A personal loan usually carries a lower annual interest rate than a credit card EMI. With a personal loan, you get a fixed rate, a clear tenure, and EMIs that don’t change, so the total interest is easier to control. Credit card EMIs can look convenient at checkout, but effective costs rise once you add processing fees, credit limit, and the risk of higher charges if you miss a due date.

Which one saves you more in most cases

For bigger expenses and longer repayment—say two to five years—a personal loan typically works out cheaper because the rate is lower and the plan is fixed. For a small purchase repaid quickly, a promotional card EMI can be fine if the offer is genuinely low-cost and you’re certain you’ll pay on time. The longer you take to repay on a card, the more likely it becom

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