Best Installment Loans for Bad Credit in September 2026
Worried about qualifying? People with bad credit get an average of four offers through LendingTree
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- You can get an installment loan with bad credit, even with a score as low as 300.
- Top lenders cap rates at under 36%, avoiding payday loan-level costs.
- Monthly payments are fixed, making repayment more predictable.
- Approval depends on income and credit factors, not just your score.
- Comparing lenders can mean getting a cheaper loan with lower rates and fees.
| Lender | User rating | Best for | APR | Amount | Min. credit score | See Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall installment loans for bad credit | 6.30% to 35.99% |
$1k – $75k |
None | ||
|
In-person borrowing and fast loans with debit card | 11.99% to 35.99% |
$1.5k – $30k |
None | ||
|
Fast online loans | 9.95% to 35.99% |
$2k – $35k |
580 | ||
|
Spreading out payments | 7.74% to 35.99% (with discounts) |
$1k – $50k |
600 |
Read more about how we made our picks for the best installment loans for bad credit.
Installment loans for bad credit at a glance
Best for: Overall installment loans for bad credit – Upstart
- APR
- 6.30% to 35.99%
- Can still qualify with bad credit
- Consistently rated No. 1 in customer satisfaction by LendingTree users
- Fast funding
- Can’t improve your chances by applying with another person
- Charges one-time up-front fee
- Offers only two repayment terms: 36 or 60 months
Upstart is unique among bad credit installment loan lenders. This online lending platform partners with many lenders, and some of them don’t have specific credit score requirements. Instead, Upstart uses an AI algorithm to determine eligibility.
You won’t have to sacrifice quality, either. LendingTree users consistently rank Upstart No. 1 for best customer experience out 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 a one-time 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, accepted 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: None
Best for: In-person borrowing and fast loans with debit card – OneMain Financial
- APR
- 11.99% to 35.99%
California residents must borrow at least $3,000
- 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 borrow only up to $30,000 (many lenders offer up to $50,000)
- Not available in all states
- Charges one-time up-front 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 and offers loans in 44 U.S. states. You can get your money in as little as one hour after signing your loan agreement with OneMain.
You can also apply for a secured loan to boost your approval chances, and potentially lower your rates with required collateral. That said, every OneMain loan comes with a one-time origination fee, and you can borrow only up to $30,000.
OneMain Financial does not have a formal minimum credit score requirement, but it will review your credit history to determine whether you qualify for a loan. If it approves you, you may need 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)
OneMain loans are not available in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C., or in U.S. territories.
Best for: Fast online loans – Avant
- APR
- 9.95% to 35.99%
- 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 580 (on the higher end of this list)
- Charges a one-time up-front fee (Up to 9.99%)
- Must borrow at least $2,000 (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 580 to qualify. This score 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, Washington or 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: 580+
Best for: Spreading out payments – Upgrade
- APR (with discounts)
- 7.74% to 35.99%
- Can spread out payments over a long loan term
- Offers interest rate discounts
- Get money in as soon as one business day
- Charges one-time origination fee on every loan
- Can borrow only up to $50,000 (some lenders offer up to $100,000)
Upgrade offers fast loans and allows you to spread your payments across 24 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. If you want to save money, choose a shorter loan term — Upstart offers both short- and long-term loans.
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: 600+
Why these lenders?
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 rates that are affordable and those that are too expensive. The lenders we feature on this page all cap their rates at 35.99%. -
Low credit requirements.
Having a bad credit score often means you can’t get traditional personal loans. But the lenders on this page offer installment loans specifically for people with credit scores under 600. -
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.
Can you get an installment loan with bad credit?
Yes, it’s possible to get an installment loan with bad credit. Here’s what to watch out for:
- High rates: Walk away and consider alternatives if you’re offered rates at or above 36%, or if you can’t afford monthly payments. Getting a loan that you can’t afford will likely make your financial situation even worse.
- May need to get more offers: Since lenders have different requirements, it’s possible to get an offer from one lender when several have already passed on you. Use a service like LendingTree to get offers from up to five lenders at once without impacting your credit.
- More scams: Lenders know that people with bad credit have fewer options, so unethical lenders sometimes charge extremely high rates or hidden fees. Learn more about bad credit loans and how to borrow safely.
Do high rates actually matter?
High rates may not seem to matter when you need money now, but the relief you feel from getting the money you need comes at a high price — potentially tens of thousands of dollars.
Assume you borrow $5,000 and pay it back over four years. Here’s how much it would cost in different situations:
| APR | Why this rate? | Monthly payment | Total cost of interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% APR | Similar to average APR for bad credit | $180.03 | $3,641.44 |
| 35.99% APR | Max affordable APR per experts | $197.86 | $4,497.20 |
| 160% APR | Typical no-credit check installment loan APR | $668.31 | $27,078.90 |
High-interest loans can make an already difficult financial situation much worse.
What about payday loans?
Payday loans often come with even higher rates than those you get from no-credit check installment loan lenders. Here’s how they compare with typical installment 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 (rates often up to 400%)
- Typically due in two weeks
- Often lead to a cycle of borrowing more to buy more time 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 and short terms can make them nearly impossible to pay off. Learn more about personal loans vs. payday loans.
How much will it cost?
You can use LendingTree data from thousands of real loan offers to estimate your monthly loan payment. Here’s how:
Step 1: Find the average APR for bad credit in the table below.
| Credit tier | Average APR |
|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | 15.34% |
| Very good (740-799) | 17.46% |
| Good (670-739) | 22.70% |
| Fair (580-669) | 27.52% |
| Poor (under 580) | 30.51% |
Step 2: Enter that APR and the amount of money you need to borrow into the LendingTree loan calculator to estimate how much you’ll pay.
