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Bad Credit Loans Ontario

One application. 11 lenders.

11 lenders in our network approve applicants below a 560 credit score, serving Ontario. Borrow $100 to $150,000 at 9.99 to 35% APR, with funding as fast as 1 hour. Every lender is subject to the 35% federal rate cap. Most lenders ask for $1,200 monthly income. Rates reviewed August 2026.

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Amount: AnyCredit: Any Province: Any Sort: Recommended
★★★★★ 5.0 (2)
Amount
$30 - $250
Rate (APR)
0% APR
Terms
Revolving
Funding
2 days
Best for People who need a very small advance and want to avoid interest entirely · Line of credit
★★★★★ 4.5 (13)
Amount
$15 - $750
Rate (APR)
0% APR
Terms
0 - 3 months
Funding
1 hour
Best for People who need to bridge a small gap before payday without paying interest · Line of credit
★★★★★ 4.4 (14)
Amount
$500 - $35,000
Rate
From 9.99% APR
Terms
6 - 84 months
Funding
2 days
Best for Borrowers with fair or poor credit who want a long repayment runway and a path to better credit · Instalment loan
★★★★★ 4.6 (20)
Amount
$500 - $20,000
Rate (APR)
9.99 - 34.99% APR
Terms
9 - 84 months
Funding
2 days
Best for Borrowers who want branch support and the option to scale from a small unsecured loan to a large secured one · Instalment loan · Also offers: secured loan
★★★★★ 4.5 (11)
Amount
$500 - $2,500
Rate (APR)
18.99% APR
Terms
3 - 6 months
Funding
1 day
Best for Ontario and Quebec borrowers who want a small short-term loan at a rate well below the cap · Instalment loan
★★★★★ 4.4 (11)
Amount
$3,200 - $20,000
Rate (APR)
19.8 - 34.99% APR
Terms
36 months
Funding
3 hours
Best for Borrowers with fair credit who want a fixed three-year payoff on a mid-size balance · Line of credit
★★★★★ 4.5 (13)
Amount
$1,000 - $5,000
Rate (APR)
19.9 - 34.5% APR
Terms
12 - 36 months
Funding
1 day
Best for Borrowers with poor credit and modest income who need $5,000 or less · Instalment loan
★★★★★ 4.7 (12)
Amount
$500 - $750
Rate (APR)
23% APR
Terms
3 - 6 months
Funding
1 day
Best for Borrowers who need a few hundred dollars quickly and want a rate well under the cap · Instalment loan
★★★★★ 4.6 (7)
Amount
$500 - $1,000
Rate (APR)
29.99 - 35% APR
Terms
3 - 4 months
Funding
1 day
Best for Small, short borrowing with the least paperwork: instant bank verification carries nearly every file · Instalment loan
★★★★★ 4.3 (14)
Amount
$100 - $20,000
Rate (APR)
34.37% APR
Terms
6 - 84 months
Funding
1 day
Best for Ontario borrowers with poor credit who want an instalment loan rather than a payday advance · Instalment loan
★★★★★ 4.6 (16)
Amount
$500 - $10,000
Rate (APR)
34.99% APR
Terms
Revolving
Funding
1 hour
Best for Borrowers who want a payday advance and a longer-term line from the same provider · Line of credit

What gets a below-560 file approved in Ontario

This field removes more declines than credit score does.

Banking history can replace credit history. Lenders that connect read-only to your account assess deposit regularity instead of your file. They approve applications a bureau score would decline, and they fund fastest.

Ask for what you need. Approval likelihood falls as the amount rises against income, and at this band there is no version where a below-560 file gets prime pricing.

People with damaged credit in Ontario ask for less, not more. The table above shows it at both scales, and it runs against the assumption most people bring to this page.

The provincial rule that matters at this band

Ontario has no provincial high-cost credit band; the federal 35% cap is the protection. Anything above it is a criminal rate.

What actually moves a Canadian credit score

  1. Payment history first. It is the heaviest factor, and one missed payment costs more than any optimisation recovers
  2. Utilisation second, and fastest to respond. Below 30 percent of limits, movement shows within two cycles
  3. One application, not several. Each separate full application is a hard inquiry
  4. Instalment credit adds mix to a card-only file, which is where a reported small loan earns its fee
WHAT ONTARIO BORROWERS REQUEST · INSTALMENT SCALE
Ontario average instalment request by purpose
SHOW CHART DATA
PurposeAverage instalment request
Debt consolidation$8,532
Home improvement$7,702
Wedding$7,222
Education$6,688
Paying off bills$5,110
Medical expenses$4,503
Smarter Loans platform data, twelve months to September 2026. Applications with a province recorded. Provincial and city figures do not sum to national totals.
ONTARIO AVERAGE INSTALMENT REQUEST BY CREDIT BAND
Ontario average instalment request by credit band
SHOW CHART DATA
Verified credit bandAverage instalment request
Below 560$5,859
560 to 659$6,356
660 to 724$8,452
725 and above$12,608
Smarter Loans platform data, twelve months to September 2026. Applications with a province recorded. Provincial and city figures do not sum to national totals.
WHAT BELOW-560 APPLICANTS IN ONTARIO REQUEST
Below 560All credit bands
Everyday, under $1,500$487$483
Instalment, $1,500 and above$5,859$6,241
Smarter Loans platform data, twelve months to September 2026. Applications with a province recorded. Provincial and city figures do not sum to national totals.
WHAT A $500 LOAN COSTS FOR 14 DAYS IN ONTARIO
Payday loan ($14 per $100)
$70
Line of credit (30.4% APR)
$5.83
Instalment loan (5.99% APR)
$1.15
Interest for 14 days at each product's Ontario rate. A payday loan is repaid in one payment; credit products repay over a longer schedule and can cost more in total if carried for months.

