- A personal line of credit (PLOC) is a form of revolving credit that allows a borrower to access cash as needed throughout the draw period, during which only minimum monthly payments are required.
- A personal loan is an installment loan in which a borrower receives a lump sum of cash that they repay, with interest, over a preset period that generally begins soon after the loan has been disbursed.
- Personal loans and lines of credit both offer unique benefits that make sense for different situations.
For many individuals, the prospect of taking on a personal loan or a personal line of credit can seem daunting or counterintuitive; moreover, both financial products are different types of loans, and it’s easy to get the two confused.
Personal lines of credit and personal loans are both options for refinancing debt, financing large expenses and achieving financial goals without dipping into savings.
What’s the difference between a personal line of credit and a loan?
The main difference between a personal line of credit and a personal loan is that a line of credit enables you to borrow incrementally, while a loan gives you a lump sum of cash all at once.
However, there are plenty of other nuances between the two options, and it’s helpful to understand how each one works before choosing the one that works best for you.
Personal line of credit
A personal line of credit is a set amount of money from which you can borrow, up to a predetermined limit, for a given period of time, referred to as your draw period. It can be a good way to ensure that you have access to funds for anticipated and unanticipated expenses.
With a personal line of credit, you take from the available balance only the amount you need during the draw period, and interest only accumulates on the money you borrow. A line of credit is often revolving, which means that as soon as the debt is repaid, you can borrow up to your credit limit again without going through another loan approval process. For a nonrevolving line of credit, the account is closed when the credit line is paid off.
Personal loan
A personal loan is money that you borrow from a lender, which you repay in fixed monthly payments over a set time period. If you know you’ll need a large sum of money all at once to cover something necessary that you want to pay over months or years, an affordable personal loan might make sense. All loans have payment terms, which is a fixed time period in which the borrower must repay the principal (plus interest and fees) charged by the lender. Each time you make a payment, the balance is reduced until the loan is repaid in full.
Use the table below to quickly compare each product before diving in deeper.
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Personal Line of Credit |
Personal Loan |
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Purpose |
Short- to mid-term financing for a variety of purposes. Often used for big-ticket consumer goods, education costs, ongoing home enhancements, family planning and medical expenses. Also can be used for debt consolidation and loan refinancing. Depending on the bank, it may not be used for business expenses. |
Short- to mid-term financing, typically taken out for specific purposes or as a pool of funds for costs that might arise. It’s most often used for medical bills, school costs, fixed home repairs, wedding-related or funeral expenses, debt consolidation and moving costs. It may be used for business expenses. |
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Loan Amount |
This may vary by lender and applicant’s creditworthiness. |
This may vary by lender and applicant’s creditworthiness. |
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Secured or Unsecured |
Either, and may vary by lender |
Either, and may vary by lender |
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Interest Rates |
The rate is usually variable but may be fixed. |
The rate may be fixed or variable. |
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Potential Fees |
There may be fees for annual maintenance, transactions and late payments. |
Fees typically include origination, maintenance, prepayment and late payment penalties. |
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Borrowing Limit |
One can borrow up to the limit for a specific amount of time, often a preset number of years known as the draw period. |
One can borrow a fixed amount at the time of loan origination. |
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Repayment Structure |
Typically, monthly minimum payments start after drawing on the funds. Then monthly installment payments begin after the draw period ends. |
Typically, monthly installment payments begin after the loan is issued. |
Secured or unsecured
Whether or not a lending product is secured can play a key role in your decision to borrow. Though you may need extra cash to achieve a key financial goal, you may not want to use your property — your house or your car, for example — as collateral to do so.
- Personal line of credit: Personal lines of credit may be secured or unsecured. If it’s an unsecured line of credit, qualification depends on your income; expenses; and credit history, including your credit report and credit scores. If it’s secured, it depends on the same factors, plus the collateral you put down (such as real estate property and cash tied up in investment accounts). Note that a personal line of credit is different from a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which is a loan based on your home’s value beyond what you owe on it.
- Personal loan: Like personal lines of credit, personal loans can be unsecured or secured. If it’s an unsecured loan, qualification depends on your financial capacity and creditworthiness. If it’s a secured loan, qualification also depends on the collateral you put down.
How to access the money
Regardless of how you choose to borrow, accessing the cash you’re borrowing generally involves a similar process with both personal loans and personal lines of credit. Lines of credit, however, may afford you a bit more flexibility, depending on the lender.
- Personal line of credit: There may be several ways you can access the funds, depending on the lender’s policies, during the draw period. A lender may provide you with special checks that you can write against the line of credit or a card that works like a credit card. Some lenders may have physical locations where you can withdraw the funds in the form of cash. Another option is to use a lender’s online platform. With an electronic transfer, you can shift money from the line of credit into your checking or savings account.
