Best Personal Loan Companies with the Lowest Rates in October 2025
Save an average of $1,659 by shopping for a personal loan with LendingTree
- Winner: SoFi. Based on our comprehensive rating system, SoFi is LendingTree’s pick for the best personal loan company as of October 2025.
- Why we like it: SoFi offers some of the fastest funding on the market and lets you skip upfront fees (they’re optional).
- Runners-up: PenFed Credit Union and Upgrade. Both offer low rates and unique perks that make them strong alternatives and top LendingTree picks.
Top 10 best personal loan companies
| Lender | User rating | Best for | APR | |
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Overall personal loans | 8.99% – 35.49% (with discounts) | ||
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Runner-up, overall personal loans | 7.99% – 17.99% | ||
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Runner-up, overall personal loans | 7.74% – 35.99% (with discounts) | ||
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Lowest rates with collateral | 5.99% – 29.91% | ||
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Excellent customer service and no fees | 7.99% – 24.99% | ||
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Joint loans, fair credit OK | 7.04% – 35.99% | ||
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Big loans and no fees | 6.24% – 24.89% (with autopay) | ||
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Better approval odds with peer-to-peer loans Peer-to-peer loans come from individual investors (people) and are typically easier to get. | 8.99% – 35.99% | ||
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Same-day funding, fair credit OK | 8.01% – 29.99% (with autopay) | ||
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Bad or no credit | 6.70% – 35.99% |
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| Best for | Overall personal loans | Runner-up, overall personal loans | Runner-up, overall personal loans | Lowest rates with collateral | Excellent customer service and no fees | Joint loans, fair credit OK | Big loans and no fees | Better approval odds with peer-to-peer loans Peer-to-peer loans come from individual investors (people) and are typically easier to get. | Same-day funding, fair credit OK | Bad or no credit |
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What is the best personal loan company right now?
As of October 2025, SoFi is the best personal loan company according to our methodology because it offers quick funding, optional fees and competitive rates.
Other top personal loan companies include Upgrade (low rates and accessible to people with fair credit) and PenFed Credit Union(low rates and no fees).
LendingTree personal loan experts hand-select each of our top lenders and evaluate them for how easy they are to qualify for, cost and ease of repayment — the factors that matter most to you. Learn more about how we rate lenders.
How LendingTree works
You’d shop around for flights. Why not your loan? LendingTree makes it easy. Fill out one form and get lenders from the country’s largest network to compete for your business.
1. Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need. It’s free, simple and secure.
2. Shop your offers
LendingTree users who get at least one offer receive 20 personal loan offers on average. Compare your offers side by side to get the best deal.
3. Get your money
Pick a lender and sign your loan paperwork. You could see money in your account in as soon as 24 hours.
Best personal loan companies
Best for: Overall personal loans – SoFi
- No required fees
- Get money as soon as the day you’re approved
- 0.25% autopay discount
- Borrowers with bad credit won’t qualify
- Lowest rates require paying upfront origination fee
- Must borrow at least $5,000.00
I shopped for personal loans with SoFi using my real information. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: SoFi’s application is quick and simple, and it’s easy to add a co-borrower. Plus, SoFi anticipates and answers questions about how much to borrow, what to include as income and what counts as your housing payment.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: None! Just have your Social Security number on hand.
SoFi has some of the quickest loans on the market. You could see money in your bank account as soon as the same business day if you sign your loan agreement by 6 p.m. ET. You can also choose how you pay — get lower rates when you pay SoFi an upfront fee or skip the fee for higher rates.
Since SoFi’s minimum credit score is 680, consider lenders like Prosper or Upstart if you have bad credit. You’ll also need to look elsewhere — like PenFed Credit Union or Upgrade — for a loan smaller than $5,000 (SoFi’s minimum).
While SoFi offers loans up to $100,000.00, LendingTree marketplace customers may not receive offers at this maximum loan amount.
