Easy loans in Canada come with lenient requirements, rapid approval and fast funding. The catch? You’ll probably pay high interest. Explore online options for getting an easy loan in Canada.
Installment loans are unsecured personal loans offered by online lenders. You receive a lump sum of cash and repay it in equal payments over a fixed term.
Amount: Usually up to $15,000.
Suitable for: Borrowing small to moderate loan amounts, especially if you can’t get approved by big banks and major lenders.
Why they’re easy loans in Canada: This quick loan is designed for people who don’t qualify for bank or credit union loans. Minimum credit score and income qualifications are lower, and you don’t need to provide collateral.
Risks: High interest rates and long loan terms can add up.
Speed: 24-48 hours.
Bad credit loans available? Yes (depending on the lender).
Online loan? Yes, the process is completely online.
Compare installment loans with easy approval and funding
Payday loans are one of the fastest and easiest ways to get cash. This type of loan costs between $14 to $17 for every $100 borrowed and usually needs to be repaid by your next payday.
Amount: Up to $1,500.
Suitable for: Fast loans when you’ve exhausted all other financing options.
Why they’re easy loans in Canada: Payday loans are easier to qualify for than installment loans, even if you have bad credit or past bankruptcies, since lenders prioritize stable income. You might also qualify with non-employment income like government benefits.
Risks: Incredibly high interest rates and short terms. Before you apply, make sure you’ll have enough income left for other debts or expenses once you repay your payday loan. Otherwise, you may find yourself needing another loan to cover the shortage.
Speed: As little as 30 minutes. Instant approval loans in Canada are available.
Bad credit loans available? Yes.
Online loan? Yes (in-store funding also available).
⚠️ Warning: Be cautious with payday loans
High-cost payday loans are unsustainable for borrowing over a continued period of time and are expensive as a means of longer-term borrowing. View payday costs and regulations by province here. If you're experiencing financial hardship call Credit Counselling Canada for free financial counselling (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm at +1 866-398-5999). You may also want to consider payday loan alternatives.
Compare easy payday loans
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Maximum borrowing costs of payday loans per province
Always refer to your contract for exact repayment amounts and costs.
Province
Max. cost of borrowing a $100 payday loan
Cooling off period to cancel loan
Max. penalty for returned cheque or pre-authorized debit
A line of credit gives you funds you can withdraw from as needed up to a certain limit. You only pay interest on what you borrow. Easy lines of credit are only available from online lenders. Banks and credit unions have strict eligibility requirements.
Amount: Usually up to $50,000.
Suitable for: Ongoing access to funds, especially if you’re financially disciplined and can repay balances quickly.
Why they’re easy loans in Canada: Online lenders may accept fair or bad credit if you also have an adequate, stable income.
Risks: Overspending and accumulating high interest if you hold off repayment.
Speed: 24-48 hours.
Bad credit loans available? Yes (depending on the lender).
If your car is completely paid off, you can use it as collateral to get a loan in Canada. You can keep driving your vehicle, but it will be repossessed and sold if you fail to repay your loan.
Amount: 25% to 50% of your car’s value.
Suitable for: Borrowers willing to use their car as collateral.
Why they’re easy loans in Canada: Providing collateral lowers the risk for lenders, making it possible to qualify for lower rates than you’d get with unsecured loans. No credit check loans are available, but make sure the lender is legitimate.
Risks: Steep interest rates, loan fees and possibly losing your vehicle (if you default).
Speed: 24-48 hours.
Bad credit loans available? Yes.
Online loan? It depends. Some lenders require in-person vehicle inspections.
Cash advance apps offer small, short-term loans that are typically paid back when you get your next paycheque. Some lenders let you roll over debt to your next payday. You pay no interest on these cash loans, but you may pay either an optional or required monthly fee depending on the provider.
Amount: Usually up to $250.
Suitable for: Small quick loans that can be repaid by your next paycheque.
Why they’re easy loans in Canada: Non-traditional income is accepted. Often, no credit check is required.
Risks: Rolling over your loan can get costly.
Speed: As little as 30 minutes. Instant approval and funding are available.
Bad credit loans available? Yes.
Online loan? Yes.
Compare pay advance apps
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6. Secured credit cards
With this loan, you provide a deposit to use a credit card. If you stop making payments, the card provider keeps the deposit.
Amount: Up to $10,000 (depends on your deposit)
Suitable for: Those who can afford at least several hundred dollars for a deposit.
Why they’re easy loans in Canada: Bad credit and no credit history are acceptable.
Risks: If you stop making payments, you’ll lose your deposit.
Speed: 4-10 business days.
Bad credit loans available? Yes.
Online loan? You can apply online, but the process isn’t completely online. Once you’re approved, a physical card will be mailed to you.
What is the easiest bank to get a loan from in Canada?
We found that it’s easy to apply online for a bank loan from CIBC, BMO and National Bank. You can get competitive rates from traditional banks, but you need a strong financial profile to easily qualify. If your credit score isn’t good, check out top installment loans from alternative lenders.
Am I eligible for easy loans in Canada?
