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Best Personal Loans: Compare Online Lenders

Six widely available online personal loan lenders compared on prequalification, credit fit, fees and features for debt consolidation.

By Fountain Finances Editorial Team Updated 6 options compared

Advertiser disclosure: Fountain Finances may earn a commission when you apply through links marked “Affiliate link.” That never changes which products we include or how we describe them. Products without an affiliate relationship are listed on equal terms. How we make money.

Rates and fees on deposit accounts, cards and loans change frequently. We show a number only after our editors have confirmed it on the provider’s own disclosure page, together with the date it was checked. Where no figure is shown, follow the link for the provider’s current terms.

At a glance

Summary of best personal loans: compare online lenders
ProviderProductTypeWorth a look forInsurance
Best Egg Personal Loans Online personal loan Borrowers consolidating debt who want the option of direct payment to creditors —
LendingClub Personal Loans Online personal loan Borrowers who want direct payment to credit card issuers when consolidating —
LightStream Personal Loans Online personal loan Borrowers with strong credit seeking larger loans for many purposes —
SoFi Personal Loans Online personal loan Borrowers with good credit who want member benefits and flexible terms —
Upgrade Personal Loans Online personal loan Borrowers with fair to good credit consolidating debt —
Upstart Personal Loans Online personal loan Borrowers with limited credit history —

The options in detail

Personal Loans

Best Egg · Online personal loan

Worth a look for: Borrowers consolidating debt who want the option of direct payment to creditors

APR
Variable — check today’s rate
Fees
See provider’s fee schedule
Minimums
Credit and income review; loans issued by partner banks

Key features

  • Check your rate with a soft credit inquiry
  • Offers unsecured loans and, in some cases, secured options
  • Direct payment to creditors available for debt consolidation

Pros

  • Prequalification without affecting your credit score
  • Multiple loan structures

Cons

  • May charge an origination fee, which is included in the APR
  • Rates depend heavily on credit profile

Things to consider

Compare the APR — not only the interest rate — since fees are included in the APR.

Listed #1 alphabetically, not ranked. Confirm current rates, fees and eligibility on the provider’s site before applying.

See provider at Best Egg (opens in a new tab) ↗ On bestegg.com

Personal Loans

LendingClub · Online personal loan

Worth a look for: Borrowers who want direct payment to credit card issuers when consolidating

APR
Variable — check today’s rate
Fees
See provider’s fee schedule
Minimums
Credit and income review

Key features

  • Check your rate with a soft credit inquiry
  • Balance transfer loans can pay creditors directly
  • Joint applications available

Pros

  • Direct pay simplifies consolidation
  • Co-borrower option may help approval

Cons

  • May charge an origination fee
  • Rates vary widely by credit

Things to consider

An origination fee is deducted from proceeds; borrow enough to cover what you need.

Listed #2 alphabetically, not ranked. Confirm current rates, fees and eligibility on the provider’s site before applying.

See provider at LendingClub (opens in a new tab) ↗ On lendingclub.com

Personal Loans

LightStream · Online personal loan

Worth a look for: Borrowers with strong credit seeking larger loans for many purposes

APR
Variable — check today’s rate
Fees
See provider’s fee schedule
Minimums
Strong credit history typically required

Key features

  • Online lending division of Truist Bank
  • Loans for a wide range of purposes, including home improvement and auto purchases
  • Fixed-rate loans

Pros

  • Backed by a large bank
  • Broad range of permitted uses

Cons

  • Generally requires good to excellent credit
  • Application typically results in a hard credit inquiry

Things to consider

Because the application usually involves a hard inquiry, apply after you have compared prequalified offers elsewhere.

Listed #3 alphabetically, not ranked. Confirm current rates, fees and eligibility on the provider’s site before applying.