You must meet the requirements below to get a loan from SoFi:
- Age: Be the age of majority in your state (typically 18)
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible permanent resident or a non-permanent resident (a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient or asylum-seeker, for instance)
- Employment: Have a job or job offer with a start date within 90 days, or have regular income from another source
- Credit score: 680+
Best for: Runner-up, overall personal loans – PenFed Credit Union
- Borrow as little as $600.00
- No upfront fees
- Rates capped at 17.99%
- Must become credit union member to get a loan
- Doesn’t publish minimum credit score, income or other info on how to qualify
I shopped for personal loans with PenFed Credit Union using my real information. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: PenFed Credit Union’s application was quick, and included helpful context to clarify potentially confusing questions. Be prepared to verify your phone number as part of the application process — this is an unusual step that most lenders skip.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: None! Just have your Social Security number on hand.
PenFed Credit Union loans can help you keep costs down with low rates, no fees and smaller loan amounts than most traditional lenders. Borrowing only what you need helps you avoid paying unnecessary interest, and PenFed’s small loans make that easy.
You’ll need to become a member in order to get a loan, but PenFed Credit Union makes it easy to join. Note that while PenFed Credit Union’s eligibility requirements are unclear, you can see if you qualify without affecting your credit score.
To qualify for a PenFed Credit Union loan, you must meet the following requirements:
- Membership: PenFed Credit Union membership (anyone can apply)
- Administrative: Open up PenFed Credit Union savings account with $5 deposit; may need to submit documents to verify your identity and income
Best for: Runner-up, overall personal loans – Upgrade
- Recommended by 97% of LendingTree users who borrow from Upgrade
- Get money in as soon as one business day
- Can send money directly to your creditors if you’re consolidating
- Customer service available every day of the week, including weekends
- Fair credit OK
- Charges an upfront origination fee
- Some other lenders offer a lower starting APR
“Upgrade has been fantastic to work with. Their platform is extremely easy to use. I barely touch anything because I have autopay set up, but it’s been really easy to make changes with payment methods.” – Sammi Scharf, LendingTree writer
Lending platform Upgrade stands out for its borrower-friendly features, low qualification requirements and highly rated customer service. Upgrade lets you save with three APR discount opportunities or by applying for a joint personal loan for better odds at a lower rate.
Keep in mind that if you take out an Upgrade personal loan, you’ll pay an upfront origination fee of 1.85%-9.99% of your loan amount. Want to skip the fees? Check out no-fee lenders like PenFed Credit Union, Discover and LightStream.
To qualify for a loan through Upgrade, you must meet the requirements below:
- Age: Be at least 18 years old (19 in some states)
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or live in the U.S. with a valid visa
- Administrative: Have a valid bank account and email address
- Credit score: 580+
Best for: Lowest rates with collateral – Best Egg
- Secured loans are generally easier to qualify for and can come with lower rates
- Get money in as soon as 24 hours
- Fair credit OK
- Not available in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or the District of Columbia
- Charges an upfront fee on every loan
- Can’t apply for a loan with another person
I shopped for personal loans with Best Egg using my real information. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: Best Egg asks more questions than the average lender, but its application is clear and easy to complete. Once you have offers, you can quickly click through to a loan agreement that outlines the next steps and how much you’ll pay.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: Annual income for other people in your household, other types of accounts held (e.g., savings, retirement and investments), car payment, number of cash advances taken in past six months
If you have fair to good credit, own your home and want to boost your approval odds, Best Egg’s secured loan for homeowners is worth considering. You’ll back your Best Egg secured loan with fixtures from your house like cabinets and lighting. Offering collateral can make it easier to get a loan (or even lower rates) because it reduces the lender’s risk.
Think twice about Best Egg’s secured loan if you’re planning to move or refinance — it’ll be hard to sell or refinance your home while you have a lien on the fixtures. Also note that you can’t apply for a Best Egg loan with another person (like the co-owner of your house, for instance).
Best Egg uses built‑in home fixtures as collateral but doesn’t require an appraisal of them. It reviews your credit history and home equity instead.
You must also meet the requirements below to qualify for a Best Egg loan:
- Age: Be of legal age to accept a loan in your state (usually 18)
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the U.S.
