Best Installment Loans for Bad Credit in November 2025
Find rates below 36% — even with bad credit
| Lender | User rating | Best for | APR | Amount | Min. credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall installment loans for bad credit | 6.70% – 35.99% |
$1k – $75k |
300 | ||
|
In-person borrowing | 18.00% – 35.99% |
$1.5k – $20k |
500 | ||
|
Fast online loans | 9.95% – 35.99% |
$2k – $35k |
550 | ||
|
Spreading out payments | 7.74% – 35.99% (with discounts) |
$1k – $50k |
580 |
Installment loans for bad credit at a glance
OVERALL INSTALLMENT LOANS FOR BAD CREDIT – UPSTART
- One of the lowest credit score requirements on the market
- Rated #1 in customer satisfaction by LendingTree users
- Fast funding
- Can’t improve your chances by applying with another person
- Charges one-time upfront fee of 0.00% – 12.00%
- Only offers two repayment terms: 36 months to 60 months
Upstart is unique among bad credit installment loan lenders because it gives loans to people with credit scores as low as 300. And you won’t have to sacrifice quality, either. According to LendingTree users, Upstart offers the best customer experience of all personal loan lenders on our marketplace.
But Upstart doesn’t offer joint loans, so you can’t apply with a co-borrower to boost your odds of approval. Plus, you may have to pony up for an expensive one-time origination fee of 0.00% – 12.00%.
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)
IN-PERSON BORROWING – ONEMAIN FINANCIAL
- More than 1,300 branches in the U.S.
- Very fast funding when you use your debit card
- Can boost your odds of approval by offering collateral
- Can change your due date up to two times
- Can only borrow up to $20,000.00 (many lenders offer up to $50,000)
- Not available in all states
- Charges one-time upfront fee ($25 to $500, or 1.00% – 10.00%)
If you prefer getting an installment loan for bad credit in person, check if OneMain Financial has a branch near you. OneMain has 1,300 branch locations across 44 U.S. states. You can get your money in as little as one hour after signing your loan agreement with OneMain. This is on the fast end compared with other lenders who can take up to five days to send your money.
You can also apply for a secured loan to boost your chances, and potentially lower your rates with required collateral. That said, every OneMain loan comes with a one-time origination fee, and you can only borrow up to $20,000.00.
OneMain Financial isn’t very transparent about its personal loan eligibility requirements, but it’s possible to qualify even with a score as low as 500. Before closing on a loan, you’ll be required to provide:
- Government-issued identification (such as a driver’s license or passport)
- Proof of residence (such as a rental agreement or utility bill)
- Proof of income (such as pay stubs or tax returns)
However, know that OneMain loans are not available in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, the District of Columbia or U.S. territories.
FAST ONLINE LOANS – AVANT
- Get money as soon as the next business day
- Can get decision in minutes
- Can upload all supporting documents securely online
- Not available in all states
- Requires a credit score of at least 550 (on the higher end of this list)
- Charges a one-time upfront fee (Up to 9.99%)
- Must borrow at least $2,000.00 (some lenders start at $1,000)
Avant offers quick loans, with loan decisions in as little as a few minutes and funding as soon as the next business day. Plus, as an online lender, Avant makes it easy to upload all of your supporting documents online or via email.
But Avant may keep part of your loan as an origination fee, and you’ll need a score of at least 550 to qualify. This still falls in the range of bad credit, but it’s one of the higher credit thresholds on this list.
To get a loan with Avant, you’ll need to meet the following minimum requirements:
- Residency: Not available to residents of Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
- Administrative: Must have a bank account. May need to submit bank statements, pay stubs or tax documents to prove your income. Avant may also call your employer to verify your employment.
- Credit score: 550+
SPREADING OUT PAYMENTS – UPGRADE
- Can spread out payments across a long loan term
- Offers three discounts
- Get money as soon as one business day
- Charges one-time origination fee on every loan
- Can only borrow up to $50,000.00 (some lenders offer up to $100,000)
Upgrade offers fast loans and allows you to spread out your payments across 24 months to 84 months, which is much longer than some competitors. You can get smaller monthly payments with a longer loan term, but know that you’ll pay more money in interest.
You’ll need to budget for a one-time origination fee of 1.85%-9.99%. Upgrade will take this money out of your loan before sending it to you.
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+
Can you get an installment loan with bad credit?
