Cherry vs PatientFi
Both are soft-check installment lenders aimed at elective care. PatientFi goes longer — up to 84 months — and holds approvals for 120 days; Cherry goes higher at $65,000 and keeps 0% truly 0%.
Cherry Payment Plans
- Credit check
- Soft only — never a hard pull
- 0% structure
- True 0% APR — never deferred or retroactive
- Amounts
- $200 – $65,000
- Terms
- 6 weeks – 60 months
- Late fee
- $15 after a 15-day grace period
PatientFi
- Credit check
- Soft to apply
- 0% structure
- Promotional 0% plans are structured as deferred interest per program disclosures — verify on your offer screen
- Amounts
- $200 – $50,000
- Terms
- 6 – 84 months
- Late fee
- Varies by plan
PatientFi's 84-month terms and 120-day approvals suit a big surgery booked months out. Cherry's $65,000 ceiling, true 0% and simpler structure suit most cases — and cost less in total interest at the same APR.
Cherry vs PatientFi, line by line
| Cherry Payment Plans | PatientFi | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Installment plans (Pay-in-4 + monthly) | Installment loans for plastic surgery, aesthetics, fertility and dental |
| Credit check to apply | Soft only — never a hard pull | Soft to apply |
| Approval | ~90% get a Pay-in-4 offer | Not published; 120-day approval window |
| 0% APR structure | True 0% APR — never deferred or retroactive | Promotional 0% plans are structured as deferred interest per program disclosures — verify on your offer screen |
| APR range | 0% – 35.99% (Quick Cash 0% – 29.99%) | 5.99% – 34.99% fixed; 0% promotional periods |
| Amounts | $200 – $65,000 | $200 – $50,000 |
| Terms | 6 weeks – 60 months | 6 – 84 months |
| Down payment at checkout | ≈ one monthly payment (25% on Pay-in-4) | Varies |
| Late fee | $15 after a 15-day grace period | Varies by plan |
| Prepayment penalty | None | None |
| Who issues it | Partner bank loan or practice RISC, serviced by Cherry | Lending partners vary by program; some programs require credit-union membership |
| Where it's accepted | Dental, med spa, plastic surgery, vet, vision, hearing, wellness | 4,000+ plastic surgery, aesthetic, fertility and dental practices |
84 months vs 60 months on a $15,000 surgery
On a $15,000 mommy makeover, PatientFi's 84-month maximum produces the lowest payment of any lender in this space — at a cost.
Cherry advantages
Higher ceiling for combined procedures, true 0% up to 24 months, flat $15 late fee, and no credit-union membership step.
PatientFi advantages
Approvals stay valid four months — useful when surgery is booked far out — versus Cherry's 30-day window (reapply with another soft check).
It depends on your situation
Pick Cherry if…
- Your combined procedures exceed $50,000
- You want true 0% up to 24 months without a deferred-interest clause
- You don't want a credit-union membership step
- You want a flat, known late fee
PatientFi may fit better if…
- You need the lowest possible payment and accept more total interest (84 months)
- Your surgery date is 2–4 months away and you want the approval to hold
- Your surgeon offers PatientFi but not Cherry
- You want a reusable line for staged procedures
Three questions to ask at the front desk
- "Is the 0% offer true 0% or deferred interest?" — ask them to show the fine print
- "Is the application a soft or hard credit check?" — why it matters
- "What's the late fee, and does a late payment change the rate?"
Both products may be offered at the same practice. You can check your Cherry offer first with no score impact, then compare the actual terms you're shown.
Check your Cherry offerCherry vs PatientFi questions
Is PatientFi a soft credit check?
How long are PatientFi terms?
Is PatientFi 0% APR true 0%?
Which approves more?
How long is the approval valid?
Which lends more?
More comparisons: every patient financing option · Plastic surgery financing · Cherry vs Alphaeon
See your number before you book the date
Up to $65,000, up to 60 months, soft credit check, true 0% options for qualifying patients.