Unsecured Loans
The best unsecured personal loans and rates. Plus, get custom offers from up to 5 lenders in minutes.
| Lender | User rating | Best for | APR | Amount | Min. credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Large unsecured loans | 6.24% – 24.89% (with autopay) |
$5k – $100k |
Not specified | ||
|
Unsecured loans for bad credit | 6.50% – 35.99% |
$1k – $75k |
300 | ||
|
Unsecured loans for debt consolidation | 6.99% – 35.99% |
$2k – $50k |
580 | ||
|
Unsecured loans with repayment assistance | 7.99% – 24.99% |
$2.5k – $40k |
720 | ||
|
Unsecured loans for midsized expenses | 7.99% – 35.99% |
$1k – $50k |
660 | ||
|
Joint unsecured personal loans | 7.74% – 35.99% (with discounts) |
$1k – $50k |
580 | ||
|
Unsecured loans for refinancing credit card debt | 7.95% – 29.99% |
$5k – $50k |
640 | ||
|
Small unsecured loans | 6.74% – 17.99% (with autopay) |
$600 – $50k |
Not specified | ||
|
Same-day funding | 8.74% – 35.49% (with discounts) |
$5k – $100k |
620 |
Read more about how we made our picks for the best unsecured loans.
Best for: Large unsecured personal loans – LightStream
- APR (with autopay)
- 6.24% – 24.89%
- Offers unsecured loans up to $100,000
- Can apply for a loan with a co-borrower
- Doesn’t charge any fees
- May get loan funds the same day you’re approved
- Will have to go through hard credit pull to see rates
- Must have good or excellent credit to qualify
- Not good for small amounts — loans start at $5,000
With some of the lowest APRs on the market, there are many advantages to getting an unsecured loan through LightStream, including its high maximum loan amount of $100,000. Most lenders only offer up to $40,000 or $50,000, so if you need a large loan and have good credit, this may be a good choice for you.
This lender charges zero fees — that means no origination fees, prepayment fees or late fees. However, LightStream does not offer preapproval for loans, so you’ll have to go through a hard credit check to see what rates and terms you may qualify for. You also won’t qualify for a LightStream loan if you don’t have good credit.
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 can handle paying their current debt obligations
- Savings, whether in a bank account, investment account or retirement account
Best for: Unsecured loans for bad credit – Upstart
- APR
- 6.50% – 35.99%
- Available to borrowers with bad or no credit
- May receive funds within one business day of accepting loan
- Check your rate without damaging your credit
- Emphasizes factors like education and employment which may make it easier to qualify
- May charge an origination fee with your loan
- Only two repayment terms to choose from (other lenders offer multiple)
- Can’t add a second person to your loan
Upstart provides a quick, easy online process for you to check whether you prequalify for an unsecured personal loan.
Like many companies, Upstart does not charge prepayment fees. However, borrowers may owe an origination fee (0.00% – 12.00%) that’s taken out of the total loan lump sum. Another positive to Upstart is that borrowers can receive their funds within one business day after they’re approved.
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)
Best for: Unsecured personal loans for debt consolidation – Best Egg
- APR
- 6.99% – 35.99%
- Can send funds directly to old creditors if consolidating debt
- Could get loan money as soon as 24 hours after approval
- See rates without damaging credit score
- Competitive starting interest rates
- Must pay origination fee on all loans (0.99% – 9.99%)
- Loans not available in all states
- No option to add second person to your loan
If you need to consolidate loans or credit cards, Best Egg may be a good fit since it allows you to send your loan funds directly to your former creditors to pay them off. With Best Egg, you can also get quick results by finding out whether you qualify for a loan within just a few minutes and receive your funds in one to three business days.
However, if you want to get a joint loan, you’ll have to look at other lenders since Best Egg does not allow you to add a second person to your loan. You’ll also be responsible for paying an origination fee of 0.99% – 9.99%.
You must 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: Live in an eligible U.S. state (Best Egg operates in most states, with a small number excluded)
- Credit score: 580+
Best for: Unsecured loans with repayment assistance – Discover
- APR
- 7.99% – 24.99%
- Doesn’t charge origination fees
- Offers repayment terms as long as 84 months
- Could get funds within one business day of accepting loan
- Offers repayment assistance programs
- Won’t qualify if you don’t have good to excellent credit
- Can only borrow up to $40,000 (other lenders offer $50,000 or higher)
- Doesn’t offer joint loans
Discover loans come with no fees and several perks, including repayment assistance programs if you have difficulty keeping up with payments. Once you’re approved, you’ll get your money as quickly as the next business day.
If you have fair or bad credit, look elsewhere. Discover unsecured loans require a credit score of 720 or higher for approval.
Best for: Unsecured loans for midsized expenses – LendingPoint
- APR
- 7.99% – 35.99%
- Can qualify for an unsecured loan even if you have fair credit
- Considers more than just your credit score when checking your application
- Could receive funds as soon as one business day after accepting loan
- May charge an origination fee (up to 10%) on your loan
- Doesn’t let you add a second person to your loan
LendingPoint is an online lender with a unique AI model that helps it see beyond your credit score when deciding whether to offer you an unsecured loan. This makes it a solid choice for borrowers with fair credit who want access to a loan with no prepayment fees and a fast funding timeline.
