Full reviews
Lender by lender
Each review states the published terms, our verdict, the trade-offs and who should look elsewhere. Lenders are ordered by score.
LS
LightStream
a division of Truist Bank
4.7/5Best overall for excellent credit
APR6.49% – 24.89%with autopay; +0.50 pts without
Amounts$5,000 – $100,000
Terms2 – 7 yrs (up to 12 for some purposes)
Origination feeNone
Minimum score660+ (lender targets good–excellent)
FundingSame day
Our take. LightStream is the price leader for borrowers who will qualify anyway. If your score is 700+, your credit history is at least five years deep and you can live without a soft-pull preview, the all-in cost is hard to beat. Everyone else should pre-qualify elsewhere first and bring LightStream a competing offer to beat.
Pros
- No origination, late or prepayment fees of any kind
- Lowest APR ceiling of any major online lender
- Rate Beat program: will beat a competing offer by 0.10 points
- Terms up to 12 years for home-improvement loans
Cons
- No pre-qualification; every application is a hard inquiry
- $5,000 minimum; needs several years of credit history
- No option to pay creditors directly for consolidation
Who should skip it: Borrowers under 660, anyone who needs less than $5,000, and anyone unwilling to take a hard inquiry just to see a rate.
4.6/5Best for large loans and member perks
APR7.74% – 35.49%with autopay and member discounts
Amounts$5,000 – $100,000
Terms2 – 7 yrs
Origination fee0% – 7%, optional
Minimum scoreNot published (mid-600s and up typical)
FundingSame day
Our take. SoFi fits borrowers with good credit who want a big loan, a long term or the option to pay a fee for a lower rate. Its fee structure is the most flexible in the market, and the member discounts stack. The starting APR is slightly above LightStream and Discover, so compare all three.
Pros
- Origination fee is optional: pay it only to buy down the rate
- No late fees; unemployment protection pauses payments
- Same-day funding on most approved loans
- Rate discounts for autopay, direct deposit and direct pay to creditors
Cons
- $5,000 minimum loan
- APR ceiling of 35.49% for weaker profiles
- Some applicants are routed to a partner bank with different terms
Who should skip it: Anyone needing less than $5,000 or with a score below the mid-600s.
4.6/5Best fee-free loan for debt consolidation
APR7.99% – 24.99%fixed; no discounts offered
Amounts$2,500 – $40,000
Terms3 – 7 yrs
Origination feeNone
Minimum score660+
FundingNext business day
Our take. Discover is the simplest offer on this list: one APR, no fees, no fine print. For a good-credit borrower consolidating $10,000 to $40,000 of card debt, its direct-pay feature and fee-free structure usually produce the lowest total cost without any discount gymnastics.
Pros
- No origination, late or prepayment fees
- APR capped at 24.99%, the lowest ceiling here after PenFed
- Pays credit-card issuers directly for consolidation
- 30-day return guarantee: return the funds and owe no interest
Cons
- $40,000 maximum
- No autopay discount, secured option or joint applications
- Repayment terms start at 36 months
Who should skip it: Borrowers who need more than $40,000, a term under three years, or who have scores below 660.
PF
PenFed Credit Union
Pentagon Federal Credit Union
4.5/5Best credit union; lowest maximum APR
APR7.99% – 17.99%fixed
Amounts$600 – $50,000
Terms1 – 5 yrs
Origination feeNone
Minimum scoreNot published (good credit, roughly 700+)
Funding1 – 2 business days after membership
Our take. PenFed shows what a large credit union can do: a hard ceiling under 18% and no fees. If you have good credit and need a smaller loan, it is often cheaper than any fintech. The membership step adds a day, and the product is built for prime borrowers.
Pros
- 17.99% APR cap, the lowest maximum on this page
- Loans from $600, ideal for small needs
- No origination fee; co-borrowers allowed
- Membership is open to anyone with a $5 savings deposit
Cons
- Must join the credit union before funding
- Terms top out at five years
- Fair- and poor-credit applicants are rarely approved without a co-borrower
Who should skip it: Borrowers with scores below the high 600s or who need funding today.
