Compare your options
All categories side by side. Descriptions are honest guidance; lender rates go live once connected.
| Option | Known for | |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Cash Advances | Upfront funding repaid via a share of future card sales | View |
| Credit Card Cash Advances | Quick access to cash via your existing credit card | View |
| Personal Cash Advances | Short-term borrowing for unexpected personal expenses | View |
| Short-Term Loans | Small, fixed-term borrowing over a few weeks to months | View |
| Bad Credit Loans | Borrowing options for those with a limited or poor credit history | View |
| Line of Credit & Overdrafts | Flexible borrowing you can dip into as needed | View |
Providers you might compare
A few real, currently-operating UK providers, so you can see the type of options out there. We don’t have a confirmed partnership with any of them yet — this isn’t an endorsement or a recommendation, just honest examples to help you start comparing. Always check the FCA Register and the provider’s own site for current rates before you borrow.
Lending Stream
Short-term loans repaid in fixed monthly instalments rather than a single lump sum.
Visit site ↗Cashfloat
Uses open banking to check affordability before offering a short-term loan.
Visit site ↗Sunny
Checks your details against a panel of FCA-regulated lenders to find short-term loan options.
Visit site ↗Creditspring
A fixed monthly membership fee gives members access to two interest-free advances a year, instead of charging loan interest.
Visit site ↗Updraft
Pairs a free credit score and report with personal loans aimed at helping people manage existing card and overdraft debt.
Visit site ↗Fair for You
A community interest company offering affordable finance for essential household items to people who struggle to access mainstream credit.
Visit site ↗Wagestream
An employer-linked service giving staff early access to wages already earned, alongside budgeting and financial wellbeing tools.
Visit site ↗International markets
Australia →
Australia regulates payday-style lending as Small Amount Credit Contracts (SACC), with fee caps set by law.
| Option | Known for |
|---|---|
| Small Amount Credit Contracts (SACC) | Regulated short-term credit with legally capped fees |
| Small personal instalment loans | Common alternative with more predictable repayments |
| Employer pay advances | Increasingly offered as a lower-cost alternative to short-term credit |
| No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS)* | Government-backed, interest-free loans for eligible low-income earners |
US →
The US has a genuinely different credit-union-based alternative: Payday Alternative Loans (PALs), with fees capped far below typical payday lenders.
| Option | Known for |
|---|---|
| Payday Alternative Loans (PALs) | Federally regulated credit union loans — fees typically $10-30 per $100 borrowed |
| Bad credit personal loans | $300-$10,000 from lenders accepting limited credit history |
| Cash advance apps | Smaller, short-term advances against upcoming pay |
| Buy now, pay later (BNPL) | Splits a purchase into instalments, often interest-free if paid on time |
Canada →
Payday lending in Canada is regulated province-by-province, with fee caps set individually by each province.
| Option | Known for |
|---|---|
| Payday loans (provincially regulated)* | Fee caps vary by province |
| Line of credit | Often a lower-cost alternative for repeat short-term borrowing |
| Instalment loans | Fixed repayments over a longer term than a typical payday loan |
| Credit union payday alternatives | Lower-cost short-term borrowing for credit union members |