» MORE: Personal loans for excellent credit

NerdWallet's guide to good-credit personal loans

Most personal loans are unsecured, which means lenders evaluate applicants' ability to repay by considering factors like credit score rather than relying on collateral. A good credit score often means lower annual percentage rates (APRs) and more favorable loan terms.

Here’s what makes our picks for the best personal loans for good credit stand out:

LendingClub: Best good-credit loans for co-borrowers

LendingClub offers joint personal loans for applicants financing a shared expense. Adding a co-borrower with excellent credit or a higher income may help you qualify for a lower rate or larger loan amount.

Rocket Loans: Best good-credit loans for fast funding

Rocket Loans can approve a personal loan application the same day you submit. When you pre-qualify, the lender lets you instantly preview loan offers. Once you select a loan offer and formally apply, Rocket Loans provides approval decisions within minutes. If you sign the loan documents by 1 p.m. ET on a business day, the funds will be sent to your bank account that day.

Reach: Best good-credit loans for debt consolidation

Reach Financial provides personal loans solely for the purpose of consolidating credit cards or other debts. If approved for a loan, Reach pays your creditors directly, saving you that step in the debt consolidation process. The lender can send electronic payments the same day the loan is approved or overnight checks if electronic payments aren’t an option.

First Tech: Best good-credit loans for small loan amounts

The minimum loan amount for a First Tech personal loan is $500, making it suitable for small expenses, such as a minor home or car repair. Most personal loan amounts start at or above $1,000.

LightStream: Best good-credit loans for home improvement

LightStream offers extended loan terms of up to 20 years for home improvement loans of $25,000 or more. The lender provides loans of up to $100,000, which can fund a major home renovation project.

SoFi: Best good-credit loans for high loan amounts

The maximum loan amount for a SoFi personal loan is $100,000, which can cover a wide variety of borrowing needs. Many personal loans lenders cap borrowing to $50,000 or less.

Discover: Best good-credit loans for low rates

Rates for Discover personal loans are — and have historically been — lower than most other lenders’ rates. A good credit score gives you a better chance at getting a low rate.

What are rates on good-credit loans?

Good-credit borrowers tend to get lower APRs on personal loans compared to fair- or bad-credit borrowers. A lower rate means you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan.

The rate also affects your monthly payment. Use our personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments based on interest rate.

Here is what personal loan rates look like, on average:

Where to get a personal loan with good credit

Good-credit borrowers can get a personal loan from online lenders, credit unions or banks.

Online lenders

An online lender lets you pre-qualify, apply and manage the loan from your computer or phone. Good- and excellent-credit borrowers tend to get the best rates and features, so pre-qualifying with multiple lenders and comparing offers is a good idea.

» MORE: Best online loans

Credit unions

Local and national credit unions may offer lower interest rates and more flexible terms than other lenders. You typically have to be a member to borrow from a credit union.

» MORE: Top credit unions for personal loans

Banks

Banks offer personal loans to existing account holders, often at low rates. Bank customers can also benefit from rate discounts and a streamlined online application process.

» MORE: Best bank loans

How to choose a personal loan

A good credit score could get you loan offers from multiple lenders. Consider these factors to choose the right loan for your plans:

Compare rates across lenders: If you’re someone with good credit, it pays to shop around for the best combination of low rates and fees. Many lenders let you pre-qualify to check rates without affecting your credit.

Loan amount: The amount of money you could receive with a personal loan ranges from about $1,000 to $50,000, though some lenders offer up to $100,000. The amount you request from a lender may factor into their decision to qualify you, so carefully consider how much you need.

Loan purpose: A benefit of personal loans is you can use the money for almost any reason. Common uses are to pay off high-interest credit cards or finance home improvements, and rates can vary based on the loan purpose.

Loan term: Personal loan repayment terms are generally from two to seven years, though some lenders offer extended terms for specific purposes like home improvement. A shorter loan term means you'll pay less total interest on the loan. A longer term lowers your monthly payments.

Loan features: Some lenders have mobile apps where you can track your loan and manage monthly payments. Others offer flexible payment schedules or payment assistance programs. If you’re consolidating debt, some lenders will send loan proceeds directly to your creditors, saving you an important step.

Additional benefits: Take advantage of benefits a lender may offer such as free credit score monitoring and financial planning resources.

» MORE: 5 features to look for in a personal loan

How does a personal loan affect your credit?

Though pre-qualifying for a personal loan typically won’t hurt your credit score, a lender will conduct a hard credit check when you formally apply, which can cause your score to drop a few points.

However, payment history represents 35% of an individual’s credit score, according to the credit scoring company FICO. Making on-time loan payments can build your score, while a missed payment can cause your score to drop by as much as 100 points.

If you don’t have other forms of installment credit, such as a student loan or auto loan, getting a personal loan may add to your credit mix, which makes up about 10% of your score, according to FICO.

» MORE: How does a personal loan affect your credit score?

Alternatives to personal loans for good-credit borrowers

While a good credit score may qualify you for low personal loan rates, consider alternatives to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Zero-interest credit card: A 0% APR credit card lets you borrow at no cost, as long you pay the card’s balance within the introductory period — typically 15 to 21 months. Most zero-interest cards require good or excellent credit.

Personal line of credit: A personal line of credit functions like a mix between a personal loan and a credit card. During the “draw” period, you borrow against your credit limit as needed, make payments and can borrow more as your balance replenishes. Your monthly payments and interest costs are based on your outstanding balance. Once the draw period ends, you’ll make monthly payments until the balance is repaid.