With a maximum loan amount of $50,000, this lender may be a good choice for those looking to take out a midsized loan to cover expenses. Though LendingPoint may approve you with a credit score as low as 660, you’ll likely only qualify for its highest interest rates if you don’t have good credit.
To get a loan from LendingPoint, you must meet its minimum criteria:
Best for: Joint unsecured personal loans – Upgrade
- APR (with discounts)
- 7.74% – 35.99%
- Can apply for a loan with another person
- Available to borrowers with fair credit
- Could get funds within one day of approval
- Charges an origination fee on all loans (1.85% – 9.99%)
Not only does Upgrade have loan repayment terms of up to 84 months, but borrowers can also apply for a loan with a second person to improve their chances of approval and get better rates. Upgrade has a quick funding timeline and you may see your money in as little as one day.
However, Upgrade borrowers will have to shell out for an origination fee (1.85% – 9.99%). Upgrade offers unsecured loans for credit card refinancing, debt consolidation, home improvement projects and other large purchases.
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: Unsecured loans for refinancing credit cards – Happy Money
- APR
- 7.95% – 29.99%
- See rates without impacting credit score
- No fee for paying off loan early
- Must pay origination fee on all loans (0.25% – 10.00%)
- Loans can only be used to consolidate credit card debt
- Loans not offered in all states
Happy Money offers loans specifically to help borrowers pay off credit card debt. While Happy Money does charge borrowers an origination fee (0.25% – 10.00%) for its unsecured personal loans, the company does not charge application or prepayment fees.
Happy Money may help you consolidate your debt and substantially lower your interest rates. But if you need a loan to cover something else, look elsewhere — you won’t be able to use a Happy Money loan for any other purpose.
Happy Money provides clear eligibility requirements as to how you can qualify for a loan:
- Age: Must be 18 years or older
- Administrative: Must have a valid Social Security number and checking account
- Residency: Must not live in Iowa, Massachusetts or Nevada
- Credit score: 640+
- Payment history: Zero current delinquencies on your credit profile
Best for: Small unsecured personal loans – PenFed Credit Union
- APR (with autopay)
- 6.74% – 17.99%
- Loans start at just $600 (other lenders start at $1,000 or $2,000)
- APR under 18%
- Doesn’t charge origination fees
- Must become a member to get loan (anyone can join)
- Doesn’t offer much information on personal loan eligibility requirements
PenFed Credit Union’s small loans start at $600 and are a great option if you’re only needing to cover a small expense. However, PenFed may be a good fit even if you need a larger loan since interest rates on loans from federal credit unions are capped at 18%. Other lenders charge APRs as high as 36%.
If you want a PenFed personal loan, you’ll have to become a member as an added step.
Best for: Same-day unsecured personal loans – SoFi
- APR (with discounts)
- 8.74% – 35.49%
- May get loan funds the same day you’re approved
- No required fees
- Offers interest rate discounts for autopay and direct deposit
- Won’t qualify if you have poor credit
- No small loans (borrowing amounts start at $5,000)
- May have to accept an origination fee for lower rates
While other lenders can take one to three business days before funding your loan, SoFi could send your money as soon as the same day you’re approved for a loan. This lender also charges no required fees, though if you want to qualify for lower rates, you may have to accept an origination fee.
SoFi won’t be a good fit if you have anything less than fair credit as its minimum credit score requirement is 620. If you’re looking for a small loan, you’ll have to go with another lender as SoFi’s personal loans start at $5,000.
You must meet the requirements below in order 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 DACA 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: 620+
What is an unsecured loan?
Unsecured loans don’t require collateral, such as a home, vehicle or savings account, to back the loan.Instead, they are backed only by the borrower’s creditworthiness and promise to repay the loan. A common type of unsecured loan is a personal loan.
Unsecured personal loans generally range from about $1,000 to $50,000. They’re typically repaid in fixed monthly payments over a set period of time, such as two to five years.
They’re offered by banks, credit unions and online personal loan lenders.
Types of unsecured loans
Some of the most common forms of unsecured loans are:
- Personal loans
- Student loans
- Credit cards
Personal loans are lump sums provided by lenders that can be used for a variety of purposes. They carry fixed rates, may come with origination fees and are commonly repaid on a monthly basis.
While personal loans cannot be used for educational or business expenses, student loans are specifically offered to help cover post-secondary education expenses such as tuition, room and board and books. Credit cards, on the other hand, work like a line of credit and are a way for individuals to cover various costs and even earn rewards.
Some payday lenders will advertise unsecured loans with guaranteed approval. This is a risky path to take because these loans come with short terms and often incredibly high interest rates. It’s best to avoid unsecured loans with no credit check or guaranteed approval.
How do unsecured loans work?
