This article was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy by Avant staff. Last updated: May 2026.
Data note: Interest rate averages, credit tier benchmarks, and market figures in this article reflect data as of May 2026. Rates change frequently — verify current figures at the sources cited in the References section before making financial decisions.
| Quick answer
For large, one-time expenses or consolidating high-interest debt, personal loans through Avant® offer a fixed rate and predictable monthly payments that make budgeting straightforward. Credit cards are well-suited for everyday purchases — particularly when you pay the full balance each month and carry no ongoing balance. |
In this article
- At a glance: personal loans vs. credit cards (2026)
- How personal loans work
- How credit cards work
- How the rates compare
- How each option affects your credit score
- When a personal loan is the right move
- When a credit card is the right call
- Should you use a personal loan to pay off credit card debt?
- Pros and cons: a side-by-side summary
- Two borrowing scenarios
- Frequently asked questions
| Key takeaways
Personal loans provide a fixed lump sum with predictable monthly payments — well suited for large expenses and debt consolidation. Credit cards offer revolving access to credit — best for everyday purchases when you pay the balance in full each month. Rate context depends on your credit tier. For fair credit (580–669 FICO®), personal loan rates average approximately 20%–25% vs. credit card APRs of 24%–28% (NerdWallet / WalletHub, May 2026). For bad/poor credit (below 580), both product types push higher — personal loans 25%–36%, credit cards 28%–36%+ — and the gap narrows considerably. Credit cards affect your credit utilization ratio; personal loans do not — an important distinction depending on your borrowing goals. Using a personal loan to consolidate credit card debt may reduce your total interest cost and simplify monthly repayment. |
At a glance: personal loans vs. credit cards (2026)
| Feature | Personal Loan | Credit Card |
| Account type | Installment | Revolving |
| Interest rate type | Fixed | Fixed |
| Avant® APR | 9.95%–35.99%¹ | 29.99% & 35.99% fixed² |
| Loan / credit range | $2,000–$35,000¹ | Min. $300 credit limit² |
| Repayment structure | Fixed monthly payment | Minimum payment or full balance |
| Access to funds | Lump sum (one-time) | Revolving (reusable) |
| Impact on utilization | None | Yes — balance / limit ratio |
| Common uses | Debt consolidation, large expenses | Everyday spending, short-term purchases |
How personal loans work
A personal loan is an unsecured installment loan. You receive a fixed lump sum, then repay it in equal monthly payments over a set term. Because the rate and payment are fixed from day one, you know exactly what you owe each month — no surprises as market rates shift.
Common uses include debt consolidation, medical expenses, home repairs, weddings, and other life events.
At Avant, the application is fully online and the decision process typically takes minutes. It may take longer if additional documents are requested. Approval and loan terms will vary based on credit determination and state law.
Checking your offer and applying will involve only a soft inquiry, which will not affect your credit score. If you accept an offer, a hard inquiry will be made, which could impact your credit score.
→ Check your loan options — soft inquiry, no impact to your credit score
How credit cards work
A credit card is a revolving line of credit. You can spend, repay, and spend again — up to a preset credit limit. That flexibility makes cards well-suited for managing everyday cash flow or earning rewards on purchases you plan to make anyway.
The trade-off: credit card interest is usually variable and tends to run higher than personal loan rates. If you carry a balance month to month, interest accrues on the outstanding amount and there is no fixed payoff date built into the product.
The Avant Credit Card has a fixed APR of 29.99% & 35.99%². For more information regarding other account terms, please see rates and terms. Avant reports to all three major credit bureaus. Responsible use may help strengthen your credit history over time.
→ See if you qualify for the Avant Credit Card
How the interest rates compare
For non-prime borrowers, personal loan rates typically run 20%–36% and credit card APRs tend to run higher — often 24%–36%+ (NerdWallet / WalletHub, May 2026). That spread is why a personal loan can be the lower-cost option for borrowers who carry a balance.
The practical takeaway: if you’re carrying a credit card balance, a personal loan with a fixed rate and a set payoff date may cost less over time — and gives you a clear finish line.
