BEST OF
Fast Personal Loans: Best Lenders for Quick Cash
Fast personal loans are one option to pay for emergencies and other short-term borrowing needs. Compare rates and terms and stick with reputable lenders.
Fast cash loans can help pay for car repairs, unexpected medical bills or moving expenses. Online lenders are convenient and quick; some can provide same-day or next-day funding after approval of personal loans for qualified borrowers.
The online lenders listed here are reputable companies that check your credit as part of the application process. Their rates don't exceed 36%, which is the maximum considered affordable by financial experts and consumer advocates.
Consider rates and terms — in addition to the time a lender takes to fund a loan — when you compare these options for fast cash personal loans from online lenders.
Fast cash loans can help pay for car repairs, unexpected medical bills or moving expenses. Online lenders are convenient and quick; some can provide same-day or next-day funding after approval of personal loans for qualified borrowers.
The online lenders listed here are reputable companies that check your credit as part of the application process. Their rates don't exceed 36%, which is the maximum considered affordable by financial experts and consumer advocates.
Consider rates and terms — in addition to the time a lender takes to fund a loan — when you compare these options for fast cash personal loans from online lenders.
Summary of Fast Personal Loans: Best Lenders for Quick Cash
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Est. APR | Min. Credit Score | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|
Best for Same-day loans | 4.49 - 20.49% | 690 | on LightStream's website | |
Best for Same-day loans | 18.00 - 35.99% | None | on OneMain Financial's website | |
Best for Same-day loans | 7.16 - 29.99% | 640 | See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website | |
Best for Fast loans funded by the next day | 5.99 - 29.99% | 600 | on Best Egg's website | |
Best for Fast loans funded by the next day | 8.94 - 35.99% | 580 | on Upstart's website | |
Best for Fast loans funded by the next day | 15.49 - 35.49% | 600 | on LendingPoint's website | |
Best for Fast loans funded by the next day | 9.95 - 35.99% | 550 | on Avant's website | |
Best for Fast loans funded by the next day | 6.99 - 24.99% | 720 | See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website |
Our picks for
Same-day loans
on LightStream's website
LightStream
Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on LightStream's website
on OneMain Financial's website
OneMain Financial
Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on OneMain Financial's website

on NerdWallet's secure website
Rocket Loans

Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on NerdWallet's secure website
Our picks for
Fast loans funded by the next day
on Best Egg's website
Best Egg
Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on Best Egg's website
on Upstart's website
Upstart
Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on Upstart's website
on LendingPoint's website
LendingPoint

Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on LendingPoint's website
on Avant's website
Avant
Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on Avant's website
on NerdWallet's secure website
Discover® Personal Loans
Min. Credit Score
Est. APR
Loan Amount
on NerdWallet's secure website
Fast loans: What to know before you borrow
Loans from payday lenders and pawnshops can get you money quickly, but these options carry high annual percentage rates. Loans from reputable online lenders may take longer, but they cost far less.
Know what you need to apply for the loan so the lender can quickly verify your identity and other information. Some lenders say their ability to fund a loan quickly relies on borrowers' responsiveness to requests for documentation.
Calculate your estimated payments and determine how they impact your budget over the loans' repayment term.
Shop at multiple lenders and choose the loan with the lowest rate. Most online lenders let you pre-qualify with a soft credit check to estimate your rate. Doing so won't impact your credit score.
» MORE: Best lenders for small loans
Fast loans for bad credit
Some lenders offer fast loans for borrowers with bad credit (629 or lower FICO). If you have bad credit, a low debt-to-income ratio and proof of stable income will help you qualify.
» COMPARE: See your bad-credit loan options
Your credit score doesn't affect how long it takes for a lender to fund your loan, but your loan is likely to have a high APR and you may not be approved for a large loan amount.
Though many online lenders can fund loans quickly, take the time to compare loan offers before borrowing and make a plan to repay the loan.
Fast cash without a loan
Before you borrow — and especially if the rate you qualify for is high — see if you can delay the expense or find interest-free sources of cash. NerdWallet recommends trying all these cheaper alternatives before taking a high-cost loan:
Seek assistance from local nonprofits, charities and religious organizations.
Get a payday alternative loan from a credit union.
Ask your employer for a paycheck advance or use an app like Earnin.
Get a pawnshop loan secured by something you own.
Try other ways to make money.
If you are comfortable with it, ask family and friends for a loan through lending circles or a loan agreement.
Next step: Pre-qualify on NerdWallet
When you pre-qualify with multiple lenders, you get the chance to compare rates, loan features and terms. Pre-qualifying on NerdWallet with lenders that partner with us won’t affect your credit score.
Last updated on August 19, 2020
Methodology
NerdWallet's ratings for personal loans award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including soft credit checks, no fees, transparency of loan rates and terms, flexible payment options, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. We also consider the number of complaints filed with agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This methodology applies only to lenders that cap interest rates at 36%, the maximum rate financial experts and consumer advocates agree is the acceptable limit for a loan to be affordable. NerdWallet does not receive compensation of any sort for our reviews.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Fast Personal Loans: Best Lenders for Quick Cash
- LightStream: Best for Same-day loans
- OneMain Financial : Best for Same-day loans
- Rocket Loans: Best for Same-day loans
- Best Egg: Best for Fast loans funded by the next day
- Upstart: Best for Fast loans funded by the next day
- LendingPoint: Best for Fast loans funded by the next day
- Avant: Best for Fast loans funded by the next day
- Discover® Personal Loans: Best for Fast loans funded by the next day
Frequently asked questions
Some lenders say they can fund a loan the same day you're approved, while others can take one or two business days to deposit the money into your account.
It is safe to get a loan from an online lender; you just need to choose a reputable lender. Features like no credit checks and annual percentage rates above 36% should be red flags. Know the signs of predatory loans to avoid a debt trap.
A credit union may be the best option for bad-credit borrowers. They offer lower rates on loans and look at more than just your credit score when reviewing your application.
If you're not a credit union member, consider a bad credit loan from a reputable online lender that caps rates at 36%. They typically report your payments to credit bureaus, which can help you build credit.