Comparison guide
Loans Like Plain Green Loans
Borrowers search for alternatives to Plain Green Loans for concrete reasons — caps, exclusions, undisclosed pricing. Here are the closest tribal brands, compared on the facts each one actually publishes, plus the honest note that Plain Green Loans itself may still be the right fit.
The short answer: The closest Plain Green analogs are Spotloan (same $200–$1,000 first-loan band, published 490% cap) and Northern Star ($200–$1,500 with full 630%–780% disclosure). For larger returning tiers, Big Picture and MaxLend reach $2,000–$3,000 first-time.
Why borrowers shop away from Plain Green Loans
Plain Green’s first loans stop at $1,000, it publishes no APR range on the current site, and its history — the central lender in Gingras v. Think Finance — still shapes how state AGs treat the whole market. Borrowers leave for bigger caps, upfront pricing, or a cleaner story.
The alternatives, side by side
| Lender | Amounts | Published cost | Why pick it instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotloan | $300–$800 typical | Maximum 490% APR for new borrowers; rate steps down (330–460%, eventually 99%) with successive on-time payoffs; no origination,… | the same first-loan band with a published rate ceiling (490%) and rate-step rewards |
| Northern Star Lending | $200–$1,500 first loan | APR 630%–780% — one of the few tribal lenders that publishes its range; $25 NSF and $25 late fees | the disclosure benchmark: 630%–780% printed on the site |
| Big Picture Loans | $200–$3,000 (marketing cites up to $5,000) | APR range 250%–699% for new customers; example: $2,000 loan costs $5,733 total over 26 biweekly payments | when $1,000 is not enough — $200–$3,000 with a named independent regulator |
| Blue Mountain Loans | $100–$1,200 (first loan cap $1,200) | No numeric APR published; "a very expensive form of borrowing"; disclosures in the loan agreement | for smaller needs: $100–$1,200, the lowest entry point in the directory |
Outside the tribal market
Plain Green’s returning tier reaches $4,500 — but at its disclosed historic range (159%–374%), a $4,500 balance repays $7,000+. A credit-union or subprime personal loan at 28%–99% does the same job for a fraction; check membership eligibility before borrowing tribal again.
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What is similar to Plain Green Loans?
Spotloan matches the $200–$1,000 first-loan band most closely; Northern Star and Big Picture cover borrowers who need more or want published APRs. All are tribal installment lenders.
Is Plain Green Loans still in business?
Yes — active under the Chippewa Cree Tribe’s Tribal Consumer Protection Bureau. It publishes no APR range on the current site; full disclosure comes with the loan agreement.
Did Plain Green lose its court case?
Gingras v. Think Finance ended in a 2019 settlement paying borrowers ($21M class fund, debts voided for many) — it targeted the platform behind Plain Green rather than the tribe’s entity itself. The tribe continues to lend.
Where our numbers come from
Comparisons use each lender’s own published terms (verified September 2026). “Like Plain Green Loans” means similar size, structure, and market — not endorsement of any brand. Nothing here is a loan offer.