MoolaCredit compares NCR-registered credit providers side by side: amounts, terms, approval speed and real costs under the National Credit Act. Free to use, and comparing leaves no mark on your credit record.
An online loan is a personal loan you apply for, compare and sign on the internet, without visiting a branch. You fill in one application, the lender checks your income and credit record, and the money lands in your bank account after approval. Every legitimate lender in South Africa must be registered with the National Credit Regulator and follow the National Credit Act, which caps interest and fees and requires an affordability check before any payout.
MoolaCredit is not a lender. We compare NCR-registered lenders side by side so you can see amounts, terms and costs before you commit. New to borrowing online? Our online loans guide walks through the whole process, from application to payout.
South Africans search for credit in many forms. These are the main types compared on MoolaCredit, all from NCR-registered providers.
Small amounts from R500 to R8,000 that bridge the gap to your next salary. Usually one instalment within 45 days, with same-day payout at most lenders.
Compare payday loansUnsecured loans from R1,000 to R350,000 with terms of 6 to 84 months. Stronger credit profiles get lower rates, capped by law at repo plus 21% a year.
Compare personal loansLenders that weigh your income and expenses instead of auto-declining on a low score. Soft checks let you compare without hurting your record.
Compare bad credit loansApply before 3pm on a business day with complete documents and the money can arrive the same day. PayShap-capable lenders pay within minutes.
Compare same-day loansOne new loan settles several expensive accounts, leaving a single monthly instalment at a lower blended rate. It works only when the numbers say so.
Compare consolidation loansFinance a vehicle purchase or fund renovations and repairs. Compare the instalment, the deposit and the total cost before you sign anything.
The short version: compare total repayment, check the NCR registration, and apply once. not ten times. Here is the longer version that saves you real money.
Most expensive borrowing mistakes start with the wrong product. If you need R2,000 until Friday, a 24-month personal loan is overkill. and a R50,000 renovation on a one-month payday loan is a disaster. Match the product to the gap: short-term loans (up to R8,000, up to 6 months) for small urgent gaps, personal loans (R1,000 to R350,000, 6 to 84 months) for everything bigger.
Lenders advertise the monthly number because it looks small. The number that matters is total repayment. everything you pay back including interest, initiation fees and monthly service fees. Under the National Credit Act, every lender must disclose it before you sign. Two offers with identical instalments can differ by thousands of rand over the term.
Any person or company granting credit in South Africa must be registered with the National Credit Regulator. Registration numbers are public at ncr.org.za. Every lender listed on MoolaCredit is NCR-registered. if a "lender" can't show a registration number, walk away. This single check filters out the majority of loan scams.
Each formal application triggers a credit bureau enquiry, and a cluster of enquiries in a short window drags your score down. Compare first, shortlist one or two lenders, then submit one complete application: ID, latest payslip, three months of bank statements. Complete files are approved by automated systems in minutes; incomplete files queue for manual review for days.
Repayment runs by debit order, usually on your payday. If the date in the contract doesn't match your salary date, change it before signing. a bounced debit order means penalty fees and a black mark on your credit file that lasts for years. If circumstances change before the date, call the lender: restructuring before the debit bounces is always cheaper than after.
Editorial ranking based on approval odds, total cost, payout speed and NCR compliance. *Payout speed assumes a complete application on a business day.
Top Pick
Fast Payout
Quick Form
High Limits
Local Brand
New Lender
Fintech Group
0% Offers
Big Amounts
Every NCR-registered lender runs the same four checks. Knowing them in advance saves you rejections and hard enquiries.
Payslips or three months of bank statements prove what you earn and how regularly. A stable salary weighs more than a high but irregular income.
Credit bureaus such as TransUnion, Experian, Compuscan and XDS store your payment history. Missed instalments pull your score down; on-time payments push it up.
Every active account, from credit cards to store cards, reduces the room in your budget. Many small accounts can signal stress even when balances are low.
After tax and living costs, enough must remain to cover the new instalment. This check is a legal duty, not a courtesy, and it protects you from reckless lending.