- Administrative: Have a personal checking account, email address and physical address
- Residency: Not live in the District of Columbia, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or U.S. territories
- Credit score: 580+
Best for: Excellent customer service and no fees – Discover
- U.S.-based loan specialists available seven days a week
- Get money as soon as the next business day
- Repayment assistance options if you can’t make payments
- No upfront fees
- Can’t apply for a loan with another person
- Need good or excellent credit to qualify
- Can only borrow up to $40,000.00
I shopped for personal loans with Discover using my real information. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: Discover’s application process was quick and easy — there were only a few questions and the interface was intuitive. I got instant offers, and Discover gave me a reference number to log back in and review them again later.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: None! Just remember to have your Social Security number on hand.
With a 97% approval rating from LendingTree users, Discover earns high marks for customer satisfaction. Its U.S.-based loan specialists are available seven days a week, take phone calls and offer extended customer service hours as late as 11 p.m. ET on weekdays.
Discover personal loans only go up to$40,000.00, so if you’re looking for a large personal loan, consider other lenders on this list like LightStream or SoFi.
You’ll need to meet these eligibility criteria to get a Discover loan:
- Age: Be at least 18
- Citizenship: Have a Social Security number
- Administrative: Have a physical address, email address and internet access
- Income: Minimum income of $40,000 (individually or as a household)
- Credit score: 720+
Best for: Joint loans, fair credit OK – LendingClub
- Get money as soon as 24 hours
- Available to people with fair credit
- Can apply with another person for better odds of approval
- May charge upfront origination fee (0.00% – 8.00%)
- Borrowers with bad credit won’t qualify
If you have fair credit and want to boost your odds of getting a loan with lower rates, check out LendingClub. While many lenders don’t offer joint loans, LendingClub allows co-borrowers — and one with good credit can help you qualify, get lower rates and even qualify for more money.
LendingClub sometimes charges an upfront origination fee that it takes out of your loan before sending you money. You won’t qualify for a LendingClub loan with bad credit, so check out Prosper and Upstart if your credit score is below 580.
To be eligible for a LendingClub personal loan, you must meet the following requirements:
- Age: Be at least 18 years old
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Administrative: Have a verifiable bank account
Best for: Big loans and no fees – LightStream
- Get money as soon as the same day
- No fees
- Borrow up to $100,000.00 (most lenders only offer up to $50,000)
- 0.50% autopay discount
- Checking rates will require a hard credit pull (and knock a few points off your score)
- Can’t use money for school or business expenses
- Must have good or excellent credit to qualify
I started the application process with LightStream using my real information. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: LightStream’s application has more questions than usual because you’re getting real rates rather than estimates from prequalified offers. You’ll also have to create an account to see rates. That said, I love how straightforward LightStream’s application is — it anticipates and answers common questions.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: Time at current address, time with current employer, estimated home equity, checking and savings balances plus stocks and bonds, retirement assets
LightStream is one of the few personal loan lenders that offers more than $50,000, making its loans ideal for big expenses. Its competitive rates and low fees could translate to huge savings if you need a large loan.
Unlike many personal loan companies, LightStream doesn’t let you check your rates by prequalifying. If you want to see your rates and terms, LightStream will do a hard credit pull, which will cause your credit score to take a small, temporary dip.
While LightStream offers loans up to $100,000.00, LendingTree marketplace customers may not receive offers at this maximum loan amount.
LightStream doesn’t specify its exact credit score requirements, but you must have good to excellent credit to qualify. Most of the applicants that LightStream approves have the following in common:
- At least five years of on-time payments under a variety of accounts (credit cards, auto loans, etc.)
- Stable income and the ability to handle paying their current debt obligations
- Savings, whether in a bank account, an investment account or a retirement account
Best for: Better approval odds with peer-to-peer loans – Prosper
- Qualify with a score as low as 560
- Can apply for a loan with another person
- Get money as soon as one business day
- Charges an upfront origination fee
- Could take up to 14 days for investors to fund a loan, though this isn’t typical
- Not available in Iowa or West Virginia
I shopped for personal loans with Prosper using my real information. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: Prosper’s application is quick and straightforward, and it’s easy to add a co-borrower with a click of a button. Prosper also includes helpful information about the types of income you’ll need to report, which can often be confusing when applying for a loan.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: Prosper asks if you’re enrolled in a debt settlement program. (If you don’t know what debt settlement is, the answer is likely no!)
