Learn Center

Everything you need to make a short-term borrowing decision with your eyes open — explainers, in-depth guides, free tools and real borrower stories.

Start here — payday-loan basics

Plain-language explainers, written and reviewed by accredited financial counselors.

What Is a Payday Loan?
The fundamentals: structure, fees, APR and the debt-cycle risk.
Payday vs Installment vs Title
Three short-term products compared side by side on cost and risk.

In-depth guides

Longer reads for borrowers facing a specific situation right now.

What If You Can’t Repay
Your rights, extended payment plans, and how to stop a default.
Already Have a Payday Loan?
A step-by-step plan to break the rollover cycle for good.
Borrower’s Bill of Rights
TILA, TCPA, FDCPA, FCRA and MLA protections, in plain English.

Free tools

Interactive utilities — no sign-up, no application required.

Loan Cost Calculator
See the true dollar cost of a loan in your state.
Rollover Cost Simulator
Watch the fees stack up every time a loan is renewed.
Affordability Checker
Honest red / yellow / green verdict: can you repay it?
Payday vs. Alternatives
Six ways to cover a shortfall, ranked by real cost.
State Eligibility Checker
Check what you can legally borrow by ZIP code.
Scam Spotter
Verify a lender’s license and flag fake-lender red flags.

More from MeridianWallet

Real borrower experiences, our research, and the people behind the content.

Borrower Stories
Three real-world case studies of short-term borrowing
Research & Data
Original analysis of payday-loan costs and borrowers
Our Experts
Meet the counselors and journalists who review our content