Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit (2026)

Personal loan lenders that work with borrowers who have credit scores below 600. We compared APRs, fees, minimum credit requirements, and funding speed to find lenders that actually approve bad credit applicants.

Written by Harvey Brooks, Senior Financial Editor

TL;DR Quick summary

If your score is under 600, expect APRs from 18-36%. Upstart uses AI and may approve borrowers traditional lenders reject. Avant and LendingPoint are solid options. Always compare at least 3 offers — prequalification doesn't affect your credit score.

Key Takeaways

Bad credit personal loans typically carry APRs between 18-36%
Prequalification uses a soft pull and won't hurt your credit score
Secured loans (backed by collateral) often have lower rates
Watch for origination fees that can add 1-8% to your loan cost
Making on-time payments can improve your credit score over time

Getting a personal loan with bad credit is difficult but not impossible. Many lenders specialize in working with borrowers who have scores below 600 or limited credit history. The trade-off is typically higher APRs and stricter terms, but the right lender can still offer reasonable rates compared to payday loans or credit cards. We evaluated dozens of lenders on their actual approval rates for subprime borrowers, APR ranges, origination fees, and repayment flexibility. Here are the options to compare for 2026.

VIVA Finance, Inc.

4.9/5

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

Read Full Profile Visit VIVA Finance, Inc.

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

Read Full Profile Visit OppFi

Avant

4.5/5

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 Visit Avant

Upgrade

4.8/5

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 high listed customer satisfaction.

Highly rated by customers (4.8/5 on Google)

Well-established with 10,556+ customer reviews

Google-verified business

Read Full Profile Visit Upgrade

Upstart

3.9/5

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

Read Full Profile Visit Upstart

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 Visit LendingTree

World Finance

No stored Google rating

Rates and terms vary BBB: NR

World Finance Albuquerque, New Mexico — World Finance offers fixed-rate personal installment loans up to $12,000 for subprime borrowers, plus in-branch ...

Founded in 1962 — over 60 years of experience serving consumer installment loan borrowers

Approves loans in approximately 60 minutes, including applicants with poor or no credit history

Fixed rates with no fees to verify; full APR range of 20.99%–81.29% disclosed upfront

Read Full Profile Visit World Finance

Affirm

No stored Google rating

Rates and terms vary BBB: NR

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

Read Full Profile Visit Affirm

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a personal loan with a 500 credit score?

Yes, several lenders specialize in bad credit personal loans. Expect higher interest rates (25-36% APR) and lower loan amounts ($1,000-$5,000). Secured loans or credit union options may offer better terms.

What is the easiest personal loan to get approved for?

Online lenders like Upstart, Avant, and OppFi have more flexible approval criteria than traditional banks. Credit unions also tend to be more lenient with members. Secured personal loans have the highest approval rates.

Do personal loans hurt your credit score?

Prequalification uses a soft pull (no impact). The formal application triggers a hard inquiry (small temporary dip). Once approved, on-time payments help build your credit. The loan also improves your credit mix, which counts for 10% of your FICO score.

How much can I borrow with bad credit?

Most bad credit lenders offer $1,000-$10,000 for first-time borrowers. Some like Avant go up to $35,000 for qualified applicants. Your income, debt-to-income ratio, and employment history matter as much as your credit score.

Use This Guide With CreditDoc Context

List-style guides are starting points. Compare each provider profile with local guides, state rules, tools, and CFPB complaint-data context before relying on a ranking or offer.

City Guides Local provider lists, maps, and regional context. State Rules State lending-law and regulator context. Tools Estimate borrowing power, debt payoff, or credit-score scenarios. Complaint Data Use public CFPB complaint patterns as one research input.

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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