HB
Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub)
Happen Bank, N.A.; rebranded June 22, 2026
4.4/5Best for joint applications and consolidation discounts
APR6.53% – 35.99%fixed
Amounts$1,000 – $60,000
Terms2 – 7 yrs
Origination fee0% – 8%
Minimum score≈ 600
Funding1 – 4 business days (64% within 24 hours in Q1 2026)
Our take. The lender you knew as LendingClub became Happen Bank in June 2026; the products did not change. It remains a strong consolidation option for good-credit couples or co-borrowers, and its $1,000 minimum covers small needs. The origination fee makes it less attractive than fee-free lenders for excellent credit.
Pros
- Joint applications can lift approval odds and lower the rate
- Direct payment to creditors and a consolidation rate discount
- Loans from $1,000; choose and change your payment date
- Federally chartered, FDIC-insured bank
Cons
- Origination fee up to 8% on most loans
- Late and returned-payment fees
- Name change may confuse borrowers comparing older reviews
Who should skip it: Excellent-credit borrowers who can get a fee-free loan, and anyone who needs to receive the full amount they borrow.
BE
Best Egg
loans made by Cross River Bank and Blue Ridge Bank
4.3/5Best secured-loan option
APR6.99% – 35.99%fixed; includes fee
Amounts$2,000 – $50,000
Terms3 – 5 yrs
Origination fee0.99% – 9.99% (at least 4.99% on 4+ year terms)
Minimum scoreNot published (≈ 640 typical)
FundingNext business day
Our take. Best Egg is a solid middle-market lender whose secured product is the standout: homeowners with fair credit can pledge fixtures (not the home itself) for a meaningfully lower APR. Unsecured pricing is average and the fee structure penalizes five-year terms.
Pros
- Secured option backed by home fixtures or a vehicle lowers the rate
- No late fees at present; no prepayment penalty
- Direct payment to creditors; free credit-score tool
- Fast next-day funding
Cons
- Origination fee on every loan, higher on longer terms
- Only two unsecured term lengths
- No joint or co-signed loans
Who should skip it: Borrowers wanting a term longer than five years or a joint application.
Up
Upgrade
loans made by Cross River Bank and Blue Ridge Bank
4.3/5Best for fair credit and small loans
APR7.74% – 35.99%with autopay
Amounts$1,000 – $50,000
Terms2 – 7 yrs
Origination fee1.85% – 9.99%
Minimum score≈ 580 – 600
Funding1 business day
Our take. Upgrade is the most flexible fair-credit lender: small loans, long terms, secured and joint options, and discounts that reward autopay and consolidation. The price is an unavoidable origination fee. For scores above 680, a fee-free lender will usually win on total cost.
Pros
- Accepts scores around 580 with three years of credit history
- Loans from $1,000; secured and joint options
- Autopay and direct-pay discounts; terms up to seven years
- Multiple rate discounts can stack
Cons
- Origination fee on every loan, up to 9.99%
- Top-of-range APR is expensive for fair credit
- Cannot choose the payment date
Who should skip it: Borrowers with good or excellent credit who qualify for a no-fee loan.
Pr
Prosper
loans originated by WebBank
4.0/5Best marketplace lender for mid-range credit
APR8.99% – 35.99%fixed; includes fee
Amounts$2,000 – $50,000
Terms2 – 5 yrs
Origination fee1% – 9.99%
Minimum score≈ 560 – 600
Funding1 business day
Our take. Prosper's average borrower in NerdWallet's profile had a 708 score and paid 23.1% APR, which tells you how it prices: accessible, but not cheap. It works for borrowers with uneven credit who want a quick, well-documented offer and a joint option.
Pros
- Accepts borrowers across the credit spectrum
- Soft-pull pre-qualification with detailed offers
- Joint loans available; next-day funding
- Considers rent and other alternative data
Cons
- Origination fee plus late, check-payment and insufficient-funds fees
- Higher starting APR than peers
- Terms capped at five years
Who should skip it: Excellent-credit borrowers and anyone sensitive to fees.
