Open Google Play or the App Store and search «préstamo» — at least fifty results pop up. Almost all of them look identical: main screen with amount, term slider, approval-in-minutes promise. Behind the visual shell sit large differences in CAT, in who actually approves, and in how clean your Buró stays afterward.
The ones that approve fast and are SOFOM direct
Kueski is the segment veteran — running since 2012, SOFOM E.N.R. registered at CONDUSEF. First-loan ticket 500-2,500 pesos, SPEI deposit in 10-30 minutes. High CAT (250-320%) standard for the microcredit product; reasonable for emergencies, ruinous for recurring use.
MoneyMan, operated by ID Finance out of Spain, has been in Mexico since 2016. The 0% first-loan promo is real if you pay on the exact date. Initial ticket 1,500-3,000 pesos. Builds line in tiers over 4-6 closed loans.
Credilikeme started in 2019 focused on medium tickets (5,000-25,000 pesos) and longer terms than Kueski. Effective CAT 130-280% depending on ticket; gentler for history building without surprises.
The ones that aggregate (they don't lend, they distribute)
Credy, Crezu, AndaCrédito, Binixo, Fidea — all of them are comparison agents registered at CONDUSEF. They don't lend you anything: they pass your application to allied SOFOMs that compete to send you an offer. The advantage is seeing several proposals without filling out five forms. The downside, the first three days of intense calls and emails. After day four, it drops to almost nothing.
The 0% first-loan promo exists at Credy, Crezu and Binixo. It holds if you pay on the exact cutoff day; one day late reactivates the destination SOFOM's standard rate on the full amount retroactively.
The ones that are traditional banking dressed up as fintech
Nu (Nubank) launched personal loans in May 2026 with CAT from 32% for clients with a good history inside the app itself. If you've held a Nu card for 6+ months with on-time payments, it's probably the cheapest offer you'll get without setting foot in a branch.
Vexi (Banco Forjadores) is a credit card, not a loan, but plays in the same segment of «no annual fee, 100% digital». CAT 60-90%, cashback up to 5% on Amazon, Mercado Libre and Netflix. Rebuilds Buró well if you pay the full balance each month.
Hey Banco and Mibo (Banregio) offer payroll loans if you work at a company they have an agreement with. Typical rate 28-42%, direct payroll deduction. If your employer is on the list, the rate is among the best in the market.
How to filter before downloading any app
There's a fourth group of apps that runs heavy advertising but the entity behind them doesn't appear in any regulated registry. Warning signs: no registration at CONDUSEF's SIPRES, generic boilerplate privacy policy, offices at a shared address, recent reviews all posted on the same day. If an app appears this week offering 50,000 pesos asking for almost nothing, it's worth checking carefully before sharing your INE.
Simple filter: search the name at webapps.condusef.gob.mx/SIPRES. If it doesn't show up, don't sign anything. If it does, review the registration detail: legal figure, registration date, verifiable contact data.
The recommendation by profile
Small tickets and real urgency: Kueski or MoneyMan. High CAT but the product delivers. Medium tickets with a 3-6 month plan: Credilikeme or Cashspace. Moderate CAT. Large tickets with good history and long term: Kubo Financiero (regulated SOFIPO) or traditional bank credit at BBVA, Banorte, Santander. Much lower CAT.
What almost nobody checks before installing
Before installing any loan app, open it in a browser first (the SOFOM's web version). Read the model contract if it's published. Look for «CAT promedio» and «comisiones». If the website is just a marketing landing without a visible contract, the app will request broad permissions on install (geolocation, contacts, messages) and then you sign clauses you didn't read. A well-built website publishes the document; the app alone, no.