Personal Loan Reviews

Read NerdWallet reviews of personal loans, plus cash advance and buy now, pay later apps. Compare loans from multiple lenders to get one with costs and features that match your needs.

Get started with personal loans

NerdWallet's top-rated personal loans

SoFi Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
SoFi offers online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.

Upgrade Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Secured and joint loans.
  • Mobile app to manage loan payments.

Discover Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Fast funding.

LightStream Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • No fees.
  • Rate discount for autopay.
  • Long repayment terms.

Upstart Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Accepts borrowers new to credit.
  • Fast funding.
  • Option to change your payment date.

Happy Money Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Offers direct payment to creditors.
  • No late fee.

Best Egg Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Wide range of loan amounts.
  • Secured loan options.

LendingClub Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Joint loan option.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.

NerdWallet rates lenders on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. See our personal loan rating methodology.

More loan reviews by category

SoFi Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
SoFi offers online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.

Upgrade Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Secured and joint loans.
  • Mobile app to manage loan payments.

Discover Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Fast funding.

LightStream Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • No fees.
  • Rate discount for autopay.
  • Long repayment terms.

Happy Money Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Offers direct payment to creditors.
  • No late fee.

Achieve Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.

Other ways to borrow: Buy now, pay later and cash advance apps

Varo’s cash advance may be useful for Varo bank customers who need cash fast and want more than two weeks to pay it back.
Apple Pay Later lets you pay for a purchase in four equal installments with no interest or fees.
Klover cash advances are helpful for users who need to bridge a small income gap and are comfortable with the app’s data collection practices.
SoLo Funds allows you to request a cash advance from its community of lenders. Approval takes a few days, which is much longer than competitors, but all fees are optional.
Empower’s advances are small but funded quickly. The app may approve gig workers or freelancers with unpredictable income.
Sezzle offers interest-free payment plans to shoppers online and in stores, but keep an eye on potential fees.
PayPal’s Pay in 4 lets you buy now and pay later with a simple plan that charges zero interest and no fees.
MoneyLion Instacash gives app users small cash advances, but you’ll pay a fee to get funds instantly.
Zip divides your purchase into four equal payments, but it charges an installment fee.
Brigit is a cash advance app that doesn’t request tips to get an advance. It does charge a monthly fee that may be worth paying if you use the app’s budgeting and credit-building features.

These products have their own rating systems. Read our buy now, pay later rating methodology and cash advance apps rating methodology.

Most recent personal loan reviews

Edly Issued by FinWise Bank Review: Private Income-based Repayment Student Loans

Edly offers income-based private student loans to students within two years of graduation.

Personify Financial Personal Loans: 2024 Review

2.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Accepts borrowers with bad credit.
  • Checks borrowers’ credit and ability to repay.
  • Fast funding.

Auto Credit Express Financing: Review 2024

Auto Credit Express matches bad-credit borrowers with car dealers and lenders that may be able to provide an auto loan.

CarMax Review 2024: Financing, Buying, Selling

CarMax buys cars and offers online and in-store appraisal. The company also provides used car financing through CarMax Auto Finance.

Bank of America Auto Purchase and Refinance Loans: 2024 Review

Bank of America offers many ways to apply for auto loans, including online, by phone, in a branch and at certain dealerships.

Yrefy Review: Yrefy Student Loan Refinancing

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Yrefy differs from other student loan companies in that it refinances defaulted student loans.

Tally App Review 2024: Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt

  • Fast funding.
  • Automatically pays high-interest cards first.
  • No hard credit pull.

Caribou Auto Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Caribou offers auto loan refinancing through a network of lenders. Borrowers receive several pre-qualified offers for comparison.

PenFed Auto Purchase and Refinance Loans: 2024 Review

PenFed is a Virginia-based credit union that makes auto loans nationwide. Because of its open charter, anyone can apply for a PenFed credit union auto loan.

DCU Auto Purchase, Refinance and Lease Buyout Loans: 2024 Review

Digital Federal Credit Union is based in Massachusetts but makes auto loans nationwide. Membership is required, and there are many ways to join.

Alliant Credit Union Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Fast funding.
  • Wide range of loan amounts.
  • Rate discount for autopay.

INvestED Student Loan Reviews: Student Loan Refinancing and Private Student Loans

INvestED provides student loans and refinancing for Indiana residents and borrowers who attended school in Indiana

Axos Bank Personal Loans: 2024 Review

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Can fund loans within one week.
  • Option to change your payment date.

ISL Education Lending Reviews: Student Loan Refinancing and Private Student Loans

ISL offers refinancing before you graduate and low rates on its in-school products.

Universal Credit Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
  • Fast funding.
  • Offers multiple rate discounts.