Most people looking for a loan online are not after big money. They want to get to the end of the month.
Between 26 September and 11 November 2026, more than 1,200 people used the RandScout comparison quiz to see which registered lenders might consider them. We counted their answers anonymously, left out automated visits and anyone under 18, and published only shares resting on 30 people or more. Here is what they told us.
Most requests are small
Seven in ten (71%) asked for R5 000 or less, and more than a third (36%) for R1 000 or less. Only about one in twenty (5%) asked for more than R50 000.
Small requests are not only about low income. Among people who take home R15 000 to R30 000 a month, more than half (54%) still asked for R5 000 or less. A good salary does not always stretch to the next payday.
The money is mostly for emergencies
Of the people who told us what the loan was for, 58% needed it for emergency expenses. About one in nine (11%) wanted to pay off other debt.
Many already have marks on their record
43% said they had missed repayments or been listed with a credit bureau, and 14% said they were under debt review. These people often hear “no” from banks and end up applying at lender after lender, and every application is a new credit check.
What this means if you need to borrow
- Borrow for the shortfall, not the round number. A R2 000 loan costs less than a R5 000 one, even at the same rate.
- Compare the total you will repay, not the monthly instalment. Fees and interest on short loans add up quickly.
- Check that the lender is registered with the National Credit Regulator. A registered lender shows its NCR number on its website, and you can look it up on the NCR’s own site.
- Never pay a fee before the loan is paid out. A lender asking for an upfront “release” or “insurance” fee is a scam.
- If you are already struggling with repayments, a registered debt counsellor can help before you take on more debt.
About the numbers
The figures come from people who chose to use an online loan comparison tool, so they describe that group, not all South Africans. The full tables and method are in the RandScout Borrower Index: https://randscout.co.za/borrower-index. A new edition comes out on the 1st of every month; the next one is on 1 December 2026.
About RandScout
RandScout is a free loan comparison service for South Africa. It shows which lenders registered with the National Credit Regulator may consider a person, before they apply. RandScout is not a lender.
By RandScout team
