Disclosure Public Cash Services is an independent information and comparison website. We are not a lender. We may receive compensation when you visit lender websites or submit an enquiry through links on this site. How we are paid

Independent · Canada-wide · Not a lender

Online payday loans in Canada, compared, costed and licence-checked.

Public Cash Services helps you research licensed payday and personal loan providers by province and city. See what borrowing really costs, confirm a lender’s licence, and look at cheaper options before you decide.

  • Cost shown in dollars first
  • Licence status on every listing
  • Alternatives beside every loan

Start with where you live

“Get Started Now” opens a personal-loan request you finish with our lending partner. No SIN, banking passwords or ID photos — ever.

Fast cash is easy to find. Fair cash takes a minute more.

01

We don’t lend

We publish information and list lenders. Approval, rates and terms are decided by each licensed lender and depend on your province.

02

We say how we’re paid

Some listings are paid placements and some links earn us a commission. They are labelled, and payment never changes a rating. Read the disclosure.

03

We cite the regulator

Every rule on this site links to the provincial regulator or legislation it comes from, with the date we last reviewed it.

Popular provinces

Which province are you in?

Payday-loan rules are provincial. Pick yours for the cost cap, borrowing limit, cancellation period and the regulator that licenses lenders.

Popular cities

Payday loans online or around the corner: pick your city

Local pages cover the lenders serving your area, community alternatives and who to call if something goes wrong.

Featured licensed lenders

Twenty lenders, every one with its sources showing

Each profile shows where the lender is licensed, the licence numbers it publishes and whether we have confirmed them on the registry. Paid positions are labelled. Use the directory to sort by cost, rating or name instead.

Cash 4 You

Licence numbers published

Cash 4 You is an Ontario-only lender with a store network offering payday loans and larger instalment loans.

Cost per $100
$14
Up to
$1,500
Funding
Cash in store
Serves
ON

“Get Started Now” opens our personal-loan request, handled by our lending partner — it is not an application to Cash 4 You.

Cash Money

Licence numbers published

Cash Money has offered payday loans in Canada since 1992, online and through a store network, alongside a line of credit.

Cost per $100
$14
Up to
$1,500
Funding
e-Transfer in about 15 minutes once approved, or cash in store (reported)
Serves
BC, MB, NL, NS, ON, SK

“Get Started Now” opens our personal-loan request, handled by our lending partner — it is not an application to Cash Money.

Cashco Financial

Licence numbers published

Cashco Financial is an Edmonton-based lender with branches across western Canada, offering payday loans and a longer-term Flex Loan.

Cost per $100
$14
Up to
$1,500
Funding
Same-day decisions in branch (reported)
Serves
AB, BC, SK

“Get Started Now” opens our personal-loan request, handled by our lending partner — it is not an application to Cashco Financial.

Open the lender directory

Loan comparison

Four lenders. One screen. Same questions.

Add up to four lenders and read them side by side: cost per $100, the total on a $500 loan, funding time, credit-check policy in the lender’s own words, and licence status.

Open the comparison tool

Payday-loan cost calculator

What would it actually cost?

Set your province, amount and term. The fee is pre-filled with the legal maximum.

Maximum $1,500
1 to 62 days
Legal maximum pre-filled

Estimated cost Ontario

You borrow
$500.00
Total fee
$70.00
Due date
—
Annual rate for this term
365%
You repay
$570.00

Payday loans are expensive short-term credit. Results are estimates only. Your lender’s agreement shows the actual cost, dates and fees.

Compare licensed lenders

How payday loans work in Canada

What happens between “apply” and “repaid”?

  1. You apply

    Online or in a store, with proof of income, a bank account and ID. The lender must be licensed in your province.

  2. The lender decides

    Each lender sets its own approval and credit-check policy. Nobody can promise the answer in advance.

  3. You sign and receive funds

    The agreement states the fee in dollars, the due date and how to cancel. Up to $1,500, for up to 62 days.

  4. You repay on payday

    The loan plus up to $14 per $100 is withdrawn. In Alberta it is split into instalments. No rollovers.

Read the full explanation →

Payday-loan alternatives

Is there a cheaper way to cover this?

Often there is. Two weeks on a payday loan costs about $70 per $500. Compare that with:

$0

More time from the biller

Utilities, landlords and phone companies often agree to a payment plan if you ask before the due date.

~$2

Line of credit

About $1.90 on $500 for two weeks at 10%. Needs to be set up in advance.

~$4

Overdraft or credit union loan

Several credit unions offer small loans built to replace payday borrowing.

Free

Non-profit credit counselling

A confidential session costs nothing and can lead to one affordable payment.

See all alternatives

Borrower rights & safety

You have more rights than the fine print suggests.

Loan terms, rates, fees, approval and availability are set by each licensed lender and depend on your province. Payday-loan rules differ by province — always confirm a lender’s licence with your provincial regulator before you borrow.

Complaints & borrower help
  • A cost ceiling. No more than $14 per $100, all fees included.
  • A way out. A cooling-off period to cancel at no cost.
  • No rollovers. A lender cannot extend your loan for another fee.
  • A licensed lender. Online or in-store, a provincial licence is required.
  • Never pay upfront. A fee before the loan is released is a scam sign.

Loan know-how

No credit check, instant approval, e-Transfer: what those words really mean

FAQ

What borrowers ask before they click apply

Is Public Cash Services a lender?

No. Public Cash Services is an independent information and comparison website. We do not lend money, approve applications or set loan terms. We list licensed lenders and can pass a personal-loan request to a lending partner with your consent.

How much does a payday loan cost in Canada?

Up to $14 for every $100 you borrow, with all fees included, in every province that regulates payday loans. A $500 loan costs up to $70. Over a two-week term that is roughly 365% as an annual rate.

What is the most I can borrow with a payday loan?

$1,500. Several provinces lower that further based on income: Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador limit a loan to 50% of your net pay, and Manitoba and New Brunswick to 30%.

How do I find payday loans near me?

Choose your province or city on our locations page to see lenders that serve your area, including online lenders licensed in your province. Check each lender’s licence on the provincial registry before applying.

How do I know a payday lender is licensed?

Look for the legal business name and licence number on the lender’s website, then search it on your provincial regulator’s public registry. If you cannot find an active licence, do not borrow from that lender.

Will a payday lender check my credit?

It depends on the lender. Some run a credit check, some use other information such as income and banking history, and policies change. No one can promise that a check will not happen. Each lender profile here quotes the lender’s stated policy.

All questions →

Need more than a payday loan can cover?

A personal loan spreads a larger amount over months at a capped annual rate. Tell us what you need and finish your request with our lending partner. We are not the lender, and an offer is not guaranteed.

Get Started Now

We may receive compensation when you apply through links on this site.

Looking for a personal loan?Get Started Now