One table, six alternatives, no spin. Amounts, APR, speed and fees for installment lenders, cash-advance apps and the other "bear" companies — so you can see where we fit and where we don't.
Figures from each company's public terms and major review sites, October 2026. They change — check the source before you decide.
| Option | Amount | Cost | Term | Speed | Fees to you | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear LoanLoan-connection service · multiple lenders | $200 – $5,000 | 9.95% – 35.99% installment · fee per $100 short-term | 14 days – 36 months | Minutes to decide · next business day | $0 to apply | Most states |
| OppLoansOnline installment lender | $500 – $5,000 | 99% – 195% | 9 – 24 months | Same / next day | None | ≈ 40 states |
| MoneyLion InstacashCash advance app | Up to $500 (up to $1,000 with account) | 0% interest | Next payday | 1–5 days free, fee for instant | Optional tips + Turbo fee | Most states |
| BrigitCash advance app | Up to $500 | 0% interest | Next payday | Instant with fee | $8.99 – $15.99 / month | Most states |
| EarnInEarned-wage access | Up to $150 / day · $750–$1,000 / pay period | 0% interest | Next payday | 1–3 days free, fee for instant | Optional tips + Lightning Speed fee | Most states |
| Cash Loans BearOnline lender + stores | $100 – $5,000 | Payday ≈ 391% · installment up to 99%+ | 14 days – 24 months | Same / next day | Varies by product/state | 12 states + online |
| Lending BearStorefront payday / title / pawn | Payday ≤ $500 · title ≤ $10,000 | ≈ 300% – 460% | 14 – 30 days | In store, same day | Per $100 + state fees | FL · GA · AL |
Bear Loan is a loan-connection service; the lender you accept sets the final APR and fees. Competitor data is summarized from public sources and is not an endorsement.
Pick OppLoans if you want a single known lender and don't mind triple-digit APR. Pick Bear Loan to compare multiple lenders, including ones that price below 36% for stronger profiles.
Pick Instacash if you need under $500 and can wait a few days for free delivery. Pick Bear Loan for $500 – $5,000 or when you need a real repayment term.
Pick Brigit if you'll use the budgeting tools monthly. Pick Bear Loan if you borrow occasionally — there's no subscription, and no cap at $500.
Pick EarnIn if you're W-2 with regular hours and need a day or two of pay early. Pick Bear Loan if your income is benefits, gig or self-employment, or the amount is larger.
Different company, similar name. Bear Loan sends your one request to multiple licensed lenders; Cash Loans Bear is itself the lender.
Lending Bear is a storefront lender in three states and is not related to us. Bear Loan is online in most states, unsecured only, and compares lenders.
No. OppLoans is one lender with one rate card. Bear Loan sends your request to multiple licensed lenders and you pick an offer. That's why our APR range starts lower — different lenders price different profiles.
For under $500, often yes: Instacash, Brigit and EarnIn charge no interest, though subscriptions and instant-transfer fees add up. Above $500, or when you need months to repay, a fixed-rate installment loan usually costs less than repeated advances.
No. Both are separate companies that happen to use 'bear' in their names. See our legitimacy page for how to tell us apart.
Because the lender you accept sets it. Installment and personal offers in our network commonly run 9.95%–35.99%; short-term loans are priced per $100. Your agreement shows the exact number.
Cash advance apps skip credit entirely but cap at $500. For larger amounts, Bear Loan and OppLoans both consider all credit; Bear Loan lets you compare more than one offer.
A soft credit check shows what lenders in our network will offer you — then compare that to anything on this page.