Best Loans for Bad Credit in August 2025

I shopped for personal loans with Upstart using my real personal information to better understand the application process. Here’s what I found:

• Application experience: Upstart’s application is straightforward and clear. It has more questions than the average loan application, but these questions are tied to its AI algorithm designed to improve users’ chances of approval.
• Unusual questions to prepare for: Amounts in checking, savings and investment accounts; car payment; miles on car

Upstart uses an AI algorithm that evaluates factors outside of credit history (such as education and employment) to approve more people, including people with bad or no credit. Plus, Upstart’s credit score requirement is one of the lowest on the market — you could qualify with a score as low as 300.

Loans through Upstart’s network come with only two repayment terms — 36 or 60 months — and can have higher origination fees than many other lenders.

Quick stats:

• 99% of LendingTree users who borrowed from Upstart’s platform recommend them
• Upstart funded 20,000+ personal loans to LendingTree users in 2024

Upstart lets you boost your approval odds with:

 Collateral
 Smaller loans
 Factors like your education and employment history

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)

I shopped for personal loans with OneMain using my real information. Here’s what I found:

• Application experience: OneMain’s application is fast and easy to navigate, especially if you’ve prepared for additional questions about your income and employment (see below).
• Unusual questions to prepare for: Monthly take-home pay (most lenders ask for annual income), employer phone number, car payment

OneMain has some of the quickest loans on the market — you could get your money in just an hour. All you have to do is use your debit card number to get your money directly deposited into your bank account.

But OneMain loans aren’t cheap — they come with high rates and fees. OneMain also calculates interest in a way that stops you from saving much (or any) interest if you pay your loan off early.

Quick stats:

• 94% of LendingTree users who borrowed from OneMain recommend them
• OneMain funded 51,000+ personal loans to LendingTree users in 2024

OneMain lets you boost your approval odds with:

 Collateral
 Smaller loans
 Cosigners/co-borrowers

OneMain Financial isn’t very transparent about its personal loan eligibility requirements, but it’s possible to qualify even with a credit score as low as 500. Before closing on a loan, you must 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, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont or in U.S. territories.

I shopped for personal loans with Avant using my real personal information to better understand the application process. Here’s what I found:

• Application experience: Avant’s application is straightforward and fast — easily one of the best application experiences I tested.

If you need someone to walk you through your loan application, you can contact Avant application support by phone 13 hours a day, seven days a week. Other lenders offer more limited hours, and some are closed on weekends altogether.

Unlike other lenders on this list, Avant doesn’t allow you to put up collateral or apply with a co-borrower to improve your odds of getting a loan.

Quick stats:

• 95% of LendingTree users who borrowed from Avant recommend them
• Avant funded 6000+ personal loans to LendingTree users in 2024

Avant lets you boost your approval odds with:

 Smaller loans

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+

I shopped for personal loans with Upgrade using my real information. Here’s what I found:

• Application experience: Upgrade’s application is very quick with few questions, and it’s easy to apply with a co-borrower — you can add their information on the first page.
• Unusual step to prepare for: Must create an account to see your rates

Upgrade lets you spread out payments across an extra-long loan term, which can help you get affordable monthly payments. Plus, you can get discounts for letting Upgrade pay your creditors directly and for signing up for autopay. Keep in mind that longer loan terms mean that you’ll pay more in interest overall.

But you’ll have to watch out for fees. Not only does Upgrade charge an origination fee (ranging from 1.85% - 9.99%), but expect fees for late or failed payments if you miss your due date.

Quick stats:

• 97% of LendingTree users who borrowed from Upgrade’s platform recommend them
• Upgrade funded 5,000+ personal loans to LendingTree users in 2024

Upgrade lets you boost your approval odds with:

 Collateral
 Smaller loans
 Cosigners/co-borrowers

To qualify for a loan through Upgrade’s network, 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+

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 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

You can boost your odds of approval using Best Egg’s unique secured personal loans. Instead of putting up your entire home as collateral, you’ll use your home’s permanent fixtures like cabinets. You can also get an unsecured loan from Best Egg with APRs from 6.99% to 35.99%.

But you have to own your home in order to qualify, and you can’t sell your home without paying off the loan in full. This can make moving or even refinancing your home more complicated.

Quick stats:

• 98% of LendingTree users who borrowed from Best Egg recommend them
• Best Egg funded nearly 24,000 personal loans to LendingTree users in 2024

Best Egg lets you boost your approval odds with:

 Collateral
 Smaller loans

Best Egg uses your home’s permanent fixtures as collateral, but no appraisal is needed. Instead, Best Egg will review your credit history and home equity to see if you qualify.

You must also meet the requirements below to qualify for a Best Egg loan:

• 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+