Common questions

How do I know if I have bad credit?

A low credit score can severely impact your access to financial products, so it's crucial for all Canadians to know their credit score and, if necessary, take steps to improve it. Luckily there are many ways to find out your current score, including: paying a fee to access the information via a credit bureau (such as Equifax or TransUnion), speaking to your bank or credit union, or using an online tool.

What counts as a bad credit score?

Credit scores are an important aspect of your financial profile; every consumer has one, and they range from 300 to 900 – the higher your score, the more financially secure you are considered to be. The average score across Canada is 650, although both Toronto and Ottawa have slightly higher averages than this (679 and 663 respectively). Anyone with a score over 650 is judged as having good credit (with those over 720 having very good or even excellent credit). Those with scores under 600 are considered to have bad credit, with scores lower than 500 rated as very bad.

How can I get a bad credit loan in Ontario?

If you live in Ontario and have a credit score of less than 600, you are probably eligible for a bad credit loan. You must also be at least 18 years old, be able to show ID and proof of residency, and have an active bank account. These are the basic qualification criteria; each lender may have their own eligibility requirements too, such as proof of income. Research your chosen lender's application criteria and make sure you have the documents they ask for. Then, complete the application form, including the supporting documents, and submit. If your application meets the lender's approval, then you're all done – you will receive a loan!

Where can I get a bad credit loan in Ontario?

As Canada's most populous province, with nearly 40% of its citizens, Ontario has no shortage of bad credit providers. These fall into several major categories: online-only lenders, auto loan providers, bad credit specialists, and payday loan companies. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages, and to choose the right provider you must consider how much you need to borrow, for how long, and how much you can afford to pay for a loan.

Can I apply online for an Ontario bad credit loan?

Yes, it is possible to complete and submit an application for a bad credit loan entirely online. Ontario has online-only lenders, as well as general lenders with online platforms, and both have the ability to accept and process your information without you needing to go anywhere. Just make sure you have copies of all the required documents and submit everything as instructed.

How can I use a bad credit loan?

Bad credit loans can be used for many different reasons: to help consolidate existing debts, to pay unexpected bills or cover emergencies, to ameliorate a short term cash flow issue, to fund a purchase, or to help improve your credit – really, you can use a bad credit loan for almost anything.

What's the average interest rate for a bad credit loan in Ontario?

Interest rates for bad credit loans run a little higher than interest rates on traditional personal loans, but that doesn't mean you have no affordable options. The type and size of loan affects what rate you'll qualify for, as does your financial situation, so while the average interest rate for a bad credit loan in Ontario is around 20%, this can fall as low as 5%, or go as high as 40%, depending on the circumstances.

How much can I borrow with a bad credit loan in Ontario?

Bad credit loans are available in many sizes, from just a few hundred dollars to as much as $50,000. Your exact financial circumstances will dictate how much you can borrow, and under what terms. Generally speaking, the higher your income and the fewer other debts you have, the more you will be able to borrow.

How much does an Ontario bad credit loan cost?

Loans come with a variety of fees, and bad credit loans for Ontario residents are no different. Application fees and loan origination fees are pretty standard, but each lender may have other fees as well, including closing fees, late payment penalties, early prepayment fees, loan service fees, underwriting fees, and more. A reputable lender will always be transparent about their fee structure, and it's important to include all fees in your calculations regarding what you can afford.

Are no credit check loans available in Ontario?

Yes, no credit check loans are available in Ontario. This type of loan is exactly what it sounds like – a loan that does not require a credit check. This is useful if you have poor credit and would not pass a credit check, or if you do not want a credit check appearing on your report for some reason. Instead of credit score, your income level is the determining factor for approval. As no checks are required, these loans tend to be processed very quickly.

Will taking out a bad credit loan hurt my credit score?

Taking on any form of debt, regardless of type, will always have an effect on your credit score – usually lowering it slightly. However, this effect does not need to be permanent. As with any loan, a bad credit loan will only have a long term negative impact on your credit score if you fail to pay back the loan as agreed. If you make all your loan payments though, you will actually help to improve your credit over time.

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