At FastCasheLoans (and PeraMaxPH – our Youtube channel), we always provide honest reviews. We test loan apps ourselves by installing them, trying their features, and checking the process so we can give you the right heads-up and proper expectations before you apply. These loan apps are options for unemployed borrowers and they are SEC-registered.
They are also not the type of loan apps that harass borrowers, so they are worth checking out. However, the final decision is still yours whether you want to apply or not. This content is for general information purposes only, to help you stay aware and properly guided before taking any loan.
FINBRO
Number one on the list is FINBRO. It is one of the loan apps suitable for unemployed individuals. When we say “unemployed,” it simply means you are not a regular employee, but you still earn income in other ways. Maybe you run a small sari-sari store, sell items online, work as an affiliate marketer without a boss, create content as a blogger, or even sell rice on the side. These still count as income even if you are not formally employed.
One reason FINBRO is a good option is because it is not a 7-day loan app. Instead, it offers a 30-day first due date, which is much better compared to other apps that only give 7 days and are known for harassment.
In FINBRO, your first loan also has 0% interest, and you receive the full loan amount with no hidden deductions or surprise fees. Another advantage is that if you are employed and can provide a COE or any proof of income, you can uncheck the Borrower’s Advantage Package. Removing this optional package also removes several extra fees, which results in much lower charges and a smaller interest amount. That is what I personally like about FINBRO.
TALA Loan App
Another SEC-registered and legit loan app that I can personally recommend to anyone looking for a fast way to borrow money online using just a cellphone and one valid ID is TALA — spelled T-A-L-A.
TALA Philippines is one of the long-established and trusted loan apps in the country. One of its best features is its flexible repayment period, allowing you to pay anywhere from 1 day up to 61 days.
For example, if you know you will have money coming in 45 days from now, you can choose that exact schedule. The earlier you pay, the lower your total interest, since TALA computes your charges based on the number of days you choose.
TALA also has a referral program, where you can refer friends and earn a small commission. This commission is applied to your outstanding balance if you currently have an active loan. TALA is also one of the oldest loan apps with no harassment complaints, known for its professional customer service and respectful collections process. As you build a good repayment history, your limit can grow up to 25,000 pesos, starting from as low as 1,000 pesos for first-time borrowers.
Mabilis Cash
Another legit loan app in the Philippines that allows you to borrow money by simply installing the application on your phone and presenting one valid ID such as UMID, TIN, Voter’s ID, or National ID is Mabilis Cash.
Mabilis Cash operates under Mali Lending Corporation, and it is important to be aware that many borrowers get confused because there are bogus and unregistered loan platforms using the name “Mabilis Cash” or adding it to their own names to appear legitimate. The real Mabilis Cash is the one under Mali Lending Corporation and is available on the Google Play Store.
I always advise borrowers to read the reviews and comments first before installing any loan app. What I like about Mabilis Cash is that it is easy to apply, and they offer a 15-day installment schedule. This means you pay every 15 days, which for me is better than having a single lump-sum due date. For example, if you have 6 terms, you will finish your loan in about 3 months by paying every 15 days.
Their customer support is generally good, although some users report that after completing their 4th repayment, they get rejected when applying for the 5th time. This is why it helps to maintain a good record in other loan apps as well, because Mabilis Cash likely checks your credit through the Credit Information Corporation.
You can borrow up to 60,000 pesos, but I have seen posts on Reddit and Facebook saying some users received even higher limits. The interest is not very low—as expected from loan apps—so my friendly advice is to borrow only a small amount. The smaller the loan, the easier it is to repay. If you take a big offer, there’s a higher chance you may struggle or fall overdue later on. So always borrow responsibly.
FT Lending
Another option for unemployed individuals who need money immediately—where the funds are disbursed right after application into your chosen bank account or e-wallet like GCash—is FT Lending.
FT Lending works well for many borrowers, although reviews are mixed, which is normal because people will always have different experiences with any loan app. Based on overall experience, FT Lending is legit, but it is not the loan app with the lowest interest rate. Still, it is a reliable way to get quick cash when you urgently need money.
One thing borrowers like is that FT Lending is quite generous with first-time offers, sometimes giving a starting credit limit of 7,000 pesos, which is good. Its credit limit works somewhat like a semi-revolving system—not fully revolving, but you can borrow in portions.
In short, you can take multiple loans within FT Lending, and the repayment terms are every 15 days. This can be challenging because personal loans in banks usually follow a 30-day cycle, but loan apps typically use a 15-day installment schedule.