Two people borrowing the same amount can receive very different rates. Lenders price off the prime rate, which tracks the Reserve Bank repo rate, and then add a margin based on your risk profile. A clean credit record earns rates near prime. Defaults or judgments push you toward the legal ceiling of repo plus 21% a year for unsecured credit.
Compare offers on the APR, not the monthly instalment. The APR rolls the interest, initiation fee and monthly service fee into one number, so it shows what a loan really costs per year. A longer term flatters the instalment but inflates the total. Check both figures before you sign.
Registration with the National Credit Regulator means capped costs, mandatory affordability checks and a formal complaints route. Verify any provider's registration number on ncr.org.za.
Short-term credit of up to R8,000 over 6 months is capped at 5% interest per month plus fees. Larger unsecured loans are capped at repo plus 21% a year. A quote above these caps is illegal.
While under debt review you cannot legally take new credit until you receive your clearance certificate. Anyone offering you a loan during debt review is breaking the law.
Informal lenders, known locally as mashonisas, often charge far above the legal caps and use intimidation to collect. Real lenders never ask for an upfront fee, your OTP or your banking password.
Filter lenders by amount, term and approval speed. comparing is free and uses soft checks only.
Pick a lender and complete their online form: ID, payslip and bank statements. About 5 minutes.
Approved loans are paid out the same or next business day. PayShap lenders can be near-instant.
All amounts in South African Rand (ZAR). Confirm final costs in your loan agreement before signing.
| Lender | Amount | Term | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century | R500 to R8,000 | 5 to 180 days | ★★★★★ 4.8 | Get Offer |
| LendPlus | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★★ 4.7 | Get Offer |
| Primeloans | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Get Offer |
| Creditbar | R500 to R5,000 | 7 to 45 days | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Get Offer |
| JabulaniMoney | R500 to R4,000 | Until payday | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | Get Offer |
| Cashgist | R500 to R4,000 | Short-term | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | Get Offer |
| Crediwise | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Get Offer |
| Letocredit | R500 to R150,000 | Varies by offer | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | Get Offer |
| CreditGenius | R500 to R350,000 | Up to 24 months | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Get Offer |
MoolaCredit is an independent loan comparison service for South Africa. We are not a bank and we do not lend money. Our pages compare NCR-registered credit providers by amount, term, approval speed and total cost, so you can see the market in one place instead of applying to lender after lender.
Using MoolaCredit is free. When you click through to a lender and your loan is paid out, that lender pays us a commission. The commission never changes the price of your loan, and the ranking above reflects a mix of approval odds, payout speed, total cost and our commercial terms with each lender.
We verify National Credit Regulator registration, calculate the cost of a typical loan at legal caps, and track payout speed and document requirements. Lenders that hide fees, skip affordability checks or operate without registration never make our lists.
We handle personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The calculator on this page stores nothing you type, and we never ask for banking passwords or OTPs.
Last updated: November 2026. Content is researched from official sources, including the National Credit Act and NCR fee cap schedules.
Yes. We earn a commission from lenders when you click through and apply. The commission never changes the rate you are offered.
No. Comparing on this page is informational and leaves no mark on your credit record. Only a full application at the lender triggers a credit check, and the lender must tell you before it runs one.
The lenders compared here offer amounts from R500 to R350,000. Short-term loans run from a few days to 6 months, while personal loans run from 6 to 84 months.
Apply before 3pm on a business day with complete documents and most listed lenders pay out the same day. Lenders that pay via PayShap can transfer the money within minutes of approval.
A South African ID, proof of income such as a payslip or three months of bank statements, proof of residence, and an active bank account in your name.
Yes. Expect to show three to six months of bank statements so the lender can see steady income. Some of the listed lenders price non-salary income without penalty.
For short-term credit of up to R8,000 over 6 months, the cap is 5% per month. For larger unsecured loans, the cap is the repo rate plus 21% a year, roughly 29% in 2026.
Yes. Section 125 of the National Credit Act gives you the right to settle early, and the settlement fee is capped at three months of interest. Settling early cuts the total cost.