CreditCube is a tribal-affiliated online lender offering quick, high-interest loans, often to borrowers with limited or poor credit. While CreditCube may appeal to those who have few other options, the drawbacks are glaring: exorbitant rates and short repayment terms.
Heads up: CreditCube was named in a class-action lawsuit over an alleged “rent-a-tribe” lending scheme.
With a bit of research, you can usually find safer and more affordable loans like CreditCube if you’re strapped for cash. We’ve done the research for you and found seven great alternatives.
Need cash, like, right now? EarnIn lets eligible users access up to $300 from their earned wages with no interest or mandatory fees.¹ First-time users may be eligible for expedited funding at no cost.²
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.
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.
Table of Contents
1. EarnIn (and other cash advance apps)
Why it’s better than CreditCube
- No interest or mandatory fees
- Borrow from your own paycheck
- Borrowing amount is capped at $150/day
- Standard processing is slower than CreditCube
EarnIn is a cash advance app that lets you borrow from your upcoming paycheck. It’s an accessible and affordable solution when you only need a small amount to tide you over until payday.
EarnIn (and similar apps, like Dave or Tilt) automatically deducts payments on your scheduled payday, which saves hassle. However, it could deplete your cash flow if overused, so we recommend it only for true emergencies.
| Max. advance | $1,000 per pay period |
| Fees | $0 for standard delivery (1–3 days); $3.99 – $5.99 for Lightning Speed |
| Direct deposit required? | Yes |
| Credit check? | No |
2. Upstart short-term relief loans
Why it’s better than CreditCube
- Affordable rates
- No late fees
- Must accept loan offer by 5 p.m. Eastern for next-day funding
Upstart, an AI-powered lending platform that connects borrowers with banks and credit unions, may approve loans even for those with bad credit, based on factors such as employment and education.
Upstart advertises short-term relief loans of $200 to $2,500, with transparent costs and no late fees or prepayment penalties. The repayment terms are three to 18 months, but you may be able to extend this period if you make consistent payments.
The loan cost might seem confusing: Upstart declares the loans have no interest, but also discloses an APR. The actual loan structure is a one-time origination fee, expressed as an APR for simplicity. It’s not an extra charge on top of interest.
| Rates (APR) | Up to 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $200 – $2,500 (for short-term relief loans; Upstart also offers traditional personal loans up to $75,000) |
| Repayment terms | 3 – 18 months (3 – 5 years for traditional personal loans) |
| Funding time | Next business day |
| Min. credit score | 300 (lowest possible) |
3. Prosper personal loans
Why it’s better than CreditCube
- Much more affordable
- Higher loan limits
- Minimum credit score requirement
- No same-day funding
Prosper is a peer-to-peer lending platform that offers loans from $2,000 to $50,000. It works as a network that connects borrowers with investors who are ready to fund their loans.
With a fixed APR starting from 8.99%, Prosper is much more affordable than CreditCube and similar lenders. However, it requires a minimum credit score of 560, which usually excludes applicants with a history of past-due payments or bankruptcy.
Since the minimum loan amount available through Prosper is $2,000, you’ll likely want to look elsewhere if you need to borrow a smaller sum.
| Rates (APR) | 8.99% – 35.99% (includes 1% – 7.99% origination fee) |
| Loan amounts | $2,000 – $50,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 5 years |
| Funding time | As soon as 1 business day |
| Min. credit score | 560 |
4. Navy Federal Credit Union personal loans
Why it’s better than CreditCube
- Affordable loans
- Flexible repayment terms
- Only serves military, veterans, and eligible family members
Navy Federal Credit Union offers personal loans starting from $250, with low interest and no prepayment penalties. The credit union presents these as an alternative to predatory payday loans, with same-day funding often available.
Navy Federal’s main drawback is limited availability: The credit union only serves active-duty military, veterans, DoD personnel, and eligible family members.
| Rates (APR) | 8.99% – 18.00% |
| Loan amounts | $250 – $50,000 |
| Repayment terms | Personal expense loan up to 5 years; Home improvement loan up to 15 years |
| Funding time | Same-day funding available |
| Min. credit score | Not disclosed |
5. Oportun personal loans
Why it’s better than CreditCube
- Much lower rates
- Longer repayment terms
- Requires proof of a regular income and a bank account in good standing
Founded as a financial service company targeting California’s Latino community, Oportun has since expanded to 40 states. It offers both unsecured and secured personal loans, although secured loans are only available in California, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, and Utah.
