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Payday Loans Online - $100 to $500, Apply in 5-15 Minutes

Page last reviewed: March 18, 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy by LendUp

Payday Loans - Small Amount, Short Term, Fast Funding

A payday loan is a small-dollar loan - typically $100–$500 - repaid in one payment on your next payday. You pay a flat fee, and funding may be as fast as the same day or next business day depending on the lender and your bank.

Get Started

  1. Check your state: payday lending is legal in some states and prohibited in others. Confirm your state allows it.
  2. Have these ready: proof of income, an active bank or credit union account, and a government-issued photo ID. See the full checklist.
  3. Apply: most online applications take 5–15 minutes.

Three Things to Check First

  • Know the cost: payday loans charge a flat fee tied to the amount borrowed. Your state sets the maximum. Federal law requires the lender to show you the APR, finance charge, and total of payments before you agree. See how fees and APR work.
  • Make sure you can repay on the due date: the full amount - principal plus fee - comes out in one payment. If your next paycheck can absorb that and still cover your regular expenses, payday works as designed. If it can't, the cost can multiply quickly. See rollover risks.
  • Verify the lender is licensed: confirm the lender is licensed in your state before giving personal information. At lower credit levels especially, unlicensed and predatory lenders are more common online. Check your state's license lookup.

The Basic Structure

  • Amount: typically $100–$500, depending on your state and the lender.
  • Term: usually due on your next payday, often two to four weeks from the date of borrowing.
  • Cost: a flat fee tied to the amount borrowed. Your state sets the maximum allowed fee. See how payday fees and APR work.
  • Repayment: one lump-sum payment (principal plus fee) on the due date. Repayment is often set up through an automatic debit (ACH) from your bank account - review any ACH authorization terms carefully before you agree. See how repayment works.
  • Funding: may be same day or next business day, depending on the lender and your bank. See what affects funding speed.
  • Credit: many payday lenders focus on income and bank account rather than credit score. Bad credit is generally less of a barrier than with other loan types. See payday loans and bad credit.

Explore Payday Loan Details

How It Works

Step by step: what happens from application to repayment.

See the process

Requirements

What you typically need to qualify - income, bank account, ID, and state eligibility.

See requirements

Costs, Fees, and APR

What payday loans cost, how fees are calculated, and why APR looks so high on a short-term loan.

See costs explained

Repayment

How repayment works, what happens on the due date, and what to do if you can't repay on time.

See repayment details

Risks and Alternatives

The rollover cycle, repeat-borrowing risk, and lower-cost options if payday isn't the right fit.

See risks and alternatives

Bad Credit

How to get a payday loan with poor credit, what to verify, and when other options might fit better.

See bad-credit guide

FAQ

Quick answers to the most common payday loan questions.

See FAQs

Not sure payday is the right fit? See how payday compares to installment loans or learn about installment loans. Worried about your credit score? Most payday lenders focus on income, not credit - see how bad credit affects payday loans. Know your amount? See loan amount ranges. Want to know what's available at your credit score? See guidance by score range.