Easy loans in Canada come with non-strict approval criteria and fast turnaround. To get an easy loan, you must:
Be the age of majority in your province or territory (18 or 19)
Be a Canadian resident
Have a stable income
Have a Canadian bank account
To get a vehicle title loan, your car must be entirely paid off and can’t be older than a certain year (varies based on the lender).
How to apply for easy online loans in Canada
Applying for online loans in Canada is easy. The exact steps vary between loan providers, but here’s how it generally works:
Fill out an online application. Provide personal details like your name, address, contact information and employment details.
Get a decision. The lender will let you know if you qualify for funding.
Verify your identity. Submit proof of your identity, Canadian residency and income. Upload documents to the lender’s website or complete instant bank verification.
Receive an offer. Review your contract and sign when you’re ready.
Get funds. Your loan will be deposited into your bank account by direct deposit or e-Transfer, usually within 24-48 hours. Some lenders offer same-day funding.
Tips for getting an easy online loan
If you need money fast, follow these tips to speed up the process online.
Check the lender’s requirements. Check that you meet loan eligibility requirements before applying to avoid wasting time and effort.
Choose instant bank verification. Verify your information by logging into online banking. This lets your lender save time by not having to manually review your documents.
Apply in the morning. This increases your chance of getting same-day approval and funding.
Prepare your documents. Documents commonly required for quick, easy loans in Canada are government-issued ID, recent bank statements and recent pay stubs (or tax Notices of Assessment).
Register for autodeposit. If you’re receiving funds by Interac e-Transfer, set up autodeposit with your bank to minimize delays.
You don’t need funds urgently. High-cost, easy loans should be a last resort. If you aren’t facing a financial emergency, improve your credit score to get approved for a traditional personal loan with better rates and terms.
You can’t afford more debt repayments. If your budget is already stretched thin, don’t further strain your finances and credit report by taking on more debt than you can repay.
There are other options available. Can you take on a side job, borrow from friends or family, get credit counselling or receive non-profit help with food or rent? Consider negotiating for lower rates and easier repayment terms with creditors.
How to compare easy online loans in Canada
APR. The interest rate only reflects how much interest you’ll pay on the loan, but the annual percentage rate (APR) provides reflects all costs, including interest and other fees.
Loan term. Spreading out repayment over a long time period could lower your payment amount, but it’ll raise your interest cost. Short loan terms could result in higher payment amounts, but you pay less interest overall.
Extra fees. Pay close attention to additional fees that can drive up the cost of your loan like origination fees (to set up your loan), broker or surety fees that get added to your payments and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees for bounced payments.
Speed. How quickly can lenders approve and fund a loan? Interac e-Transfers are often the fastest method of receiving funds. Payday loan providers like iCash, GoDay, Mr. Payday, Cash 4 You and Loan Express offer quick loans in 5-60 minutes.
Reputation and legitimacy. Make sure your lender is licensed in Canada. Look for signs of legitimate business operations like having a physical address and customer service contact information. Read customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Optional services. Lenders might offer you credit score monitoring services or loan insurance to cover payments if you lose your job or become ill. These are completely optional services and will cost extra if you choose to sign up.
Canadians planned to use a variety of loans in 2023
More than 1 in 10 Canadians (14%) planned to use a payday loan and 1 in 5 (20%) planned to take out a personal or installment loan in the second quarter of 2023, according to results from the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q2 2023. When selecting what type of loan to use, men and women appeared to have specific preferences.
The results of the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q2 were collected through an online Pollfish survey conducted between April 27 and April 29, 2023. In the survey, 1,011 Canadians from across the country were asked about their past use and current plans to use personal loans and other forms of credit. The estimated margin of error for the survey is +/- 3%, 19 out of 20 times.
FAQs about easy loans in Canada
It depends on your credit score, income and debt and other factors. People with good to excellent credit have access to various lenders, including Canada's major banks and credit unions. Bad credit borrowers are more limited but might qualify for installment loans, car title loans and payday loans.
To apply for easy loans in Canada, you must meet these basic requirements:
Be the age of majority in your province or territory (18 or 19)
Be a Canadian resident
Have recurring income
Have a Canadian bank account
The easiest loans to get include payday loans (no credit check required), car title loans (which allow you to get approved by using your car as collateral), pay advance apps (only available in small amounts) and secured credit cards (which require a deposit).
If you need quick loans in Canada, payday loans are the easiest option. With payday loans, you can apply online and get approved and funded within minutes. Even though these may be the quickest loans, you'll end up paying very high fees.
Examples of quick payday loans in Canada include iCASH, GoDay, Mr. Payday, My Canada Payday and Loan Express.
The easiest loans to get if you have bad credit are payday loans, which have very lenient eligibility requirements. That said, payday loans are very expensive and have short repayment terms. So, it's worth exploring other bad credit loan options as well like installment loans and vehicle title loans.
Carmen Chai is a freelance writer at Finder, specializing in financial products. She is an award-winning Canadian journalist who has lived and reported from major cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, London and Paris. She has reported on personal finance, mortgages, and banking products for nearly a decade. See full profile
Your income is a crucial factor in determining how much you can borrow and if you’re eligible. Compare income requirements from a selection of lenders.
Learn how the preapproval process works and what you need to get preapproved by a lender. Find out how much you may be able to borrow and compare rates.
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