# 23+ Licensed Payday Lenders Compared in 30 Seconds | Nimbus Loans > View actual costs for $100-$1,000 loans from state-licensed lenders. Lower-cost alternatives appear first. No obligation. Nimbus Loans offers independent small-dollar loan research. Источник: https://nimbusloans.com/ --- Live in 23 states · alternatives in 27 # $100 to $1,000. Licensed lenders. Actual figures. **A two-week $300 loan ranges from $3 to $75 based on your state — credit scores are not considered.** Nimbus Loans shows licensed lenders next to more economical options simultaneously. Your actual expense is visible in roughly 30 seconds. No paperwork needed. Zero commitment. [See my options](/apply/) [Compare alternatives first](/alternatives/) Nimbus Loans receives compensation from the lending partners we connect you to. We sort choices by expense, not by referral payment. 🔒 Encrypted with 256-bit AES ⚖️ Only lenders licensed by your state ⚡ Get a decision in around 90 seconds 🛡️ Comparing your options is free Your total borrowing cost LIVE $500 Texas: standard fee is $22.10 for every $100 borrowed over 14 days. $100$1,000 In which state? Loan fee $110.50 Effective APR 576% PAL alternative (28% APR, 6 mo) ~$45 Total to repay $610 [See my options →](/apply/) 🔒 Viewing rates won't affect your credit · All information you provide remains encrypted 🛡️ Secured by SSL 🏛️ Licensed by the state 🔐 AES-256 for PII 📃 Follows TCPA rules ⚖️ AFC® · CFP® reviewed 0 States covered 0+ Licensed lender partners $0 Median loan amount 0s Average decision time How it works ## Three steps. Nothing hidden. We connect you with lenders — we are not a direct lender. We confirm your location, verify MLA eligibility, and display both the licensed option and the more affordable route — every time. ~30 seconds 1 #### Share your location State and ZIP code only. We verify what is permitted in your state *before* requesting any sensitive details. Prohibited states view other options, not a call to action. ~2 minutes 2 #### Quick basics about you Five quick steps. AES-256 encryption for stored data, TLS 1.3 for data transfer. Only last-4 digits of SSN; complete Social Security Number is never kept unencrypted. Separate TCPA permissions for each communication method. ~90 seconds 3 #### Actual choices displayed Offers from state-licensed lenders in your grasp immediately, sorted by expense. The Payday Alternative Loan from credit unions is always displayed as well — often 90% less expensive. Browse by state ## Rules change wildly. 14 states plus DC prohibit payday loans completely (outright bans or 36% rate limits). Texas operates under its own CAB/CSO framework. Check your state's regulations. [Texas CAB](/by-state/texas/) [California $300 cap](/by-state/california/) [New York Banned](/by-state/new-york/) [Florida Allowed](/by-state/florida/) [Ohio Capped](/by-state/ohio/) [Michigan Allowed](/by-state/michigan/) [Georgia Banned](/by-state/georgia/) [Illinois 36% cap](/by-state/illinois/) [Pennsylvania Banned](/by-state/pennsylvania/) [North Carolina Banned](/by-state/north-carolina/) [Tennessee Allowed](/by-state/tennessee/) [Missouri Allowed](/by-state/missouri/) [Nevada Allowed](/by-state/nevada/) [Arizona Banned (installment available)](/by-state/arizona/) [Colorado 36% cap](/by-state/colorado/) [+ 36 more states & DC →](/by-state/) ## Browse your choices with zero obligation. Comparing is free. Only state-licensed lenders. Other choices are always presented. [Start in 30 seconds](/apply/) No credit check to view rates · 256-bit encrypted · You may exit anytime Why we're different ## We top Google by telling the truth about price. Many websites hide fees behind "immediate approval" buzz. We reverse that. Each page begins with concrete dollar figures, contingency options, and prudent borrowing advice. Google's quality algorithms recognize this. Users value it. [See what borrowing really costs](/payday-loans/) #### What every Nimbus Loans page delivers: - ✓ Precise dollar cost, not APR alone - ✓ Your state's rate limit and law citation - ✓ Payday Alternative Loans, compared directly - ✓ Verified writers (AFC®, CFP®, JD) - ✓ "Can't pay it back" explained clearly, step by step - ✓ Editorial standards + verification + error record - ✓ TCPA consent kept separate, boxes never pre-checked - ✓ MLA rules: 36% MAPR ceiling enforced automatically Browse by product ## Pick the loan type that fits. Prices vary by 22 times across different products. We arrange them — and consistently show what works better. [Payday loans High cost](/payday-loans/) [Online payday loans High cost](/payday-loans-online/) [Same-day payday loans High cost](/same-day-payday-loans/) [Payday loans near me High cost](/payday-loans-near-me/) [Installment loans Variable](/installment-loans/) [Title loans Highest cost](/title-loans/) [Cash advance High cost](/cash-advance/) [Bad credit loans Variable](/bad-credit-loans/) [Loan alternatives 15 cheaper options](/alternatives/) Common questions ## Questions people really have. Clear explanations, verified against references, approved by AFC® and CFP®. What is the actual cost of a payday loan? This varies by your location. Alabama sets a maximum fee of 17.5% per $100 — that's $52.50 for a $300 loan lasting 14 days (~456% APR). For the same loan in Colorado, the APR is capped at 36% (roughly $4.14). California permits fees up to $17.65 per $100. Our Cost Index for all 50 states displays typical costs in actual dollars, not just rates. Could my credit score be affected by applying? Most payday lenders utilize alternative-data sources (like banking history, income confirmation) instead of the three main bureaus, so applying usually performs a soft pull that doesn't impact your score. If you accept and pay back a loan, most payday lenders also don't report to bureaus — meaning it won't build your score, but it also won't damage it unless the debt is sent to collections. What if I can't repay on time? Reach out to the lender initially. Most states mandate that lenders provide an Extended Payment Plan (EPP) without extra charge once annually. Avoid letting the loan go into default — that initiates collections, overdraft fees, and potential legal action. Our [detailed guide](/guides/what-if-you-cant-repay/) explains your rights according to the FDCPA and protections specific to your state. Do less expensive options exist besides a payday loan? Yes — nearly always. The Payday Alternative Loan (PAL) from federal credit unions has a maximum of 28% APR. Earned Wage Access apps such as DailyPay, EarnIn, and Brigit provide advances on pay you've already earned. Numerous employers and charities provide hardship assistance. View our complete [list of 15 alternatives sorted by expense](/alternatives/) page. Is Nimbus Loans itself a direct lender? No. Nimbus Loans is a lead-generation service. We connect applicants with state-licensed third-party lenders. We do not lend funds, do not make credit choices, and do not charge applicants any fee. Every lender independently establishes terms and determines whether to offer credit. How does Nimbus Loans earn revenue? We are compensated by the lender network — a referral fee on approved loans. The fee arrangement is identical across our network, so we lack motivation to direct you to one lender over another based on their payment to us. We direct you to the lender most probable to approve at the lowest rate for your situation. ### Is payday lending legal in your state? 14 states + DC essentially prohibit payday lending (bans or 36% rate ceilings). Choose your state — we'll display the regulations in two lines. Pick a state to view what is legal in your area.