Compare Australian personal loans
Find personal loans from a wide range of Australian lenders that best suit your needs. Compare interest rates, repayments, fees and more.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, dreaming of a holiday or looking to consolidate debt, we can all use a helping hand every now and then. Learn about how personal loans work in Australia, who is eligible and how the new Australian credit reporting system will affect you.
Find and compare Australian personal loans
Product | Advertised Rate | Comparison Rate* | Company | Monthly repayment | Loan term | Total repayments | Real Time Rating™ | Go to site | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.95% Fixed up to 17.95% | 6.95% |  | $926 36 months | 1.5 years to 7 years | $33,323 | Make the most of this unsecured personal loan's competitive interest rate with no fees for extra repayments. More details | Highlighted | |||
7.95% Fixed up to 8.5% | 8.22% |  | $939 36 months | 3 years | $33,818 | Tech-savvy borrowers can join this digital lender, without needing to put down security. More details | ||||
6.99% Fixed up to 9.49% | 6.99% |  | $926 36 months | 2 years to 3 years | $33,342 | Sign up online for a personal loan with this digital marketplace lender, and pay no ongoing fees. More details | ||||
6.95% Fixed | 6.95% |  | $926 36 months | 1 year to 5 years | $33,323 | An unsecured personal loan with a competitive interest rate and no ongoing or extra repayments fees, giving you the flexibility to pay it off faster. More details | ||||
9.39% Fixed | 9.64% |  | $959 36 months | 0 year to 7 years | $34,540 | More details | ||||
7.99% Fixed | 8.62% |  | $940 36 months | 1 year to 5 years | $33,838 | More details | ||||
6.75% Fixed | 7.10% |  | $923 36 months | 1 year to 7 years | $33,224 | More details | ||||
6.49% Fixed up to 19.49% | 7.75% |  | $919 36 months | 1 year to 7 years | $33,096 | More details | ||||
5.75% Variable | 6.47% |  | $909 36 months | 1 year to 7 years | $32,733 | More details | ||||
6.45% Fixed up to 10.49% | 6.45% |  | $919 36 months | 3 years to 7 years | $33,076 | More details | ||||
12.69% Fixed | 13.56% |  | $1006 36 months | 1 year to 7 years | $36,228 | More details | ||||
12.69% Variable | 13.56% | | $1006 36 months | 1 year to 7 years | $36,228 | More details | ||||
6.81% Variable | 7.80% |  | $924 36 months | 2 years to 5 years | $33,254 | More details | ||||
10.50% Fixed | 11.38% |  | $975 36 months | 1 year to 7 years | $35,103 | More details | ||||
12.99% Variable | 13.86% | | $1011 36 months | 1 year to 7 years | $36,384 | More details |
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How do Australian personal loans work?
Taking out a personal loan in Australia works by allowing you to borrow money for a specific purpose over a set period of time. Personal loans work as most loans would and there are certain criteria that you have to meet, including having income to repay the debt.
Key components of an Australian personal loan:
| Personal loan Element | About |
| Loan amount | Can start from $2,000 and some go up to $100,000 depending on its purpose. Smaller loans, called payday loans, are available but carry their own risks. |
| Interest rate | The cost of borrowing the money which is charged as a percentage of the loan amount and applied to your regular repayments. Interest rates can be fixed or variable. |
| Loan term | The length of your loan, typically 12 to 60 months. |
| Loan type | Choose between a secured or unsecured loan. |
| Repayment frequency | Weekly, fortnightly or monthly. |
| Features | Some personal loans offer features like the ability to make extra repayments, or an overdraft facility. |
| Fees | This can be anything from annual or monthly fees to fees charged when making extra repayments or repaying the loan early if it’s fixed. |
What can you use personal loans for?
There are a few reasons you could take out a personal loan, including:
- Debt consolidation
- Buying a new or used car
- Paying for a wedding
- Funding a holiday
- Paying school fees
- Paying medical bills
- Moving house
- Funding home renovations
Debt consolidation personal loans can be a useful debt management tool. If you have more than one debt facility such as multiple credit card, you could take out a personal loan to pay these off. You’ll then have only one debt at a lower interest rate to manage. That’s because personal loans charge lower interest rates than credit cards.
How do you compare Australian personal loans?
There are a few ways to compare personal loans and get information, like speaking to a bank or broker. Use comparison tools, such as tables and calculators, to find loan options that suit your needs and budget and to ensure you’re getting the most competitive deal.
- Comparison tables help filter and narrow down personal loan options. You can compare interest rates and view features or fees attached to the loan. The RateCity personal loans marketplace was built with this in mind.
