Prosper Loans: 2021 Personal Loan Review
Though Prosper charges an origination fee, the peer-to-peer lender offers comparable rates to other online lenders.
Our Take
4.5
The bottom line: Prosper’s wide range of loan amounts and loan types could make it an ideal fit for borrowers with fair or good credit.
Full Review
on Prosper's website
on Prosper's website
Min. Credit Score
640
Est. APR
7.95 - 35.99%
Loan Amount
$2,000 - $40,000
Pros & Cons
Pros
Option to change your payment date.
Offers joint loans.
Offers wide range of loan amounts.
Cons
No rate discount for autopay.
Charges origination and late fees.
Borrowers can choose from only two repayment term options.
Compare to Other Lenders
Est. APR7.95 - 35.99% | Est. APR6.94 - 35.97% | Est. APR5.99 - 18.85% |
Loan Term3 to 5 years | Loan Term3 to 5 years | Loan Term2 to 7 years |
Loan Amount$2,000 - $40,000 | Loan Amount$1,000 - $50,000 | Loan Amount$5,000 - $100,000 |
Min. Credit Score640 | Min. Credit Score580 | Min. Credit Score680 |
Compare estimated rates from multiple lenders
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Full Review
To review Prosper’s personal loans, NerdWallet collected more than 40 data points from the lender, interviewed company executives and compared the lender with others that seek the same customer or offer a similar personal loan product. Loan terms and fees may vary by state.
Prosper is a peer-to-peer lender that provides personal loans to borrowers with fair or good credit. The company says it has originated more than $17 billion in loans to over 1 million people since it was founded in 2005.
To qualify applicants, the company uses a risk-rating system that takes into account data points like credit history and debt-to-income ratio. Borrowers are then assigned a Prosper score, which investors use to decide whether to fund your loan.
Your application expires if your loan request isn’t at least 70% funded within 14 days, though most loans are funded within one to three days, according to the company.
Prosper is best for borrowers who:
Have fair or good credit (630 to 719 FICO).
Want to include a co-borrower on their application.
Are interested in home equity financing.
Prosper at a glance
Credit building |
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Affordability |
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» COMPARE: Personal loans for good credit
Where Prosper stands out
Joint loan option: Prosper allows two borrowers to apply together as joint applicants for a loan. While the primary borrower must meet Prosper’s main credit criteria, the secondary borrower can qualify with a FICO score of 600, at least one open account reported on their credit report and no bankruptcy filings within the last 12 months.
Including a co-borrower with stronger credit can improve your chances of getting a loan or a lower annual percentage rate.
» MORE: Best fair-credit lenders
Home equity line of credit: In addition to its unsecured personal loans, Prosper offers a home equity line of credit for borrowers in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Texas. With a HELOC, you borrow against the available equity in your home for a lower rate, and the house is used as collateral.
Prosper allows borrowers to apply and receive a HELOC within weeks, and applicants can also see a personalized offer without affecting their credit score.
Range of loan amounts: Prosper offers loan amounts from $2,000 to $40,000, which allow borrowers to cover a wider range of expenses, including debt consolidation and pricey home improvement projects.
Compare Prosper with other loan companies:
Where Prosper falls short
Origination and late fees: Prosper charges an origination fee ranging from 2.41% to 5.99%. It also charges a late fee for loans that are more than 15 days past due — 5% of the monthly payment amount or $15, whichever is greater.
Limited term lengths: Borrowers can choose a three- or five-year loan repayment term. That’s somewhat common for online lenders, but it doesn’t give you the option to choose a shorter term and pay less interest, or a longer one to lower your monthly payments.
No rate discount for autopay: Unlike other lenders, Prosper does not offer an additional rate discount for setting up autopay. The discount usually ranges from 0.25% to 0.5%, and helps borrowers make payments on time.
No direct payments to creditors: Prosper does not send your loan proceeds directly to creditors when you consolidate debts with a loan. Instead, borrowers have to keep track of their own repayments.
» COMPARE: Peer-to-peer online lenders
How to qualify for a Prosper loan
Minimum credit score: 640; borrower average is 726.
Minimum credit history: 2 years.
Minimum income: No minimum income requirement; borrower average is $113,000.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50% (excluding mortgage); borrower average is 18% with housing payment.
No bankruptcies filed within the past year.
At least three open accounts on credit report.
Fewer than five credit bureau inquiries in the last six months.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must provide Social Security number and a U.S. bank account.
Loan example: A five-year, $15,000 loan with a 17.4% APR would cost $376 in monthly payments. You’d pay $7,560 in total interest on that loan.
Pre-qualify on NerdWallet
NerdWallet recommends comparing loans to find the best rate for you. Click the button below to pre-qualify on NerdWallet. You may receive personalized rates from multiple lenders that partner with us, including Prosper. Pre-qualifying will not impact your credit.
Apply on Prosper
You can fill out an application on Prosper’s website. After entering your personal information, you’ll be presented with loan options for which you pre-qualify.
on Prosper's website
Personal Loans Rating 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. Read our editorial guidelines.