If you are trying to get quick cash, then you are going to have to pay a high interest rate and fees. Lendors look at those needing money as high risk, so they are afraid you may not pay them back.

Another factor is that when you are trying to get cash now, you generally need a higher level of customer service than when applying for a loan that can be delayed a little bit.

Most of the time, people focus on APR when trying to get a fast loan. Some have crazy high APRs when you factor them over a year, like a payday loan. Others are still high, such as a credit card cash advance.

One thing to remember is it’s not just about APR…think about more as how much interest you will pay period. If you really just need a loan for a few weeks, then a payday loan may be suitable for you. While the APR may be high, you may just spend about $100 total for the loan and be done with it. In contrast, a credit card cash advance may be around for awhile. They will also charge you a hefty initial fee for making the cash advance.

In short, don’t just think of it as an APR issue, or the interest rate charged over the course of the year. Think about it more as how much interest you will pay in a raw amount for the loan and whether or not that is worth it for you.