Personal loan EMI vs. credit card EMI: Which option saves you more money?

Efficient money management requires careful loan selection. Personal loans and credit card EMIs offer options for urgent financial needs, but interest rates and repayment terms differ. Analyzing these factors is essential for determining the best long-term cost benefits for your financial situation.

Dakshita Ojha
Published19 Mar 2025, 03:49 PM IST
Personal loan EMI vs. credit card EMI: Which one saves you more?
Personal loan EMI vs. credit card EMI: Which one saves you more?

Efficient money management necessitates making correct loan selections. EMIs available through credit cards and personal loans allow users to pay over time conditions for urgent or intentional financial requirements. Long-term economic efficiency questions which payment option would be best in the end. The following analysis identifies whether personal loans and credit card EMIs provide better long-term cost benefits for your situation.

Also Read | What is a prepayment penalty on a personal loan? A complete guide

Understanding personal loan EMI

You can obtain personal loans from banks and financial institutions in addition to other institutions where these unsecured loans have fixed monthly repayment instalments (EMIs) for predetermined timeframes. Loan amounts for personal needs extend to handle essential expenses that involve wedding preparations and medical treatments and household renovations.

Understanding credit card EMI

Credit card EMIs enable customers to transform expensive payments into the form of smaller monthly payments. Credit card EMIs provide finance at interest rates that exceed those of personal loans. A credit card EMI consists of credit repayment periods which span between three to twenty-four months.

Which one saves more money?

The benefit of choosing personal loan EMI over the long term can be explained by its affordable interest rates, (but they carry higher interest rates compared to other types of loans) coupled with fixed payment schedules despite similar budget control capabilities. This is the reason:

  • The interest expense of credit card EMIs often increases because their interest rates rise throughout time.
  • A personal loan helps customers reduce payments through longer repayment durations that create more flexibility.
  • You should choose a personal loan instead of credit card EMI for larger loan amounts because personal loans have no restriction on their credit limit.
  • Regular payment of a personal loan boosts your credit score better than unsettled credit card debts do.

Also Read | How your credit card limit could make or break your credit score

When is a credit card EMI the best option?

  1. A credit card EMI proves suitable for acquiring expensive devices or appliances that require short-term use.
  2. You can use credit card EMIs to pay urgent costs before receiving funds.
  3. Credit card high-interest debt balance payment through EMI represents a good choice.

When is a personal loan EMI the best option?

  • Consumers should choose personal loan EMI options for substantial expenses including house renovations or weddings or education fees.
  • EMI loans are appropriate for borrowing funds with payment terms lasting just a few months.

Also Read | Personal loan: Why raising it for travel may be avoided?

In conclusion, always remember to check interest rates and repayment terms alongside possible tenures before making a loan decision to select your most financially advantageous option. As personal loans and credit cards come with higher interest rates and fees and charges which can make you enter into a debt burden.

(Note: Taking out a loan or using a credit card carries inherent risks. It is important to exercise caution and consider all factors before proceeding.)

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First Published:19 Mar 2025, 03:49 PM IST
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