Best Long-Term Personal Loans in 2024

Compare top lenders. Find the best rate. Fund your goals.

Headshot of Carol Pope
Written by
Carol Pope
Updated November 27, 2024

Debt Consolidation

Home Improvement

Home Buying

Major Purchase

Other
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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Long-term personal loans at a glance

BHG Financial: Best for borrowers who need a lot of money

11.96% - 25.31%

36 to 120 months

$20,000 - $200,000

660

3.00% - 4.00%

Pros
  • Can borrow up to $200,000 (one of the largest personal loan amounts on the market)
  • Maximum 120-month repayment term is much longer than most
  • Offers a U.S.-based concierge service if you need help during the process
Cons
  • Can take up to five days to get your money
  • Will keep 3.00% - 4.00% off the top of your loan as an origination fee
  • Might find lower rates if you have excellent credit

What to know

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Most personal loan lenders cap their loans at $50,000 (sometimes $100,000). If you have strong enough credit, you could borrow up to $200,000 with BHG Financial. As an online lender, BHG Financial doesn’t offer the option to get a loan in person. However, you can get help from a loan specialist six days a week.

Every BHG Financial loan comes with a one-time administrative fee (3.00%-4.00%). Depending on how much you borrow, that could end up being a lot of money. For instance, if you borrowed $200,000 with a 4.00% origination fee, BHG Financial would keep $8,000 out of your loan.

Read our full BHG Financial personal loan review.

How to qualify

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To get a loan from BHG Financial, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

  • Credit score: 660
  • Administrative: Have a Social Security number and email address
  • Residency: Not live in Illinois or Maryland

BHG Financial accepts credit scores as low as 660, but its average borrower has a score of 744, no past bankruptcies or collections and an annual income of $241,000. If these don’t apply to you, BHG Financial may not approve you for a large loan.

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Discover: Best for long loans with excellent customer service

7.99% - 24.99%

36 to 84 months

$2,500 - $40,000

720

None

Pros
  • Has earned 4.9/5.0 stars from LendingTree users
  • Financial assistance options available in times of hardship
  • U.S.-based customer service available seven days a week, including extended weekend hours
Cons
  • Can’t apply for a loan with another person
  • With a maximum loan amount of $40,000, might not provide the amount of money you need
  • $39 late payment fee

What to know

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Unless you pay off your loan early (or refinance your loan), you could be stuck with your lender for years, making it important that you’re happy from the start. After having worked with the lender, 97% of LendingTree users recommend Discover. And if you’re having trouble keeping up with your loan, it offers multiple assistance options to help get you back on track.

Discover’s financial assistance options can provide peace of mind, but let a rep know at the first sign of trouble. Otherwise, you could be on the hook for a hefty $39 late payment fee.

Read our full Discover personal loan review.

How to qualify

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Discover has clear eligibility requirements, including:

  • Credit score: 720
  • Annual income: $40,000 (individually or as a household)
  • Administrative: Have a Social Security number, be at least 18 and have both an email address and a physical address
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LightStream: Best for long home improvement loans

7.49% - 21.94% (with autopay)

24 to 240 months

Loan Term Disclosure

Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $25,000 loan at 7.49% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $777.54. © 2024 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.

$5,000 - $100,000

Not specified

None

Pros
  • Could have up to 240 months to pay back your home improvement loan
  • Might get money the same day that you apply
  • LightStream may beat a competitor's rate if you get a better offer elsewhere
Cons
  • Can’t check rates without dinging your credit
  • Need at least good credit to qualify
  • Can’t change your due date if you need extra time

What to know

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Home improvement projects can be expensive, and a longer loan term can help you fit a large loan into your budget. With LightStream, you can borrow up to $100,000 and have up to 240 months to pay it back.

General personal loans from LightStream come with shorter terms (84 months max). That’s still longer than many lenders. However, LightStream doesn’t offer prequalification. That means you’ll have to take a hard credit hit to see if you’re eligible.

Read our full LightStream personal loan review.

How to qualify

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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 pay their current debt obligations
  • Savings, whether in a bank account, an investment account or a retirement account
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PenFed Credit Union: Best for long loans with low rates

8.99% - 17.99%

12 to 60 months

$600 - $50,000

Not specified

None

Pros
  • Charges a low maximum rate of 17.99%
  • Can set up autopay to withdraw your payment bi-weekly or monthly
  • Credit union membership is open to everyone
Cons
  • Have to join credit union
  • No discounts for autopay, which some other lenders offer
  • May be harder to qualify for than an online loan

What to know

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APRs on federal credit union loans are capped at 18.00%. Even if you just barely qualify with PenFed, you can enjoy low rates. PenFed membership also comes with other perks too, such as members-only discounts on rental cars, insurance and more.

