Best Personal Loans of 2026

Your shortcut to the best personal loans for you

Our Nerds researched more than 30 personal loans, narrowing down to just one winner per category.

Your shortcut to the best personal loans for you

Our Nerds researched more than 30 personal loans, narrowing down to just one winner per category.

Find a top personal loan — fast

BEST PERSONAL LOAN OVERALL 2026

Upgrade

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Upgrade

5.0

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Minimum credit score: 600.
Minimum annual income: None.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage payments.
Minimum credit history: 3 years and 1 account.
Must be a U.S. citizen and provide a valid Social Security number, email address, proof of residency and U.S. bank account.

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

Origination: 1.85% to 9.99%.
Late fee: Undisclosed.

Disclaimer: Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 7.74%-35.99% and a 1.85%-9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. For certain discounts, collateral may be required. Repayment terms from 24 to 84 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 unsecured loan with a 36-month term and a 17.59% APR (which includes a 13.94% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 and would have a required monthly payment of $341.48. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,293.46. The APR and other terms of your loan may vary and you may not be presented with multiple offers. If offered, your loan terms, including your rate, will depend on credit score, credit usage history, loan amount, and other factors. Late payments or other fees, as noted in your Borrower Agreement, may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. Certain loan offers may not be available in all states. Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Personal loans issued by Upgrade's bank partners: https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/ .

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

Upgrade stands above other personal loan lenders for accepting credit scores from fair to excellent. It also shines by offering a wide range of loan amounts and terms, as well as multiple ways to lower your interest rate.

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BEST PERSONAL LOAN FOR EXCELLENT CREDIT 2026

SoFi Personal Loan

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SoFi Personal Loan

4.5

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent or non-permanent resident, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers.
Must be employed, have sufficient income from another source, or have an offer of employment to start within the next 90 days.

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

Origination fee: 0% to 7%.
Late fee: None.

Disclaimer: Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 11/03/25 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Plus Discount: SoFi Plus members are eligible for an interest rate reduction of 0.25% on a Personal Loan. To be eligible for the discount, you must meet the SoFi Plus eligibility criteria within 31 days of the funding of your loan. For complete SoFi Plus eligibility, please see the SoFi Plus terms. When you enroll in SoFi Plus, the discount will lower the interest rate that applies to your loan only during periods in which you are enrolled in SoFi Plus. The discount will be removed during periods in which SoFi determines you are not enrolled in SoFi Plus. Each time your loan is re-amortized, your monthly payment amount will change based upon the interest rate that was in place. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this offer for unenrolled participants at any time. You are not required to enroll in SoFi Plus to be eligible for Loan approval. Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and other factors. If SoFi is unable to offer you a loan but matches you for a loan with a participating bank, then your rate may be outside the range of rates listed above. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Personal Loans can be used for any lawful personal, family, or household purposes and may not be used for post-secondary education expenses. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2024 was around $33K. Information current as of 11/03/25. SoFi Personal Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). See SoFi.com/legal for state-specific license details. See SoFi.com/eligibility for details and state restrictions.

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

SoFi attracts borrowers with solid credit and income, offering large loan amounts, same-day funding and multiple ways to receive a rate discount. Its members get extra perks like financial and estate planning.

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BEST PERSONAL LOAN FOR GOOD CREDIT 2026

Best Egg

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Best Egg

4.5

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Minimum credit score: 600.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 70%, including mortgage payments.
Minimum credit history: 3 years and 1 open account.
Must provide a Social Security number, a valid U.S. bank account and proof of employment or income.
Must not have any previous bankruptcies.
Must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age.
Cannot live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or Washington, D.C.

Available Term Lengths

3 to 5 years

Fees

Origination fee: 0.99% - 9.99%.