How each option affects your credit score
Both products influence your credit — just through different mechanisms.
Credit cards and utilization. Credit cards are revolving accounts, so your credit utilization ratio — the share of available revolving credit in use — shifts every time your balance changes. FICO®3 scores weigh credit utilization at 30% of your overall score (myFICO). Keeping utilization under 30 percent is generally advisable; under 10 percent tends to produce the strongest results.
Personal loans and payment history. Personal loans are installment accounts. They don’t factor into credit utilization at all. Your score is shaped primarily by payment history, which counts for 35% of your FICO® score (myFICO). On-time monthly payments build a positive track record gradually and steadily.
Checking your rate or eligibility through Avant® will not affect your credit score — Avant uses a soft inquiry to show your options first. A hard inquiry only occurs if you accept an offer. Not all lenders work this way, so it’s worth confirming the inquiry type before you apply elsewhere.
One important nuance. If you use a personal loan to pay off credit card balances, your utilization ratio may fall substantially — which can lift your score. Keeping those card accounts open (rather than closing them) and without balances helps preserve your total available credit may benefit your utilization ratio.
When a personal loan is the right move
A personal loan through Avant® may be the right choice when:
- You need a lump sum for a large, one-time expense — medical bills, home repairs, a wedding, or an emergency
- You want to consolidate multiple high-interest debts into one fixed monthly payment with a clear payoff date
- You want the predictability of a fixed rate and consistent monthly payment over the life of the loan
- Your credit card APR is substantially higher than what you could qualify for on a personal loan
Personal loans are generally not the right fit for smaller purchases you could cover from savings, or for expenses you’d pay off before your credit card’s grace period ends. Interest on a personal loan begins accruing from the day funds are disbursed — there is no grace period.
When a credit card is the right call
A credit card may serve you well when:
- You’re managing regular everyday expenses and can pay the full balance each month — in which case you carry no interest at all
- You want to earn cash back or rewards points on spending you’d make regardless
- You need flexible, reusable access to credit — for example, an ongoing project with uncertain total costs
Where credit cards become costly is in the carrying. If you routinely carry a balance, the APR compounds quickly. For a fair-credit borrower at 26%, a $5,000 balance costs about $1,300 per year in interest alone — before any new charges. And as the balance rises, so does your credit utilization ratio.
Should you use a personal loan to pay off credit card debt?
For many borrowers in 2026 — with credit card rates for fair-credit borrowers averaging around 26% (WalletHub, May 2026) — consolidating card debt with a personal loan is one of the more cost-effective moves available. The math is straightforward.
Consider $10,000 in credit card debt at a 26% APR — typical for a borrower with fair credit. Paying $362 per month, you’d need about 43 months to clear the balance and spend roughly $5,413 in interest along the way. Consolidate that same $10,000 into a 36-month personal loan at 22% — a rate within the fair-credit personal loan range (NerdWallet, May 2026) — and the monthly payment is about $382, with total interest of roughly $3,749. That’s a savings of approximately $1,664, and the loan is paid off 7 months sooner.
(Rates used above are representative fair-credit averages for illustrative purposes. Actual rates depend on creditworthiness.)
The strategy only works if you stop adding to the card balances after consolidating. Running those balances back up after paying them off leaves you in a worse position overall.
→ Check your rate for a personal loan — no impact to your credit score
| Editorial note
This article is produced by Avant®, an online lending platform. Information about loans and credit cards through Avant is included because it is directly relevant to the topics discussed. Avant is not a financial advisor and does not offer financial planning services. |
Pros and cons: a side-by-side summary
| Personal Loan | Credit Card | |
| Pros | Fixed rate — no APR surprises
Predictable monthly payment No impact on utilization Set payoff date Fixed APR that may differ from credit card rates depending on your credit profile |
Reusable revolving credit
May include rewards on everyday spending No interest if balance paid monthly Flexible payment amounts |
| Cons | Lump sum — can’t reuse funds
Interest starts immediately May include administration fee
|
Variable APR can be high if balance carried
High balances raise utilization ratio Minimum payment structure can extend debt for years May include annual fee |
Two borrowing scenarios
Scenario 1: A $5,000 home repair
Sarah needs $5,000 to replace a water heater and repair flooring. She has fair credit. She could put it on a credit card at 26% APR and pay $250 per month — finishing in roughly 27 months with about $1,625 in interest. Alternatively, she takes a 24-month personal loan at 22% APR. Her monthly payment is about $259 — roughly the same — but total interest comes to approximately $1,225, saving her around $400 and finishing the debt 3 months sooner.
