Wonga review
Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Our verdict
Wonga suits borrowers who need money within minutes of approval rather than a planned long arrangement, and offers personal and payday loans of up to ZAR 8,000. The hard credit check is the trade-off: decisions rest on the full file, so it is a short notice option rather than a long term one.
Key facts
- Best for
- Same day personal and payday borrowing of up to ZAR 8,000.
- Loan amount
- up to ZAR 8,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Credit check
- Hard (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Funding time
- minutes after approval, around 15 minutes, including evenings and weekends (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Loan types
- Personal, Payday (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Same-day funding
- Official website
- wonga.co.za
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- hellopeter.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Funding reaches the account in minutes after approval, and that window includes evenings and weekends.
- Personal and payday loans come from the same provider: personal and payday.
- Support covers email and phone, so a phone call and an email both work.
- The credit check is a hard one, hard, so a decision is made on the full file rather than a soft search.
Cons
- A hard credit check, hard, means every application is recorded on the file.
- Borrowing of up to ZAR 8,000 rules out anything larger, against a personal loan market here reaching €653,159.33.
- Support runs on email and phone only, with no live chat option.
Who it suits
- Borrowers covering a bill between paydays who put speed above a low monthly cost.
- Anyone comfortable with a hard credit check, hard, and who wants personal and payday amounts from the same lender.
- Lenders in a hurry at the weekend, since funding runs in minutes and same day funding covers evenings too.
Who should look elsewhere
- Monzo Flex suits a planned purchase rather than a same day need, lending £10,000 to £35,000 against Wonga's up to ZAR 8,000.
- Cashspace and Cashspace ES work to their own ranges, PHP 500 to PHP 25,000 and €100 to €5,000, so borrowers whose amount does not match Wonga's cap should look there.
How Wonga compares
8lends
Deudafix
myKredit
Dineria MX
DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
5in5
Multitude
Cashback Remortgage
TengeDa
Jeff.vn
Finbro
One Bridging Loans
MKB Bedrijfskrediet
Hypoteket
Renteradar
Bridgement
Mozzeno
Abakos
OneCredit KZ
MPOWA Finance
Srisawad
A money
Bom Pra Credito
Viva Credit
OK Zhongxun International
TF Bank EE
Crezu CO
Solcredito CO
Lendela SG
Meilleurtaux BE
Loan Hub India
Revolut
Where Wonga is available
- Available
- South Africa
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much can I borrow from Wonga?+
Loans run at up to ZAR 8,000, and the same provider handles personal and payday amounts. That ceiling is modest next to the personal loan market on the site, which reaches €653,159.33, so a larger cost needs a different lender. A hard credit check, hard, applies to the application either way.
How quickly does Wonga release the money?+
Once a decision is made, funding goes out within minutes, and the same window covers evenings and weekends. Wonga lists same day funding, same day funding, which is what separates it from lenders that need days to disburse. A hard credit check, hard, still has to clear before that transfer begins.
Will Wonga run a credit check on me?+
The credit check is a hard one, hard, so a full file review forms part of every application instead of a soft search. That suits borrowers with a settled record and rules out rate shopping that leaves a trace. Hard checks also account for 76.5% of the personal loans ranked here.
What kinds of loan does Wonga offer?+
The range covers personal and payday loans, personal and payday, so short term cover and a slightly longer arrangement come from the same lender. A typical personal loan on the site runs 48, much longer than a payday cycle, so Wonga sits at the quick end of the scale.
How do I contact Wonga about an application?+
Support runs on email and phone, so email and phone are both available for questions on an application or a repayment. Phone support is the more common channel across the site, at 85.3% of personal loans, which makes Wonga a straightforward option for borrowers who would rather talk than type.
Who should apply to Wonga?+
Borrowers who need money quickly and already hold a file that a hard check, hard, will not spoil. The lending limit of up to ZAR 8,000 points to short term use such as a bill between paydays rather than a large planned cost. Anyone borrowing more should compare higher limits first, since the personal loan market here reaches €653,159.33.
How does Wonga compare with a lender offering a bigger arranged loan?+
Monzo Flex lends £10,000 to £35,000, a scale that suits a planned purchase rather than a short term gap. Wonga stops at up to ZAR 8,000 and puts speed first, with funding in minutes after approval. Cashspace and Cashspace ES cover PHP 500 to PHP 25,000 and €100 to €5,000 for borrowers after a different balance.
Sources
- hellopeter.com/wonga checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Loan amount, Credit check, Features, Funding time, Loan types, Support channels
“Wonga.co.za is a lender that offers flexible and affordable short-term loans of up to R8000.”
Compiled from 1 source page, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: APR, Term, Arrangement fee, Representative example.