Step 3: Choose different loan terms to see how different repayment terms affect your monthly payment and total cost.
Longer terms typically mean cheaper monthly payments but a more expensive loan overall.
Shorter terms typically mean a cheaper loan but higher monthly payments in the meantime.
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 ways to beat the clock.
Alternatives to installment loans for bad credit
Payroll advance through employer
- Fast funding, no credit check
- Employer may not offer advances or may charge interest
Paycheck advance app
- Fast funding, no credit check, no interest
- May charge fees, may not offer enough money
Learn about paycheck advance apps.
Credit card for bad credit
- Sometimes require a credit check, charge fees or a security deposit
- Come with rates below 36% and allow you to pay off the balance over time
Cash advance
- Fast and convenient
- Expensive because of high fees and interest rates
Borrowing from someone you know
- No credit check, potentially lower interest
- Risk losing your relationship
Learn about borrowing money from family or friends.
People with good to excellent credit usually pay less 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
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.
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.
Shop your offers
LendingTree users with bad credit get four personal loan offers on average. Compare your offers side by side to get the best deal.
Get your money
Pick a lender and sign your loan paperwork. You could see money in your account in as soon as 24 hours.
Prevent future emergencies
Avoiding future financial emergencies is tough work, but it’s possible. Once you’ve tackled your current emergency, find ways to increase your income and pay down debt.
Increase your income
Making more money while keeping your expenses the same can help you build breathing room into your budget. Here’s how:
-
Ask for a raise.
What if you could make more money just by asking for a pay bump? It works more than 80% of the time for full-time workers, according to LendingTree research. -
Work a side hustle.
A third of Americans have a side hustle, and the money adds up. LendingTree research shows that side hustlers earn $1,242 a month.
Pay off debt
Paying off debt can improve your credit score, making it easier to get loans in the future. Here are some ways to cut down on debt:
-
Prioritize your debts.
Learn which bills to pay first and how to use debt payoff strategies to get your head above water. -
Refinance your car.
You can save an average of $142 per month just by refinancing your car, according to LendingTree research. Use the extra cash to pay off your car sooner or build your emergency fund.
Build up savings
Setting aside money in an emergency fund can mean the difference between keeping your head above water and needing an emergency loan in the future. Here’s what you need to know:
-
Savings can help you make ends meet in an emergency.
Two-thirds (66%) of Americans dipped into their savings account in the past year — and many of them used these savings for essentials, according to DepositAccounts research. -
Even $5 or $10 a month counts.
Put aside whatever you can. Experts recommend saving three to six months of living expenses in case you lose your job, but start with a smaller goal like $500 and build from there.
How we chose the best installment loans for bad credit
We reviewed more than 40 lenders and loan marketplaces to determine the overall best installment loans for bad credit. To make our list, lenders must advertise a minimum credit score of 600 or lower and cap their annual percentage rates (APRs) at under 36%.
From there, we assessed each lender or marketplace across four categories: eligibility and access; cost to borrow; loan terms and options; repayment support and tools.
According to our standardized rating system, the best installment loans for bad credit come from Upstart, OneMain Financial, Avant and Upgrade.
Our categories
We assess how easy it is for people to qualify and apply. This includes state availability, soft-credit prequalification, membership requirements, funding speed and whether borrowers with less-than-excellent credit can get a loan.
We evaluate how affordable the loans are based on minimum and maximum APRs, loan fees and rate discounts. Lenders with unclear or potentially predatory costs receive lower scores.
We consider repayment term flexibility, loan amount ranges and whether options like secured loans, joint loans or direct-to-creditor payments are offered — plus whether the lender clearly communicates these options.
We evaluate borrower experience after funding: customer service access, hardship or forbearance programs, payment flexibility and digital tools like mobile apps or credit monitoring.
Our process
We gather data directly from companies through their websites, disclosures and direct communication with company representatives. Our editorial team verifies and updates information regularly. We value transparency and award less favorable scores when lenders obscure or omit details.
Our editorial team applies the same scoring model and standards to every lender. Lenders cannot pay to influence our ratings. Read more about our editorial guidelines.
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.
Frequently asked questions
You can get a same-day emergency loan for bad credit or use a paycheck advance app to borrow a small amount of money. Payday loans and cash advances are also fast, but avoid them if you can — they’re expensive.
On this page, we’ve highlighted four lenders with some of the lowest eligibility requirements. No-credit-check loans are typically even easier to get, but they tend to be extremely expensive — their APRs can reach the triple digits.
If you can afford to wait, try improving your credit and apply again. If you’re facing a financial emergency and need money now, you can ask your HR department or manager for a payroll advance or use a paycheck advance app.
Checking your offers with LendingTree involves a soft credit pull, which doesn’t affect your credit. That said, some lenders don’t let you check your rates without doing a hard credit pull, and almost all lenders do a hard credit pull when you submit a formal application. This typically makes your score drop by less than five points.
When you’re on a lender website, how can you tell whether they do a soft or hard pull? Look for buttons that say “Check my rates” or “See rates” — these typically mean your credit won’t be impacted. Buttons that say “Apply” typically mean the lender will do a hard credit pull.
Yes, there are ways to boost your odds of approval. Applying with a co-borrower or putting up collateral can help you qualify for a loan or even get lower rates.