Scenario 2: $500 a month in everyday expenses
Michael charges about $500 per month in groceries, gas, and utilities to his credit card and pays the full balance at the end of each billing cycle. He earns cash back on every purchase and never pays interest. For Michael, the credit card is the clear tool — a personal loan would begin accruing interest immediately and offers no rewards.
| Ready to explore your options?
→ Check your rate (personal loan) → See if you qualify (Avant Credit Card)
Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank. |
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to build credit with a credit card or a personal loan?
Both can help build credit, but they work differently. Credit cards affect your utilization ratio. Responsible use — keeping balances low and paying on time — may help strengthen your credit history. Personal loans add installment credit history and payment diversity to your report without touching utilization. For most people who are earlier in their credit journey, a credit card used responsibly tends to show faster results because of the utilization effect, provided balances stay well below the credit limit.
What is the interest rate difference between personal loans and credit cards?
It depends on your credit tier. For fair-credit borrowers (580–669 FICO®), personal loan rates average approximately 20%–25% while credit card APRs run 24%–28% — a spread of roughly 3 to 8 percentage points (NerdWallet / WalletHub, May 2026). For bad or poor credit (below 580), both products push higher — personal loans typically 25%–36% and credit cards 28%–36%+ — so the gap narrows, though the fixed rate and set payoff date of a personal loan may still be an advantage. Your actual rate depends on your specific credit profile.
Should I get a personal loan to pay off my credit cards?
It depends on your rates. If you can qualify for a personal loan rate meaningfully below your current credit card APR, consolidation may reduce your total interest cost and set a clear payoff timeline. The strategy only pays off if you stop carrying balances on the paid-off cards afterward — running those balances back up after consolidating worsens your financial position.
Does a personal loan affect credit utilization?
No. Personal loans are installment accounts, not revolving credit. They do not factor into your credit utilization ratio at all. In fact, paying off a credit card balance with a personal loan could lower your utilization significantly, which may improve your credit score.
Can I check my rate for a personal loan without affecting my credit?
Yes — through Avant®. Checking your rate uses a soft inquiry and will not affect your credit score. A hard inquiry only occurs if you accept an offer. Not all lenders follow this process, so it’s worth confirming before applying elsewhere.
Can I have both a personal loan and a credit card at the same time?
Yes. Using both strategically — a personal loan for large expenses or debt consolidation and a credit card for everyday purchases paid off monthly — could be a sound approach. It also adds both installment and revolving credit to your profile, which may benefit your credit mix over time.
What fees should I expect with each option?
Visit Avant.com to view rates and terms.
Disclosures
¹Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $35,000. APR ranges from 9.95% to 35.99%. Loan lengths range from 24 to 60 months. Administration fee up to 9.99%. If approved, the actual loan terms that a customer qualifies for may vary based on credit determination, state law, and other factors. Minimum loan amounts vary by state. Administration fee is deducted from the loan proceeds and paid to the Lender. Borrower recognizes that the Administration fee is deemed part of the loan principal and is subject to the accrual of interest.
² At this time, approved applications for the AvantCard submitted directly through the Avant website will have a $0–$125 annual membership fee, a minimum credit limit of $300, and a 35.99% APR. Pricing may vary based on offers provided through different channels. If you received an offer in the mail, please refer to your letter for the specific terms offered. For more information regarding other account terms see rates and terms.
3 FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank.