See provider at LightStream (opens in a new tab) ↗ On lightstream.com

Personal Loans

SoFi · Online personal loan

Worth a look for: Borrowers with good credit who want member benefits and flexible terms

APR
Variable — check today’s rate
Fees
See provider’s fee schedule
Minimums
Credit and income review

Key features

  • Check your rate with a soft credit inquiry
  • Fixed-rate loans
  • Member benefits such as career resources, per SoFi’s terms

Pros

  • Prequalification without affecting your score
  • Autopay discount available, per SoFi’s terms

Cons

  • Best rates require strong credit
  • Review your offer for any fees and how they affect the APR

Things to consider

Review the offer details carefully, including any fee and how it affects the APR.

Listed #4 alphabetically, not ranked. Confirm current rates, fees and eligibility on the provider’s site before applying.

See provider at SoFi (opens in a new tab) ↗ On sofi.com

Personal Loans

Upgrade · Online personal loan

Worth a look for: Borrowers with fair to good credit consolidating debt

APR
Variable — check today’s rate
Fees
See provider’s fee schedule
Minimums
Credit and income review; loans issued by partner banks

Key features

  • Check your rate with a soft credit inquiry
  • Direct payment to creditors for debt consolidation
  • Secured and joint loan options may be available

Pros

  • Works with a broader range of credit profiles
  • Direct pay simplifies consolidation

Cons

  • May charge an origination fee
  • Higher APRs for lower credit scores

Things to consider

Compare the APR and total cost against a balance transfer card if you have mostly credit card debt.

Listed #5 alphabetically, not ranked. Confirm current rates, fees and eligibility on the provider’s site before applying.

See provider at Upgrade (opens in a new tab) ↗ On upgrade.com

Personal Loans

Upstart · Online personal loan

Worth a look for: Borrowers with limited credit history

APR
Variable — check today’s rate
Fees
See provider’s fee schedule
Minimums
Credit and income review; loans issued by partner banks

Key features

  • Check your rate with a soft credit inquiry
  • Underwriting considers factors beyond the credit score, such as education and employment
  • Fast online application

Pros

  • May help applicants with thin credit files
  • Quick decisions

Cons

  • May charge an origination fee
  • Fewer term options than some lenders

Things to consider

If your credit is strong, compare with lenders that charge no origination fee.

Listed #6 alphabetically, not ranked. Confirm current rates, fees and eligibility on the provider’s site before applying.

See provider at Upstart (opens in a new tab) ↗ On upstart.com

How we chose and compared these options

We list providers in alphabetical order rather than ranking them, because the right choice depends on your situation. To be included, each product must be widely available to U.S. consumers and publish its terms online. We compared them on the following criteria:

  • Prequalification. Whether you can check your rate with a soft credit inquiry that doesn’t affect your score.
  • Credit fit. The credit profiles each lender typically serves.
  • Fees. Origination and other fees, which are reflected in the APR.
  • Consolidation features. Direct payment to creditors and joint or secured options.
  • Transparency. Whether rates, fees and terms are disclosed clearly online.

Compensation from providers never affects which products appear or how we describe them. Read our full editorial methodology and affiliate disclosure.

How to compare personal loan offers

  1. Prequalify with several lenders that use soft inquiries.
  2. Compare APRs for the same loan amount and term.
  3. Calculate total cost: monthly payment × number of payments.
  4. Check the fee structure — an origination fee reduces the cash you receive.
  5. Look for flexibility: autopay discounts, due-date changes and hardship options.

Use the loan calculator to compare offers, and read personal loan vs. credit card to decide whether a loan is the right tool.

Frequently asked questions

How many personal loan offers should I compare?

At least three. Prequalification with soft inquiries lets you compare without affecting your score.

Can I get a personal loan with bad credit?

Some lenders work with fair or lower credit, but at higher APRs. Consider a co-borrower, a secured loan or a credit union, and avoid lenders that guarantee approval or charge upfront fees.

Is the lowest APR always the best loan?

It usually means the lowest cost for the same term, but also compare total cost, monthly payment, fees and flexibility such as due-date changes or hardship programs.

Sources

  1. Ask CFPB: answers to consumer loan questions — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  2. Truth in Lending (Regulation Z) — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Read before you choose