Disclaimer: *Trustpilot TrustScore as of April 2025. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The term, amount, and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. Your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. About half of our customers get their money the next day. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. Loan amounts range from $2,000– $50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. For a second Best Egg loan, your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%– 9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4-years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. Eligibility for the best available rate subject to creditworthiness. For example: a 5‐year $10,000 loan with 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81, and a 3‐year $5,000 loan with 7.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $155.12. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa,Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. TO REPORT A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT WITH THIS LENDER, YOU MAY WRITE OR CALL– Operations Manager, Email: [email protected], Address: P.O. Box 42912, Philadelphia, PA 19101, Phone: 1-855-282-6353. This lender is licensed and regulated by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division, P.O. Box 25101, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504. To report any unresolved problems or complaints, contact the division by telephone at (505) 476-4885 or visit the website https://www.rld.nm.gov/financial-institutions/

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

Best Egg offers borrowers with good credit a unique option to secure their loans and potentially receive a lower rate or larger loan amount. Plus, its free financial health service lets borrowers monitor their credit and track spending.

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BEST PERSONAL LOAN FOR FAIR CREDIT 2026

Upgrade

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on NerdWallet's secure website

Upgrade

5.0

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Minimum credit score: 600.
Minimum annual income: None.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage payments.
Minimum credit history: 3 years and 1 account.
Must be a U.S. citizen and provide a valid Social Security number, email address, proof of residency and U.S. bank account.

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

Origination: 1.85% to 9.99%.
Late fee: Undisclosed.

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

Upgrade not only accepts borrowers with fair credit — it’s also one of only a few lenders that offers multiple ways to get a lower rate. Customers may opt for a co-sign or secured loan option, or receive one of three rate discounts.

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BEST PERSONAL LOAN FOR BAD CREDIT 2026

Upstart

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Upstart

4.5

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
Must have a valid U.S. bank account, U.S. residential address and email address.
Must provide valid Social Security number.
Must provide verifiable source of income.
Minimum credit score: None.
Minimum annual income: None.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50%, not including rent or mortgage, in most states.

Available Term Lengths

3 to 5 years

Fees

Origination: 0% to 12%.
Late fee: 5% of the unpaid amount or $15, whichever is greater.
Insufficient funds fee: $15.

Disclaimer: The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for an unsecured Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 18.60% and a 8.51% origination fee of $851, for an APR of 23.07%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9149 and will make 60 monthly payments of $258. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in December 2024. There is no downpayment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved.

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

Upstart’s innovative underwriting model considers thousands of factors that ultimately help borrowers qualify — including those with imperfect credit. Its loan process is also among the fastest, with instant approvals and same-day funding.

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BEST PERSONAL LOAN FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT 2026

LightStream

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LightStream

4.5

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Minimum credit score: 660.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 55%.
Must provide a Social Security number.
Must have a valid email address and U.S. bank account.

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

Origination fee: None.
Late fee: None.

Disclaimer: Rates quoted are with AutoPay. Your loan terms are not guaranteed and may vary based on loan purpose, length of loan, loan amount, credit history and payment method (AutoPay or Invoice). AutoPay discount is only available when selected prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. To obtain a loan, you must complete an application on LightStream.com which may affect your credit score. You may be required to verify income, identity and other stated application information. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 7.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $202.72. Some additional conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2024 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

LightStream’s home improvement loans offer unbeatable benefits: large loan amounts, long repayment terms and the option to add a co-borrower. It’s also one of only a few online lenders that charges zero fees.

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BEST PERSONAL LOAN FOR DEBT CONSOLIDATION OVERALL 2026

LendingClub

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LendingClub

5.0

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Minimum credit score: 600
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 40%.
Must be at least 18 (or the age of majority in AL, MS or NE).
Must be a U.S. citizen, provide a Social Security number and provide proof of residency.
Must have a valid U.S. bank account, government-issued photo ID and email address.
Must provide proof of employment or income.

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

Origination fee: 0% to 8%.
Late fee: $15 or 5% of the unpaid amount, whichever is greater.
Insufficient funds fee: $15.

