Article
10 Best Personal Loans for Every Credit Score in 2025
Compare the top personal loan lenders of 2025. Find competitive rates, fast funding, and flexible terms from our expert-reviewed providers for debt consolidation, home improvement, and more.
Personal loans offer a flexible way to fund major expenses, consolidate debt, or cover emergencies. With fixed rates and predictable payments, they’re often more affordable than credit cards for large purchases.
Our team analyzed over 50 personal loan lenders, comparing interest rates, fees, funding speeds, and customer experiences. Here are the 10 best personal loan providers for 2025.
Quick Comparison
| Lender | Best For | APR Range | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. SoFi | Best Overall | 8.99%-29.99% | ★4.9/5 |
| 2. LightStream | Best for Excellent Credit | 7.49%-25.99% | ★4.8/5 |
| 3. Upstart | Best for Fair Credit | 7.80%-35.99% | ★4.7/5 |
| 4. Marcus by Goldman Sachs | Best for No Fees | 6.99%-29.99% | ★4.8/5 |
| 5. Discover Personal Loans | Best for Debt Consolidation | 7.99%-24.99% | ★4.7/5 |
| 6. Best Egg | Best for Fast Funding | 8.99%-35.99% | ★4.6/5 |
| 7. Prosper | Best Peer-to-Peer | 8.99%-35.99% | ★4.5/5 |
| 8. LendingClub | Best for Joint Loans | 9.57%-35.99% | ★4.5/5 |
| 9. Avant | Best for Bad Credit | 9.95%-35.99% | ★4.4/5 |
| 10. Happy Money | Best for Credit Card Payoff | 11.72%-24.67% | ★4.4/5 |
Our Top Picks in Detail
SoFi
SoFi stands out with zero fees, competitive rates, and unique member benefits including career coaching and financial planning. Their unemployment protection program pauses payments if you lose your job.
Pros
- ✓No origination fees or prepayment penalties
- ✓Unemployment protection program
- ✓Same-day funding available
- ✓Rate discount with autopay
- ✓Free financial planning sessions
Cons
- ✗Requires good to excellent credit
- ✗No co-signer option
- ✗Not available in all states
LightStream
LightStream offers some of the lowest rates in the industry with their Rate Beat Program. If you find a lower rate elsewhere, they'll beat it by 0.10 percentage points.
Pros
- ✓Low rates for qualified borrowers
- ✓No fees whatsoever
- ✓Same-day funding available
- ✓Rate Beat Program guarantee
- ✓Long repayment terms up to 12 years
Cons
- ✗Requires excellent credit for best rates
- ✗No prequalification option
- ✗Strict approval requirements
Upstart
Upstart uses AI to look beyond credit scores, considering your education and employment. This makes them ideal for young professionals or those rebuilding credit.
Pros
- ✓Considers education and job history
- ✓Accepts lower credit scores
- ✓Fast funding next business day
- ✓No prepayment penalty
- ✓AI-powered approval process
Cons
- ✗Origination fees up to 12%
- ✗Maximum loan of $50,000
- ✗Higher rates for lower scores
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Marcus offers a completely fee-free experience with the backing of Goldman Sachs. Their on-time payment reward lowers your final payment if you pay on time.
Pros
- ✓No fees of any kind
- ✓On-time payment reward
- ✓Backed by Goldman Sachs
- ✓Flexible payment dates
- ✓No collateral required
Cons
- ✗No co-signer option
- ✗Maximum loan of $40,000
- ✗Longer funding time
Discover Personal Loans
Discover makes debt consolidation simple by paying your creditors directly. Their 30-day satisfaction guarantee lets you return funds with no penalties.
Pros
- ✓Direct payment to creditors
- ✓No origination fees
- ✓Flexible terms up to 7 years
- ✓U.S.-based customer service
- ✓30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- ✗Maximum loan of $40,000
- ✗No joint applications
- ✗Requires good credit
Best Egg
Best Egg offers quick approvals and fast funding with a streamlined online process. Their secured loan option can help you get better rates with collateral.
Pros
- ✓Quick application process
- ✓Funding as fast as next day
- ✓Secured loan option available
- ✓Flexible payment options
- ✓Joint applications allowed
Cons
- ✗Origination fees required
- ✗Limited loan terms
- ✗Not available in all states
Prosper
Prosper pioneered peer-to-peer lending, connecting borrowers with individual investors. Their community approach often helps those with imperfect credit.
Pros
- ✓Peer-to-peer lending model
- ✓Joint applications available
- ✓No prepayment penalty
- ✓Check rate without affecting score
- ✓Community-based approach
Cons
- ✗Origination fees apply
- ✗Longer funding time
- ✗Limited term options
LendingClub
LendingClub allows joint applications, letting you combine incomes and credit profiles for better approval chances. Great for couples or co-borrowers.
Pros
- ✓Joint applications improve approval odds
- ✓Direct creditor payments available
- ✓Wide range of loan amounts
- ✓Prequalification available
- ✓Flexible use of funds
Cons
- ✗Origination fees on all loans
- ✗Limited term options
- ✗Mobile app could be better
Avant
Avant specializes in lending to those with less-than-perfect credit. They report to all three bureaus, helping you rebuild credit with on-time payments.
Pros
- ✓Accepts credit scores as low as 550
- ✓Fast funding available
- ✓Reports to all three bureaus
- ✓Mobile app for account management
- ✓Late fee forgiveness available
Cons
- ✗Higher rates for lower scores
- ✗Administration fee on some loans
- ✗Lower maximum loan amount
Happy Money
Happy Money focuses exclusively on credit card payoff, using behavioral science to help you stay debt-free. They pay your cards directly to ensure funds are used properly.
Pros
- ✓Designed for credit card payoff
- ✓Pays creditors directly
- ✓Psychological approach to debt
- ✓No prepayment penalty
- ✓Focus on financial wellness
Cons
- ✗Only for credit card consolidation
- ✗Longer processing time
- ✗Limited loan purposes
How We Evaluate Personal Loans
Our team uses a comprehensive methodology to evaluate personal loan providers:
Interest Rates & APR
We compare the full cost of borrowing including:
- Advertised APR ranges
- Rates for different credit tiers
- Discount opportunities (autopay, etc.)
Fees & Charges
We analyze all costs:
- Origination fees
- Prepayment penalties
- Late payment fees
Speed & Convenience
We evaluate the borrowing experience:
- Application process simplicity
- Approval timeline
- Funding speed
Customer Experience
We consider real user feedback:
- Customer service quality
- Mobile app functionality
- Overall satisfaction ratings
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need for a personal loan?
Most lenders prefer scores of 660 or higher for the best rates. However, some lenders like Upstart and Avant accept scores as low as 550-580, though with higher interest rates.
How quickly can I get personal loan funds?
Many online lenders offer same-day or next-day funding after approval. Traditional banks may take 3-7 business days. SoFi and LightStream are known for same-day funding.
Are personal loans better than credit cards?
Personal loans typically offer lower fixed rates and predictable payments, making them better for large expenses or debt consolidation. Credit cards offer more flexibility for smaller, ongoing purchases.
Can I use a personal loan for anything?
Most personal loans can be used for any purpose including debt consolidation, home improvements, medical bills, or major purchases. Some lenders like Happy Money only fund specific purposes.
Does applying for a personal loan hurt my credit?
Prequalification uses a soft inquiry that doesn’t affect your score. A full application triggers a hard inquiry, which may temporarily lower your score by 5-10 points.
How do I get the lowest personal loan rate?
To get the best rates: maintain excellent credit (740+), choose lenders with no fees, enroll in autopay, consider a co-signer, and compare offers from multiple lenders.