CLEARBORROW · PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2026
CreditNinja review: costs, states and licenses
CreditNinja offers installment loans of $300 to $5,000 repaid over up to 24 months in 26 states, aimed at borrowers with bad credit. Its marketing highlights loans up to 35.99% APR, but that cap covers only loans CreditNinja makes itself; in many states a partner bank makes the loan, and its Missouri disclosure says the maximum APR currently charged there is 380%. Read the APR in your offer before signing.
Independent review. CreditNinja is not a ClearBorrow partner and we earn nothing from it. Facts come from CreditNinja’s own published pages, checked November 12, 2026; we did not apply for a loan. Terms differ by state.
On this page
Published terms
| Published terms | |
|---|---|
| Amounts | $300–$5,000; state minimums (e.g. $1,000 in CA, DE, ID, MS, MO; $2,005 in AL) |
| Term | 3–24 months |
| APR | Up to 35.99% on CreditNinja’s own general-usury and sales-finance loans; bank-partner and state-licensed loans can be far higher (380% maximum disclosed for Missouri) |
| Fees | Origination fee up to 5% of the amount financed (Missouri disclosure), generally not refunded if you prepay |
| States | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, DE, FL, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WI, WY |
| Texas | Operates as a Credit Access Business (CAB) |
Sources: CreditNinja installment loans ↗, state licenses ↗, terms and conditions ↗.
How the cost varies
CreditNinja says that in most states it markets and services loans for a federally insured bank, which lends under its home state’s interest laws (CreditNinja ↗). That is why the product, APR and term you see depend on your state. Its own license page warns that its loans have a high APR and are not recommended as a long-term solution (CreditNinja ↗).
| Our arithmetic: $1,000 for 12 months | Monthly payment | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|
| 35.99% APR | $100.46 | $1,205.52 |
| 160% APR | $171.53 | $2,058.36 |
| 380% APR | $328.78 | $3,945.36 |
Illustration only, standard amortization with no fees; your offer’s APR decides which row you are closer to.
Strengths and weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Installments instead of a single payday balloon | APR can reach triple digits depending on state and lender |
| No minimum credit score to apply | Origination fee generally not refunded on prepayment |
| Same-day funding possible, per CreditNinja | Headline 35.99% does not apply to every loan |
Who it may fit
Bad-credit borrowers in a listed state who have been refused cheaper credit and can repay quickly. Check our state laws page for limits where you live.
Alternatives to compare first
- Credit union PALs — up to $2,000 at no more than 28% APR.
- Oportun — APR capped at 35.99% plus a fee.
- OppLoans and NetCredit if you are comparing high-cost lenders.
- Getting out of high-cost loan debt.
Questions
Is CreditNinja a payday lender?
It offers installment loans repaid over months rather than one payday payment, but APRs can still be in the triple digits.
Is CreditNinja legit?
It publishes state licenses and disclosures, including a Texas CAB license and a California Finance Lenders Law license. Check the license for your state on its disclosures page.
What APR will I get?
It depends on your state and whether CreditNinja or a partner bank makes the loan; the offer shows the exact APR.
Sources and limits
- CreditNinja: installment loans (amounts, terms, states, APR disclosure) ↗
- CreditNinja: state licenses and disclosures ↗
- CreditNinja: terms and conditions (bank loan states) ↗
Sources checked November 12, 2026. Lenders change rates, amounts and state coverage; confirm on the lender’s own rates page for your state before applying. Worked examples are our own arithmetic unless marked as the lender’s published example. How we use sources.