I'm Donny. I'm a world traveler, investor, entrepreneur, and online marketing aficionado who has a big appetite to compete and disrupt big markets. I thrive on being able to create things that impact change, difficult challenges, and being able to add value in negative situations.
Deciding to take out a personal loan can be intimidating if you are not informed ahead of time. Below, we will discuss five of the best personal loans to choose from to make it easier for you.
Upgrade is a fintech company offering affordable loans and credit management to users through a simple, online application process. They are my #1 recommended company for personal loans.
Upstart personal loans are great for individuals with consistent income who need money quickly for debt consolidation, medical costs, or other purposes. They are the best company when it comes to consolidating your debt.
Have you been considering taking out a personal loan? Here, we will lay out the five tried and true lenders to consider. We will also cover the pros and cons of each, the process of obtaining a personal loan, what a personal loan consists of, and some good financial reasons to take out the loan.
Making sure you do not get stuck in a high APR, a long-term loan is essential to those seeking debt consolidation, so being informed about the different options is vital.
The Best Personal Loan Providers for 2024
Comparison of the Best Personal Loans
Check your rate for a fixed-rate personal loan and borrow up to $50000. Or get started with Upgrade Card in just minutes.
Upstart personal loans are great for individuals with consistent income who need money quickly for debt consolidation, medical costs, or other purposes.
SoFi provides financial products that includes student loan refinancing, mortgages, personal loans, credit card, investing, and banking through both mobile app and desktop interfaces.
Credible personal loans is a free-to-use loan approval company that does not charge origination fees or prepayment penalties.
OppLoans is a reputable lender designed to help people with damaged credit get the money they need.
Methodology
We have highlighted five lenders that are highly reviewed by their customers. The five following lenders offer minimum fees, high approval rates, and low APR rates based on creditworthiness.
Each of these lenders has verified customer reviews and has been in business for at least five years, giving you peace of mind when taking out a loan with them.
Making sure you choose the right lender is an essential part of the process as you take out a loan that can be paid out over a longer period of time.
Many of the lenders on this list also offer acceptance for those with bad credit, which can help get you out of debt and begin building better credit.
Lender Reviews
Below, we’re looking at the best personal loans. Although these are the best lenders in the industry, they come with pros and cons. We have determined which company is the best for each market segment.
Let’s take a look!
1. Upgrade - Best Overall
Upgrade tops our list as the best overall in fixed-rate personal loans. Depending on your creditworthiness, you can borrow as low as $1,000 and as high as $50,000 per loan.
The loan process is quick and easy, and, if approved, the money arrives in your bank account within one business day! There are not many places out there that can beat these terms.
Pros
Cons
2. Upstart - Best for Debt Consolidation
If you are looking to consolidate your debt, Upstart is an attractive option for a personal loan. The approval rates for potential customers are high, and taking on a loan with Upstart can vastly improve your credit while also being the best option for debt consolidation.
Pros
Cons
3. SoFi - Best for Home Improvement
SoFi is the perfect option for those with good to excellent credit who need some extra cash. If you need to make a downpayment on a home improvement project or are undergoing high expenses like IVF treatments, this is the right choice.
SoFi provides a secured, fixed-rate loan with a higher APR rate and the ability to be approved for up to $100,000.
Pros
Cons
4. Credible - Best for Good Credit
Credible is a higher-rated lender for those with good credit and offers high loan amounts and low APR rates. What more could you need?
Using Credible gives you a great option for debt consolidation or taking on a high expense without breaking the bank. The APR rates range from as low as 3.49% up to 35.99% based on creditworthiness.
You need to make sure your credit qualifies for the company’s terms. If that’s the case, you are good to go.
Pros
Cons
5. OppLoans - Best for Bad Credit
If your credit is bad, Opploans is one of the best personal loans for you. It also works for those with fair credit. No more wondering if you will be approved because Opploans has a high approval rate with fair repayment terms and low APR rates.
Choosing Opploans as your lender will also improve your credit because it reports to all three major credit bureaus. The company offers financial advice and guidance through major financial decisions through its loan advocates who are available to you at no additional cost.
Pros
Cons
What is a Personal Loan?
A personal loan is a sum of money borrowed by customers and paid back to the lender over time through installments. There are many different types and options of personal loan rates and lengths of installment agreements.
You can take out a short-term personal loan for emergencies that you can pay back in less time or a long-term personal loan for bigger expenses that you can pay over a longer period.
