Payday loans across Canada, with the cost shown first
Short a few hundred dollars before your next pay? ICCE connects you with lenders licensed in your province, and shows you exactly what the loan will cost before you type a single detail.
- Up to $1,500
- E-Transfer funding
- Bad credit considered
- Every province explained
Your cost receipt
See the real dollar cost before you apply.
- You borrow
- $500.00
- Maximum fee ($14 per $100)
- $70.00
- You repay at most
- $570.00
- Equivalent annual rate
- 365%
How do payday loans work in Canada? A payday loan is a short-term loan of up to $1,500 that you pay back, along with a fee, within 62 days, usually on your next payday. In every province with a federally designated payday lending regime, the fee can't be more than $14 per $100 borrowed, so a $500 loan costs at most $70. Quebec, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut don't have that regime, which means licensed payday lending isn't offered there.
Four steps, no surprises
Most people who come to us are dealing with something that can't wait: a rent gap, a car repair, a hydro bill with a disconnection date on it. So we keep the process short and we tell you the price before you commit to anything.
Check the cost
Use the receipt above. It shows the most a licensed lender can legally charge for the amount and term you choose.
Apply online
One form, about five minutes on your phone. You'll share income, pay dates and banking details. No faxing, no printing.
Read your offer
The lender shows the fee, the due date and the total in dollars. You can walk away at this point and it costs nothing.
Sign and get paid
Accept electronically and most lenders send the money by Interac e-Transfer. Timing depends on the lender and your bank.
Find the loan that matches your situation
Same rules, different starting points. Pick the page that sounds most like you.
Online payday loans
The full picture: amounts, costs, who qualifies and how repayment works.
E-Transfer payday loans
How money reaches your account, what slows it down, and what to watch for.
No credit check loans
What lenders review instead of your score, and what "no credit check" really means.
Bad credit payday loans
Collections, a consumer proposal or a thin file. Here's how approvals work for you.
Instant payday loans
What can happen fast, what can't, and how to avoid delays on your end.
Every province and territory, explained
Payday loan rules are set partly in Ottawa and partly by each province, so where you live changes how much you can borrow, how long you have to cancel, and whether a payday loan is even on the table. Choose yours.
City guides
We've also written guides for the cities our readers ask about most, covering local cost pressures, timing quirks and free help nearby.
What lenders look for
Every lender sets its own approval rules, but most of the ones we work with ask for the same basics:
- You're at least the age of majority in your province (18 or 19, depending on where you live)
- You live in a province where payday lending is licensed
- You have regular income, whether that's a job, Employment Insurance, CPP, a pension or disability benefits
- You have a Canadian chequing account that's been open for a while and can receive e-Transfers
- You have a working email address and mobile number
A low credit score on its own usually isn't a deal breaker. Lenders care more about whether your income can cover the repayment.
What to have ready
Having these nearby cuts the application down to a few minutes: your most recent pay date and the next one, your employer or benefit source, and your online banking login if the lender uses instant bank verification. Some lenders ask for a photo of your ID as well.
Why we lead with the price
Payday loans are expensive. At $14 per $100 over two weeks, the equivalent annual rate is about 365%. We'd rather you see that number on our home page than discover it on page three of a contract. If the cost makes you pause, that's the receipt doing its job.
The fee is the whole cost in a designated province. A licensed lender can't add a separate set-up charge on top of it, and the most it can charge if a payment bounces is $20.
When a payday loan is the wrong choice
If you'd need to borrow again right after repaying, a payday loan will probably make things harder. The same goes for paying off other debt. In those cases, call a non-profit credit counsellor first. It's free, and they can often negotiate with creditors on your behalf. Our responsible borrowing guide lists cheaper options worth checking.
Questions people ask before they borrow
Straight answers, written for people who've never taken out a payday loan before.
How much does a $500 payday loan cost in Canada?
In any province with a designated payday regime, the most you'll pay is $70, so you'd repay $570 in total. That's the $14-per-$100 federal maximum in force since January 1, 2025.
Can I get a payday loan with bad credit?
Often, yes. Most payday lenders focus on your income and bank history rather than your credit score. Approval still isn't guaranteed, and each lender makes its own decision.
How fast will I get the money?
Many lenders send funds by Interac e-Transfer on the same day you sign, sometimes within an hour or two. Applications sent late at night or on holidays may be handled the next business day.
Is ICCE a lender?
No. ICCE is a referral service. We pass your application to a lender licensed in your province, and that lender makes the decision, sets the terms and sends the money.
Can I get a payday loan in Quebec or the territories?
Not from a licensed payday lender. Quebec and the three territories don't have a federally designated payday regime, so the 35% annual rate cap applies and the payday model doesn't fit under it. Our province pages explain what to do instead.
Does applying hurt my credit score?
Submitting an application through ICCE doesn't trigger a hard credit inquiry. If a lender wants to run a credit check, it has to tell you, and many payday lenders don't.