OppLoans Review: Our take – OppLoans fills a real gap for borrowers who can’t qualify elsewhere and want to avoid payday loans. It offers fast funding and reports payments to all three credit bureaus. Still, the super-high APRs make it a last-resort option after you’ve checked whether you qualify for any of the best personal loans.
- No hard credit check
- Same-day funding possible
- Offers financial education
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- High APR (100%+)
- Low loan limits compared to other lenders
- Not available in all states
| Rates (APR) | More than 100% |
| Loan amounts | $500 – $4,000 |
| Repayment terms | 9 – 18 months |
| Funding time | Same day |
Is OppLoans legit and safe?
Yes. OppLoans is a legitimate lender, not a scam. It’s been in business for years, operates legally in multiple states, and has thousands of customer reviews across platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where it’s accredited and earns an A+ BBB rating.
OppLoans is also safe to use from a data security standpoint. It uses industry-standard encryption to protect personal and financial information, and applying does not require a hard credit check.
That said, legitimacy doesn’t equal affordability. The biggest risk with OppLoans is cost, not safety. Be sure you understand exactly how expensive these loans are before accepting an offer.
Our verdict: OppLoans is legitimate and secure, but its high APRs mean it’s best used only when cheaper options aren’t available.
How OppLoans personal loans work
OppLoans offers unsecured installment loans. If approved, you receive a fixed loan amount and repay it in equal payments over nine to 18 months.
Unlike traditional personal loans, OppLoans does not rely on a hard credit check. Instead, approval is based on factors such as:
- Income and ability to repay
- State of residence
- Bank account activity
Because of this flexibility, OppLoans is often positioned as an alternative to payday loans for borrowers with poor or thin credit histories.
How long does OppLoans take to approve?
OppLoans decisions are often made within minutes. If approved, funds can be deposited into your bank account as soon as the same business day, depending on your bank’s ACH processing timeline.
Does OppLoans approve everyone?
No, but approval standards are more lenient than most lenders.
OppLoans does not perform a hard credit check, but you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a regular source of income (including benefits)
- Have a checking account with direct deposit
- Live in a state where OppLoans operates
OppLoans currently serves borrowers in 40 states:
States where OppLoans operates
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
OppLoans costs and fees
OppLoans loans come with sky-high APRs, often exceeding 100%. There are no origination fees or prepayment penalties, but the interest alone can make repayment expensive.
Here’s how costs can break down:
| Example | $500 loan | $3,000 loan |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 160% | 170% |
| Term | 9 months | 12 months |
| Monthly payment | $122 | $675 |
| Total interest paid | ~$600 | ~$5,100 |
| Total repayment | ~$1,100 | ~$8,100 |
In both cases, the total interest paid exceeds the amount borrowed.
Is OppLoans good for credit building?
OppLoans reports payments to all three major credit bureaus. Making on-time payments may help build or improve your credit history over time.
However, missed or late payments can hurt your credit, and the high cost of the loan can make it harder to stay on track if your budget is tight.
When OppLoans may make sense
OppLoans may be a better option than a payday loan if:
- You can’t qualify for traditional personal loans
- You need fast access to cash
- You want structured monthly payments
- You want your payments reported to credit bureaus
Even then, it’s smart to compare alternatives first.
OppLoans vs. payday loans
We think OppLoans is generally safer than payday loans, which often carry APRs around 400% and require repayment by your next paycheck.
| Feature | OppLoans | Payday loans |
|---|---|---|
| Max loan amount | $4,000 | $500 – $1,000 |
| APR | Over 100% | Around 400% |
| Repayment | 9 – 18 months | Next payday |
| Credit reporting | Yes | No |
OppLoans offers more time to repay and a clearer path out of debt, but it’s still expensive.
Better alternatives to OppLoans
Before accepting an OppLoans offer, it’s worth checking whether you qualify for a lower-cost option.
Lower-APR personal loan alternatives
These lenders offer much lower rates and higher loan limits if you qualify.
Cash advance app alternatives
If you only need a small amount, cash advance apps may cost less than an OppLoans loan.
Depending on fees and timing, these options can be cheaper than a high-APR installment loan.
OppLoans reviews: What borrowers say
OppLoans receives mixed, but generally positive, feedback.
Borrowers often praise fast funding and customer support, while criticism usually centers on high interest rates and documentation requests.
How to apply for an OppLoans loan
Applying is fully online. You’ll need:
- Government-issued ID
- Proof of income
- Bank account with direct deposit
Application steps
- Visit the OppLoans website, and click “Apply Now.”
- Confirm you meet the eligibility requirements
- Complete the application and submit documents
If approved, OppLoans will notify you and fund your loan as soon as possible.
Bottom line
Our OppLoans review found that it’s legitimate, safe, and more affordable than payday loans, but it’s still one of the most expensive borrowing options available. If you can qualify for a lower-APR personal loan or use a cash advance app, those alternatives can save you significant money.
We recommend considering OppLoans only when you’ve exhausted cheaper options, and only if you’re confident you can manage the payments.
OppLoans review: How we rated it
We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best personal loans. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.
We compared OppLoans to several personal loan lenders and marketplaces, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and best-for designation, recapped below.
| Company | Rating (0-5) | |
|---|---|---|
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About our contributors
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Written by Catherine CollinsCatherine Collins is a personal finance writer and author with more than 10 years of experience writing for top personal finance publications. As a mother to boy/girl twins, she is passionate about helping women and children learn about money and entrepreneurship. Cat is also the co-host of the Five Year You podcast.
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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.