- Personal loan: After the loan is granted, the lender will transfer the funds into your deposit account, and you can use the money for its intended purpose. Alternatively, if you took it out specifically for debt refinancing, the lender may send the funds directly to your creditors.
Payments
Because a line of credit is a form of revolving credit, similar to a credit card, the repayment process works quite differently from a personal loan, which is repaid in fixed monthly installments. This tends to be another crucial consideration when deliberating between the two lending products.
- Personal line of credit: After accessing the credit line, you’ll get a statement with a minimum payment and due date. The amount will fluctuate based on how much you borrowed. Depending on the lender, payments may be interest-only or encompass principal and interest. Each time you make a principal payment, your account will be credited, and you can borrow that money again. For lines of credit with a repayment period, fixed monthly payments begin once the draw period ends. If you owe a significant amount, those payments may be much higher than what they were during the draw period.
- Personal loan: Since a personal loan is an installment loan, you’ll pay a consistent amount that encompasses both principal and interest each month. You can pay more than the minimum amount required to expedite payoff.
Potential fees
Most forms of credit charge some fees, and neither personal lines of credit nor personal loans are exceptions. Both charge interest, which is arguably the most noteworthy fee you’ll see. Beyond that, fees vary by lender — and certain fees, such as origination fees, can be avoided altogether.
- Personal line of credit: Depending on the issuing lender, there may be a variety of fees associated with the line of credit. Annual maintenance fees ensure the line of credit is available during the draw period; they may be charged annually or broken up into monthly installments and added to the balance. Transaction fees may also be charged upon withdrawal, though these are uncommon. Certain lenders may not charge the above fees at all.
- Personal loan: In addition to interest charges, other fees may be associated with the loan. Some lenders will charge an origination fee to grant the loan. You would either pay it upfront or have it added to the balance. There could be a prepayment penalty, although this is more common with mortgages or business loans than personal loans; if a borrower pays the loan off earlier than the set term, the lender may charge a penalty to offset lost revenue.
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What fees are associated with First Republic’s Personal Line of Credit? |
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First Republic’s Personal Line of Credit does not charge prepayment or origination fees. Other related fees, such as checking account maintenance fees, may apply. |
Interest rates
Interest rates for both personal lines of credit and personal loans can vary widely by lender and the creditworthiness of the borrower. The exact rate you’ll pay depends upon several crucial variables, so don’t be afraid to ask detailed questions before you commit to either option.
- Personal line of credit: Broadly speaking, lenders will determine your line of credit’s interest rate based on several factors, such as your credit score, income and existing debt. Providing collateral, as required by a secured line of credit, may lower your interest rate. It’s also important to note that personal lines of credit generally have variable interest rates, which can fluctuate alongside market conditions. Look for a line of credit with a fixed interest rate to help remove some unpredictability from the equation.
- Personal loan: Every lender has its own set of criteria when determining interest rates for personal loans; generally, the more positive your credit history, the better the rate will be. Loans with shorter terms may have lower interest rates because the financial institution assumes less lending risk, but this isn’t always the case. Moreover, the interest rates on personal loans can be fixed or variable over the duration of the term.
Common uses
Given their flexibility, lines of credit are often relied upon to finance things that may involve unexpected expenses. Personal loans tend to be a better fit for fixed expenses, since they’re disbursed in a lump sum.
- Personal line of credit: A personal line of credit is useful for financing a variety of expenses. It can be used to cover large costs — like those required to:
- Refinance your student loans.
- Take care of minor home expenses.
- Buy or refinance a car.
- Pay for medical or dental procedures.
- Finance family planning, such as adoption or fertility treatments
- Cover private K-12 schools and education expenses.
- Cover other major expenses.
- Personal loans: Personal loans are most frequently used to finance planned goods and services, such as:
- Home improvements, repairs and remodels
- A wedding or honeymoon
- Moving expenses
- Funeral expenses
- Other major expenses
Note: By refinancing student loans, you may permanently be giving up tax and repayment benefits, including forbearance, deferment and forgiveness. Please consider this as you make a decision to refinance student loans, and talk to a banker if you have any questions. Currently, all payments for certain types of federal student loans are suspended potentially until June 30, 2023, per an executive order by the President. Interest will not accrue during this time period. For more information, please visit ed.gov.
Personal loan vs. personal line of credit: Which is better?
When making the decision to borrow money, it’s always best to consider the available options. Understand and weigh the advantages of both a personal line of credit and a personal loan before choosing one.
We always encourage you to speak with a qualified financial and tax advisor to ensure you’re making the right decision for your unique needs.
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Type of Credit |
Advantages |
Considerations |
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Personal Line of Credit |
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Personal Loan |
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Choosing what’s best for your financial goals
Navigating personal finances can be a complicated process, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Personal lines of credit and personal loans have their unique advantages, and you may require one (or both) to get to the next milestone in your life. Do your research, ask the right questions and choose the lending partner that will give you peace of mind and flexibility to reach your personal and financial goals.
