Loans ($100–$1,000): Compare True Costs in 30s

Browse by product

Locate the loan that fits your situation.

Loan expenses can differ by as much as 22 times. We arrange them by total cost — and consistently feature more affordable choices.

Payday loans High cost Online payday loans High cost Same-day payday loans High cost Payday loans near me High cost Installment loans Variable Title loans Highest cost Cash advance High cost Bad credit loans Variable Loan alternatives 15 cheaper options

Browse by state

Rules vary a lot.

Payday loans are heavily restricted in 14 states and DC (through bans or 36% annual rate limits). Texas features a unique Credit Access Business (CAB)/CSO framework. Find your state's regulations.

Texas CAB California $300 cap New York Banned Florida Allowed Ohio Capped Michigan Allowed Georgia Banned Illinois 36% cap Pennsylvania Banned North Carolina Banned Tennessee Allowed Missouri Allowed Nevada Allowed Arizona Banned (installment available) Colorado 36% cap + 36 more states & DC →

How it works

Three steps. Full disclosure.

We're a lead-matching platform, not a lender. We verify your state, filter for MLA compliance, and present both the licensed-lender route and the cheaper path — every single time.

~30 seconds

1

Enter your location

We only need your state and ZIP. We verify the laws applicable to your location before requesting private details. Users in restricted states see other options, not a loan application.

~2 minutes

2

Brief personal details

Five short steps. AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. SSN-last-4 only; full SSN never stored in plain text. Separated TCPA consents per channel.

~90 seconds

3

Actual offers displayed

Immediately receive offers from state-approved lenders, sorted by expense. A credit union Payday Alternative Loan is always included for comparison — often saving you around 90%.

Common questions

Questions borrowers really ask.

Clear information, accurate data, with oversight from AFC® and CFP® professionals.

What is the actual price of a payday loan?

This varies by state. In Alabama, lenders can charge up to 17.5% of the loan amount per $100 — that's $52.50 for a $300 loan lasting 14 days (around 456% APR). For the same loan in Colorado, the limit is 36% APR (approximately $4.14). California permits a fee of up to $17.65 per $100. Our comprehensive Cost Index for all 50 states displays typical prices in actual dollars, not only APRs.

Could this application lower my credit score?

The majority of payday lenders check your eligibility using data like bank account history and income, not a hard pull from the main credit bureaus. This means applying usually involves a soft inquiry, which doesn't impact your score. Should you accept and pay back a loan, most lenders do not report this activity to the bureaus — so it won't build your credit history, but it also won't damage it unless the account is sent to collections.

What if I can't repay on time?

Your first step should be to speak with your lender directly. Regulations in most states obligate lenders to provide a free Extended Payment Plan (EPP) annually. Avoid letting the loan default, as this leads to collection actions, overdraft fees, and potential legal proceedings. Our detailed guide explains your rights under the FDCPA and state laws.

Are there lower-cost options compared to a payday loan?

Yes — in nearly every case. Federal credit unions provide Payday Alternative Loans (PALs) with an APR capped at 28%. Earned Wage Access services such as DailyPay, EarnIn, and Brigit provide advances on wages you've already earned. Many companies and charitable organizations offer emergency assistance grants. Check out our complete list of 15 alternatives sorted by expense.

Is Fenix Loans a direct lender?

No. Fenix Loans operates as a matching service. We connect applicants with accredited, third-party lenders licensed in their state. We are not a lender, do not make credit choices, and never charge users a fee. Each lending partner establishes its own terms and makes the final lending decision.

How is Fenix Loans compensated?

We receive a referral fee from the lenders in our network for funded loans. This fee is standardized across all partners, eliminating any incentive to recommend one lender over another for financial gain. We direct you to the provider most likely to approve your request at the best available rate for your situation.

Explore your choices with zero obligation.

Free to check your rates. We only work with accredited state lenders. Less expensive choices are always displayed.

Start in 30 seconds

Checking prices requires no credit check · Secured with 256-bit encryption · You are free to exit the process anytime

Is payday lending legal in your state?

Payday lending is not permitted in 14 states and DC (due to prohibitions or 36% APR limits). Choose your state — we'll summarize the regulations clearly.

Choose your state to view the lending rules for your area.

Why we're different

We rank #1 on Google by telling the truth about price.

Many payday loan websites hide the true cost behind 'instant approval' promises. We do the opposite. Each page clearly states the dollar cost, available alternatives, and a responsible borrowing plan. This approach is recognized by Google's quality standards. And it's what responsible borrowers appreciate.

See what borrowing really costs

What every Fenix Loans page delivers:

✓ The precise dollar cost, not merely APR
✓ Your state's exact rate ceiling and law reference
✓ Payday Alternative Loans ranked alongside
✓ Verified authors (AFC®, CFP®, JD) with credentials shown
✓ "What happens if you default" explained step-by-step
✓ Editorial standards + fact-checking + error log
✓ TCPA-broken consents, unchecked boxes prohibited
✓ MLA adherence: 36% MAPR maximum auto-enforced

$46. That is the variance.Discover yours in seconds.