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Prosper Loans: 2025 Personal Loan Review

Last updated on August 9, 2024
Chanell Alexander
Written by 
Writer
Kim Lowe
Edited by 
Head of Content, Personal & Student Loans
Fact Checked
Ronita Choudhuri-Wade
Co-written by 
Lead Writer
Chanell Alexander
Written by 
Writer
Ronita Choudhuri-Wade
Co-written by 
Lead Writer
Kim Lowe
Edited by 
Head of Content, Personal & Student Loans
Fact Checked

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

Our Take

4.0

NerdWallet rating
The Nerdy headline:

Prosper accepts borrowers across the credit spectrum and offers competitive rates and fees, plus instant approval.

Jump to:Full Review
Prosper

Est. APR
8.99-35.99%
Loan amount
$2,000 - $50,000
Min. credit score
660
on Prosper's website
on NerdWallet

Pros

  • Instant approval.
  • Joint loan option.
  • Hardship program for borrowers in need.
  • Mobile app to manage loan.

Cons

  • No rate discount.
  • Charges origination and late fees.
  • No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
Compare best personal loan lenders
Lender
Est. APR
Loan amount
Min. credit score
8.99- 35.49%
$5,000- $100,000
None
6.49- 25.29%
$5,000- $100,000
660
7.90- 35.99%
$1,000- $50,000
600
7.99- 35.99%
$1,000- $50,000
580
6.99- 35.99%
$2,000- $50,000
600
View more
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Full Review

Prosper is an online peer-to-peer lending platform that provides personal loans to borrowers with credit scores from fair to excellent (660 and above).

To qualify applicants, Prosper uses a proprietary model that evaluates information like bank account transactions and ability to repay the loan. Then Prosper connects a borrower’s application with investors who can decide to fund the loan. Most approved loans are funded within a week, but some may be funded as soon as the next business day according to the company.

Prosper offers a wide range of loan terms and amounts, making it a strong option for major and minor expenses.

Table of contents

Prosper at a glance

Minimum credit score

660.

APR

8.99% - 35.99%.

Fees

  • Origination fee: 1% to 9.99%.

  • Late fee: The greater of $15 or 5% of the unpaid amount.

  • Insufficient funds fee: $15.

  • Mailed-in payment fee: $5.

Loan amount

$2,000 to $50,000.

Repayment terms

2 to 5 years.

Time to fund after approval

As soon as 1 business day.

Loan availability

Loans not available in Iowa or West Virginia.

  • Terms presented, including APR and monthly payment amount, are estimated and created based on information entered by you and through analysis of historical data on loans through Prosper. Your eligibility for a loan and actual terms depend on the information you provide in your application, and other variables including, but not limited to, your credit score, Prosper Rating, loan amount, loan term, employment and income details, credit usage and history. Eligibility for personal loans up to $50,000 depends on a number of factors, including (but not limited to) your financial history, credit score, monthly income, and monthly expenses. Eligibility for personal loans is not guaranteed, and requires sufficient investor commitments to fund. Personal loans through Prosper have an annual percentage rate (“APR”) of 8.99% to 35.99%, terms between two and five years, and an origination fee from 1% to 9.99%. For example, a three-year $10,000 personal loan with an interest rate of 9.38% and a 9.99% origination fee results in a 16.74% APR. You would receive $9,001.00 and make 36 scheduled monthly payments of $319.77. A five-year $10,000 personal loan with an interest rate of 11.14% and a 9.99% origination fee results in a 15.84% APR. You would receive $9,001.00 and make 60 scheduled monthly payments of $218.12. Whether you are eligible for a specific APR or loan term will depend on a number of factors, including (but not limited to) your current credit rating and information you provide in your application. The lowest rates are for the most creditworthy applicants. Your actual rate may differ. You may receive your funds one business day following your acceptance of the loan offer, completion of all necessary verification steps and final approval. One business day funding is also dependent on your bank’s transaction processing speed. All personal loans made by WebBank.

Where Prosper stands out

Joint loan option. Prosper's platform allows two borrowers to apply together as joint applicants. Including a co-borrower with stronger credit can improve your chances of getting a loan or a lower annual percentage rate.

Fast funding. Prosper says next-day funding may be available for approved borrowers, and most receive loan funds within a week upon approval. Some lenders offer same-day funding, but it isn't uncommon to wait a couple of days.

