Compare Top Personal Loan Lenders of April 2026
Great personal loan lenders offer affordable monthly payments at a rate that fits your budget. Other loan features, including no fees, rate discounts and mobile apps set some lenders apart.
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Why compare personal loans with NerdWallet?
Over 10M borrowers served and $65B funded through our marketplace
Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.
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.
Why compare personal loans with NerdWallet?
Over 10M borrowers served and $65B funded through our marketplace
Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.
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.
| Lender | NerdWallet rating | Est. APR | Loan amount | Min. credit score | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.5/5 Excellent for borrowers with good to excellent credit | 7.74-35.49% | $5,000-$100,000 | None | Get a quoteon SoFi's website | |
4.5/5 Excellent for borrowers with short credit histories | 6.70-35.99% | $1,000-$75,000 | None | Get a quoteon Upstart's website | |
4.5/5 Excellent for home improvement loans | 6.49-24.89% | $5,000-$100,000 | 660 | Get a quoteon LightStream's website | |
5.0/5 Excellent for joint personal loans | 6.53-35.99% | $1,000-$60,000 | 600 | Get a quoteon LendingClub's website |
Our pick for
borrowers with good to excellent credit
SoFi Personal Loan
7.74-35.49%
$5,000-$100,000
None
View details Close details
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Large loans available.
- Has a joint loan option.
- Hardship assistance or program for borrowers in need.
- No option to choose initial payment date.
- High minimum loan amount.
- 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.
- Origination fee: 0% to 7%.
- Late fee: None.
Our pick for
borrowers with short credit histories
Upstart
6.70-35.99%
$1,000-$75,000
None
View details Close details
- Accepts borrowers from across the credit spectrum.
- Same- or next-day funding.
- Has a secured loan option.
- Wide range of loan amounts.
- Origination fee.
- Only two repayment term options.
- No joint or co-signed loans.
- No direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.
- 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.
- Origination: 0% to 12%.
- Late fee: 5% of the unpaid amount or $15, whichever is greater.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
Our pick for
home improvement loans
LightStream
6.49-24.89%
$5,000-$100,000
660
View details Close details
- Competitive APRs.
- Rate discounts available.
- No fees.
- Large loans available with long repayment terms.
- ·Same-day funding.
- Limited ability to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- High minimum loan amount.
- No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- No mobile app to manage loan.
- 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.
- Origination fee: None.
- Late fee: None.
Our pick for
joint personal loans
LendingClub
6.53-35.99%
$1,000-$60,000
600
View details Close details
- Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Same- or next-day funding.
- Has a joint loan option.
- Options to choose and change your payment date.
- Charges an origination fee.
- 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.
- Origination fee: 0% to 8%.
- Late fee: $15 or 5% of the unpaid amount, whichever is greater.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
Frequently asked questions
Pre-qualification. Many lenders let you pre-qualify online to check your estimated interest rate and loan terms. This process involves a soft credit check, which won’t affect your credit score. It pays to pre-qualify for a loan with multiple lenders and compare offers and loan features.
Annual percentage rates. Because APRs include interest rates and fees, they provide an apples-to-apples cost comparison for borrowers deciding between personal loan offers. Personal loan interest rates differ by lender, and the rate you receive depends on factors like your credit score, income and debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Use our personal loan calculator to see how APR affects monthly payments and total loan costs.
Fees: Some lenders charge origination fees to cover the cost of processing the loan. Lenders typically deduct this fee before sending the funds, but it is included in the loan’s annual percentage rate. Some lenders also charge a late fee if you miss a payment’s due date and a nonsufficient funds fee if you authorize a payment but don’t have enough money in your bank account.
Funding time. The time it takes to get a personal loan can depend on the type of lender. Many online lenders will approve your application and send funds within a day or two after you apply. Banks and credit unions may take up to a week.
Repayment terms. Lenders may offer a wide variety of repayment terms. They typically range from two to seven years. A shorter-term loan means you’ll pay less interest, while a longer repayment term gives you lower monthly payments. Based on your budget, one may make more financial sense than the other.
Loan amount. Depending on how much money you need, certain lenders could be a better fit than others. Most lenders offer small to midsize loan amounts of $2,000 to $50,000, but some provide up to $100,000. Determine the amount you need, whether that means adding up your credit card debt to consolidate or getting a cost estimate on a home improvement project, and compare lenders that can offer that size loan.
Special features. See if the lender you’re considering offers any perks that could help you reach your financial goals. You may benefit from features like payment flexibility, financial planning or rate discounts for setting up autopay.
Check your credit. Your credit score is a primary factor lenders use to determine whether you qualify for a personal loan and the rate you receive. Resolve any errors that might be hurting your score and, if you can, pay down debts to reduce your DTI ratio.
Pre-qualify with multiple lenders. Pre-qualifying gives you an idea of the rate and terms you can expect. Compare pre-qualified offers to find the lowest APR and monthly payments that fit your budget.
Apply. The formal application process usually requires documents to verify your identity and income. Once approved, you’ll typically receive your loan funds within a week.
Lenders have different requirements but generally consider your credit profile, income and debts during the loan approval process. You’ll typically need to submit proof of your identity and financial information, which can include documents such as your driver’s license, Social Security number, pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements.
Most lenders will ask about the purpose of the loan, but you can use a personal loan for almost any reason. A lender may have restrictions on using the money for specific purposes, like higher education or investing.
Once you’ve submitted the application, lenders can usually let you know if you’ve been approved within one to two days. Most lenders can fund a personal loan within a week, though some offer same- or next-day funding.
Credit score requirements vary among personal loan lenders. Some lenders accept borrowers with good or excellent credit only; others provide loans to bad-credit borrowers.
Borrowers with low income may qualify for personal loans offered by lenders with soft income requirements. Some lenders don’t have minimum income requirements. Include all sources of income, such as child support, alimony or Social Security payments, on your application to improve your chances of qualifying for a loan.
Last updated on January 15, 2026
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Top Personal Loan Lenders- SoFi Personal Loan: Excellent for borrowers with good to excellent credit
- Upstart: Excellent for borrowers with short credit histories
- LightStream: Excellent for home improvement loans
- LendingClub: Excellent for joint personal loans