HM
Happy Money
loans made by partner credit unions
4.1/5Best for paying off credit cards only
APR7.95% – 35.99%fixed
Amounts$5,000 – $40,000
Terms2 – 5 yrs
Origination fee0% – 5%
Minimum score640
FundingA few business days (funds sent to card issuers)
Our take. Happy Money is a single-purpose tool: it sends the money to your card issuers, not to you. That constraint is a feature for borrowers worried about re-spending, and its fee ceiling is among the lowest. Rates for fair credit are not the cheapest, so compare with Discover and your credit union.
Pros
- Built solely for credit-card payoff; pays issuers directly
- Origination fee range (0%–5%) is lower than most fintechs
- Funded by credit unions, which tends to keep pricing moderate
- Option to change the payment date
Cons
- Cannot be used for anything except card consolidation
- $5,000 minimum; 640 minimum score
- Slower funding than lenders that deposit to your account
Who should skip it: Anyone borrowing for a purpose other than credit-card debt.
Us
Upstart
Upstart Network, Inc.; loans made by partner banks (not affiliated with this site)
4.1/5Best for thin credit files
APR6.20% – 35.99%fixed; includes fee
Amounts$1,000 – $75,000
Terms3 or 5 yrs
Origination fee0% – 12%
Minimum scoreNo minimum (300+)
Funding1 business day
Our take. Upstart does something the others do not: it approves people with little credit history on the strength of their income and education. For a recent graduate or new arrival, that can be the difference between a loan and no loan. Established borrowers with good credit will usually find a lower all-in cost elsewhere. Upstart Loans USA is an independent site and has no relationship with Upstart Network, Inc.
Pros
- Underwriting weighs education, employment and cash flow, not just score
- No minimum credit score; approves many thin-file applicants
- Lowest advertised floor APR among these lenders
- Funds most approved loans the next business day
Cons
- Origination fee can reach 12%, the highest on this page
- Only two term options
- Late fee of 5% or $15; returned-payment fee
Who should skip it: Borrowers with established good credit who can avoid an origination fee.
Av
Avant
loans made by WebBank
3.9/5Best for bad credit with next-day funding
APR9.95% – 35.99%fixed; includes administration fee
Amounts$2,000 – $35,000
Terms1 – 5 yrs
Origination feeUp to 9.99% (administration fee)
Minimum score≈ 550 – 580
FundingNext business day
Our take. Avant exists for borrowers that prime lenders reject. It is faster and cheaper than payday or storefront alternatives, and its pre-qualification is honest about the price. That price is high: a 9.95% floor and a fee on every loan. Treat it as a bridge while you rebuild, not a long-term home.
Pros
- Accepts scores around 550; most borrowers are 600–700
- Soft-pull pre-qualification
- Terms from 12 months; next-day funding
- Mobile app with payment-date changes
Cons
- Highest starting APR among fintechs here
- Administration fee plus late and returned-payment fees
- $35,000 maximum; state caps vary (e.g., 24.99% in New York)
Who should skip it: Anyone with a score above 640, who will find lower rates at Upgrade, Happen Bank or a credit union.
OM
OneMain Financial
OneMain Finance Corporation
3.6/5Best for in-person service and secured loans with poor credit
APR11.99% – 35.99%fixed; higher minimums in some states
Amounts$1,500 – $30,000
Terms2 – 5 yrs
Origination fee1% – 10%, or a flat $25 – $500 depending on state
Minimum scoreNone published
FundingSame day by check at a branch; 1 – 2 days by ACH
Our take. OneMain is a traditional installment lender with a branch network, which matters if you want to sit across from a person or need a check the same day. Its pricing starts where most lenders' pricing ends. It should be compared against a credit union and a secured-card strategy before you sign.