When you apply for a loan with Prosper, individual investors (people) decide whether to fund your loan — not a bank. This is called peer-to-peer lending, and it’s typically easier to qualify for than a traditional personal loan. Prosper’s low credit requirement makes its loans accessible to people with fair credit who might otherwise only qualify for predatory loans.
Prosper could send your money as soon as one business day, but the timing largely depends on investors. While it typically takes investors between one and three business days to fund loans, it could take up to 14 days, which is on the long end compared to other personal loan timelines.
To get a loan with Prosper, you must meet the following requirements:
- Age: Be 18 or older
- Administrative: Have a U.S. bank account and Social Security number
- Residency: Not live in Iowa or West Virginia
- Credit score: 560+
Best for: Same-day funding, fair credit OK – Rocket Loans
- Get money as soon as the same day
- Available to people with fair credit
- Competitive rates
- Charges an upfront fee (Up to 9.99%)
- Can’t apply with another person
- Only offers two loan term options (36 to 60 months)
- Not available in Iowa, Maryland, Nevada or West Virginia
Check out Rocket Loans if you have fair credit and need a quick loan. You could get your money as soon as the same day — some of the fastest funding available on the market — and LendingClub’s rates only go up to 29.99% APR, which is much lower than the average rate for fair credit.
Rocket Loans does charge upfront origination fees, which could add to the cost of your loan. Plus, it only offers two loan terms, so consider other lenders if you need a short-term or long-term loan.
To qualify for Rocket Loans, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
- Age: 18 or older
- Income: Minimum annual income of $24,000
- Residency: Can’t live in Iowa, Maryland, Nevada or West Virginia
- Credit score: 620+
Best for: Bad or no credit – Upstart
- Low or no credit won’t disqualify you
- Get money in as soon as one business day
- Consistently rated top 3 in customer satisfaction by LendingTree users
- Can’t take out a loan with another person
- Only two repayment terms to choose from (36 to 60 months)
- May charge an origination fee (0.00% – 12.00%)
“I had never taken out a personal loan before, but it only took me a few minutes to fill out Upstart’s application and hear back about whether I prequalified. On top of that, I got to skip paying an origination fee — which saved me money — and the monthly payments ended up fitting my budget.” – Amanda Push, LendingTree deputy editor
Upstart loans are worth considering for applicants with limited or bad credit history. Unlike most other lenders, Upstart offers loans to borrowers who are credit invisible or don’t have long enough credit histories to generate a credit score.
You’ll likely pay a high price to get an Upstart loan if you have bad or no credit. Upstart charges rates as high as 35.99%, and you could get stuck with an expensive origination fee.
Upstart has transparent eligibility requirements, including:
- Age: Be 18 or older
- Administrative: Have a U.S. address, personal banking account, email address and Social Security number
- Income: Have a valid source of income, including a job, job offer or another regular income source
- Credit-related factors: No bankruptcies within the last three years, reasonable number of recent inquiries on your credit report and no current delinquencies
- Credit score: 300+ (unless you’re an eligible college student or graduate, in which case Upstart could approve you with no credit)
What is a personal loan?
A personal loan gives you a lump sum of money that you’ll pay back in equal monthly payments. The lender will usually send the money straight to your bank account — sometimes as soon as the same day.
What else to know:
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Fixed interest
Interest stays the same during the loan, and so do your payments. Credit card interest goes up and down with the market. -
How to qualify
There’s no universal minimum credit score for personal loans — but the better your credit, the cheaper your loan will likely be. Learn more about personal loan requirements. -
How to apply
You can apply for a personal loan on the lender’s website or use a service like LendingTree to get quotes from up to five lenders at once.
Personal loans are a popular solution for dealing with debt. Nearly three quarters (72%) of Americans have a personal loan, have had one in the past or have considered getting one, according to a LendingTree survey.
Personal loan rates
We’ve compiled the average personal loan rates for LendingTree marketplace users so you can estimate the rates you’ll likely qualify for based on your credit score.
| Credit tier | Average APR |
|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | 11.66% |
| Very good (740-799) | 14.35% |
| Good (670-739) | 22.83% |
| Fair (580-669) | 30.22% |
| Poor (under 580) | 32.09% |
Track personal loan rates with LendingTree
Personal loan rates have held steady over the past year, but they remain relatively high — making it more important than ever to compare lenders and find the best offer for your credit profile.
