Answer a few quick questions to see your estimated APR, term, and monthly payment – then get matched with trusted Canadian lenders that serve your province. Apply via Smarter Loans to see their real offers. No credit impact.
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Canada Loan Finder
🔎 Loan Finder & Pre-Qualifier
get pre-qualified for any loan in minutes and compare offers top Canadian lenders.
One stop for personal, business, mortgage, auto and equipment financing. Use the interactive pre-qualifier to see your estimated APR and term ranges, eligibility, and a curated list of lenders, then continue to Smarter Loans to compare offers.
Updated September 2025
🧮 Loan Finder & Pre-Qualifier
1) Choose a loan type
🧷 Personal
🏢 Business
🏠 Mortgage
🚗 Auto
🛠️ Equipment
2) Pick a scenario
3) Your details
$
Requested amount before fees. Borrow only what you need. You can edit the amount later in the application.
<600
600 to 659
660 to 719
720 to 759
760+
If unsure, pick a range. Use the credit score estimator below for a quick check.
<20%
20 to 35%
35 to 45%
>45%
DTI = monthly debt payments (credit cards, loans, housing) divided by gross monthly income. Example: $1,200 debts / $4,000 income = 30%.
Used mainly for unsecured loans like personal and auto.
We prioritize lenders that serve your region.
Estimates only. Final terms depend on lender underwriting.
📈 Your estimated scenario
Based on your profile, here is a likely APR range, term range and eligibility summary. Use this as a guide before comparing offers.
Loan amount
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Estimated APR low
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Estimated APR high
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Likely term range
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Estimated payment*
N/A
Total repayment*
N/A
Fit score
N/A
*We calculate payment using the midpoint of your APR range and the middle of your likely term range. It’s a standard amortized loan: Payment = r × P / (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r is monthly rate, P is amount and n is months.
Run the tool to see your repayment donut
Principal
Interest
📄 Show eligibility detail
| Factor | Effect |
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🚀 Continue to compare loan offers
Finish your profile and see options from vetted Canadian providers.
Start your application🏦 Matched lenders
We filtered the marketplace by your loan type, amount, province and lender strictness. Review potential fits, then continue to compare offers.
| Lender | Amounts | Description | Fit | Apply |
|---|
🧠 How this tool helps you
🎯 Realistic ranges, not guesswork
We’ve mapped what Canadian lenders typically look for — credit tiers, income and DTI for consumers, and time in business and monthly revenue for businesses. Your inputs let us estimate an APR and term range that borrowers like you often receive.
🤝 Smart matching to the right lenders
Each lender has different rules. Some are stricter; others are flexible. We check your amount, province, and profile against each lender’s comfort zone to highlight strong fits first. That means less time shopping around and more time comparing real offers.
🚀 Fast path to offers
When you continue to Smarter Loans, you’ll complete your profile once and see options from vetted Canadian providers. We route you to the best fit and you can still compare other great matches — all in one place.
🧭 Types of Financing Available in Canada
| Type | Typical APR | Typical Amount | Term | Speed | Best for | Key pros | Key cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🧷 Personal installment | 6% to 29.99% | $1,000 to $100,000 | 12 to 60 mo | Fast | General purpose | Predictable payment | Higher cost at low score |
| 🏢 Business term loan | 8% to 36% | $5,000 to $500,000+ | 6 to 60 mo | Fast to Moderate | Growth & working capital | Larger amounts | Docs and revenue checks |
| 🏠 Mortgage | 4% to 9% | $100,000 to $2M+ | 10 to 30 yrs | Moderate | Home purchase/refi | Lower rates | Long interest horizon |
| 🚗 Auto loan | 5% to 24% | $5,000 to $100,000 | 24 to 84 mo | Fast | Vehicle purchase | Secured pricing | Depreciation risk |
| 🛠️ Equipment financing | 6% to 24% | $10,000 to $1,000,000+ | 12 to 84 mo | Moderate | Equipment purchases | Asset-backed | Asset collateralized |
Tip: Compare APR plus fees, then pick the shortest term that fits your budget.