Pros
- No minimum credit score; approves borrowers others decline
- Secured loans using a vehicle title lower the rate
- About 1,300 branches; same-day check at closing
- Terms from 24 months
Cons
- Highest floor APR on this page
- Origination fee on every loan; some states use flat fees
- $30,000 maximum and state-specific minimums ($2,000–$3,000 in several states)
Who should skip it: Anyone who qualifies at any other lender on this list.
Methodology
How we score lenders
Every lender receives a score from 1 to 5 built from four weighted components. Cost (40%) looks at the floor APR, the ceiling APR and, where a lender or a marketplace publishes it, the rate typical borrowers actually receive; a low ceiling counts for more than a low floor, because most applicants do not get the floor. Fees (20%) penalizes origination fees in proportion to their maximum, and late, returned-payment and prepayment fees. Access (20%) rewards low or no minimum scores, soft-pull pre-qualification and tolerance for thin files and higher debt-to-income ratios. Flexibility (20%) covers the range of amounts and terms, rate discounts, joint and secured options, direct payment to creditors and funding speed.
Terms come from each lender's own rate and fee disclosures and are cross-checked against NerdWallet, Bankrate, Credible and MoneyLion reviews. We re-verify monthly and after any lender announcement. Some links on this page are affiliate links; the advertiser disclosure explains how that works. Compensation does not change a score or a position, and lenders cannot pay to be included. Upstart Loans USA is not affiliated with any lender reviewed here, including Upstart Network, Inc.
40%Cost
20%Fees
20%Access
20%Flexibility
Lender questions
Which personal loan lender is best overall?
For borrowers with good-to-excellent credit, LightStream and Discover offer the lowest all-in cost because neither charges fees and both cap APRs below 25%. SoFi is the pick for loans above $40,000 or when you want to trade an optional fee for a lower rate. The best lender for fair credit is Upgrade; for bad credit, Avant or a credit union; for a thin file, Upstart.
What credit score do most lenders require?
Published or practical minimums range from none (Upstart, OneMain) to about 550 (Avant), 580–600 (Upgrade, Prosper, Happen Bank), 640 (Happy Money, Best Egg) and 660 (Discover, LightStream). PenFed and SoFi do not publish a minimum but approve mostly prime borrowers. A minimum is only the floor: rates near the top of a lender's range are what sub-prime applicants actually receive.
Which lenders charge no origination fee?
LightStream, Discover and PenFed charge no origination fee at all. SoFi makes the fee optional. Happen Bank, Best Egg, Upgrade, Prosper, Happy Money, Upstart, Avant and OneMain charge one on most or all loans, from under 1% to 12%, deducted from the loan proceeds.
How fast can I get the money?
LightStream, SoFi and Upstart fund many approved loans the same or next business day; Discover, Best Egg, Upgrade, Prosper and Avant typically within one business day after verification; Happen Bank within one to four days; PenFed after membership is opened; Happy Money in a few days because it pays card issuers directly; OneMain by check at a branch on the day of closing.
Do these reviews change if a lender pays you?
No. Scores are set by our editorial team from published terms using the weighted criteria shown on this page, and compensation from affiliate links does not alter a score or its position. We re-check every lender's disclosures monthly and note the date at the top of the page. See our editorial policy.
Sources
- Lender rate and fee disclosures as published on each lender's website, checked November 1, 2026: LightStream, SoFi, Discover, PenFed, Happen Bank, Best Egg, Upgrade, Prosper, Happy Money, Upstart, Avant, OneMain Financial.
- Happen, Inc. (formerly LendingClub Corporation), press releases of April 21 and June 22, 2026 on the Happen Bank rebrand and Nasdaq listing. lendingclub.gcs-web.com
- NerdWallet, 2026 personal loan lender reviews (APR ranges, minimum scores, borrower profiles). nerdwallet.com
- Bankrate, personal loan lender reviews and Best personal loans tables, 2026. bankrate.com
- Credible, lender reviews and marketplace data, 2026. credible.com
- MoneyLion, lender reviews and comparisons, 2026. moneylion.com
- National Credit Union Administration, federal credit union interest-rate ceiling (18% APR). ncua.gov