The good side is that it prevents a large lump-sum due date and allows better budgeting. However, borrowers must be careful because the multiple-loan feature can lead to what people call a “D-tag” situation. This happens when you unknowingly accumulate too many loans and the total becomes larger than expected. Even though multiple loans are allowed, FT Lending still bases everything on the credit limit they assign to you, so it’s important to monitor your usage and avoid overborrowing.
FidoPH
Another legit loan app in the Philippines that can also work for unemployed individuals is FIDO PH. I spoke with someone from our TikTok community who shared that within just two months, their credit limit with FIDO increased to 25,000 pesos. However, the interest rate is not low—just like the other loan apps mentioned, it’s around 15% per month.
So here’s a friendly reminder: when the loan offer becomes bigger, remember that a 15% monthly interest on a 25,000-peso loan payable in three months is quite heavy. You need to compute if that is something you can realistically pay, especially if you are only earning minimum wage.
Many borrowers get excited when they receive a big offer, but later on they’re shocked by how high the total cost becomes. Despite that, many users say FIDO PH is one of the better loan apps today. It’s relatively new in the Philippines but performs well.
However, based on our experience at PeraMaxPH, FIDO PH is quite difficult to get approved for compared to other loan apps. I think it’s ideal to apply here if your credit score is still clean. For example, if you’re new to borrowing and looking for a good loan app to start with, FIDO PH might be a solid choice. But if you’ve already applied to many loan apps within a short period—even if you’re paying on time—that can still look bad to lenders and may hurt your chances.
Even though these loan apps target high-risk borrowers, they still check your credit history and overall track record. Having too many loan apps or too many applications in a few months can make lenders hesitate. Overall, FIDO PH is good. Many people in my TikTok community say they’ve had a positive experience. It’s a legit and reliable loan app, but it’s also a bit selective. If you don’t have many negative records with other loan apps, your chances of getting approved with FIDO PH are much higher.
Vital role of your credit score
Does credit score still play a vital role when it comes to loan apps? In other words, if you have a low credit score, can you still apply for online loans? The answer is yes. This is because the main target of loan apps are individuals who are unbanked, those with low credit scores, or those who cannot qualify for personal loans from banks or established lending institutions. Traditional lenders are very strict—there’s credit investigation, home visits, employer verification, payslip requirements, and other documents. Loan apps, on the other hand, are much easier to apply for. Most of the time, you only need one valid ID, making them accessible even if you have no credit score or a very low score.
However, some loan apps today are becoming more selective. Not all of them offer instant approval anymore. Based on our observation, some apps do check your credit score and borrowing history. For example, well-known apps like BillEase do not easily give credit limits, especially if your credit profile is weak. JuanHand is good and you can apply, but if your credit score is insufficient, they may not grant you a limit. Cashalo is another legit app that checks credit history more carefully.
So overall, yes, even if you have an insufficient, low, or negative credit score, you can still apply for many loan apps. That is the advantage of these platforms—they provide access to borrowers who may not qualify elsewhere. But keep in mind that some loan apps are now more strict and do consider your credit record before approving your loan.
Borrowing more than 10,000 pesos
It is not ideal to borrow a large amount of money through loan apps.
It is much better to borrow only an amount that is manageable and something you can fully pay within one month. If you are offered a big amount, like 10,000 pesos and above, be skeptical.
It’s important to first calculate the interest and determine how long it will take you to repay it. Based on our collective experience from years of testing loan apps, most of them are short-term, usually less than one year, and many have a maximum term of only three months.
For example, there was someone in our TikTok community who borrowed a total of 37,000 pesos from the loan app Moca Moca due to multiple loans. When she could no longer pay on time, she requested a debt arrangement or payment restructuring. She was given a four-month restructured plan, and the total amount she had to repay became 50,000 pesos.
Even if that was payable in four months, she still needed to pay more than 10,000 pesos every month. This shows how important it is to carefully consider the amount you plan to borrow and understand your debt-to-income ratio. You need to subtract your fixed and essential monthly expenses first and check if you will still have enough left to cover a large loan offer from a loan app.
Don’t get trapped with bogus loan apps
To avoid harassment, do not get involved with loan apps that are not SEC-registered. The Securities and Exchange Commission always reminds the public to apply only through authorized loan platforms and legitimate online lending companies. This is why it is important to check the SEC website for the complete list of officially recorded and registered online lending platforms.
