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Loans Like CreditNinja

If you’re looking for a less expensive loan option, compare these lenders and cash advance apps that may have better rates and loan terms than CreditNinja.

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By

Lacey Stark

Edited by

Megan B. Shepherd

Updated

Fact checked

CreditNinja offers loans from $300 to $5,000, and it has no minimum credit score requirement, which makes it an option for borrowers with bad credit. And you could potentially get the funds deposited into your checking account as soon as the same day. Plus, loan terms range from four to 24 months, so you’ll have a little breathing room to repay the loan.

However, a CreditNinja loan may come with an origination fee — typically up to 10% of the loan amount — and it doesn’t disclose how high its interest rates are, which might be a red flag. It does say that interest rates can exceed 36%, meaning borrowers protected by the Military Lending Act are not eligible to apply. Oftentimes, that can translate into APRs into the triple digits.

If you’re looking for more affordable alternatives to loans like CreditNinja, you may want to consider other providers. These alternatives may include similar loan amounts, fast turnaround times, reasonable repayment terms and opportunities for self-employed workers or borrowers with bad credit.

LenderLoan amountFeesSpeed
CleoUp to $250$5.993 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
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EarnInUp to $750 per pay period, but only $150 per dayFree1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
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OppLoans$500 to $4,000N/AAs soon as the same business day
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Upstart$1,000 to $50,0000% to 12%As soon as the same day
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DaveUp to $500UndisclosedUp to 3 business days or instant for a fee
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Best Egg$2,000 to $50,0000.99% to 9.99%As soon as the next business day
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OneMain financial$1,500 to $20,000$25 to $500 or 1% to 10%As soon as one hour
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Our 7 top picks for loans like CreditNinja

  • Alternative for small loan amounts: Cleo
  • Alternative for employees: EarnIn
  • Alternative for loans similar to CreditNinja: OppLoans
  • Alternative for building credit: Upstart
  • Alternative for gig workers: Dave
  • Alternative for lower rates: Best Egg
  • Alternative for bad credit: OneMain Financial

Alternative for small loan amounts

Cleo

4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

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Cleo isn't a personal loan provider, but it provides cash advances of up to $250, which could be a more affordable option if you don't need as much as CreditNinja's minimum loan of $300. Plus, unlike CreditNinja, Cleo doesn't check credit scores, doesn't charge interest or late fees and only costs $3.99 for an instant transfer of funds. Or, if you can wait a few days, Cleo will deposit the money in your account within three or four days for free. However, Cleo requires a $5.99 monthly membership fee to access advances, which might not be worth the money if you only need an occasional cash advance.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • No interest charges or mandatory fees
  • Fast loans up to $250
  • Also offers budgeting credit-building tools
Cons
  • Small loan amounts
  • Short repayment periods
  • Requires $5.99 monthly subscription
Loan amountUp to $250
Loan TermNext deposit
Turnaround time3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.

Alternative for larger cash advance amounts

EarnIn

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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EarnIn is a wage-based cash advance app that doesn't have any monthly fees. So, if you need a smaller loan, you can borrow up to $150 a day and up to $750 per pay period on wages you've already earned through your job. How much you qualify for depends on the hours you've already worked. Normal transfer times are quick at just one business day, and with its Lighting Speed service, you can even get your advance in minutes for a fee of up to $4.99.

  • Not available in: Connecticut
Pros
  • Low instant transfer fees
  • No monthly subscription requirement
  • No credit check
Cons
  • Can only request up to $150 a day
  • Advance amount depends on hours worked
Loan amountUp to $750 per pay period, but only $150 per day
Loan Term1 to 4 weeks
Turnaround time1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee

Alternative for loans similar to CreditNinja

OppLoans Installment Loans

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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OppLoans offers loan amounts relatively comparable to CreditNinja, ranging from $500 to $4,000. Its loan terms are also similar, with repayment periods of 9 to 18 months. Like CreditNinja, interest rates are high for Opploans — from 160% to 179%. However, Opploans doesn't charge origination fees, which can take a sizable bite out of your loan proceeds.

  • Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia
Pros
  • Similar loan amounts to CreditNinja
  • No origination fees
  • No minimum credit score needed
Cons
  • Higher APRs than other loan options
  • Must have bank account at least 90 days old
  • Must receive pay by direct deposit
Loan amount$500 to $4,000
Loan Term9 to 18 months
Turnaround timeAs soon as the same business day

Alternative for building credit

Upstart personal loans

4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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Upstart might be a good alternative to personal loans like CreditNinja because it can help you build credit for the first time. Unlike most lenders, it looks beyond your credit score and considers your educational and career experience, among other factors, to determine eligibility. Plus, it reports your monthly payments to all three major credit bureaus. Upstart also has a wider range of loan amounts than CreditNinja, from $1,000 to $50,000, and much better interest rates, starting at just 7.4% and capped at 35.99%. However, it may charge origination fees of up to 12%.

  • Not available in: Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, West Virginia
Pros
  • Helps build credit
  • Considers alternative criteria to qualify
  • Larger loan amounts than CreditNinja
Cons
  • Origination fees up to 12%
  • Minimum loan amount is $1,000
  • Loan terms are limited to 3 or 5 years
Loan amount$1,000 to $50,000
APR7.40% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit score300
Turnaround TimeAs soon as the same day
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term3 years

Alternative for gig workers

Dave ExtraCash

4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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Getting a personal loan can be difficult if you're a self-employed or gig worker and have inconsistent income. But if you only need a small loan, a cash advance app like Dave, which offers advances up to $500 — $200 more than CreditNinja's minimum loan amount — might be just the ticket. And, unlike most cash advance apps, Dave doesn't have a direct deposit requirement, making it even more accessible for non-traditional workers. Dave also doesn't charge interest or late fees, and there is no credit check like there is with CreditNinja, but you may have to pay up to $25 to have the funds transferred instantly.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Up to $500 advances
  • No interest or late fees
  • No direct deposit required
Cons
  • Small maximum advances
  • Instant transfer fees of up to $25
  • Short loan terms
Loan amountUp to $500
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeUp to 3 business days or instant for a fee

Alternative for lower rates

Best Egg personal loans

3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

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Consider Best Egg if you want more affordable interest rates than CreditNinja. Best Egg's rates start at 7.99% and top out at 35.99%, which is less than CreditNinja's lowest APR. It also offers much bigger loans — up to $50,000 — but its minimum loan amount is $2,000, which is much higher than CreditNinja's smallest loan of $300. Both providers typically charge origination fees, but with its lower rates, Best Egg may still be a better option.

  • Not available in: Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia
Partner terms and conditions
*Trustpilot TrustScore as of December 2022. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or Blue Ridge Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The Best Egg Credit Card is issued exclusively by First Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, Brookings SD pursuant to a license by Visa International. Visa is a registered trademark, and the Visa logo design is a trademark of Visa International Incorporated. “Best Egg” is a trademark of Best Egg Technologies, LLC. Offers may be sent pursuant to a joint marketing agreement between Cross River Bank, Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. and/or First Bank & Trust and Marlette Marketing, LLC, a subsidiary of Best Egg, Inc.

The term, amount, and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. Your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. About half of our customers get their money the next day. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. Loan amounts range from $2,000– $50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500 ; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001.

For a second Best Egg loan, your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 8.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–8.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4-years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. You need a minimum 700 FICO® score and a minimum individual annual income of $100,000 to qualify for our lowest APR. For example: a 5‐year $10,000 loan with 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81, and a 3‐year $5,000 loan with 7.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $155.12. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. TO REPORT A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT WITH THIS LENDER, YOU MAY WRITE OR CALL–Operations Manager, Email: crt-resolutions@bestegg.com, Address: P.O. Box 42912, Philadelphia, PA 19101, Phone: 1-855-282-6353. This lender is licensed and regulated by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division, P.O. Box 25101, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504. To report any unresolved problems or complaints, contact the division by telephone at (505) 476-4885 or visit the website https://www.rld.nm.gov/financial-institutions/
Pros
  • Lower rates than CreditNinja
  • Larger loan amounts
  • Multiple repayment methods
Cons
Loan amount$2,000 to $50,000
APR7.99% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit score640
Turnaround TimeAs soon as the next business day
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term3 years

Alternative for bad credit

OneMain Financial personal loans

3.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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Like CreditNinja, OneMain Financial accepts borrowers with bad credit, but rates are much lower, making it a solid alternative. Its lowest rates start at 18%, which is higher than some providers, but it won't exceed 36%, like CreditNinja. And OneMain offers a secured loan option that can help you qualify for a better rate. But it charges origination fees up to 10%, and unlike fully online loans like CreditNinja, you may have to visit a branch office to finalize your loan.