🧷 Personal loans in Canada
Personal loans provide a lump sum you repay with fixed payments. They are commonly used for debt consolidation, home projects and major purchases. Below are common subtypes and what they mean.
| Subtype | APR | Typical Amount | Repayment | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsecured installment | 7% to 29.99% | $1,000 to $50,000+ | 12 to 60 mo, fixed | No collateral required. Approval based on credit and income. | General purpose |
| Secured installment | 6% to 18% | $5,000 to $100,000+ | 12 to 120 mo, fixed | Tied to an asset (vehicle, savings). Can lower APR. | Bigger projects |
| Personal line of credit | Prime + spread | Flexible | Revolving | Borrow as needed and pay interest only on balances used. | Ongoing expenses |
| Payday / cash advance | Very high | $20 to $1,500 | Due next payday | Short-term cash access at high cost. Last resort. | Urgent gaps |
🏢 Business financing in Canada
Business financing supports working capital, inventory, payroll and expansion. Lenders consider time in business, monthly revenue, industry and credit profile.
| Product | APR | Typical Amount | Repayment | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term loan | 8% to 36% | $10,000 to $500,000+ | 6 to 60 mo | Lump sum with fixed schedule and end date. | Expansion and projects |
| Line of credit | Prime + spread | $10,000 to $300,000 | Revolving | Draw as needed; interest on outstanding balance only. | Seasonal cash flow |
| Merchant cash advance | High effective | $5,000 to $250,000 | % of sales | Advance on future card revenue. Daily/weekly splits. | Card-heavy merchants |
| Business credit card | ~12% to 24%+ | $5,000 to $50,000 | Revolving | Flexible spending with rewards; avoid carrying balances. | Small purchases |
| Equipment financing | 6% to 24% | $10,000 to $1,000,000 | 12 to 84 mo | Loan or lease secured by the equipment itself. | Machinery and vehicles |
🛠️ Equipment loans & leases in Canada
Equipment financing ties pricing to the asset and business strength. Here are common structures and what their names mean.
| Structure | APR / Rate | Typical Amount | Term | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment loan | 6% to 18% | $25,000 to $1,000,000 | 24 to 84 mo | You own the asset; the lender takes a lien until paid off. | Long-life equipment |
| Lease ($1 buyout) | 8% to 22% | $25,000 to $800,000 | 24 to 72 mo | Lease with a token $1 purchase at the end. Behaves like a loan. | Ownership intent |
| FMV lease | 8% to 24% | $25,000 to $1,000,000 | 24 to 60 mo | Fair Market Value option at end: return, extend or buy at market value. | Tech that depreciates fast |
🚗 Auto loans in Canada
Auto loans are secured by the vehicle. Terms and rates depend on credit tier, vehicle age and mileage, down payment and loan-to-value.
| Subtype | APR | Typical Amount | Term | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime auto | 5% to 12% | $10,000 to $100,000 | 36 to 84 mo | Lower-rate programs for strong credit and newer vehicles. | Newer vehicles |
| Non-prime auto | 12% to 24% | $5,000 to $60,000 | 24 to 72 mo | Designed for rebuilding credit or thin files. | Credit rebuilding |
| Lease | Varies | $10,000 to $100,000 | 24 to 60 mo | Lower payment in exchange for KM limits and end-of-term options. | Short horizons |
| Refinance | 6% to 20% | $5,000 to $60,000 | 24 to 72 mo | Replace current loan to reduce payment or rate. | Improve cash flow |
🏠 Mortgages in Canada
Mortgages offer the lowest rates but over long horizons. Underwriting weighs credit, down payment and debt service ratios (GDS/TDS).
| Type | Rate | Term | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed | 4% to 7% | 1 to 5 yrs | Rate and payment do not change during the term. | Budget certainty |
| Variable | Prime ± | 1 to 5 yrs | Rate moves with the market. Payment or amortization can change. | Rate risk tolerance |
| HELOC | Prime + | Revolving | Borrow against home equity. Interest only on the amount used. | Projects over time |
| Private/Alt | Higher | 6 to 24 mo | Flexible approvals for unique profiles or properties. | Bridge and special cases |
🔎 Credit scores in Canada — how they work
Credit scores summarize the information in your credit report and help lenders estimate risk. The biggest drivers are payment history and credit utilization, followed by the length of history, recent inquiries and mix of credit. Keeping balances low, paying on time and avoiding unnecessary new credit can meaningfully improve your profile over time.
- Payment history: Late or missed payments hurt quickly. Autopay and reminders can help you keep a perfect streak.
- Utilization: Try to stay under 30% of your revolving credit limits (lower is better). Paying mid-cycle can reduce reported balances.
- Age of credit: Older accounts help. Think twice before closing your oldest card.
- New credit: Multiple recent hard pulls may nudge scores down temporarily. Rate-shop in short windows when possible.
- Public records & NSFs: Collections hurt. Frequent NSF (non-sufficient funds) events can also signal risk to lenders.
🔐 Credit score estimator (fast & simple)
This is an educational tool. Real scores vary by bureau and model. Use it to understand what may help your score.
