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What to know first: The best emergency loans get you the funds you need quickly to pay for unexpected expenses with flexible repayment terms that won’t break your budget. Although the lowest rates are available to borrowers with high credit scores and stable income, a number of options are available if you have fair, good or even bad credit.

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PERSONAL LOANS

Upstart: Best for small bad credit emergency loans

4.7
Est. APR
7.40- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
300

PERSONAL LOANS

OneMain Financial: Best for same-day bad credit emergency loans

4.3
Est. APR
18.00- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1.5k- $20K
Min credit score
Not disclosed

PERSONAL LOANS

Avant: Best for shorter-term emergency loans

4.5
Est. APR
9.95- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $35K
Min credit score
550

PERSONAL LOANS

Best Egg: Best for lowest minimum rates

4.6
Est. APR
6.99- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $50K
Min credit score
600

Upgrade: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Borrowers With Bad Credit

4.6
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
580

PERSONAL LOANS

Prosper: Best emergency loan for peer-to-peer lending

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $50K
Min credit score
600

Discover: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Borrowers With Excellent Credit

4.8
Est. APR
7.99- 24.99%
Loan term
3-7 yrs
Loan amount
$2.5k- $40K
Min credit score
660
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Upstart
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7
Est. APR
7.40%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
300

OneMain
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Est. APR
18.00%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1.5k– $20k
Min credit score
Not specified

Avant
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
9.95%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $35k
Min credit score
550

Best Egg
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Est. APR
6.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $50k
Min credit score
600

Upgrade
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
580

Prosper
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
8.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k– $50k
Min credit score
600

Discover
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8
Est. APR
7.99%–24.99%
Loan amount
$2.5k– $40k
Min credit score
660
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Pros

  • You can use the funds to pay for just about any emergency expense.
  • You can get money very quickly, sometimes the same day you apply.
  • You can split a big-ticket expense in manageable, monthly payments.
  • Interest rates are fixed, so your payment won’t go up.
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Cons

  • You might have to pay a high interest rate, which can increase the overall cost of what you're fixing.
  • It can turn a one-time expense into long-term debt.
  • Could send you down a debt spiral if you don’t correct bad savings habits.
  • You may have to settle for a smaller loan amount than you want.
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BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

What is the relationship between emergency funds and loans?


Nationally recognized student financial aid expert

An emergency fund provides money to cover the cost of unforeseen expenses, such as car repairs or unemployment. You should save half a year’s salary in an emergency fund in case you need it. A loan, on the other hand, is borrowed money that must be repaid. The difference is with an emergency fund, you save in advance, while with a loan, you pay afterwards. But, you may not always be able to get a loan in an emergency, and a loan costs more than an emergency fund.

Senior writer, Loans

Emergency loans exist because most consumers don’t keep enough cash in an emergency fund to pay for unexpected expenses. The balance in an emergency fund should grow with every asset you acquire. If you buy a new car, you should stash cash to pay for a tire blowout, a check-engine light repair or regular maintenance items like oil changes. If you own a home, consider adding funds for an unexpected plumbing or air conditioning crisis to avoid turning to credit cards or loans. The beauty of an emergency fund is that it allows you to pay in full for those rainy day moments. Monthly payments on emergency loans are like constant reminders of a one-time crisis.

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