Best Short-Term Loans in April 2026
A short-term loan could be best if you don’t qualify for a 0% APR credit card or need cash, not credit
- ’s Short-Term Relief Loan is our pick for the best short-term loan on the market, based on LendingTree research.
- While “short-term loan” usually means a personal loan that’s due in 6 to 36 months, some have even shorter terms.
- If you need an emergency short-term loan, you should still shop around and stick with vetted lenders, like those on this page.
When it can make sense to get a short-term loan
- A short-term loan can make sense if you have less-than-perfect credit or need more time than 18 to 21 months (the typical introductory period) to repay. Otherwise, a 0% intro APR credit card may be a better fit.
- A short-term loan can help you pay a bill on time and avoid late fees, but this should be an option only if the cost of borrowing is worth it. Compare the loan’s total interest to the total amount of late fees you’d potentially pay.
- A short-term loan can be a bridge between paydays, but it’s better to save it for one-time emergencies. Borrowing regularly to cover everyday expenses can quickly lead to a cycle of debt.
How rates and fees work on short-term loans
Annual percentage rates (APRs) represent the total cost of a loan over a year’s time, including interest and/or fees. The higher a loan’s APR, the more expensive it is. Many financial professionals agree that 36% is the cutoff between an affordable and a high-interest loan.
Some short-term loans only last for a few weeks or months at a time. In those cases, a super-high APR might actually only be a modest fee. APRs assume the loan will be active for at least a year, so terms that are less than one year can skew this number.
For example, a $75 fee on a $500 loan with a three-month term translates to an APR of about 60%, but that fee still adds only $75 in total.
Still, exercise extreme caution when considering any loan with 36%+ rates. For loans with terms of 12 months or more, use a personal loan calculator to estimate costs.
Also note that while most of the lenders on this list use traditional APR pricing, some charge finance or origination fees instead of interest. Even then, costs are still typically expressed as an APR.
When comparing personal loans, consider total interest, how long you’ll have to repay, and whether the loan’s benefits outweigh its costs.
Read more about how we made our picks for the best short-term loans.
Best short-term loan lenders at a glance
Common scenarios: is a short-term loan the right move?
A short-term emergency loan can be a lifesaver, but in some cases, the immediate financial relief might not be worth the loan payments over the next few months or years. Here are some common reasons why people get short-term loans, with insights to help you decide if one is right for you.
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| Auto repair | Short-term loans are best for speed, not cost. If you need your car to get to work, paying more to fix it quickly with an auto repair loan may make sense if you can afford it. |
| Gap between paychecks | A short-term loan can get you by until payday. Problems start when a one-time gap turns into repeated borrowing. |
| Limited credit options | Emergency loans for bad credit may be easier to qualify for, but the main risk is agreeing to a loan you can’t afford. |
| Struggling with everyday expenses | Short-term loans aren’t a sustainable financial solution. Repeated borrowing can lead to a cycle of debt. |
Avoiding predatory short-term loans
Some types of short-term loans target borrowers with bad credit. These loans can be enticing because they don’t require a credit check, but they are structured in a way that could put you at a disadvantage.
A pawn shop loan requires you to temporarily give a valuable item, like jewelry, to a pawn shop in exchange for cash. It doesn’t require a credit check, but you risk losing your item if you can’t make payments.
A car title loan requires you to temporarily give a lender your car title in exchange for money, but rates and fees are high. Plus, a car title loan puts your car at risk.
A payday loan is a high-fee loan that is due on your next payday. Some short-term loans work similarly, but payday loans typically carry higher APRs.
Some short-term loans let you take out a second loan to pay off the first if you can’t repay it on time. This is called a loan rollover or renewal, and they’re especially common with payday loans.
Loan rollovers cost a fee, and when borrowers roll over a loan, they’re adding to their debt instead of making progress paying it down, like financial quicksand.
If you have to take a payday loan, have a solid plan to pay it in full on your due date.
Compare short-term loans from trusted lenders with LendingTree
You’d shop around for flights. Why not your loan? LendingTree makes it easy. Instead of applying to just one lender and hoping for a good rate, see multiple lenders compete for your business — so you can choose the best offer.
Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need. It’s free, simple and secure.
Shop your offers
LendingTree users typically qualify for at least four personal loan offers, even with bad credit. Compare your offers side by side to get the best deal.
Get your money
Users save an average of $1,659 by choosing the offer with the lowest rate. Once you pick a lender and sign your paperwork, you could see money in your account in as little as 24 hours.
Want to learn more about finding your best offer? Check out our full guide to comparing personal loans online with LendingTree.
Alternatives to short-term loans for good and bad credit
A short-term loan isn’t always the best way to bridge the gap. Depending on your credit score and what you need the money for, you might be able to borrow for much cheaper — even for free.
Your credit score is more than just a number — it will make or break your ability to get a loan. Check your score for free with LendingTree Spring. You can even test scenarios, like how taking out a short-term loan will affect your score.
How we chose the best short-term loans
We reviewed more than 40 lenders to determine the overall best short-term personal loans. To make our list, lenders must offer personal loans with a minimum term of six to 36 months. The lender must also offer competitive APRs.
From there, we assessed each lender or marketplace across four categories: eligibility and access; cost to borrow; loan terms and options; repayment support and tools.
According to our systematic rating and review process, the best short-term loans come from , , , , and .
Our categories
We assess how easy it is for people to qualify and apply. This includes state availability, soft-credit prequalification, membership requirements, funding speed and whether borrowers with less-than-excellent credit can get a loan.
We evaluate how affordable the loans are based on minimum and maximum APRs, loan fees and rate discounts. Lenders with unclear or potentially predatory costs receive lower scores.
We consider repayment term flexibility, loan amount ranges and whether options like secured loans, joint loans or direct-to-creditor payments are offered — plus, whether the lender clearly communicates these options.
We evaluate borrower experience after funding: customer service access, hardship or forbearance programs, payment flexibility and digital tools like mobile apps or credit monitoring.
Our process
We gather data directly from lenders through their websites, disclosures and direct communication with company representatives. Our editorial team verifies and updates information regularly. We value transparency and award less favorable scores when lenders obscure or omit details.
Our editorial team applies the same scoring model and standards to every lender. Lenders cannot pay to influence our ratings. Read more about our editorial guidelines.
Why trust LendingTree’s methodology?
LendingTree’s writers and editors diligently vet dozens of lenders to narrow down which ones offer the most affordable rates and a customer-centered experience. We have ongoing conversations with loan companies to ensure accuracy and collect first-person feedback to understand the holistic process of getting and repaying a loan.
Using my financial health counseling certification, I’m here to walk you through the important — and sometimes stressful — process of understanding your personal finances and credit.”
Amanda’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, it’s possible to get a short-term loan with bad credit. Some lenders don’t have formal minimum credit score requirements and instead use other factors, like your education or employment, to determine your eligibility.
That said, rates and fees can be high on short-term loans for bad credit. Always consider how much you will pay in total before you borrow, not just the monthly payment.
A short-term loan can be a good idea for a one-time expense, as long as you can pay the loan off within your loan term (or sooner, if the loan doesn’t have a prepayment penalty). Short-term loans are typically less expensive than payday loans, but can still carry higher rates than other options.
A short-term loan can build credit as long as the lender reports payments to the credit bureaus. Payment history makes up 35% of your FICO Score. That also means missed payments can hurt your credit score, so always have a payoff plan before borrowing.