- Calculators help you compare your loan options by showing how much a loan’s repayments may cost you depending on the amount you borrow and the interest rate. This is a great tool to use once you’ve narrowed down a few loan options to see which loan is the most affordable for you.
How do you choose the right personal loan?
The right personal loan for you depends on your finances and the type of loan you want. Your bank may not offer the best or cost effective loan. This is why doing your research is so important. The first thing you should do is figure out what you want from your loan. Your loan’s purpose is important because lenders may use this as a loan criteria. For example, some lenders are happy with you borrowing for a renovation, but not for a wedding.
You then need to decide if you want a secured or unsecured loan as this will affect the cost, or the interest rate, on the loan. You also need to decide if you want a fixed or variable interest rate loan.
Different types of personal loans
Secured vs unsecured personal loans
A secured loan has collateral as security on the loan, whereas an unsecured loan does not.
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Secured loans: With a secured personal loan, your financier will ask you to insure the loan using an asset that you own. This asset will be used to cover the personal loan amount if you default on your repayments.
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Unsecured loans: An unsecured loan is not secured by an asset, and so it represents a greater risk to your lender. With no insurance on your loan, they cannot recover their losses if you fail to meet your repayments. So lenders charge higher interest rates on unsecured personal loans in order to reduce their risk. These types of loans also come with stricter criteria, to ensure borrowers can meet their repayments.
Fixed vs variable rate personal loans
- Fixed interest rate: Personal loans with fixed rates charge the same interest rate for the length of the loan. That means that you agree to pay a set amount of interest as part of the loan repayments each month. Regardless of whether your lender changes interest rates, your repayments will stay the same. This can be appealing as it keeps your expenses certain and makes budgeting easier. However, you could miss out on savings if your lender reduces their variable rates.
- Variable interest rate: Personal loans with variable interest rates mean your repayments could change at any time. You could save money with a variable loan if there’s a rate cut, as your interest costs and repayments will fall. However, if your bank or lender raises their rates, your costs could rise.
Once you know what your ideal loan is, you can begin your comparison use RateCity's personal loan repayment calculator to see what you can afford. Doing your own research is the best way to ensure you choose the right loan for your specific financial needs and budget.
Can anyone get a Australian personal loan?
Not everyone will be eligible for a personal loan in Australia. Eligibility criteria typically includes:
- Being 18 years or over
- Living in Australia
- Being an Australian citizen, permanent resident or holding an eligible visa
- Receiving regular income and/or being employed. Some lenders set minimum income requirements so be sure to read the fine print before applying
- Good credit history
If you have a poor credit score, you may find it harder to get loan approval. You also may be charged higher interest rates because you’re seen as a riskier borrower. This helps lenders cover their costs. Learn more about credit scores.
What documentation do you need for a Australian personal loan
The number and type of documents a lender asks you for may depend on whether they have dealt with you before, your credit history and the information contained in your bank statements.
These may include:
- Proof of identity - driver’s license, passport or Birth certificate
- Utility bills
- Proof of income such as pay slips or Centrelink benefits
- Bank statements
- Recent ATO tax notice of assessment or tax return
- Recent tax returns or financial statements
- Existing credit commitments and statements - credit card debt etc.
- If you’re applying for a personal loan for the purpose of purchasing a car, you might be asked to provide additional documentation relating to the car and its insurance policy.
Other factors to consider
When deciding on a personal loan, it’s important to consider the following factors.
- Loan term: spreading your repayments across several years could lead to smaller weekly or monthly repayments. This will, however, increase the amount of interest you pay over time.
- Your credit provider: consider using ASIC’s professional register to check whether your lender is licensed.
- Fees: some loans will charge a range of fees. This is why comparison rates are helpful when choosing loans. A loan’s ‘comparison rate’ combines a loan's advertised interest rate with its standard fees and charges, giving you a more accurate idea of its overall cost. Just watch out for any extra fees and charges that aren’t included in the comparison rate. You should ask a lender whether any of these apply.
- Features: the bells and whistles will cost you. Adding features to your personal loan can increase the interest rate.
What Australian personal loan can you afford
Not sure what personal loan you can afford? Use our personal loan repayment calculator to see what loan amount and interest rate would suit your finances. If you're considering a variable rate personal loan and have a strict budget, it's wise to budget for a rate rise of up to 3 percentage points to ensure that you can afford repayments.
