BEST OF
8 Excellent Personal Loans of 2023
Jan 6, 2023
Compare online personal loans for good and bad credit, debt consolidation, home improvement, fast funding and from banks. The greatest personal loan helps you reach a financial goal, whether it’s paying off high-interest debt or funding a large expense. Annual percentage rates generally range from 6% to 35.99%; the loan with the lowest rate is the least expensive — and usually the best choice. But other features, including no fees, soft credit checks and whether lenders directly pay creditors if you’re consolidating debt, set some loans apart.
| Lender | NerdWallet rating | Est. APR | Loan amount | Min. credit score | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NerdWallet rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Excellent for Personal loans for excellent credit | 6.49 - 35.49% | $5K - $100K | None | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Excellent for good credit + credit card debt consolidation | 8.95 - 35.99% | $5K - $50K | 620 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Excellent for good credit, home improvement, and fast funding | 7.49 - 24.94% | $5K - $100K | 660 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Excellent for fair credit + co-signed and joint loans | 7.74 - 35.99% | $1K - $75K | 600 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Excellent for bad credit + fast funding | 6.20 - 35.99% | $1K - $75K | None | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Excellent for fair or good credit | 6.99 - 35.99% | $2K - $50K | 600 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Excellent for Personal loans for fair or good credit + large amounts | 6.25 - 35.99% | $5K - $50K | 640 | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website |
Excellent for
Personal loans for excellent credit
2026 NerdWallet award winner
Est. APR
6.49 - 35.49%
Loan amount
$5K - $100K
Min. credit score
None
Loan term
2 to 7 years
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Same day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Rate discounts:
- Autopay, Direct payment to creditors, and Direct deposit accounts
- Min income:
- No minimum requirement
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc.), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Joint loans.
- Hardship assistance.
Cons
- High minimum loan amount.
- No secured loans.
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Disclosures from SoFi Personal LoanTerms 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 2025 was around $32K. Based on loans funded from 1/1/2025-12/31/2025. Information current as of 09/14/26. 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. Fixed rates from 6.49% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% member 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, operating from its Delaware branch, 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 09/14/26 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/eligibilitycriteria/#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. Member Rate Discount: To be eligible for an additional 0.25% interest rate reduction on a Personal Loan, you must, within 31 days of loan funding, either (1) meet SoFi Plus eligibility criteria, (2) receive an Eligible Direct Deposit into a SoFi Checking or Savings account, or (3) receive at least $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits into a SoFi Checking or Savings account. You must continue to meet at least one of the above eligibility criteria every 31 days to maintain the discount. See the SoFi Plus terms for details on SoFi Plus subscription. For more details on Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, please see https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Once you become eligible during the initial period, the discount will be removed or reinstated depending on whether the criteria have been met. 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 modify or terminate this offer at any time for unenrolled participants. You are not required to meet these criteria to be approved for a loan.
Excellent for
good credit + credit card debt consolidation
Est. APR
8.95 - 35.99%
Loan amount
$5K - $50K
Min. credit score
620
Loan term
2 to 5 years
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- same-day
- Availability:
- Unavailable in NV and IA
- Rate discounts:
- Auto-pay discount: 0.5 percentage points.
- Min income:
- None
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation and Credit card consolidation
Pros
- Low starting rates.
- Direct pay to creditors.
- Same-day funding.
Cons
- May have a high origination fee.
- High minimum loan amount.
- Can't add a co-applicant or collateral to boost your chances of qualifying.
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Disclosures from Happy MoneyThis does not constitute an actual commitment to lend or an offer to extend credit. Upon submitting a loan application, you may be asked to provide additional documents to enable us to verify your income, assets, and financial condition. Your interest rate and terms for which you are approved will be shown to you as part of the online application process. The interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) shown reflect a discount for enrolling in automatic payments ("autopay"). To receive and keep this discounted rate, you must enroll in autopay and maintain automatic payments. If you do not enroll in autopay, your interest rate and APR will be higher than the rate shown. Most applicants will receive a variety of loan offerings to choose from, with varying loan amounts and interest rates. Borrower subject to a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Refer to full borrower agreement for all terms, conditions, and requirements.
Happy Money, Inc. is not a lender and is not the provider of the products or services offered by our Affiliate Partners. Affiliate Partner offers presented on this platform are provided by independent third parties ("Affiliates") with whom you will have a direct contractual relationship if you choose to proceed. Happy Money pays compensation to Affiliates from whom consumers are referred, apply for, and obtain products or services through this platform. This compensation may influence which Affiliate offers are presented and the order or prominence in which they appear; however, it does not affect the terms offered to you by the Affiliate. Happy Money does not endorse, guarantee, or warrant the products, services, rates, or terms offered by any Affiliate, and makes no representations regarding the Affiliate's lending or underwriting decisions. Happy Money plays no role in any credit or approval decisions made by Affiliates and is not responsible for issuing adverse action notices in connection with Affiliate products. If you proceed to an Affiliate's platform, your use of that platform is governed by the Affiliate's own terms of service and privacy policy. This offer does not constitute a commitment to lend or an offer to extend credit. Products and services offered by Affiliates may not be available in all states.
