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Money IQ

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.

All APR & economics Basics Scams & traps State guide
Loan Apps in California: What the 36% APR Cap Actually Means for Your Next Download
State guide

Loan Apps in California: What the 36% APR Cap Actually Means for Your Next Download

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.

Portrait of Elena Ruiz By Elena Ruiz · 10 min
Loan Apps in New York: How the 16% Civil and 25% Criminal Usury Caps Shape What You Can Actually Borrow
State guide

Loan Apps in New York: How the 16% Civil and 25% Criminal Usury Caps Shape What You Can Actually Borrow

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.

Portrait of Elena Ruiz By Elena Ruiz · 10 min
Loan Apps in Texas: How the 10% Usury Cap and the CAB Model Actually Set Your APR
State guide

Loan Apps in Texas: How the 10% Usury Cap and the CAB Model Actually Set Your APR

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.

Portrait of Elena Ruiz By Elena Ruiz · 11 min