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
<10%
10 to 30%
30 to 50%
>50%
<2 yrs
2 to 5 yrs
5+ yrs
0
1
2
3+
0
1
2+
Estimated score band
N/A
Tips
N/A
We do not store or transmit this information.
📈 What determines your rate
📇 Credit profile
Higher scores and clean history generally unlock lower APRs. Paying on time and keeping balances low are the biggest wins.
💰 Debt & income
Lower DTI shows more room in your budget for a new payment. Consider smaller amounts or longer terms if DTI is high.
🔒 Collateral
Secured loans reduce lender risk and can increase the amount you qualify for at better pricing.
⌛ Term length
Longer terms lower the payment but can increase total interest. Shorter terms do the opposite.
🏦 Lender policies
Each lender has unique underwriting rules and province coverage. Comparing multiple providers is key.
📍 Province
Availability and regulations vary by province/territory, which can affect your choices.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How do I use the Loan Finder & Pre-Qualifier?
Choose a loan type, pick a scenario, enter a few details and click See My Estimate. You’ll get an APR and term range plus matched lenders that serve your province and amount. From there, click Start Application to continue through Smarter Loans and see real offers.
Does this affect my credit score?
No. The on-page estimator doesn’t pull your credit. When you proceed to Smarter Loans, partners typically use soft checks to pre-qualify, with hard checks only if you move forward on a specific offer with your consent.
How accurate are the ranges?
They’re based on typical pricing bands for similar borrower profiles and today’s market conditions. Final pricing depends on the lender’s underwriting, your documentation, and the exact product you choose. That’s why we recommend continuing to compare offers after your estimate.
What is DTI and why does it matter?
Debt-to-income (DTI) compares your required monthly debts to your gross monthly income. A lower DTI usually means better approval odds and pricing. If your DTI is high, consider a smaller amount, providing collateral, or choosing a longer term to keep payments manageable.
Can I apply to a specific lender?
Yes. Click Apply Now next to any matched lender. We’ll connect you directly. If we spot an even better fit based on your full application, we’ll let you compare that option too so you can choose confidently.
What if I own a home?
If you indicate collateral and select “Own a home,” you may qualify for a home equity loan or HELOC, which can lower your rate compared to unsecured options. Use the callout link to check eligibility — it’s quick and doesn’t commit you to anything.
What documents will I need?
It varies by product. Personal loans often require ID, proof of income and recent bank statements. Business loans usually need basic registration records and revenue proof (bank statements or processor reports). Mortgages require income verification, down payment proof and property details. Auto and equipment loans will also ask for asset information.
How fast can I get funded?
Funding speed ranges from as fast as 24–48 hours for some personal/business loans to longer timelines for mortgages due to appraisals and legal steps. Auto and equipment financing can move quickly once the vehicle or asset is confirmed.
What amounts are realistic?
Personal loans can be a few hundred dollars up to tens of thousands depending on profile. Business and equipment financing can reach higher amounts when revenue and assets support it. Mortgages are driven by property value and down payment. Our estimate gives a realistic starting point for your situation.
Why are provinces important?
Some lenders are national; others focus on specific provinces. Licensing and rules differ across Canada, so availability can vary. We only show lenders that serve your province to save you time.
How do you determine the “fit” score?
We look at the loan type, requested amount, province and key profile signals (like score band, DTI or business revenue/time in business). Then we compare those to each lender’s typical approvals and strictness. The goal is to highlight lenders where you’re most likely to be approved quickly and on fair terms.
Can collateral improve my results?
Yes. Collateral can widen your options and reduce APR. If you own a home or vehicle, secured options may fit your budget better. You’ll see these paths surfaced when applicable.
What happens after I click Start Application?
You’ll complete your profile once through Smarter Loans. We help match you to top providers for your situation and surface competitive offers you can compare side by side. You stay in control — pick the offer that fits best and finalize with that lender.
Is Smarter Loans a lender?
No. Smarter Loans is a comparison and matching platform. We partner with trusted Canadian lenders so you can shop confidently in one place.
Any tips to improve my approval odds?
Keep payments on time, reduce revolving balances below 30% utilization, avoid new hard inquiries before applying, and gather documents (ID, income proof, bank statements) in advance. For businesses, clear bank statements (few NSFs) and consistent monthly revenue help.
🎯 For any loan, search Smarter Loans
Browse personal, business, auto, mortgage and other loans - then apply once to get compare offers.
Find a LoanDisclosure: Smarter Loans is not a lender. Tools provide estimates only and are not credit offers. Terms, eligibility and pricing vary by lender and province.