Based on our tests and experiences, there are still many bogus and unregistered loan platforms circulating. Sometimes they appear on the Google Play Store, and sometimes even on the App Store. And just for your information, there are many fake and unregistered loan apps on the App Store. So if you are an iPhone user, be careful because there are a lot of bogus apps. These 7-day OLAs usually do not release the full loan amount, and they may start harassing you even a day before your due date. They also send text blasts and shame your contacts.
This is why many borrowers become depressed or emotionally distressed due to harassing OLAs. So be careful, because even if a loan app is SEC-registered, some of them still behave in predatory, unpleasant, or harassing ways. Some even auto-disburse funds. Always stay cautious.
It is always better to read reviews before downloading any loan app. Read all the reviews you can. Visit social platforms like Tiktok, Reddit, Facebook, and YouTube to check real user feedback before trying a loan app, so you can better avoid harassment.
How to properly deal with OLA harassment and unfair collection practices?
If you are harassed by a loan app—whether it is SEC-registered or not—it is always recommended to report it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). File a complaint so they can investigate and take proper action. For example, Surity Cash Lending Investors Corporation, which operates the platform Surity Cash, received numerous complaints about unfair collection practices. After investigation, they were found guilty and were fined ₱1,000,000. This is why reporting harassment is important.
Most forms of harassment from loan apps fall under unfair debt collection practices. One common type is text-blasting your contacts, which is a violation of data privacy laws.
Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173), it is illegal for companies to:
- Access your contacts without consent
- Use your personal data for harassment
- Share your information with third parties without authorization
This falls under:
RA 10173 – Section 25 to Section 34 (Penalties for Unauthorized Processing & Malicious Use of Personal Information).
Another type of harassment is derogatory, abusive, or threatening messages, including:
- Insults
- Name-calling
- Threats of death or harm
- Threats to expose you publicly
There are also loan apps that use false legal threats, such as:
- “Makukulong ka sa utang.”
- “Pupuntahan ka ng pulis ngayon.”
- “Ipapabarangay ka namin ngayon.”
Under the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Lending Company Regulation Act (RA 9474) and SEC Memorandum Circular No. 18, Series of 2019, the following are prohibited:
- Use of threats and coercion
- Use of profane, insulting, or abusive language
- False statements that you can be jailed for debt
- Harassing or intimidating collection tactics
Also, under the 2019 IRR, unfair debt collection practices are punishable, and SEC has the authority to suspend or revoke licenses, impose fines, and shut down abusive lenders.
SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission
(For loan app harassment, unfair collection, illegal lenders, unregistered lending companies)
📧 Email for complaints:
- fd@sec.gov.ph (Financing & Lending Division – main for loan app complaints)
- complaints@sec.gov.ph
- records@sec.gov.ph
📞 Hotlines:
- (02) 8818-0921
- Text Hotline: 0995-175-7636
🌐 Website: https://www.sec.gov.ph
📩 Online Complaint Form: https://www.sec.gov.ph/contact-us/
NPC – National Privacy Commission (Data Privacy Violations)
(For text blasts, accessing your contacts, doxxing, public shaming)
Protected under RA 10173 – Data Privacy Act
📧 Email for complaints:
📞 Hotlines:
- (02) 8234-2228
- 0961-626-4476 (NPC Helpline)
🌐 Website: https://privacy.gov.ph
📩 Complaint Portal: https://www.privacy.gov.ph/complaints/
BSP – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(For banks, e-wallets, financing companies regulated by BSP)
Note: Many loan apps are NOT under BSP unless they are banks or e-money issuers.
📧 Email:
📞 Hotlines:
- (02) 8708-7087
- Text Hotline (BSP Online Buddy): 21582277
🌐 Website: https://www.bsp.gov.ph
📩 Complaint Form: https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Consumers/Complaints
PNP – Anti-Cybercrime Group (For Harassment, Threats, Doxxing, Extortion)
📧 Email addresses:
- acg@pnp.gov.ph
- pnpcacgfu@gmail.com
- report@cybercrime.gov.ph (IC3 Philippines)
📞 Hotlines:
- (02) 8414-1560
- 0998-598-8116 (Smart)
- 0917-847-5757 (Globe)
🌐 Website: https://acg.pnp.gov.ph
📩 Report Portal: https://acg.pnp.gov.ph/report/
NBI – National Bureau of Investigation (For severe threats, extortion, cybercrimes)
📧 Email:
- ccd@nbi.gov.ph (Cybercrime Division)
- complaints@nbi.gov.ph
📞 Hotlines:
- (02) 8523-8231 local 3453
🌐 Website: https://www.nbi.gov.ph
📩 Online Complaint: https://complaints.nbi.gov.ph/