The main characteristic of an installment loan is its repayment structure.
A revolving account generally allows you to borrow, repay and borrow again within an available credit limit. An installment loan instead provides a defined amount that is repaid according to a scheduled plan.
This can make an installment loan easier to plan around when you prefer to know the payment schedule and expected repayment period in advance.
The fact that a loan is an installment loan does not by itself determine the interest rate, fees or other terms. Those details depend on the lender, the borrower’s application and applicable requirements.