You can prequalify for a personal loan with PenFed before becoming a member. To accept your loan, you’ll have to join. PenFed doesn’t disclose its minimum credit score, but banks and some credit unions often have stricter eligibility requirements.

Read our full PenFed personal loan review.

How to qualify

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Anyone can join PenFed. When you submit your loan application, PenFed will open an account for you. Just choose between a standard savings account or an online-only savings account and make a minimum $5 deposit.

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SoFi: Best for long debt consolidation loans

8.99% - 29.99% (with discounts)

Pricing Disclosure

Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 02/06/2024 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2022 was around $30K. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0%-7%, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.

24 to 84 months

$5,000 - $100,000

680

0.00% - 7.00% (optional)

Pros
  • 0.25% APR discount if SoFi pays your lenders on your behalf
  • Can borrow up to $100,000
  • Free financial planning
Cons
  • Must pay origination fee to unlock SoFi’s best rates
  • Loans start at $5,000, so might not work if you have a small or moderate amount of debt to consolidate
  • No brick-and-mortar locations

What to know

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Consolidating credit card debt with a debt consolidation loan could help you save on interest. SoFi offers a 0.25% annual percentage rate (APR) discount if it pays your creditors directly and you use at least 50% of your loan for consolidation. Not only that, you’ll no longer have to juggle multiple credit card bills, and you could get up to 84 months to pay what you owe.

SoFi’s fee model is unique. It doesn’t require any fees, but you can choose to pay an origination fee in exchange for a lower rate. Be sure to ask for offers that do and do not include the optional origination fee. This can help you figure out if the fee is worth it.

Read our full SoFi personal loan review.

How to qualify

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SoFi’s eligibility requirements include:

  • Credit score: 680
  • Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible permanent or non-permanent resident
  • Administrative: Be the age of majority in your state (typically 18)
  • Employment: Have a job, a job offer with a start date within 90 days or sufficient income from another source
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Upgrade: Best for long loans with a co-borrower

9.99% - 35.99% (with discounts)

24 to 84 months

$1,000 - $50,000

580

1.85% - 9.99%

Pros
  • Can get a loan with another person
  • Don’t need perfect credit to qualify
  • Can offer your car as collateral for a lower rate
Cons
  • Charges an origination fee on every loan
  • Does not offer live chat for help with application questions
  • Relatively high rates if you have fair credit

What to know

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Upgrade is an online loan marketplace that helps borrowers compare loans from different lenders. Some of its partners offer joint loans — or loans that include two people. Adding someone with better credit than you can help convince a lender to approve your application. You could also get a lower rate.

Aside from adding a co-borrower, you could also use your car as collateral and get a secured loan. But while Upgrade accepts fair credit, you could end up with a rate as high as 35.99%.

Read our full Upgrade personal loan review.

How to qualify

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When applying for a loan with Upgrade, make sure that you meet the following:

  • Credit score: 580
  • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or be living in the U.S. with a valid visa
  • Administrative: Be the age of majority in your state (typically 18) and have a valid bank account and email address
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Upstart: Best for borrowers with bad credit

7.40% - 35.99%

36 or 60 months

$1,000 - $50,000

300

0.00% - 12.00%

Pros
  • Has one of the lowest credit score requirements around
  • College students and grads can still qualify if they have no credit
  • May change payment due date, in some cases
Cons
  • Only two loan repayment terms
  • Potential for double-digit origination fee
  • Can’t apply for a loan with another person

What to know

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Upstart, another loan marketplace, uses more than your credit score to determine your eligibility. For instance, your education and employment come into play. As a result, it commonly offers bad-credit loans to those who other lenders would deny.

Upstart doesn’t just specialize in bad-credit loans — it also has competitive rates for excellent credit. However, you’ll only have two loan repayment terms to choose (36 or 60 months). And of those, just one is considered “long.”

Read our full Upstart personal loan review.

How to qualify

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You can get a loan with Upstart with bad or no credit, but it doesn’t approve everyone. Here’s what you need to qualify:

  • Credit score: 300
  • Employment: Have a job, a job offer that starts within six months or a regular source of income
  • Administrative: Be at least 18 and have a Social Security number, a U.S. address, a valid email account and a personal checking account
  • Other credit considerations:

    • Debt-to-income ratio below 50% (45% in Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Vermont)
    • No bankruptcies in the last year
    • No current delinquencies
    • Fewer than six inquiries on your credit report (not including auto loans, student loans and mortgages)
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What is a long-term personal loan?