Mobile app to manage the loan: Borrowers can apply for a loan, make payments and check their credit scores on the Prosper mobile app. The app is a convenient benefit for borrowers who manage their finances on their phone.

Hardship relief support. Prosper offers a hardship relief program that may reduce your monthly payment or extend the loan term.

Where Prosper falls short

Origination and late fees. Borrowers may be charged an origination fee ranging from 1% to 9.99% of the loan amount. Many online lenders charge an origination fee that can skim a few hundred to a few thousand dollars off the loan amount once approved.

Loan payments more than 15 days past due will draw a late fee, which is 5% of the monthly payment amount or $15, whichever is greater.

Finally, Prosper charges $5 for making a loan payment via check. It’s relatively rare for a lender to charge the borrower for making a loan payment.

No rate discount for autopay. Unlike some lenders, Prosper does not offer an additional rate discount for setting up autopay. The discount usually ranges from 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points and motivates borrowers to pay on time.

No direct payment 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.

Our expert take:

“Prosper’s peer-to-peer loans are a solid option for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit who need to cover a large expense. It can take a few days for a Prosper loan to be funded, which isn't uncommon for personal loans. The lender's wide range of loan amounts and repayment terms makes Prosper a flexible enough financing option for most types of expenses.

Prosper shows plenty of information up front — the lender’s website showcases most loan details and includes a comprehensive FAQ, plus borrowers can see their full loan offer through pre-qualification.”

Annie Millerbernd, Personal Loans Assistant Assigning Editor

How to use Prosper personal loans

You can use a Prosper personal loan for:

  • Debt consolidation.

  • Credit card consolidation.

  • Home improvement.

  • Emergencies.

  • Medical bills.

  • Vacations.

  • Funerals.

  • Business expenses.

  • Taxes.

  • Auto, motorcycle, RV and boat financing.

Prosper prohibits the use of its personal loans for:

  • Post-secondary education expenses.

Prosper personal loan customer reviews

As of August 2024, Prosper has 4.6 stars on Trustpilot, a website that collects consumer reviews. Customers mention the company’s fast approval process and customer service. The lender’s mobile app received 4.7 stars across more than 3,700 reviews on Google Play and 4.8 stars across more than 14,200 reviews on the Apple App Store.

Do you qualify for a Prosper personal loan?

Most lenders have basic requirements to apply, and some have financial requirements or recommendations to qualify. To apply for a personal loan through Prosper, you must be:

  • A U.S. resident.

  • At least 18 years old.

  • Able to provide a verifiable bank account.

  • Able to provide a Social Security number. 

Prosper's borrowing requirements

Here are the lender’s requirements to qualify for a loan. (Meeting these requirements doesn’t guarantee approval.)

  • Minimum credit score: 660.

  • Minimum credit history: None.

  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50%, excluding mortgage.

  • Minimum annual income: $15,000; this lender accepts income from alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security payments and other sources.

    • Average credit score: 709.

    • Average annual income: $137,000.

    • Average loan amount: $14,927.

    • Average APR: 23.3%.

    • Most common loan term: 5 years.

    • Most common loan purposes: Debt consolidation, home improvement, household expenses, healthcare expenses, vacations and big purchases.

Before you apply

  • Calculate your monthly payments. Use a personal loan calculator to determine what APR and repayment term you’d need to get a loan with affordable monthly payments.

  • Make a plan to repay the loan. Review your budget to see how the loan’s monthly payments impact your cash flow. If you have to cut other expenses in order to repay the loan, it’s better to know that before you borrow.

  • Gather your documents. Most lenders require proof of income, which can be a W-2 or paystub, as well as proof of address and a Social Security number. Having these documents handy can speed the application process.

How to apply for a loan through Prosper

Here are the steps to apply for a Prosper loan.

  1. Pre-qualify on Prosper’s website. You’ll first enter your desired loan amount and then begin the pre-qualification process. Prosper will ask for the loan purpose and then request personal information like your name, birthdate and email address before you can preview loan offers. There’s no hard credit pull at this stage.

  2. Preview loan offers and accept the one that fits your budget. If you successfully pre-qualify, Prosper will show you the potential loan amount, APR, repayment term, monthly payment and total interest payments you could have on a personal loan. The lender may show you multiple offers. Once you accept a loan offer, you’ll submit a formal personal loan application. This could require more documents, like W-2s and pay stubs, to confirm the information you gave during pre-qualification. Prosper will also do a hard credit check when you apply, so your credit score could temporarily dip.

