An increasing number of cash-strapped consumers are using the Internet to access payday loans online. Short-term cash advances enable borrowers to cover expenses until their next paycheck, when the payday loan must be repaid including all fees and interest charges.

The average finance charge for an online payday loan in this review is $25 per $100 cash advance. For a monthly payday loan, that charge represents the equivalent of a 325% annual interest rate.

This article compares and ranks the online traffic for 12 of the largest payday loan websites in the U.S. These online cash advance sites attract consumers via paid ads, referrals, e-mail solicitations and search engine results.