is usually paid back by your next payday. But borrowing against your future paychecks can make it hard to stick to a budget, leaving you relying on payday advances regularly.
You can borrow money with bad credit, though it may be very costly/ Look for lenders that serve borrowers with lower credit scores or allow you to apply with a co-borrower. Even with bad credit, you can still shop for the best personal loan.
No matter your credit score, only borrow what you can pay back. If you qualify for an affordable short-term personal loan with bad credit, taking out the loan to cover an emergency expense could be a sound decision. But if you don’t see how an additional monthly payment will fit into your budget, consider alternatives to taking on more debt. Consider working with a low- or no-cost credit counselor, financial adviser or nonprofit organization for guidance.
Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Personal Loans
Our team put together a comprehensive 100-point rating system to evaluate personal loan companies based on factors that mean the most to you, the potential borrower. We then gathered scores of data points from across the industry, analyzing disclosures, licensing documents, sample loan agreements, marketing materials and websites for more than two dozen of the most prominent personal loan companies in the United States.
Our rating system takes into account four broad categories. Here’s a brief breakdown of each one.
- Affordability (35%): We gauge how expensive each company’s loans are to pay back, taking into account both interest rates and fees. The highest-scoring lenders will have low minimum and maximum annual percentage rates (APRs) and low or no origination fees.
- Loan features (35%): This category measures the breadth of loan terms available to prospective customers. The most points go to lenders with a wide range of loan lengths, small minimum loans, large maximum loans, and fast funding.
- Customer experience (20%): We review each company’s application, prequalification and customer service policies and procedures to create this category score. The best companies will have simple online applications and multiple ways for customers to get their problems solved.
- Company reputation (10%): Our team analyzes each company’s Better Business Bureau file, customer reviews and any outstanding regulatory actions. The most points will go to companies with an A+ rating with the BBB, a track record of addressing customer complaints and no active regulatory orders.
This rating system is intended to give readers a comprehensive overview of each personal loan company. However, our top-rated lenders may not be the best fit for all borrowers. To learn more, you can read our full personal loans methodology.
Editor’s Note: Before making significant financial decisions, consider reviewing your options with someone you trust, such as a financial adviser, credit counselor or financial professional, since every person’s situation and needs are different.
If you have questions about this page, please reach out to our editors at editors@marketwatchguides.com.