Find the loan you actually qualify for
RandScout is a free loan-comparison service for South Africa, not a lender. You answer a short four-step quiz about the amount, your income, employment and credit record; we check them against the rules of credit providers registered with the National Credit Regulator and show only those that may consider you. The lender you choose decides.
Last updated
What happens next
- 1
Loan amount and what it is for
- 2
Work and income
- 3
Bank and credit record
- 4
About you
- 5
Your email — we send the offers that match
Your offers, on screen and in your inbox
Pick an amount to start. It takes about two minutes.
Only providers registered with the NCR
No documents, no enquiry on your credit record
We never ask for your ID, bank details or money
What are you looking for?
Each page explains what that kind of loan costs, who it suits and which registered providers we list for it.
Personal loans
Personal loans in South Africa: compare interest rates, amounts, terms and fees from NCR-registered credit providers before you apply.
Payday loans
Short-term loans repaid on your next payday. Compare registered providers, see the maximum APR and the total cost before you apply.
Government employees
PERSAL loans for government employees: compare amounts, terms and costs from NCR-registered lenders, by salary deduction or debit order, before you apply.
Self-employed
Providers open to applicants without a payslip. What they ask for instead, and how to compare the offers.
Poor credit record
Loans for bad credit in South Africa: what a credit bureau listing means, which registered lenders still consider you and how to compare offers.
Under debt review
Under debt review you may not take on new credit until you are cleared. What that means in practice, and what your options are.
Unsecured loans
Unsecured loans in South Africa: borrow without collateral or a guarantor. What lenders check, what the law lets them charge and how to compare offers.
Long-term loans
Long-term loans in South Africa: what a loan over 3 to 72 months may cost each month and in total, who offers which term and how to choose one.
Small loans
Small loans from R500 to R5 000: what R500, R1 000, R2 000 and R5 000 may cost by law, what lenders ask for and how to compare before you apply.
Solar loans
How to pay for an inverter, batteries or solar panels: home loan further advance, personal loan, rent-to-own or cash — and what each one costs.
Education loans
Paying for university, college or school fees: NSFAS, bursaries, bank study loans and personal loans compared, with what each one costs.
Appliance loans
Buying a fridge, washing machine, laptop or phone on credit: store accounts, instalment plans, lay-by and personal loans compared by total cost.
Car repair loans
Paying for car repairs, tyres or a service: short-term and personal loans, workshop payment plans and insurance claims compared by cost.
Registered lenders we list
| Provider | Amount | Term | Max APR | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CreditBar Short-Term LoanRates and the full cost of credit are shown by the lender before you sign. Registered credit provider NCRCP23238.CreditBar loans: requirements and costs | R 500 – R 5 000 | 7 – 61 days | Shown by lender | Check if you qualify |
| Jabulani Money Payday LoanRates and the full cost of credit are shown by the lender before you sign. Registered credit provider NCRCP22362.Jabulani Money loans: requirements and costs | R 500 – R 4 000 | Shown by lender | Shown by lender | Check if you qualify |
| Kredio Online LoanRates and the full cost of credit are shown by the lender before you sign. Registered credit provider NCRCP24149.Kredio loans: requirements and costs | R 500 – R 8 000 | 7 – 61 days | Shown by lender | Check if you qualify |
| CrediWise Short-Term LoanRates and the full cost of credit are shown by the lender before you sign. Registered credit provider NCRCP22496.CrediWise loans: requirements and costs | R 500 – R 4 000 | 5 – 35 days | Shown by lender | Check if you qualify |
| LendPlus Short-Term LoanRates and the full cost of credit are shown by the lender before you sign. Registered credit provider NCRCP17814.LendPlus loans: requirements and costs | R 500 – R 4 000 | 5 – 35 days | Shown by lender | Check if you qualify |
| PrimeLoans Short-Term LoanRates and the full cost of credit are shown by the lender before you sign. Registered credit provider NCRCP20937.Prime Loans: requirements and costs | R 500 – R 4 000 | 5 – 35 days | Shown by lender | Check if you qualify |
| Crediflow Short-Term LoanRates and the full cost of credit are shown by the lender before you sign. Registered credit provider NCRCP23582.Crediflow loans: requirements and costs | R 500 – R 8 000 | Shown by lender | Shown by lender | Check if you qualify |
Every lender here is registered with the National Credit Regulator and is shown with the amount range and term it publishes. Who is open to you depends on your answers, and the lender decides.
Who we are and what a loan can cost
RandScout is a loan comparison service and lead generator. We are not a lender or credit provider and take no part in the decision. Lenders and loan-matching services may pay us when you open their offer.