  3. Make a plan to repay the loan. Prosper reports payments to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) so on-time payments will help build your credit score, but missed payments will hurt it. Setting up automatic payments and watching your budget are ways to manage your loan payments.

Compare Prosper to other lenders

Personal loan lenders offer different rates, loan amounts and special features, so it pays to weigh other options. The best personal loan is usually the one with the lowest APR.

Prosper, LendingClub and SoFi are solid options for debt consolidation. But there are differences when it comes to fees and qualification requirements.

LendingClub

Minimum credit score

600.

APR

7.90% - 35.99%.

Fees

  • Origination fee: 0% to 8%.

  • Late fee: The greater of $15 or 5% of the unpaid amount.

  • Insufficient funds: $15.

Loan amount

$1,000 to $50,000.

Repayment terms

2 to 6 years.

Time to fund after approval

1 business day.

Loan availability

Loans available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

SoFi

Minimum credit score

None.

APR

8.99% - 35.49%.

Fees

Optional origination fee: 0% to 7%.

Loan amount

$5,000 to $100,000.

Repayment terms

2 to 7 years.

Time to fund after approval

Same-day funding.

Loan availability

Loans available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

How we rate loans through Prosper

NerdWallet writers rate lenders against a rubric that changes each year based on how personal loan products evolve. Here’s what we prioritized this year:

Category

Star rating

Affordability

Customer experience

Underwriting

Loan flexibility

Application process

Overall

  • Affordability (25%)

    An affordable loan has low rates and fees compared to other similar loans and may offer rate discounts.

    Customer experience (20%)

    A good customer experience includes allowing borrowers to choose and change their repayment date, a fully online application process, a mobile app to manage the loan and a customer service team with wide availability.

    Underwriting and eligibility (20%)

    The lender reviews borrowers’ credit reports and credit history and tries to understand their ability to repay a loan. It offers loans in most states and doesn’t restrict eligibility by requiring a pre-existing relationship.

    Application process (20%)

    Borrowers can pre-qualify to check their potential rate, loan amount, repayment term and APR without affecting their credit score. They can easily find answers to questions about the personal loan on the lender’s website. The application process is fast enough to allow funding within a couple of days or less.

    Loan flexibility (15%)

    A flexible loan is one that offers a wide range of loan amounts and repayment term options. It includes common features like additional loan types and direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.

    Discretionary

    A lender’s star rating can be reduced if the lender is sued by a state or federal regulator for unfair consumer practices or has been accused by a reputable source of suspicious business practices.

Ready to apply? Click the button below and head to Prosper's website to pre-qualify.

on Prosper's website
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How we chose the best personal loans

Our team of consumer lending experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.

35+

Lenders reviewed

We review over 35 lenders, including major banks, top credit unions, leading digital platforms, and high interest installment lenders operating across multiple states.

25+

Categories assessed

Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.

70+

Data points analyzed

Our team tracks and reassesses hundreds of data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.

Star rating categories

We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
Affordability

25%

We review lenders’ annual percentage rate offerings at least twice per year and the competitiveness of each lenders’ APR range. We also assess whether a lender charges an origination fee and any opportunity for borrowers to receive a rate discount.
Customer experience

20%

We consider the experience of the consumer trying to manage a personal loan, which means accessibility of customer service representatives, whether borrowers can choose and change their payment due date, and the ability to track their loan on a mobile app.
Underwriting and eligibility

20%

We consider the rigorousness of each lender’s underwriting practices and how widely available their loans are. This category includes whether a lender does a hard credit check before providing a loan, the range of credit profiles they accept and how many states their loans are offered in.
Loan flexibility

20%

We assess how flexible lenders can be with borrowers, including whether they offer multiple loan types, personal loan amounts and repayment term options and whether they offer direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.
Application process

15%

We consider the lender’s full application process, including a borrower’s ability to preview their loan offer via pre-qualification, whether basic loan information such as APR range and repayment terms are available and easy to find online and how quickly a loan can be funded after approval.

5.0

Overall score

NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 35 financial technology companies and financial institutions. We collect over 70 data points and cross-check company websites, earnings reports and other public documents to confirm product details. We may also go through a lender’s pre-qualification flow and follow up with company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. Our ratings award fewer points to lenders with practices that may make a loan difficult to repay on time, such as charging high annual percentage rates (above 36%), underwriting that does not adequately assess consumers’ ability to repay and lack of credit-building help. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.
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