What is the difference between a fixed APR and a variable APR?

Created by Cyril S, Modified on Fri, Dec 12, 2025 at 8:52 AM by Jamin Bay

The annual percentage rate (APR) is what you’ll pay to borrow money. It includes not only your interest rate but any fees charged by the lender — such as origination fees.

There are two types of APR you’ll likely come across:

  • A fixed APR stays the same throughout the life of the loan. This means your monthly payment and payoff date won’t ever change.

  • A variable APR can fluctuate according to market trends. While a variable APR often starts out lower than a fixed APR, it could increase in the future — which would also cause your monthly payments to rise.

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