Long-term loans are personal loans with longer repayment terms — usually 60 months (five years) or longer. Personal loans come as a lump sum with fixed interest rates. Your monthly installments stay the same for the life of your loan.

Long-term personal loans can carry higher interest rates than shorter loan terms. The longer it takes you to pay back what you borrowed, the more time you have to default on your loan. This increases the risk for the lender, so they charge higher rates to compensate.

Lenders that offer long-term loans often let you borrow more money (sometimes $100,000 or more). Many borrowers turn to long-term loans for high-dollar transactions, such as debt consolidation, home improvement and medical bills.

On this page

 Key takeaways about long-term personal loans

→ The longer it takes to pay off your loan, the more overall interest you’ll probably pay.
→ Long-term loans usually have lower monthly payments — not because they are cheaper, but because you have more time to pay off your balance.
→ Lenders that offer longer loan terms often let you borrow more money, too.

Choosing the best loan term

Choosing a loan term is a balancing act. You’ll likely pay less overall interest on a shorter loan term. But shorter loan terms usually come with higher monthly payments.

To illustrate, imagine you took out a $15,000 loan with an 18.00% APR. Here’s how different loan terms will impact your monthly payments and total interest.

36-month term60-month term84-month term
Monthly payment$542.29$380.90$315.27
Overall interest$4,522.29$7,854.08$11,482.48
Total loan cost$19,522.29$22,854.08$26,482.48

Use our personal loan calculator to find a middle ground between an affordable monthly payment and the total cost of borrowing.

 Is a long-term loan right for you?

Long-term personal loans can come with higher rates, so they might be best for borrowers with at least good credit scores. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a long-term loan with bad credit. Just be sure loan payments fit in your monthly budget before signing on the dotted line.

How to find a long-term loan through LendingTree

  1. Check your credit. Use LendingTree Spring to get your free credit score. You’ll need it to figure out if your offers are competitive. We’ll also alert you when your credit score changes so you can keep tabs on your financial health.
  2. Get offers on our personal loan marketplace. Take advantage of the nation’s largest network of lenders and let LendingTree do the shopping for you. With a few clicks, you could have multiple lenders competing for your business. And perhaps best of all, checking rates doesn’t hurt your credit score.

    See Personalized Results
  3. Compare and win. We’ll show you offers from up to five lenders and explain how your rates compare to the marketplace average. You may want to prioritize loans with the lowest APRs. Even so, check lender reviews to make sure you get the customer service experience you deserve.

How to compare long-term personal loans

Your loan term is the length of time you have to pay off your loan. But that’s not the only metric that you should compare. The definitions below can help you make better sense of your loan offers.

APR: Your APR measures the total cost of your loan, including interest and fees. The higher this percentage, the more expensive the loan. You’ll usually need a credit score of at least 740 to get the best personal loan rates.

Fees: An origination fee is a portion of your loan the lender will keep for itself. Some lenders charge these to all borrowers. Others only apply them if you have bad credit.

Loan amounts: Personal loans come as a lump sum. In other words, you can’t borrow twice from the same loan. Make sure that the amount of money you’re applying for will cover what you need.

Customer service: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) maintains a consumer complaint database. Check it to see if others have had issues with the lender before applying. Also review the lender’s customer service hours and whether it has a functional mobile app.

How we chose the best long-term loans

We reviewed more than 32 lenders to determine the overall best seven long-term personal loans. To make our list, lenders must offer loans with at least 60-month repayment terms and have competitive APRs. 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.

Frequently asked questions

Lenders set their own guidelines, so there’s no true definition of “longest term.” However, out of the lenders on this list, LightStream has the longest loan term at 240 months. This extended term is only available on home improvement loans. For a general personal loan, check out BHG Financial — its longest term is 120 months.

Not all lenders offer long-term personal loans, but start by contacting banks, credit unions and online lenders. You could also find long-term loans through our marketplace. But even if an institution does offer long-term loans, you’ll still need to meet its eligibility requirements to borrow.

A long-term personal loan isn’t necessarily a bad idea. Personal loans are a financial tool that, when used wisely, provide relief for millions of Americans every year. Still, only borrow what you can afford to repay. Compare lenders to ensure you’re getting the best terms, and remember that you’ll pay more in interest with a longer loan term.