High-interest installment loan: A high-interest installment loan comes as a lump sum of money that you’ll pay back in equal monthly payments. Repayment terms generally span from a couple of weeks to up to a year.
Paycheck advance apps: Paycheck advance apps let you “borrow” money from your paycheck before you get paid. When payday comes, the app will deduct what you owe from your bank account. It’s common for paycheck advance apps to be interest-free. Instead, they may charge fees (especially if you want to get your money right away).
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) app: BNPL apps help you break up purchases into smaller installments, usually four due over six weeks. Like paycheck advance apps, BNPL is usually 0% interest (unless you choose longer-term financing). It may charge fees instead.
Car title loan: A car title loan is a short-term loan that uses your car as collateral. If you don’t pay back your loan, the lender will repossess your car. Some secured personal loans also use your car as collateral, but car title loans come with shorter terms, higher rates and smaller loan amounts.
Pawn shop loan: With a pawn shop loan, you’ll offer a valuable piece of property to a pawnbroker. The pawnbroker then gives you a loan that’s much lower than what your item is worth. If you don’t pay back what you owe, the pawnbroker can sell your item.
Payday loan: Avoid payday loans at all costs. These small-dollar loans come with extremely high APRs (sometimes 400%) and weeks-long terms. If you can’t afford to repay your loan come payday, you may need another payday loan to cover the first. This is an easy way to get trapped in a debt cycle.