To get an unsecured loan, you’ll have to start with a loan application. Lenders often allow you to prequalify for an unsecured loan, so you can see your rates without having to go through a hard credit pull that would impact your credit score. Because you don’t need collateral for an unsecured loan, your approval will depend on your creditworthiness — that is, a lender’s trust in your ability to pay back your debts.
If you choose to proceed with the loan, you’ll have to verify the information you provided, including your identity, income and residency.
Once you’re approved for a loan, you’ll pay it off in monthly installments with fixed interest rates. Unsecured loans typically don’t have prepayment penalties, so you may be able to pay off the loan early without being charged extra, if you choose.
Common uses of unsecured personal loans:
You should use a loan instead of a credit card when you know exactly how much money you need and want consistent monthly payments with a set end date. Credit cards are better for small, ongoing expenses like bills.
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How to get low interest rates
Interest rates on unsecured personal loans can vary widely depending on the credit rating of the borrower as well as the loan terms, such as loan amount and length.
Most unsecured personal loan lenders require borrowers to have good or excellent credit (defined as a FICO Score of 670 or above, or a VantageScore of 661 or higher). Your chances of qualifying for a loan will be much lower if you have fair or poor credit, a history of missed payments, debt collections or charge-offs by lenders for debt you were unable to pay.
It’s possible for consumers with good or excellent credit to get a personal loan with a low interest rate, but bad-credit applicants will have a hard time qualifying for an affordable personal loan — if they receive any offers at all. That said, you still may be able to find a reputable provider for a personal loan with bad credit.
Be on the lookout for lenders advertising unsecured loans for bad credit or unsecured loans with no credit check — these often aren’t standard personal loans. Most likely, they are payday loans, which are often predatory and come with short repayment terms and high interest rates.
- Enlist the help of a cosigner. If you have less-than-ideal credit, lenders might be more willing to work with you (as well as offer better loan terms) when you have a cosigner for your loan.
- Apply for a secured loan instead. Secured personal loans require you to put up an asset you own, such as a vehicle, as collateral.
- Improve your credit and reapply. You can check and monitor your credit score for free with LendingTree Spring.
Average APRs by credit score
LendingTree customers can receive loan offers from our partners. Here’s the average APR offered to customers in the following credit bands:
| Credit score range | Average APR |
|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | 11.77% |
| Very good (740-799) | 14.74% |
| Good (670-739) | 22.72% |
| Fair (580-669) | 30.17% |
| Poor (under 580) | 32.19% |
There is no universal minimum credit score for a personal loan. Every lender has its own eligibility requirements. Some lenders specialize in working with borrowers who have bad credit.
Alternatives to unsecured loans
Personal line of credit
A personal line of credit is a type of revolving credit account that allows you to borrow a sum of money (up to a certain amount) and pay it off over time.
Unlike a loan, you do not have to borrow the entire lump sum all at once. You can choose how much you want to borrow at a given time, and interest will only be charged on the amount of money you borrow. A personal line of credit does not come with fixed rates like personal loans do, so your payments will vary month to month.
0% intro APR credit cards
When you use a credit card, you’ll typically have to pay interest if you don’t pay off the balance before the payment due date arrives. However, some companies offer 0% intro credit card promotions to help borrowers avoid interest charges.
With this approach, customers can avoid paying interest on their purchases even when the payment due date arrives. However, the 0% APR generally only lasts for a certain period of time, often six to 21 months.
Home equity line of credit
Like a personal line of credit, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is also a type of credit account that revolves. The difference is that a HELOC is dependent on the borrower’s home equity.
When you buy a house, you’ll gain equity as you pay it off (or if the value of your home increases). With a HELOC, you can borrow against that equity up to a determined amount. Like a personal line of credit, a HELOC typically does not come with fixed rates. Instead, these rates tend to rise and fall with the financial market.
How we chose the best unsecured loans
We reviewed more than 40 lenders and loan marketplaces to determine the overall best unsecured loans. To make our list, lenders must offer unsecured loans with competitive APRs.
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 unsecured loans come from Best Egg, Discover, Happy Money, LendingPoint, LightStream, PenFed Credit Union, SoFi, Upgrade and Upstart.
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.
Why trust our methodology?
LendingTree’s writers and editors diligently vet dozens of lenders to narrow down which ones offer the most affordable rates and a customer-centered experience. We have ongoing conversations with loan companies to ensure accuracy and collect first-person feedback to understand the holistic process of getting and repaying a loan.
Using my financial health counseling certification, I’m here to walk you through the important — and sometimes stressful — process of understanding your personal finances and credit.
Amanda’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
Unsecured debt isn’t backed by collateral. For example, your typical credit card debt is unsecured — if you default, nothing is seized. Mortgage debt, on the other hand, is secured debt. If you default, you could lose your home.
Personal loans can be secured or unsecured, but they’re typically unsecured. Secured personal loans require some kind of collateral, such as a car or savings account.
Unsecured personal loans offered by banks, credit unions and other lenders can cover your short-term cash needs, but make sure you’re able to budget for the monthly payments. These loans are safe as long as you are able to make payments and understand that you could be paying a significant amount in interest, depending on your loan size and APR.