Best Personal Loan Lenders (2026)

Profiled personal loan lenders compared by APR, loan amounts, funding speed, credit requirements, and fees.

Written by Harvey Brooks, Senior Financial Editor

TL;DR Quick summary

SoFi offers the lowest rates with no fees for good credit borrowers (680+). LightStream has the fastest funding (same day). For fair credit (580-679), Upgrade and LendingPoint are the most accessible. Always prequalify with at least 3 lenders to compare rates without affecting your score.

Key Takeaways

Personal loan rates range from 6-36% APR depending on credit score
No-fee lenders (SoFi, LightStream) save 1-6% in origination costs
Prequalification is a soft pull that doesn't hurt your credit
Credit unions often beat online lenders on rates for existing members
Loan amounts typically range from $1,000 to $50,000

Personal loans are versatile — use them for debt consolidation, home improvement, medical bills, or major purchases. APRs range from 6% to 36% depending on your credit score, and loan amounts typically run from $1,000 to $100,000. We compared the leading personal loan lenders on APR ranges, origination fees, minimum credit score requirements, funding speed, and repayment terms. Whether you have excellent credit or are working to rebuild, here are the best personal loan companies for 2026.

1

SoFi

No stored Google rating

Details vary by provider BBB: A+ Free Consultation

SoFi is a publicly traded fintech platform (NASDAQ: SOFI) offering personal loans, student loan refinancing, banking, investing, and credit cards — all in one app with no hidden fees.

All-in-one financial platform: lending, banking, investing, insurance, and credit card in one app

No late fees and no prepayment penalties on any loan product

Unemployment protection pauses loan payments for up to 12 months if you lose your job

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2

LendingTree

No stored Google rating

Rates and terms vary BBB: A+ Free Consultation

LendingTree is a leading online lending marketplace where borrowers compare offers from multiple lenders in one place. Founded 1996, publicly traded (NASDAQ: TREE), BBB A+ rated.

Compare multiple lender offers with one application — saves time and effort

Soft credit pull for initial comparison — no impact on credit score

Covers all major loan types: personal, mortgage, auto, business, student

Read Full Profile

3

Upgrade

★ 4.8

Google rating from 10,556 reviews

Rates and terms vary BBB: A+ Free Consultation

Upgrade, Inc. is a personal lending provider based in San Francisco, California. Rated 4.8/5 with 10,556 Google reviews, reflecting exceptional customer satisfaction.

Highly rated by customers (4.8/5 on Google)

Well-established with 10,556+ customer reviews

Google-verified business

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4

BMO Bank

No stored Google rating

Details vary by provider BBB: A+ Free Consultation

BMO Bank is a national and regional banking brand offering personal banking, lending, credit cards, mortgages, and business banking services in the United States.

North America's 8th largest bank by assets — $1T+ across operations, 12M+ customers

994 branch locations across 8 US states for in-person banking

Full-service banking: checking, savings, mortgages, HELOCs, personal loans, business banking

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5

Avant

★ 4.5

Google rating from 3,471 reviews

Rates and terms vary BBB: A Free Consultation

Avant is a credit repair provider based in Chicago, Illinois. Rated 4.5/5 with 3,471 Google reviews, reflecting excellent customer satisfaction.

Highly rated by customers (4.5/5 on Google)

Well-established with 3,471+ customer reviews

Google-verified business

Read Full Profile

6

Upstart

★ 3.9

Google rating from 182 reviews

Rates and terms vary BBB: NR

Upstart is an online personal loan platform associated with Upstart Network, based in San Mateo, California. CreditDoc tracks the profile for loan-comparison context, public review signals, and borrower research.

National online lending platform profile, not a local credit-repair listing

Useful comparison point for personal loan and debt-consolidation research

Public website available for current terms and eligibility details

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7

VIVA Finance, Inc.

★ 4.9

Google rating from 3,657 reviews

Rates and terms vary BBB: A+ Free Consultation

VIVA Finance offers affordable fixed-rate personal loans from $300 to $10,000 at 11.99%–35.99% APR. Approvals based on employment history, not just credit score. BBB A+ rated, founded 2019.

Employment-based approval — not just credit score, giving access to borrowers traditional banks reject

Competitive APR range (11.99%–35.99%) — far below payday loan rates

No prepayment penalties — pay off early without extra fees

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8

OppFi

No stored Google rating

Rates and terms vary BBB: A+

Personal installment loans for consumers with poor credit (580+ FICO). $500-$4,000, repaid over 6-18 months. Reports to credit bureaus to help build credit.

Accepts very low credit scores (350+)

Structured installment loans (not payday)

Reports to credit bureaus — builds credit history

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9

Affirm

No stored Google rating

Rates and terms vary BBB: n/a

Buy now, pay later at checkout. Split purchases into 4 biweekly payments (0% APR) or 6-60 monthly payments. No late fees, no hidden charges. Publicly traded (NASDAQ: AFRM).

Absolutely no late fees or hidden charges

0% APR available on many purchases

Founded by PayPal co-founder

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Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do I need for a personal loan?

Most online lenders require 580-660 minimum. lower listed rates (under 10% APR) typically require 720+. Credit unions may be more flexible for members. Some lenders like Upstart consider factors beyond credit score, including education and employment history.

How fast can I get a personal loan?

Many online lenders fund within 1-3 business days of approval. LightStream and SoFi can fund same-day in some cases. Credit unions typically take 3-7 business days. Traditional banks may take 1-2 weeks.

Are personal loans better than credit cards?

For large expenses, personal loans often offer lower fixed rates (6-20%) vs credit cards (16-25%). They also have fixed monthly payments and a set payoff date. Credit cards are better for smaller, ongoing expenses where you can pay the balance monthly.

More providers in this category

Beyond the ranked list above, these 12 providers cover the same category in our directory. Click through to compare CFPB complaint data, Google ratings, and BBB standing side-by-side.

Advance America

Spartanburg, SC

★ 4.9 · 36,495 reviews

Credit9

Irvine, CA

★ 4.8 · 6,360 reviews

CreditNinja

Chicago, IL

★ 4.5 · 3,674 reviews

Dollar Financial Group

Malvern, PA

Fig Loans

Sugar Land, TX

★ 4.7 · 2,382 reviews

Heights Finance

Greenville, IL

★ 5.0 · 1,728 reviews

Integra Credit

Chicago, IL

★ 4.6 · 2,237 reviews

LoanCenter

Las Vegas, NV

★ 4.8 · 1,525 reviews

Mariner Finance

Nottingham, MD

★ 5.0 · 2,584 reviews

NetCredit

Chicago, IL

Oportun

San Mateo, CA

★ 5.0 · 19,843 reviews

Happy Money (Payoff Loans)

Torrance, CA

★ 4.0 · 50 reviews

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Use This Guide With Regulatory Research

List-style guides are starting points. Compare each provider profile with local guides, state lending-law resources, CreditDoc tools, and CFPB complaint-data context before relying on a ranking, offer, or advertised rate. Every listing on this page is a research anchor, not a recommendation. Combine the ranking with a licensing check via your state agency, a check of the CFPB complaint database, and a written Truth in Lending disclosure before you sign anything.

State lending laws CFPB complaint context Lending transparency data Research hub State regulator directory Borrower questions Financial wellness library Free credit course

HB

Harvey Brooks

Senior Financial Editor

Harvey Brooks is a consumer finance writer specializing in credit repair, personal lending, and debt management. With over a decade covering the industry, he makes financial literacy accessible to everyday Americans. About our editorial team.

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