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

OneMain Financial Personal Loans: 2024 Review

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to choose and change your payment date.
  • Joint and secured loans.
  • Fast funding.

LightStream Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

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

Upgrade Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

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

Rocket Loans Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Rate discount for autopay.
  • Fast funding.

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.

LendingPoint Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Soft credit check to pre-qualify.
  • Fast funding.
  • Offers mobile app to manage loan payments.

Avant Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Fast funding.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Mobile app to manage loan.