  • Not available in: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont
Partner terms and conditions
* OneMain Disclosures:

Not all applicants will be approved. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on your ability to meet our credit standards (including a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and availability of collateral). If approved, not all applicants will qualify for larger loan amounts or most favorable loan terms. Larger loan amounts require a first lien on a motor vehicle no more than ten years old, that meets our value requirements, titled in your name with valid insurance. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on your state of residence and your ability to meet our credit standards (including a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and availability of collateral). APRs are generally higher on loans not secured by a vehicle. Highly-qualified applicants may be offered higher loan amounts and/or lower APRs than those shown above. OneMain charges origination fees where allowed by law. Depending on the state where you open your loan, the origination fee may be either a flat amount or a percentage of your loan amount. Flat fee amounts vary by state, ranging from $25 to $500. Percentage-based fees vary by state ranging from 1% to 10% of your loan amount subject to certain state limits on the fee amount. Visit omf.com/loanfees for more information. Loan proceeds cannot be used for postsecondary educational expenses as defined by the CFPB’s Regulation Z such as college, university or vocational expense; for any business or commercial purpose; to purchase cryptocurrency assets, securities, derivatives or other speculative investments; or for gambling or illegal purposes.

Borrowers in these states are subject to these minimum loan sizes: Alabama: $2,100. California: $3,000. Georgia: Unless you are a present customer, $3,100 minimum loan amount. North Dakota: $2,000. Ohio: $2,000. Virginia: $2,600.

Borrowers (other than present customers) in these states are subject to these maximum unsecured loan sizes: North Carolina: $7,500. An unsecured loan is a loan which does not require you to provide collateral (such as a motor vehicle) to the lender.

Example Loan: A $6,000 loan with a 24.99% APR that is repayable in 60 monthly installments would have monthly payments of $176.07.

Time to Fund Loans: Funding within one hour after closing through SpeedFunds must be disbursed to a bank-issued debit card. Disbursement by check or ACH may take up to 1-2 business days after loan closing.
Pros
  • Lower rates than CreditNinja
  • No minimum credit score requirement
  • Higher loan amounts
Cons
  • Minimum loan amount is $1,500
  • Origination fees of up to 10%
  • May have to visit a branch office
Loan amount$1,500 to $20,000
APR18% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit scoreNot specified
Turnaround TimeAs soon as one hour
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term2 years

How does CreditNinja compare

CreditNinja offers fast turnaround loans from $300 to $5,000, and it doesn’t have a minimum credit score requirement, making it an option for borrowers with poor credit. It also offers flexible loan terms that range from four months to two years. But loans generally require an origination fee, and exact interest rates are undisclosed. It says rates exceed 36%, however, making it a more expensive loan option than other lenders similar to CreditNinja.

Pros

  • Loans up to $5,000
  • Accepts bad credit borrowers
  • Flexible repayment terms

Cons

  • Charges origination fees
  • APRs exceed 36%
  • Website doesn’t disclose exact rates and fees
Megan B. Shepherd's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Megan B. Shepherd as part of our fact-checking process.
Lacey Stark's headshot
Written by

Writer

Lacey Stark is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder, specializing in banking, loans, investing, estate planning, and more. She has 20 years of experience writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, and online publications. A word nerd from childhood, Lacey officially got her start reporting on live sporting events and moved on to cover topics such as construction, technology, and travel before finding her niche in personal finance. Originally from New England, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and completed a postgraduate journalism program at Metropolitan State University also in Denver. She currently lives in Chicagoland with her dog Chunk and likes to read and play golf. See full bio

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