Example of personal loan costs:
| Loan purpose | Loan amount | Loan term | Interest rate | Monthly repayments | Total cost | Total interest paid |
| Holiday | $5,000 | 2 years | 9% | $228 | $5,482 | $482 |
| Debt consolidation | $10,000 | 3 years | 10% | $323 | $11,616 | $1,616 |
| Wedding | $15,000 | 4 years | 11% | $388 | $18,609 | $3,609 |
| Renovations | $20,000 | 5 years | 12% | $445 | $26,693 |
$6,693 |
Note: Loan repayments don’t include fees.
Will my credit history affect my personal loan application?
Your credit history is an important measuring tool for lenders in Australia to determine your loan eligibility and if you will be able to meet your repayments. Your credit report will not just show negative information, but positive too. For example, if you’ve been working to pay off your debt and improve your credit by making regular repayments on your credit card, this will be revealed.
Your credit history helps lenders to make a more informed decision about your reliability as a borrower. If you have bad credit, don’t despair. In Australia, a new and positive credit score reporting system is being rolling out. Comprehensive Credit Reporting will see additional ‘positive reporting’ factored in by the Credit Reporting Bodies in Australia. Read more here.
If you’re still concerned about your credit history, you could speak with a finance broker. Finance brokers can organise loans on your behalf. They may be able to help you find lenders who specialise in bad debt. They won’t charge for the service; instead, they’ll earn a commission from the lender.
Check the fees and charges
Just as with all financial loans, lenders charge fees on loans to cover their costs and financial risk. Personal loans can come with fees and charges that include:
- Starting fees
- Account keeping fees
- Early exit fees
- Administrative fees
- Late payment fees
- Redraw fees
Tip
When you’re comparing personal loans, look at ALL the associated fees and costs by reading the key facts and figures sheet for the product, and the product disclosure statement (PDS). Every loan is different, so you need to make sure you look at all fees and charges before signing on the dotted line.
Nick Bendel
Property Personal Finance Writer
A property and personal finance writer, Nick Bendel covers property, loans, credit cards, superannuation, and other bank products. Nick has previously written for The Adviser, Mortgage Business, Lifehacker, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, and InvestorDaily, and loves getting elbow-deep in the latest ABS, APRA and RBA data.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I get a $3000 loan approved?
Responsible lenders don’t have guaranteed approval for personal loans and medium amount loans, as the lender will want to check that you can afford the loan repayments on your current income without ending up in financial hardship.
Having a good credit score can increase the likelihood of your personal loan application being approved. Bad credit borrowers who opt for a medium amount loan with no credit checks may need to prove they can afford the repayments on their current income. Centrelink payments may not count, so you should check with the lender prior to making an application.
Can I repay a $3000 personal loan early?
If you receive a financial windfall (e.g. tax refund, inheritance, bonus), using some of this money to make extra repayments onto your personal loan or medium amount loan could help reduce the total interest you’re charged on your loan, or help clear your debt ahead of schedule.
Check your loan’s terms and conditions before paying extra onto your loan, as some lenders charge fees for making extra repayments, or early exit fees for clearing your debt ahead of the agreed term.
Are there alternatives to $2000 loans?
If you need to borrow $2000 or less, alternatives to getting a personal loan or payday loan include using a credit card or the redraw facility of your home, car or personal loan.
Before you borrow $2000 on a credit card, remember that interest will continue being charged on what you owe until you clear your credit card balance. To minimise your interest, consider prioritising paying off your credit card.
Before you draw down $2000 in extra repayments from your home, car or personal loan using a redraw facility, note that fees and charges may apply, and drawing money from your loan may mean your loan will take longer to repay, costing you more in total interest.
What is an unsecured bad credit personal loan?
A bad credit personal loan is ‘unsecured’ when the borrower doesn’t offer up an asset, such as a car or jewellery, as collateral or security. Lenders generally charge higher interest rates on unsecured loans than secured loans.
What is the average interest rate on personal loans for single parents?
Like other types of personal loans, the average interest rate for personal loans for single parents changes regularly, as lenders add, remove, and vary their loan offers. The interest rate you’ll receive may depend on a range of different factors, including your loan amount, loan term, security, income, and credit score.
How are credit ratings/scores calculated?
Different credit reporting bodies may use different formulas to calculate credit scores. However, they use the same type of information: credit history and demographic profile.
They’re likely to look at how many credit applications you’ve made, which lender the applications were for, what purpose they were for, how much they were for and your repayment record. They’ll also look at your age and postcode. They’ll also look to see if you’ve had any bankruptcies or other relevant legal judgements against you.
Your score can change if your demographic profile changes or new information is added to your file (such as a new loan application) or existing information is removed from your file (i.e. because it has reached its expiry date).