Short-term loans from lenders registered with the National Credit Regulator are capped by law: interest of up to 5% a month on a first loan and 3% a month on later loans in the same year, an initiation fee of up to R165 plus 10% of the amount above R1 000 (never more than R1 050), and a monthly service fee of up to R60. VAT may be added to the fees. Longer loans have their own legal caps.
Repayment terms of the providers we list run from 5 days to 2 months.
Each lender shows its exact rate, fees and total cost before you sign. Compare them and borrow only what you can repay on time.
How it works
Answer four questions
Amount, income, employment and a few facts about your credit record. No ID number, no documents.
See who is open to you
We check your answers against the rules each provider sets, email you the ones open to you and show them straight away.
Apply where it fits
You go to the provider's own site and apply there. They decide, not us.
We never ask you for money
Comparing on RandScout is free. A registered lender may not charge you a fee before it pays out a loan — the National Credit Regulator says upfront fees are unlawful. If anyone asks you for one, it is a scam: stop and report it to the police.
Popular questions
- PERSAL loans: how payroll deduction loans work
- Loan apps in South Africa: registered lenders with an app
- Personal loan interest rates in South Africa, explained
- How to check if you are blacklisted in South Africa
- How to clear your name at the credit bureaus
- Loan without a payslip in South Africa: what lenders accept
- Short of money before month-end: options before a loan
- Loan scams in South Africa: how to spot them
- Prime Loans: is it legit?
- Kredio loans
- Crediflow loans
Questions people ask
Is RandScout a lender?
No. RandScout does not lend money and takes no part in the credit decision. We compare offers from credit providers registered with the National Credit Regulator; you apply on the provider's own site, and the provider decides.
How does RandScout compare loans?
We match your answers against the rules each provider publishes — the amounts it lends, the income and employment it accepts and the credit records it considers — and list only the providers that may consider you. How we order the offers
Does it cost anything to compare?
No. Comparing is free. Providers may pay us when you open their offer. Never pay anyone an upfront fee to be granted a loan: registered lenders do not ask for one. How RandScout is paid
Does comparing affect my credit record?
No. We do not look up your credit record. A lender checks it only when you apply with that lender, and that enquiry may show on your record for up to a year.
Which lenders does RandScout list?
Credit providers registered with the National Credit Regulator, each shown with its NCR registration number, which you can check on the regulator's public register. We also list loan-matching services; they are labelled as such and never called lenders. See the lenders we list
What can a loan cost at most?
Short-term loans from lenders registered with the National Credit Regulator are capped by law: interest of up to 5% a month on a first loan and 3% a month on later loans in the same year, an initiation fee of up to R165 plus 10% of the amount above R1 000 (never more than R1 050), and a monthly service fee of up to R60. VAT may be added to the fees. Longer loans have their own legal caps. Work out the legal maximum for your loan
How much can I borrow, and for how long?
Each lender sets its own amount range and term, and the table on this page shows them. What you are offered follows from the lender's affordability assessment, so it may be less than you ask for.
Can I get a loan for an inverter or solar panels?
Yes. Homeowners usually pay least with a further advance on their home loan; others use a personal loan or a supplier's rent-to-own plan. Get two written quotes first and borrow only the installed price. Solar and inverter loans
Can I get a loan for university or school fees?
Yes, but check NSFAS, bursaries and school fee exemptions first, because they are not repaid like a loan. Otherwise a bank study loan or a personal loan can pay fees, books and a laptop. Loans for school and university fees
Should I buy a fridge or laptop on store credit or with a loan?
Compare the total you repay. Store accounts, instalment plans and personal loans have different legal caps, and stores often add insurance. Lay-by costs no interest if the item can wait. Appliance and electronics loans
How can I pay for car repairs I cannot afford right now?
Check your insurance and ask the workshop for a payment plan first. A short-term loan suits smaller repairs repaid within a few months; a personal loan spreads a large repair over longer. Car repair loans
Can I get a loan if I am blacklisted?
South Africa has no official blacklist, only credit records. Some registered lenders still consider people with adverse listings, usually for smaller amounts at a higher cost. Borrowing with a poor credit record
Can I get a loan while I am under debt review?
No. The National Credit Act does not allow new credit while you are under debt review, so we show no loan offers to anyone under review. New credit becomes possible once you hold a clearance certificate. What debt review means for borrowing
What will the lender ask me for?
RandScout asks for no ID number and no documents. Lenders usually ask for your South African ID, recent bank statements or payslips and proof of address when you apply with them.
Can I repay a loan early?
Yes. Under the National Credit Act you may settle a loan at any time. You pay the outstanding balance, interest up to that day and any fees already due.