Money IQ: Loan App Guides and Reviews
The editorial side of compareloanapps.com. Plain-English guides on how loan apps actually price, where they are legal, which ones to avoid, and the math behind the marketing.
Every Money IQ guide in one place
Filter by topic, or scroll the full library of loan-app explainers, APR breakdowns, scam teardowns, and state-by-state guides written by our named US-based editors.
Loan Apps in California: What the 36% APR Cap Means
California's AB 539 caps loans $2,500 to $10,000 at 36% plus the Fed Funds Rate. Which apps operate under it, which quietly geofence the state, and how DFPI enforcement works in 2026.
By Elena Ruiz · 10 min
Loan Apps in New York: The 16% and 25% Usury Caps
New York's 16% civil and 25% criminal usury caps are the strictest in the country. What that means for which apps approve New York residents and how to file a DFS complaint.
By Elena Ruiz · 10 min
Loan Apps in Texas: The 10% Cap and the CAB Model
Texas caps interest at 10% on paper, but Credit Access Business fees push effective APRs past 500%. The two-part math and what it means for app borrowers.
By Elena Ruiz · 11 min