The CFPB's payday loan guide: what you'll find

You're about to open the payday loans page on consumerfinance.gov, run by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a US government agency. It's the CFPB's official guide to how payday loans work, what they cost and what rights you have as a borrower.

• Free: everything on the page, including guides and worksheets.
• Paid: nothing. There's no subscription or upgrade.
• Ads: none, and no account or sign-in is needed.
• Inside: how-to guides such as How to use APR to compare loans and How to find out if your lender is licensed, plus a cash flow budget guide and a reducing debt worksheet.

Tip for the first minute: open the guide on using APR to compare loans, and keep it next to any offers you're weighing.