We have reviewed 12 California installment loan lenders.
Our review of installment loans considers three areas: reputation, cost, and features. Reputation considers state licensing and Better Business Bureau scores. Cost is based on terms, fees, and rates. Features include things like credit reporting or fee transparency.
A listing in this table is not an endorsement. This table includes all lenders we have reviewed who offer loans to California residents.
| CA Lender | Description | Costs* | Sniff | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Large online established lender. A+ BBB Score.
Multiple loan options. Physical store fronts too.
Governing Law: TX
|
APR: 398%
Amount: $200-$2K
Payments: 1-5
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $31 - $1K
|
Great | |
 |
Large, publicly traded online lender.
Use promo code: NEWCASH25 to save 25%
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR: 388.93%
Amount: $300-$2,000
Payments: 7-15
Freq: monthly
Cost: $492 - $7.9K
|
Great | |
 |
Rates based on amount and eligibility. All credit types.
Build credit with timely payments. $1k-$10K.
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR: 35% - 210%
Amount: $1k - $10K
Payments: 36 - 130
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $300 - $11K
|
Great | |
 |
Military members not eligible.
Money back guarantee.
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR: 125% - 364%
Amount: $100 - $5K
Payments: 8 - 50
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $72 - $13.2k
|
Great | |
 |
Competitive rates based on amount and eligibility.
Loans from $1K-$10K. All Credit Types.
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR: 59% - 199%
Amount: $1K-$10K
Payments: 9-36
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $4,742-$10,237
|
Great | |
 |
Discounts for repeat customers. Live chat.
B BBB rating. All credit types.
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR: 150% - 240%
Amount: $1K-$5K
Payments: 39-52
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $3K - $11K
|
Great | |
 |
Charges upfront admin fee.
Reports to credit bureaus.
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR: varies
Amount: varies
Payments: varies
Freq: monthly
Cost: varies by state
|
Great | |
 |
State licensed lender. Pricing shown is based on TX rates.
Pricing appears high. They have store fronts
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR: 610%
Amount: $750
Payments: 12
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $1,539
|
Great | |
 |
State licensed lender.
A+ BBB rating. Has physical storefronts.
Governing Law: State Lic.
|
APR:
Amount:
Payments:
Freq:
Cost:
|
Great | |
 |
Offers loans up to $2,000 in 39 states.
All credit types. Minimum Income Required: $850/mth.
Governing Law: Tribal
|
APR: 782%
Amount: $1K
Payments: 1
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $290.50
|
Fair | |
 |
Tribal lender. Upfront disclosures and pricing.
Purchased name and domain in Sept 2012.
Governing Law: Tribe
|
APR: 695%
Amount: $300
Payments: 34
Freq: bi-weekly
Cost: $1,842
|
Fair | |
 |
Specialize in Military Loans. Pricing not listed.
15 day cancellation policy. Full refund of fees.
Governing Law: Delaware
|
APR: 0.00
Amount: 0.00
Payments: 0.0
Freq: 0.0
Cost: 0.00
|
Fair |
* When avaiable we have shown pricing for California residents. Check each lender's website for updated information. Some lenders will not provide pricing data until an application is completed.
California residents can choose from 12 installment loan lenders.
Installment loans do not require good credit and, unlike traditional payday loans, are paid back over multiple pay periods. These loans are relatively expensive loans so make sure you have considered other options such as bank loans, credit cards, or friends and family before taking one.
Estimated fees and payments for California installment lenders are provided in the table below. Many consumers prefer installment loans over payday loans because loan repayment is spread out over a longer period of time which often makes these loans cheaper than payday loans if you need multiple pay periods to repay your loan. See Payday Loans or Installment Loans for more information on comparing these two types of loans. Also you can visit Installment Loans for more general information.
California regulation of installment loans falls into a bit of a gray area as they sometimes fall outside of the technical definition of a payday loan and more into the area of general unsecured installment loans. See California Payday Loan Laws for additional resources or visit California's payday loan regulator, the California Department of Corporations for more information.
The Payday Hound reviews installment lenders and ranks them according to our Sniff Test (reputation), costs, and licensing. The list below includes both regulated banks as well as off-shore entites. Being included on our list is not an endorsement or certification. The list is a ranking and is designed to help borrowers rate and judge the quality of lenders. This means it may include lenders we believe to be honest as well as those we would deem to be predatory.