Disclaimer: Between Jan 2025 to June 2025, 55% of LendingClub Personal Loans that were approved for funding (which is after your loan application is approved) on a given business day were disbursed within 24 hours. Actual availability of funds may vary and is dependent on multiple factors, including, but not limited to your receiving bank’s processing times and policies. A business day is defined as Monday through Friday and excludes the weekend and bank holidays. A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $24,046 for a term of 36 months, with an interest rate of 12.99% and a 6.00% origination fee of $1,443 for an APR of 17.37%. In this example, the borrower will receive $22,603 and will make 36 monthly payments of $810. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $60,000 and loan term lengths range from 24 months to 84 months. Some amounts, rates, and term lengths may be unavailable in certain states. For Personal Loans, APR ranges from 6.53% to 35.99% and origination fee ranges from 0.00% to 8.00% of the loan amount. APRs and origination fees are determined at the time of application. The lowest APR may be available to borrowers with excellent credit subject to additional factors including, but not limited to, loan amount, loan term, and sufficient investor commitment. Advertised rates and fees are valid as of November 7, 2025 and are subject to change without notice. Loans are made by LendingClub Bank, N.A., Equal Housing Lender ("LendingClub Bank"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of LendingClub Corporation, NMLS ID 167439. LendingClub Bank is not an affiliate of this platform, which is an unrelated third party ("third party"), and is not responsible for any products and services provided by this third party, which may receive compensation if you visit the LendingClub Bank’s websites or use any of its products or services. Credit eligibility is not guaranteed. Loans are subject to credit approval and may be subject to sufficient investor commitment. Credit union membership may be required. Certain information that LendingClub Bank subsequently obtains as part of the application process (including but not limited to information in your consumer report, your income, the loan amount that your request, the purpose of your loan, and qualifying debt) will be considered and could affect your ability to obtain a loan. Loan closing is contingent on accepting all required agreements and disclosures. "LendingClub" and the "LC" symbol are trademarks of LendingClub Bank.

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

LendingClub offers multiple benefits for borrowers consolidating their debt. It sends loan funds directly to creditors and lowers your rate if you choose this option. Members can also access tools to help manage their credit and debt.

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BEST SMALL PERSONAL LOAN 2026

Upgrade

See my rates

on NerdWallet's secure website

Upgrade

5.0

NerdWallet rating

Est. APR

Loan amount

Min. credit score

Qualifications

Minimum credit score: 600.
Minimum annual income: None.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage payments.
Minimum credit history: 3 years and 1 account.
Must be a U.S. citizen and provide a valid Social Security number, email address, proof of residency and U.S. bank account.

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

Origination: 1.85% to 9.99%.
Late fee: Undisclosed.

WHY OUR NERDS LOVE IT

Upgrade is one of a few lenders that offer small personal loans with terms that keep payments and interest costs low. And if you need cash fast, Upgrade can approve your application in minutes and send funds the same or next day.

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Frequently asked questions

NerdWallet's award winners are chosen through a rigorous evaluation process involving 37 writers and editors. NerdWallet's ratings formulas for credit cards, for example, consider the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel, or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and other features. For more info, see our methodologies.

Our team of nerdy experts is composed of writers and editors — based all across the country — who have a combined 450 years of journalistic experience reviewing and writing about personal finance products for consumers.

Yes. Writers and editors use comprehensive scoring formulas that assess each financial product’s key features, weighting them according to their importance to consumers.

Nope. Editorial team members are solely responsible for creating all product reviews and ratings, and these assessments reflect their opinions alone. Only products that meet the editorial team’s standards appear in our Best-Of Awards lists, meaning no company can “buy” an award.

Our Best-Of Awards are given annually to the top financial products on the market. Our other “best” articles may:

• be longer than our Best-Of Awards list
• offer additional consumer choices
• get updated as products change or are discontinued and as new products emerge

This year's Best-Of-Awards list winners were chosen in mid-October 2025.