Excellent for
good credit, home improvement, and fast funding
2026 NerdWallet award winner
Est. APR
7.49 - 24.94%
Loan amount
$5K - $100K
Min. credit score
660
Loan term
2 to 20 years
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Same day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Min income:
- No minimum requirement
- Soft credit check:
- No
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Emergency expenses, Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, PreK-12 education, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Competitive APRs
- Rate discounts
- No fees
- Large loans and long repayment terms
- Same-day funding
Cons
- Limited ability to pre-qualify
- High minimum loan amount
- No direct payment to creditors
- No mobile app
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Disclosures from LightStreamYou are not yet approved or pre-approved for a loan or a specific rate. Please click to complete your LightStream application to see exactly what LightStream can offer you. Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Lowest rates require excellent credit. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50 points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Truist Financial Corporation. TRUIST, LightStream, and the LightStream logos are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
Excellent for
fair credit + co-signed and joint loans
2026 NerdWallet award winner
Est. APR
7.74 - 35.99%
Loan amount
$1K - $75K
Min. credit score
600
Loan term
2 to 7 years
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- 1 day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Rate discounts:
- AutoPay discount, Direct pay to creditors discount, Auto-secured discount, and Existing customer discount
- Min income:
- No minimum requirement
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Secured and co-signed loans.
- Fast funding.
- Wide range of loan amounts and repayment terms.
Cons
- Origination fee
- No option to choose repayment date
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Disclosures from UpgradeYour loan terms are not guaranteed and are subject to our verification and review process. You may be asked to provide additional documents to enable us to verify your income and your identity. To be offered the lowest rates, you may be required to have some of your funds sent directly to pay off existing debt(s). This rate shown includes an Autopay APR reduction of 0.5%. Autopay enrollment is optional and by enrolling, your payments will be automatically deducted from your bank account. The APR includes the yearly interest rate and a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Late payments and other fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. Please refer to Upgrade's Terms of Use and Borrower Agreement for terms, conditions and requirements. Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Personal loans are issued by Upgrade's bank partners: https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/.
Excellent for
bad credit + fast funding
2026 NerdWallet award winner
Est. APR
6.20 - 35.99%
Loan amount
$1K - $75K
Min. credit score
None
Loan term
3 to 7 years
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- 1 day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Rate discounts:
- None
- Min income:
- No minimum requirement
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc.), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Business expenses, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, Other large purchase, Bills and rent, Family assistance, Taxes, and Purchase of personal vehicle
Pros
- No credit score requirement.
- Wide range of loan amounts.
- Fast funding.
- Range of loan amounts
Cons
- Origination fee.
- Only two repayment term options.
- No direct payment to creditors.
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Disclosures from UpstartThe 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.
Excellent for
fair or good credit
2026 NerdWallet award winner
Est. APR
6.99 - 35.99%
Loan amount
$2K - $50K
Min. credit score
600
Loan term
3 to 5 years
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Next business day
- Availability:
- Unavailable in IA, VT, WV, and DC
- Rate discounts:
- None
- Min income:
- Varies by state
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc.), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Business expenses, Education expenses, Auto/motorcycle/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Offers secured and unsecured loans.
- Works with a variety of credit situations.
- Lets you pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Will directly pay your creditors when the loan is for debt consolidation.
Cons
- Has an origination fee.
- Requires at least a 600 credit score.
- Doesn't offer co-signed or joint loans.
- Short repayment terms aren't available.
