5 Popular Online Payday Loans in California — Plus, Safer Alternatives
Do you live in the Golden State and need quick access to cash? California payday loans could be an option. And, if you're considering them, you may feel relieved to know that payday loans in California are heavily regulated in order to protect borrowers. But nonetheless, these short-term loans — often advertised as fast fixes — typically come with high fees and other risks that aren’t always obvious upfront.
Even if you’re willing to take on the risks, not all lenders abide by the rules set by the state — especially online lenders. Whether you need emergency funds today or want to check what your options are in case you may need cash tomorrow, it’s important to understand how these loans work and how much they cost.
To help you with your research, here are five popular online payday loans available to Californians — along with other, possibly safer options to consider.
Are online payday loans legal in California?
Payday loans are legal in California but they need to adhere to strict state regulations under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law.
Some of these regulations include:
- Lending up to a maximum of $300 per loan
- A maximum fee of 15% of the loan amount
- Loan terms of 31 days or less
- No loan rollovers permitted
- Online payday lenders must be licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)
- A new loan can't be issued to borrowers who are using it to pay off an old one
These regulations are meant to protect borrowers in California from assuming too much debt. It’s worth taking note that while online payday lenders are allowed in the state, many unlicensed out-of-state lenders may still try to target you with predatory offers. To help prevent this from happening, verify a lender’s license using the DFPI’s searchable public registry.
5 online payday loan options available in California
Even though online payday lenders must follow California laws, not all have the same features. These include fees, funding speed and interest rates. Here's a full breakdown of each loan.
1. Speedy Cash
Speedy Cash is a payday lender that has been around for some time and offers both online and physical locations. The lender serves borrowers who need funds fast and is known for its quick approval process and 24/7 availability.
- Loan amounts: Up to $255
- Fees: $17.65 to $45 depending on amount borrowed
- Repayment terms: 15 or 30 days
- APR: 214.71% to 460.16% based on amount borrowed
- Funding speed: Within one business day
2. Check City
Check City is another lender offering perks like fast funding for online payday loans. It also has financial education resources to help you understand budgeting and saving. Its website is clear and tells you exactly how much you can borrow, the fees and APR for each loan amount, and what your funding options are.
- Loan amounts: $100 to $255
- Fees: 15% of loan amount
- Repayment terms: 14 or 30 days
- APR: 214.68% to 460.16%
- Funding speed: Same-day funding with debit card or direct deposit
3. Advance America
Advance America is one of the oldest payday loan companies in the U.S. and has over 82 physical locations in the state. Both online and in-person loans offer the same rates and terms.
- Loan amounts: $100 to $255
- Fees: 15% of loan amount
- APR: Around 460%
- Repayment terms: Loan needs to be paid in full by next payday
- Funding time: Up to one business day
4. ACE Cash Express
ACE Cash Express is a national lender with a presence in California. One of its standout features is a user-friendly mobile app to track your loan and bill payment services. In addition to payday loan offerings, you can choose how you want to get your loan funds: cash in person, to your debit card, or direct deposit to a bank account.
- Loan amounts: $100 to $255
- Fees: 15% of loan amount
- Repayment terms: 14 or 30 days
- APR: 214.62% to 459.90%
- Funding speed: Same-day funding possible
5. LendUp
LendUp considers itself an alternative to direct lenders. It's also known for pairing payday loans with financial education and credit-building tools. Once you fill out its form, LendUp will populate a list of potential lenders you can work with. Each one offers different loan amounts, rates, and fees. The main draw to LendUp is that you can compare many online payday lenders at once to see what options are out there.
- Loan amounts: Up to $300
- Fees: Up to 15% of loan amount
- Repayment terms: Up to 30 days
- APR: Varies
- Funding speed: Same-day funding available
What to watch out for with online payday loans
Just because California cash advance loans are legal, doesn’t mean they’re affordable. Watch out for some of these risks before deciding to take out a loan:
- High APRs. You could be looking at APRs around 400% or more for these California payday loans. And at a maximum loan amount of $300, your fee could run about $45 — higher than most other borrowing options
- Overdraft risk. If you don’t have enough in your bank account on the repayment date, you could be hit with non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees.
- Potential to get into a debt trap cycle. Even though California has banned rolling over your debt to another payday loan, borrowers can take out a second loan shortly after repaying the first — leading to more debt.
- Illegal lenders. Some websites may appear legitimate but aren’t licensed to lend in California. Check the lender's website for a DFPI license and review the terms to avoid illegal and predatory practices.
Safer alternatives to California online payday loans
When you really need funds but want to avoid high fees or debt traps, there are some other ways to get fast cash. The three options below could be safer alternatives to payday loans.
EarnIn: An earned wage access option
EarnIn is an earned wage access (EWA) app — meaning you can access a portion of your already earned wages before your regular payday. EarnIn doesn’t charge any mandatory fees, though you may pay an optional tip1 for the service if you so choose. There's also no interest or credit checks.
Here's how EarnIn works: You connect your bank account and provide some information about your identity and employment. And then, through a feature called Cash Out, you can access up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays.2
You can get your money in one-to-three days with the Cash Out2 feature, or for an extra fee, you can get it within minutes with Lightning Speed3, starting at $2.99 per transfer.
EarnIn is not a loan and instead helps you access your earned wages before payday, which may help avoid traditional loans.
Credit union payday alternative loans (PALs)
Many credit unions offer a more affordable loan option called payday alternative loans (PALs). These loans are designed specifically to help members avoid traditional payday lenders.
Loan amounts typically range from $200 to $1,000, with lower interest rates than payday loans and longer repayment terms. Application fees are capped at $20 and APRs are limited to 28%, which is significantly less than payday loan rates. You may need to join the credit union where you want to take out a PAL.
Local nonprofits and emergency assistance
You may be able to turn to community and government programs if you need cash assistance. For example, CalWORKs, a California’s public assistance program for families with children could offer some options. If you’re eligible, you can get help with temporary cash aid. You also could get faster support if you’re facing an emergency like a utility shutoff or risk of eviction.
To apply, contact your local county office or online at BenefitsCal.com.
Borrow smart and explore safer options
While California online payday loans are legal, they’re not the only option you have. With fees that are 15% of your loan amount (or around 400% APR or more), you could end up paying much more to borrow money compared to other ways.
If you do choose a California payday loan, make sure you check the lender’s status using the DFPI license checker. You can also consider other fast-cash options, like EarnIn, which lets you access your own paycheck without interest, credit checks, or mandatory fees. That way, you could get the flexible funding you need without the risk of falling deeper into debt.
Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.
This Blog was sponsored by EarnIn. While the author received compensation, the information shared is grounded in independent research and intended to provide helpful and accurate guidance to readers.
EarnIn is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by our bank partners on certain products other than Cash Out.
1
Tips go to EarnIn and help us provide tools such as Credit Monitoring for free and keep Lightning Speed fees low. Your service quality and availability aren’t affected by whether you tip or not.2
A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out.EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply; see the Lightning Speed Fee Table and Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.
3
Lightning Speed is an optional service that allows you to expedite the transfer of funds for a fee. Depending on the product, the fee may be charged by EarnIn or its banking partner. Lightning Speed may not be available in all states and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply. See the Lightning Speed Fee Table for details.
