How to choose
Start with your credit, not the headline rate
Every "from 8.99%" you see is a floor reserved for the strongest files. The rate you get is set
by your credit and income, so the smartest move is to start where you actually fit. With
good credit, a no-fee bank loan like Tangerine
is the cleanest win. With fair credit, goPeer and
Spring Financial publish honest, all-spectrum pricing.
With poor or thin credit, non-prime lenders like easyfinancial will approve you, but at
a price worth questioning. Borrowell offers a free credit score — a sensible first step before you apply
anywhere.
Watch the term as hard as the rate
A lower monthly payment is not the same as a lower cost. Stretching a three-year payoff into a five- or
seven-year loan drops the payment but can quietly cost more total interest. Aim for the shortest term
whose payment you can comfortably afford, and confirm the full lifetime cost with the
loan payoff calculator before you sign — it shows the monthly
payment and the total interest side by side.
Secured vs unsecured: a real trade
A secured loan (against home equity) almost always carries a lower rate — Fairstone's drops from the
high 30s to around 20% once secured, and easyfinancial's home-equity option starts from 9.99%. But you
are converting unsecured debt into debt backed by your home, which raises the stakes if you cannot pay.
For a disciplined homeowner it can be a genuine saving on a larger amount; for someone whose spending is
the underlying problem, it risks the house. Decide honestly which you are.
When a loan is the wrong tool. If your minimum payments barely cover the interest, no
new personal loan fixes that — it only re-arranges it. The honest next steps are a non-profit
credit-counselling debt-management plan, or, if the debt is genuinely unpayable, a
consumer proposal through a Licensed Insolvency
Trustee — the only professional who can legally reduce what you owe.
Frequently asked questions
What is a personal loan and how does it work?
A personal loan is a lump sum you borrow and repay in fixed monthly instalments over a set term — typically 1 to 5 years, though some lenders here go to 7 years. The rate is usually fixed, so the payment never changes. Most personal loans in Canada are unsecured (no collateral), which is why the rate you are offered depends heavily on your credit and income. You can use the money for almost anything — consolidating cards, a renovation, a vehicle or an emergency. Run the numbers first with the loan payoff calculator so you know the real monthly cost before you apply.
Secured vs unsecured personal loan — which is better?
An unsecured loan needs no collateral, funds fast, and is the right choice for most borrowers with reasonable credit — but the rate is higher because the lender carries all the risk. A secured loan (usually against home equity) almost always carries a much lower rate: Fairstone’s secured pricing drops to roughly 20% versus its high-30s unsecured range, and easyfinancial’s home-equity option starts from 9.99%. The trade is real: you are putting an asset on the line. Secured makes sense for a disciplined homeowner chasing a lower rate on a larger amount; unsecured is better when speed matters or you have nothing to pledge.
How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Canada?
It depends on the lender and your income. Among the lenders verified here, unsecured amounts run from $500 at the low end up to $35,000 at goPeer and Spring Financial. Tangerine starts at $5,000. Larger sums generally require either strong income or a secured loan — easyfinancial’s home-equity option reaches $150,000 and Fairstone’s secured loans go to $60,000. The Big Six banks can lend more on application (CIBC advertises up to $200,000 unsecured) but do not publish the rate until you apply.
What credit score do I need for a personal loan?
The lowest, cleanest rates go to good credit (roughly 660+) — that is where a bank loan like Tangerine, starting at 8.99% with no fees, becomes available. Fair credit still has honest options: goPeer publishes a clear floor of a 600 score plus $35,000 income, and Spring Financial lends across the full spectrum. Below that, you are looking at non-prime lenders such as easyfinancial — which requires no credit history at all — at much higher rates, or a secured loan. There is a personal loan for almost every profile in Canada; the price is what changes.
How fast can I get a personal loan?
Faster than most people expect. Among the lenders verified on June 13, 2026, Tangerine gives instant access to funds on approval, easyfinancial and Fora Credit fund the same day by Interac e-Transfer, goPeer can approve within 24 hours, and Spring Financial funds its Evergreen loan in 1–3 business days. Secured loans take longer because the lender has to value and register against the collateral. Speed should not be the deciding factor, though — a same-day loan at 35% is rarely better than a one-day loan at 12%.
What is the maximum legal interest rate in Canada?
The federal criminal interest rate is capped at 35% APR, in force since January 1, 2025 (down from the old 60% effective-annual-rate threshold, roughly 48% APR). A separate cap limits payday loans to $14 per $100 borrowed. Several non-prime lenders here price right up against that ceiling — legal, but expensive. A 35%+ personal loan should be a last resort, not a default; always confirm the rate in writing and check the lifetime cost with the loan payoff calculator before signing.
This page is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. APRs, loan amounts, terms and
fees were verified at each lender's own published pages on June 13, 2026 and change without notice; anything
not disclosed first-party (including all Big Six personal-loan rates) was excluded rather than
estimated. The rate you are offered depends on your credit and income. The federal criminal interest
rate is capped at 35% APR. Confirm all terms in writing before borrowing. See our
methodology.