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When you need to purchase something but can’t pony up the money for it, what is better? Taking out a personal loan or putting it on your credit card? Looking at the numbers, a personal loan looks more appealing than a credit card. But there’s more to it than the numbers. What other factors are in play when it comes to choosing a personal credit product?
Loans win on rates, but lose in convenience
Personal loans are, on average, much cheaper than credit cards, especially in terms of interest rates. Credit card interest rates average around 17-19%p.a., while unsecured personal loans can start from a low of 4.69%p.a. (unsecured, base rate. Comparison rate will be much larger and will vary.) Once you have a credit card, you can access credit anywhere at any time. All you need is your card or your number (if you are buying online.) You can even link your credit card to third party services, like a payment gateway, e.g., PayPal. If you want to take advantage of “flash sales” or pay for something in a crisis, a card is always there. You will have to apply for a personal loan like any other kind of loan product. Your approval is dependent on your credit history, employment and other factors that gauge your ability to pay back the loan.
Credit card interest kicks in later than loans
Another aspect of credit cards that win out over loans is that many credit cards offer an interest free period, usually about 55 days. If you pay back the balance of your purchase within that window, you will not incur any interest (apart from annual fees or transaction charges, if applicable.) However, a personal loan will charge you a set amount each month, until your balance is zero. You will also be able to make extra repayments (this may depend on your lender’s rules, however.) Credit cards also offer rewards programs; however you are usually paying for that with higher annual fees or interest rates.
Credit cards are popular, but account for most of Australia’s debt
Australians owe $32 billion on their credit cards. That’s $4,300 for every person – not cardholder, but person – in Australia. According to ING Direct’s Household Wellbeing Index, only one in five Australians hold a personal loan debt of some kind. Only 15% of households don’t own or use a credit card. Which product suits you best? That’s up to you and your goals. Speak to a financial professional, or use a credit card or personal loan comparison service.
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This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.
The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.
Approval for personal loans is always subject to our lender’s terms, conditions and qualification criteria. Lenders will undertake a credit check in line with responsible lending obligations to help determine whether you’re in a position to take on the loan you’re applying for.
The interest rate, comparison rate, fees and monthly repayments will depend on factors specific to your profile, such as your financial situation, as well as others, such as the loan’s size and your chosen repayment term. Costs such as broker fees, redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, aren’t included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate.
