Personal loans, clearly explained
Personal Loans, Clearly Explained
Personalloaned is a free personal-loan education site. Run the numbers first, compare APR rather than the headline rate, and borrow only when the payment fits your budget.
Advertising disclosure: Personalloaned may receive a referral fee if you apply through a link on this page. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.
How this works
Three steps before you borrow
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1
Run your own numbers
Enter an amount, a rate and a term. The calculator returns the monthly payment, the total interest and the total cost, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
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2
Check the rules where you live
Rate caps, licensing and payday rules are set by your state, not by the lender. Every state page cites the statute or regulator behind each figure.
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3
Compare APR, not just the rate
APR folds fees into the yearly cost of credit, so two offers quoting the same interest rate can still differ. Compare APR before you sign.
Calculators
Start with a calculator
Rules where you live
State law sets the limits
Loan pricing follows your credit profile, but the rate caps, licensing rules and payday rules that protect you are set by your state. We publish each figure with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
- State lending rules reference — usury caps, payday rules and the regulator to check
- City pages — population, local context and the state rules that apply
- Guides — how personal loans work, APR vs interest, avoiding loan scams
Common questions