Online loan management system
An online loan management system you can run from any browser
LoanTabs is a cloud-based online loan management system for small lenders, MFIs and SACCOs. Your team enters applications, approves loans, records repayments and reads reports online, with nothing to install and no server to look after.
30-day free trial, no credit card required. Last updated .
What is an online loan management system?
An online loan management system is loan management software that runs on the web instead of on one computer. Your loan records live in the provider's cloud, staff sign in from a browser, and updates and infrastructure are handled for you. LoanTabs is an online loan management system built for small lenders, MFIs and SACCOs.
The difference matters most the day something goes wrong. With desktop software the loan book sits on one machine, so a failed disk, a stolen laptop or an office power cut becomes a business problem. With an online system the data is held on managed cloud infrastructure, every branch works from the same live copy, and nobody has to remember which file is the latest.
An online system has one honest limitation: it needs an internet connection. LoanTabs has no offline mode, so a branch with no connectivity cannot work until the connection returns. If your lending is done entirely in places without dependable internet, that is worth weighing before you commit.
What you can do online in LoanTabs
Everything below happens in the browser. Staff sign in, work on the shared loan book and sign out.
Online loan management system vs desktop software vs spreadsheets
Most small lenders start on spreadsheets. This is how the three approaches compare for a loan book.
| Online system (LoanTabs) | Desktop software | Spreadsheets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where your data lives | In the provider's cloud, as one shared copy | On one computer or your own server | In files that get copied, emailed and edited in parallel |
| Access | Any device with a web browser and internet | The installed computer, or a remote-desktop setup | Wherever the file is, if it is the latest version |
| Updates | Rolled out by the provider; nothing to install | You install and maintain them | None; the formulas are yours to maintain |
| Several branches or staff | 11 staff roles and per-branch approval rules built in | Usually needs extra setup or licences | Hard: version conflicts and no real permissions |
| Reports | 28 built-in reports, exportable to CSV and PDF | Depends on the product | Built and checked by hand |
| Internet needed | Yes (LoanTabs has no offline mode) | No | No |
| How you pay | A monthly or annual subscription | A licence plus hardware and maintenance | Free software, paid for in staff time and errors |
The desktop and spreadsheet columns are general descriptions of the approach, not of any specific product.
How to start with an online loan management system
Most lenders are working in LoanTabs the same week they sign up.
- Step 1
Start the free trial
Create your institution. The trial lasts 30 days with full access and needs no credit card.
- Step 2
Set up products and staff
Add your branches, invite staff with the right roles, and define your loan products: interest method, fees and repayment frequency.
- Step 3
Import what you already have
Bring borrowers, loans and payments in from CSV or Excel using the free starter template, and check the validation report.
- Step 4
Go live and report
Record new loans and repayments online, then use the reports and the ledger to see the whole business.
Is an online loan management system secure?
Security is the first question a careful lender asks, and the right answer is specific rather than reassuring. LoanTabs runs on managed AWS cloud services. Data is encrypted in transit over HTTPS and stored with AWS-managed encryption at rest. Each institution's records are separated, because every request is authorized against the institution the signed-in user belongs to.
Inside your own institution, access follows role. There are 11 staff roles, from admin and branch manager to cashier, auditor and viewer, each with defined permissions, and loan events are recorded so you can see who did what. The security page sets out the details, and it is written to claim only what the platform actually does.
Whichever vendor you choose, ask the same questions: where the data is hosted, who can see it, how access is controlled, and what happens to your data if you leave. A good online loan management system answers plainly.
Who should use an online loan management system?
An online system suits any lender who wants one accurate record of the loan book and does not want to run servers. It is a particularly good fit for small lenders and money lenders who have outgrown spreadsheets, for microfinance institutions with several branches that need the same policy applied everywhere, and for SACCOs that want their loan book and their reports in one place.
If you are still deciding what kind of tool you need, the loan software guide explains the categories, and the lending software page shows what a complete lending management system covers.
Online loan management system: common questions
Is LoanTabs a cloud-based loan management system?
Yes. LoanTabs runs in the cloud and is used through a web browser. There is nothing to install, and every branch and staff member works from the same live loan book.
Can I use an online loan management system on my phone?
LoanTabs runs in any modern web browser and has a mobile menu, so you can check the loan book from a phone. Detailed work such as reviewing a loan schedule is easier on a larger screen.
Does LoanTabs work offline?
No. LoanTabs needs an internet connection and has no offline mode. If the connection drops, you can continue once it is back.
How do I move my existing loans into an online system?
Import borrowers by CSV, or import borrowers, loans and payments together from the free Excel starter template. Borrower imports show a validation report so you can correct any rows that failed.
How much does an online loan management system cost?
LoanTabs starts with a 30-day free trial, then paid plans for one lender up to multi-branch institutions. See the pricing page for plan details, promotional rates and renewal prices.
Keep exploring
- Loan management softwareThe LoanTabs overview: what it does, who it is for and what it costs.
- Loan software guideThe types of loan software, what each does and how to choose.
- Lending software and lending management systemsWhat a lending management system covers, end to end.
- Loan management software for small businessBuilt for small lenders: quick setup, small-team workflow, simple pricing.
- Online loan application softwareTake and process loan applications online, from intake to disbursement.
- Loan management solutionSoftware, setup, migration, training and support in one solution.
- Loan origination and servicingApplications, approvals, disbursement, repayments and statements.
- Loan accounting softwareDouble-entry ledger posted from every loan and payment.
- Loan portfolio reports28 reports: portfolio at risk, aging, provisions, collections and more.
Try the online loan management system built for lenders
Start a 30-day free trial, import your loans from Excel and see your whole loan book online.