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Disclosures from Best EggBest Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of
Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Eligibility is not guaranteed. 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. If offered, your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. Your application is complete when you submit it to Best Egg. Your acceptance of an offer may impact your credit score. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. After successful verification your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. 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. Only two active Best Egg loans are available at one time and 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 a 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81; a 3-year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. Best Egg loans can be prepaid at any time without penalty. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Best Egg loans have a minimum term of 36 months and a maximum term of 60 months. 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 loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, operating from its Wilmington, Delaware branch location, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Marlette Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Best Egg Secured Loan + Homeowner Discount is not available if you live in Connecticut, Iowa, Louisiana, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Eligibility is not guaranteed. 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. If offered, your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. Your application is complete when you submit it to Best Egg. Your acceptance of an offer may impact
your credit score. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s
policies. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within
1-3 business days. Loan amounts range from $5,000–$50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum
loan amount of $6,500; and Ohio, $5,001. Only two active Best Egg loans are available at one
time and your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 5.99%–29.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 1.49%–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 7-year secured loan of $25,000 with an APR of 9.99% has 84 scheduled monthly payments of $402.48, and a 3-year secured loan of $5,000 with an APR of 5.99% has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $150.57. Best Egg loans can be prepaid at any time without penalty. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Best Egg loans
have a minimum term of 36 months and a maximum term of 84 months. The Best Egg Secured Loan + Homeowner Discount is a personal loan secured using a lien against the fixtures in your home. Fixtures are items permanently attached to your home as defined under applicable law. This will be your collateral for the loan. Rest assured, your home itself will not be used as collateral. Best Egg will have a lien against the fixtures until you repay your Best Egg Secured Loan in full and will file a Uniform Commercial Code notice of this lien in your local jurisdiction. If you have multiple Uniform Commercial Code - 1 (UCC-1) secured by the same collateral, then these liens will all be subject to a single Uniform Commercial Code filing. Best Egg will release each lien as the respective loan is paid in full and will release the UCC-1 filing when all such loans are repaid in full. Your home may be more difficult to sell if it is
subject to one or more liens. If you sell or transfer your home without repaying in full all UCC-1 secured by the collateral, Best Egg’s lien(s) will remain in place, and your loan(s) will immediately become due in full. If you file for bankruptcy, your home enters foreclosure, or you sell your home and don’t repay your loan within 30 days of its sale, Best Egg or subsequent owners of your Best Egg Secured Loan(s) may participate in the related proceedings to collect what you owe on your loan(s). This may include repossessing the collateral. If you co-own your home, at least one co-owner must provide their consent for your Best Egg Secured Loan(s), including the lien(s) against the fixtures in your home, as part of your application. Any co-owner of your home will not, however, be obligated as a borrower and Best Egg will not check their credit report. 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 loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, operating from its Wilmington, Delaware branch location, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The Best Egg Secured Loan + Homeowner Discount is originated exclusively by Cross River Bank. © 2026 Marlette Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.
Excellent for
Personal loans for fair or good credit + large amounts
Est. APR
6.25 - 35.99%
Loan amount
$5K - $50K
Min. credit score
640
Loan term
2 to 5 years
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- same-day
- Availability:
- Unavailable in CO, HI, VT, WV, WI, WY, CT, ME, IA, and WA
- Rate discounts:
- Direct pay to creditors discount: 3 percentage points., Co-borrower discount: 2 percentage points., and Discount for sufficient funds in retirement account: 1 percentage point.
- Min income:
- None
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc.), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Business expenses, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Fast funding.
- Accepts a variety of applicants.
Cons
- High starting loan amount.
- Origination fee.
- Can't have a thin credit profile.
See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website
Disclosures from Achieve Personal LoansPersonal loans are available through Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977), originated by Cross River Bank, Delaware Branch, Equal Housing Lender. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000. For loans $35,000+ must have a minimum 660 credit score. A minimum credit score of 560 is required to be eligible for an Achieve Personal Loan. Credit eligibility may be evaluated using one or more consumer credit scoring models. Meeting the minimum credit score does not guarantee approval. Loan applications are subject to credit review, underwriting criteria, and approval. Loans are not available in all states and available loan terms/fees may vary by state. APRs range from 6.25% to 35.99% and include applicable origination fees that vary from 1.99% to 9.99%. Repayment periods range from 24 to 60 months. Example loan: four-year, $20,000 loan with an origination fee of 8.99%, a rate of 15.49%, and corresponding APR of 20.77%, would have an estimated monthly payment of $561.60 and a total cost of $26,966.26. The 6.25% APR is available only to qualified borrowers and is subject to credit approval. Eligibility depends on a number of factors, including loan purpose, excellent credit, a loan amount of less than $12,000, and a 24-month term. Additional conditions apply. Loan Consultants for Achieve Personal Loans are available Monday-Friday 6 AM to 8 PM AZ time, and Saturday-Sunday 7 AM to 5 PM AZ time.
Last updated on January 6, 2023
Methodology
These offers are from our partners.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Excellent Personal Loans of 2023
- SoFi Personal Loan: Excellent for Personal loans for excellent credit
- Happy Money: Excellent for good credit + credit card debt consolidation
- LightStream: Excellent for good credit, home improvement, and fast funding
- Upgrade: Excellent for fair credit + co-signed and joint loans
- Upstart: Excellent for bad credit + fast funding
- Best Egg: Excellent for fair or good credit
- Achieve Personal Loans: Excellent for Personal loans for fair or good credit + large amounts