Yes, it’s possible. In 2024 alone, LendingTree’s partners funded more than 55,000 loans to borrowers with credit scores of 579 and below. But not all lenders offer reasonable rates. On this page, we’ve highlighted the four best installment loan lenders for bad credit. Here’s what they have in common:
-
Affordable rates
Financial experts use 36% as the line between affordable and predatory rates, and the lenders we feature on this page all cap their rates at 35.99%. That means 35.99% is the highest rate they’ll charge you, assuming you qualify. -
Low credit requirements
Having a bad credit score (below 580) often means you can’t get traditional personal loans. But the lenders on this page offer installment loans specifically for people with bad credit. -
High ratings
These lenders scored at least 4.6 out of 5 stars in customer satisfaction among LendingTree users at the time of writing. Read lender reviews from real LendingTree users.
If you have a bad credit history, expect your rates to be close to 35.99%, the high end of the listed range. Use our loan calculator to decide if you can afford monthly payments at that rate.The fact that a lender offers loans for bad credit isn’t a guarantee that you’ll be approved. Learn about reasons lenders deny personal loans and ways to boost your odds.
Installment loans for bad credit vs. payday loans
Installment loans (or personal loans)
- Cheaper way to borrow money
- Long repayment periods
- Build credit as long as you make on-time payments
- Require a credit check
- Take longer to send you money
Payday loans
- Fast and convenient
- Better odds of approval
- Very expensive
- Typically due in two weeks
- Often lead to cycle of borrowing more to pay off your original loan
Choose installment loans from reputable lenders over payday loans whenever you can. Payday loans are convenient, but their high rates make them much more expensive.
Learn more about personal loans vs. payday loans
How to get your loan money faster
Prep your documents
Your lender may ask you to submit additional paperwork before approving your application. Find these documents ahead of time so you have them ready before the lender asks for them:
-
Proof of identity
Social Security number and a government issued ID (like a driver’s license, passport or visa) -
Proof of residence
Mortgage statement, lease or utility bill -
Proof of income
Pay stubs, W-2 or tax documents
Choose direct deposit
Lenders typically send you money via check or direct deposit. Choose direct deposit if you can — you’ll have your money in hand much sooner.
Apply early and keep an eye on your inbox
Many lenders send money the same or next day, but most of them have cutoff times. Upstart, for example, will send your money the next business day as long as you’ve signed your paperwork by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on a weekday.
Get ahead of the cutoffs by applying for your loan early in the day and responding to lender emails immediately.
Find out how long it takes to get a personal loan — plus more ways to beat the clock
Alternatives to installment loans for bad credit
Paycheck advance app
- Fast funding, no credit check, no interest
- May charge fees, may not offer enough money
Learn about the best paycheck advance apps.
Credit card for bad credit
- Sometimes requires a credit check, charges fees or a security deposit
- Comes with rates below 36% and allows you to pay off balance over time
Learn about the best credit cards for bad credit.
Cash advance
- Fast and convenient
- Expensive because of high fees and interest rates
Learn about cash advances.
People with good to excellent credit don’t have to pay as much to borrow money. They qualify for lower rates and can even borrow money for free with a 0% APR credit card. Take time to improve your credit before you apply for a loan if at all possible.
How to find installment loans for bad credit with LendingTree
Answer a few questions
Take a couple of minutes to answer questions about yourself, how much money you need and when you need it.
Compare your offers
We’ll do the loan shopping for you. You’ll get offers from up to five lenders if you qualify.
Get your money
Choose the loan that fits your budget and submit an application with the lender. If you’re approved, the lender will send you your money.
Frequently asked questions
You can get a same-day loan for bad credit with some reputable personal loan lenders that offer quick loans, or you can use a paycheck advance app to borrow a small amount of money. You can also use a payday lender, but be prepared for high rates and an expensive loan.
We’ve highlighted four of the installment lenders with the lowest eligibility requirements on this page. There are other installment lenders that are easier to get approved for, but their loans can be as expensive as payday loans. Some charge rates that go into the triple digits.
If you’re having trouble getting a bad credit installment loan, you can take the time to improve your credit or apply with a co-borrower or cosigner. Learn more about how to boost your chances of getting a loan.
Our methodology
We reviewed more than 30 lenders to determine the overall best installment loans for bad credit loans. According to our standardized rating system, the best installment loans for bad credit come from Upstart, OneMain, Avant and Upgrade.
To make our list, lenders must offer installment loans for bad credit (a minimum credit score at or below 580) with rates under 36%. From there, we prioritize lenders based on the following factors:
Accessibility. Lenders are ranked higher if their personal loans are available to more people and require fewer conditions. This may include lower credit requirements, wider geographic availability, faster funding and easier and more transparent prequalification and application processes.
Rates and terms. We prioritize lenders with more competitive fixed rates, fewer fees and greater options for repayment terms, loan amounts and APR discounts.
Repayment experience. For starters, we consider each lender’s reputation and business practices. We also favor lenders that report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide any unique perks to customers, like free wealth coaching.