Comparing Personal Loan Lenders
When comparing personal loan lenders, the things to look for are:
- APR and Fees
- Repayment terms
- Application process
- Approval and funding speed
- Your creditworthiness
- Which companies will report to which credit bureaus
- Amount able to be financed
- Secured loans versus unsecured loans
Reasons to Get a Personal Loan
If you’ve been wondering whether getting a personal loan is right for you, the reasons below may help you determine your final decision.
Debt Consolidation
Getting a personal loan for debt consolidation can be very helpful for those looking to get out of the cycle of debt. By financing with a personal loan lender for a good APR rate, you can pay off your other debt and then pay back your loan at a much lower rate.
For example, if you have a car loan that is too expensive, you can apply for a personal loan to pay off the vehicle and then pay back your new loan at a much lower rate than what you started with.
This also applies to any amount of credit card consolidation, which can be a lifesaver for many people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck because of low wages or debt.
Home Improvement
A lesser-known option for personal loans includes home improvements, which are costly and expect you to pay a large sum of money upfront.
Instead of paying a large sum of money, you can take out a personal loan with low interest to pay the sum over time.
Emergency Expenses
A common use for personal loans includes any emergency or unexpected expenses. Sometimes, when life gets tough and you have unexpected bills come up, the best option for you is to take out a low-interest personal loan.
Low-interest personal loans enable you to pay your expenses over time and not get yourself into a financial bind. This includes examples such as your vehicle breaking down and needing repairs, family emergency expenses, and home repairs such as plumbers or roofer fees in the case of flooding or weather damage.
Weddings
Weddings can be expensive, and of course, you do not want to compromise what you want on your big day. The issue comes up when you are unable to afford the expensive upfront fees and costs of venues, vendors, music, lighting, photography, clothing, and transportation.
Taking out a personal loan can be a great option for you to pay your expenses over time.
Medical Expenses
We all have medical expenses come up, whether expected or unexpected. An example of an expected medical expense would be IVF treatments.
It is a great option to take out a personal loan to be able to pay for this so you can have the treatments when you need them. Many times, medical expenses are unexpected, such as having emergency dental work done or getting injured in a car accident.
How to Pick the Best Lender
Picking the best lender is a crucial part of the process of choosing who you want to do business with. You want to make sure you take out a loan with a reputable, trustworthy company so that you avoid scams, hidden fees, and bad APR rates.
You want to research and look for customer reviews and accreditations before picking a lender. You can use the BBB website to make sure you are lending with a legitimate company.
Many of the loan companies mentioned in this article have been cited in mainstream media, magazines, and ads in articles, such as the Washington Post, which gives you a sound mind in choosing a good option.
Some things to look for include:
- Customer reviews
- BBB reviews
- Online ads
- Articles in reputable magazines that mention the company
- Websites that walk you through each step of the process
Next Steps
Although getting a personal loan can be necessary during difficult times of life, it can be a painless experience when you have the right knowledge.
The first step is to start your search for a lender. Narrowing down some of the best personal loans online and making a list is a good way to start.
Once you have determined what your needs are, what your credit score is, and how much money you need to finance, find a lender.
If you need a large sum of money to get out of debt, pay a down payment, or start a home improvement project, a personal loan may be the perfect option in this case.
Personal Loan FAQ's
Here are some common questions regarding personal loans.
Many people turn to credit cards when they need a large sum of money to make a big purchase. However, personal loans are a better option as they offer lower interest rates for repayment.
Personal loans will allow you to avoid credit card debt, which is a common issue. When you have a personal loan, you have an installment agreement for your loan over a certain amount of time.
Personal loan interest rates are highly dependent on your credit score, so the status of your score is something to consider before taking one out.
You can get a good rate for a personal loan when you have a better credit score. As a rule of thumb, APR rates between 3% and 10% are good rates that offer low interest.
Typically, these rates are obtained if you have a credit score between the upper 700 and 800.
Credit scores range from as low as 300 to as high as 850. The average credit score of most Americans is around the 600 range, which is a good thing because most lenders require a credit score of at least 650 to take out a loan.
However, some lenders specifically work with bad credit customers and accept lower scores all the time. OppLoans, which we included in the above list, is a great example.
Upgrade
Check your rate for a fixed-rate personal loan and borrow up to $50000. Or get started with Upgrade Card in just minutes.
Best Personal Loan Lenders Recap
I'm Donny. I'm a world traveler, investor, entrepreneur, and online marketing aficionado who has a big appetite to compete and disrupt big markets. I thrive on being able to create things that impact change, difficult challenges, and being able to add value in negative situations.
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