Calculate your loan payments
How much will your loan cost?
It’s hard to know how much your loan will actually cost when you’re looking at broad APR ranges. We’ll walk you through how to estimate the cost of your loan in dollars and cents.
Let’s assume you borrow $5,000 over a loan term of 48 months. Let’s also assume your loan has no fees. Here’s a quick estimate of the cost of your loan in dollars and cents.
| Credit score range | Average APR | Monthly payment | Interest | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | 11.66% | $130.84 | $1,280.13 | $6,280.13 |
| Very good (740-799) | 14.35% | $137.51 | $1,600.57 | $6,600.57 |
| Good (670-739) | 22.83% | $159.79 | $2,670.02 | $7,670.02 |
| Fair (580-669) | 30.22% | $180.67 | $3,672.17 | $8,672.17 |
| Poor (under 580) | 32.09% | $186.16 | $3,935.60 | $8,935.60 |
Improving your credit before getting a loan will help you get lower rates and save money. You could save more than $1,804 on your loan by raising your score from “fair” to “very good.”
How to choose the best loan
Once you have loan offers, use our loan calculator to compare APRs, monthly payment and total interest payments. Here’s what to expect and watch out for based on your credit score:
| Your credit band | Probable offers | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | Low rates, options with no fees | Prioritize offers with low rates and no origination fee. |
| Good to very good (670-799) | Slightly higher rates, may need to pay fees | Lenders deduct origination fees before sending your loan, so make sure you’ll get the full amount of money you need. |
| Fair (580-669) | Fewer options with higher rates, fees likely | Find the offer with the lowest APR that has a monthly payment you can afford. |
| Poor (under 580) | Few options, highest rates | Add a co-borrower or collateral for lower rates and better odds of approval. |
Expert insights on finding the lowest personal loan rate
If you don’t shop around for the best rate on your next personal loan, you’re probably going to pay too much. Rates, terms and amounts can vary significantly by lender, so it is absolutely worth the effort to compare offers from multiple personal loan companies.
Life’s too expensive today to settle for paying more than you need.
Best loan companies for every need
Frequently asked questions
Of our top picks in October 2025, Best Egg offers the lowest starting rate (5.99% APR) for secured personal loans, and LightStream offers the next-lowest starting rate (6.24% with autopay) for unsecured loans.
LendingTree’s top 10 lenders offer safe personal loans that you can apply for online. Read about personal loan disadvantages to protect yourself from the risks that come with any personal loan.
Choosing the right personal loan lender is all about shopping around. Prequalify with several lenders, compare your offers and choose the one that fits your budget. You can get offers from up to five lenders at once with LendingTree.
Online-only lenders typically offer fast funding and can be easier to qualify for than traditional personal loans from brick and mortar banks, but they sometimes come with one-time origination fees that can make your loan more expensive.
Yes, some personal loan comparison sites are trustworthy. LendingTree writers and editors evaluate lenders impartially and don’t receive compensation for their reviews. Learn more about how we review lenders.
Our methodology
We reviewed more than 30 lenders that offer personal loans to determine the overall best 10 lenders by these metrics. According to our systematic rating and review process, the best personal loans come from SoFi, Upgrade, Best Egg, Discover, LendingClub, LightStream, PenFed, Prosper, Rocket Loans and Upstart. LendingTree reviews and fact-checks our top lender picks on a monthly basis.
Accessibility. We look for lenders with fewer barriers to approval and award points for lower credit requirements, nationwide access, fast funding and simple applications.
Rates and terms. We prioritize lenders that offer low starting rates, minimal fees, flexible terms and APR discount opportunities.
Repayment experience. We choose lenders with strong reputations, convenient self-service tools, responsive support and borrower-friendly perks.
Why trust our methodology?
Our writers and editors dig through the facts, contact lenders directly and even go through the application process ourselves if it helps better explain what you can expect. As a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, I’m committed to breaking down complex financial details so people can make confident, informed decisions with their money.
Jessica’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.