Which lenders offer bad credit personal loans?
Several dozen lenders offer bad credit personal loans in Australia. These are generally smaller lenders that aren’t household names.
What is a credit rating/score?
Your credit rating or credit score is a number that summarises how credit-worthy you are based on your credit history.
The lower your score, the more likely you are to be denied a loan or forced to pay a higher interest rate.
Is it hard to improve your credit score?
It can be hard to improve your credit score, as it usually requires sacrifice and discipline, but hard doesn’t necessarily mean complicated. Some simple ways you can give your credit score a boost include closing extra credit cards, reducing your credit card limit, pay off any loans and make loan repayments on time.
As a general rule, the lower your credit score, the more remedies you can apply and the greater the scope for improvement.
What do single parents need for a personal loan application?
Much like applying for other personal loans, applying for personal loans for single parents will likely require the following:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of residence
- Proof of income
- Details of assets (e.g. car, home)
- Details of liabilities (e.g. credit cards, other loans)
- Loan amount
- Loan term
How long will I have bad credit?
Most negative events that appear on a person’s credit file will stay in their credit history for up to seven years.
You may be able to improve your credit score by correcting errors in your credit report, clearing outstanding debts, and maintaining good financial habits over time.
What is a bad credit personal loan?
A bad credit personal loan is a personal loan designed for somebody with a bad credit history. This type of personal loan has higher interest rates than regular personal loans as well as higher fees.
How long does it take to get a $5000 loan?
Depending on the lender, personal loans and medium-amount loans for $5000 can sometimes be approved in under an hour, and give you access to the money the same day. Other loans may take 24 hours or longer to assess your application, and you may not get the money for a few days.
Should I get a fixed or variable personal loan?
Fixed personal loans keep your interest rate the same for the full loan term, while interest rates on variable personal loans may be raised or lowered during your loan term.
A fixed rate personal loan keeps your repayments consistent, which can help keep your budgeting consistent. You won't have to worry about higher repayments if your rates were to rise. However, on a fixed loan you’ll also potentially miss out on more affordable repayments if variable rates were to fall.
Can you refinance a $5000 personal loan?
Much like home loans, many personal loans can be refinanced. This is where you replace your current personal loan with another personal loan, often from another lender and at a lower interest rate. Switching personal loans may let you enjoy more affordable repayments, or useful features and benefits.
If you have a $5000 personal loan as well as other debts, you may be able to use a debt consolidations personal loan to combine these debts into one, potentially saving you money and simplifying your repayments.
What is a personal loan?
A personal loan sits somewhere between a home loan and a credit card loan. Unlike with a credit card, you need to sign a formal contract to access a personal loan. However, the process is easier and faster than taking out a mortgage.
Loan sizes typically range from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, while loan terms usually run from one to five years. Personal loans are generally used to consolidate debts, pay emergency bills or fund one-off expenses like holidays.
How much can you borrow with a bad credit personal loan?
Borrowers who take out bad credit personal loans don’t just pay higher interest rates than on regular personal loans, they also get loaned less money. Each lender has its own policies and loan limits, but you’ll find it hard to get approved for a bad credit personal loan above $50,000.
Can I get a $2000 loan on Centrelink?
If more than half of your income comes from Centrelink benefits, it may be more difficult to have a $2000 loan application approved. Many lenders will check if you can afford a loan’s repayments on the income from your job before they’ll approve an application, and many won’t count Centrelink payments when assessing your income for this purpose.
Some lenders may offer $2000 loans to borrowers on Centrelink – consider contacting potential lenders to check before applying.
Do $4000 loans have no credit checks?
Many medium amount loans for $4000 have no credit checks and are instead assessed based on your current ability to repay the loan, rather than by looking at your credit history. While these loans can appear attractive to bad credit borrowers, it’s important to remember that they often have high fees and can be costlier than other options.
Personal loans for $4000 are more likely to have longer loan terms and will require a credit check as part of the application process. Bad credit borrowers may see their $4000 loan applications declined or have to pay higher interest rates than good credit borrowers.
What do credit scores have to do with personal loan interest rates?
There is a strong link between credit scores and personal loan interest rates because many lenders use credit scores to help decide what interest rates to offer to potential borrowers.
If you have a higher credit score, lenders will probably classify you as a lower-risk borrower. That means they’ll be keen to win your business, so they may offer you a lower interest rate if you apply for a personal loan.
If you have a lower credit score, lenders will probably classify you as a higher-risk borrower. That means they might be concerned about you defaulting on the loan and costing them money. As a result, they might protect themselves by charging you a higher interest rate.