# Learn Center: Payday Loan Guides, Tools & Explainers | PayKedge

> Free guides, calculators and explainers about payday loans, your borrower rights and lower-cost alternatives. Reviewed by accredited financial counselors.

Источник: https://paykedge.com/money-guides/

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# Learn Center

Everything you need to make a short-term borrowing decision with your eyes open — explainers, in-depth guides, free tools and real borrower stories.

## Start here — payday-loan basics

Plain-language explainers, written and reviewed by accredited financial counselors.

[What Is a Payday Loan?The fundamentals: structure, fees, APR and the debt-cycle risk.](/money-guides/what-is-a-payday-loan/)

[Payday vs Installment vs TitleThree short-term products compared side by side on cost and risk.](/money-guides/payday-vs-installment-vs-title/)

## In-depth guides

Longer reads for borrowers facing a specific situation right now.

[What If You Can’t RepayYour rights, extended payment plans, and how to stop a default.](/guides/what-if-you-cant-repay/)

[Already Have a Payday Loan?A step-by-step plan to break the rollover cycle for good.](/guides/already-have-a-payday-loan/)

[Borrower’s Bill of RightsTILA, TCPA, FDCPA, FCRA and MLA protections, in plain English.](/guides/borrowers-bill-of-rights/)

## Free tools

Interactive utilities — no sign-up, no application required.

[Loan Cost CalculatorSee the true dollar cost of a loan in your state.](/tools/cost-calculator/)

[Rollover Cost SimulatorWatch the fees stack up every time a loan is renewed.](/tools/rollover-simulator/)

[Affordability CheckerHonest red / yellow / green verdict: can you repay it?](/tools/affordability-checker/)

[Payday vs. AlternativesSix ways to cover a shortfall, ranked by real cost.](/tools/payday-vs-alternatives/)

[State Eligibility CheckerCheck what you can legally borrow by ZIP code.](/tools/state-eligibility-checker/)

[Scam SpotterVerify a lender’s license and flag fake-lender red flags.](/tools/scam-spotter/)

## More from PayKedge

Real borrower experiences, our research, and the people behind the content.

[Borrower StoriesThree real-world case studies of short-term borrowing](/stories/)

[Our ExpertsMeet the counselors and journalists who review our content](/authors/)

[Research & DataOriginal analysis of payday-loan costs and borrowers](/research/)

## Guides & explainers (3)

Step-by-step money guides written by our editorial team and reviewed before publication — newest first. [All 16 guides →](/money/)

[Secured vs unsecured small loans, explained simplyUnsecured small loans cost more and require stronger credit; secured loans risk your car or savings but cost less. The right choice depends on what you can…Sophia Underwood, AFC® · September 15, 2026](/money/secured-vs-unsecured-small-loans/)

[The true cost of rolling over a short-term loanRolling over a $500 short-term loan once costs $75 to $150 and leaves the full $500 due again. After four rollovers you have paid $300 to $600 in fees and still…Carmen Bauer · September 10, 2026](/money/rolling-over-a-loan-true-cost/)

[Can't afford a car repair you need for work? Here's the playIf your car breaks down and you need it for work, prioritize keeping your job over fixing the car perfectly. The right sequence: borrow a vehicle, negotiate…Sophia Underwood · September 8, 2026](/money/car-repair-cant-afford/)