While not low, Oportun’s APR (capped at 35.99%) is much more affordable than the sky-high rates associated with payday loans. This, and fixed monthly payments over 12 to 54 months, makes this lender far more borrower-friendly than CreditCube.
Although Oportun states minimal requirements and accepts even borrowers who have previously declared bankruptcy, you do need to provide proof of income.
| Rates (APR) | Up to 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $300 – $10,000 |
| Repayment terms | Based on loan size, rate, fees, and terms. Payments are fixed installments. |
| Funding time | Within 1 business day |
| Min. credit score | None |
6. OppLoans personal loans
Why it’s better than CreditCube
- Lower APR
- More flexible repayment terms
- APR still quite high
- Not available in all states
OppLoans is a same-day loan platform that works much like CreditCube, targeting clients with low or no credit. Its rates are more manageable (though still extremely high): more than 100%, compared to CreditCube’s APRs of more than 700%.
OppLoans allows more lenient repayment terms than CreditCube. While the latter usually requires repayment within a few weeks to a few months, OppLoans may spread installments over nine to 18 months, making it more feasible for a tight budget. It also reports to major credit bureaus, so on-time payments could help improve your credit.
| Rates (APR) | More than 100% |
| Loan amounts | $500 – $4,000 |
| Repayment terms | 9 – 18 months |
| Funding time | Same day |
| Min. credit score | None |
7. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) Quick Loan
Why it’s better than CreditCube
- Much lower rates
- Reputable credit union with 1 million+ members
- Can help rebuild credit
- Quick Loans not available to new members.
If you’re looking into credit union loans with broader eligibility, check out Quick Loans from Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU). While we wouldn’t recommend DCU’s personal loans for borrowers with excellent credit, they can be a more affordable option for those with lower scores.
Quick Loans is a plan for sudden expenses, built for approval within one to two business days. The repayment term is up to 12 months, and on-time payments can help improve your credit score.
The main limitation of Quick Loans is that the program is only open to those who have been credit union members for at least 180 days. Thus, if you need emergency cash, you can only tap into this plan if you’re already a DCU member.
| Rates (APR) | Starting at 17.99% |
| Loan amounts | $200 – $2,000 |
| Repayment terms | Up to 12 months |
| Funding time | 1-2 business days |
| Min. credit score | Not disclosed |
Why you should try to avoid CreditCube
Many states restrict or ban payday loans to protect borrowers from predatory lenders. CreditCube bypasses these regulations by operating under tribal sovereign law rather than state law.
While in some cases, CreditCube may seem like the only option, it’s a risky one. CreditCube often approves borrowers without checking their ability to repay, setting them up for failure.
CreditCube loans are also outrageously expensive. If you borrow $1,000 for one month at an APR of 700%, you must repay more than $1,500 in a single payment. A standard personal loan of $1,000 repaid over 12 months, even at an APR of 36% (the highest allowed rate for regulated loans), means a fairly manageable monthly payment of around $100 and a total of $1,200 to repay.
Setting cash aside in an emergency fund can help protect you in unpredictable situations. On top of that, we recommend exploring fair and affordable options, like our picks for the best personal loans, before applying with CreditCube.
Recap of the best loans like CreditCube
Credit Cube loans are expensive and risky, exposing vulnerable borrowers to financial strain. You can almost always find more affordable quick loan options.
Article sources
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- DCU, Quick Loans
- Upstart, Short-Term Relief Loans
- Navy Federal Credit Union, Personal Loans: Check Rates, Terms and Apply Online
- ClassAction.org, CreditCube Hit With Class Action Over Alleged ‘Rent-a-Tribe’ Lending Scheme
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About our contributors
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Written by Anna TwittoAnna Twitto is a money management writer passionate about financial freedom and security. Anna loves sharing tips and strategies for smart personal finance choices, saving money, and getting and staying out of debt.
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Edited by Kristen Barrett, MATKristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.