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Fixed-rate financing for whatever life throws at you

Best Personal Loans of 2026

A personal loan gives you a lump sum at a fixed rate with predictable monthly payments — useful for consolidating debt, covering an emergency, or funding a big purchase. We compared the leading online lenders on APR ranges, funding speed, and credit requirements so you can find the one that actually fits your situation.

6 lenders comparedLast updated July 2026How we rate
Personal Loans — Finmatchly
At a glance

Top personal loans compared

At-a-glance comparison of the top lender options
#ProviderRatingAPR rangeBest for
1
SSoFi logoSoFi
4.9
8.99%–29.49%Strong-credit borrowers who want extrasSee Rates
2
LLightStream logoLightStream
4.8
7.49%–25.99%Excellent-credit borrowers chasing low APRSee Rates
3
MMarcus by Goldman Sachs logoMarcus by Goldman Sachs
4.6
9.99%–24.99%Consolidating debt without any feesView Offer
4
UUpstart logoUpstart
4.4
7.80%–35.99%Thin or fair credit filesSee Rates
5
BBest Egg logoBest Egg
4.3
6.99%–35.99%Mid-tier credit and secured optionsView Offer
6
UUpgrade logoUpgrade
4.2
8.49%–35.99%Bad-credit borrowers and joint applicantsSee Rates

Rates and terms shown are illustrative editorial examples — confirm current details on each lender’s site.

The full list

Our top-rated lenders, ranked

#1
SSoFi logo

SoFi

Big loans, zero fees, real perks

Editor's Choice

Best for Strong-credit borrowers who want extras

APR range
8.99%–29.49%
Loan amount
$5K–$100K
Min. credit score
680
Funding time
As soon as same day
  • No origination, late, or prepayment fees on any loan
  • Borrow up to $100,000 for qualified applicants
  • 0.25% autopay discount plus a rate-match guarantee
  • Unemployment protection pauses payments if you lose your job

Pros

  • Genuinely no fees, which is rare at this loan size
  • Same-day funding once your loan is approved
  • Member perks: career coaching, financial planning, rate discounts

Cons

  • Needs a high credit score for the best rates
  • No secured or co-signed option to lift approval odds
#2
LLightStream logo

LightStream

The lowest fixed rates, hands down

Lowest Rates

Best for Excellent-credit borrowers chasing low APR

APR range
7.49%–25.99%
Loan amount
$5K–$100K
Min. credit score
695
Funding time
As soon as same day
  • Rate Beat program undercuts a competing offer by 0.10%
  • No origination, late, or prepayment fees
  • Loans up to $100,000 for home, auto, or almost any use
  • Same-day funding available when approved before the cutoff

Pros

  • Among the lowest APRs available anywhere
  • $100 loan experience guarantee if you're unhappy
  • Wide range of loan purposes with no restrictions

Cons

  • No pre-qualification, so checking rates means a hard pull
  • Reserved for borrowers with years of good credit
#3
MMarcus by Goldman Sachs logo

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

No-fee loans built for payoff

Best for Debt Consolidation

Best for Consolidating debt without any fees

APR range
9.99%–24.99%
Loan amount
$3.5K–$40K
Min. credit score
660
Funding time
2–5 business days
  • Direct creditor payoff for consolidation loans
  • No origination, late, or prepayment fees at all
  • On-time payment reward defers one payment penalty-free
  • Flexible terms from 36 to 72 months

Pros

  • Backed by Goldman Sachs with clear, transparent terms
  • Pick your own monthly due date
  • Solid rates for prime borrowers consolidating balances

Cons

  • Caps out at $40,000, below the market's top lenders
  • Funding can take a few business days
  • No co-signer or joint application option
#4
UUpstart logo

Upstart

Looks past your credit score

Best for Fair Credit

Best for Thin or fair credit files

APR range
7.80%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1K–$50K
Min. credit score
300
Funding time
Next business day
  • Considers job history and education, not just FICO
  • Approvals for scores as low as 300 in some cases
  • 99% of applicants get funded within one business day
  • Loans from $1,000 for smaller needs

Pros

  • Accessible to borrowers with limited credit history
  • Fast decisions and next-day funding
  • Soft-pull pre-qualification with no score hit

Cons

  • Origination fee runs up to 12% of the loan
  • Higher APRs for lower-scoring applicants
  • Loan cap of $50,000 limits large projects
#5
BBest Egg logo

Best Egg

A second path if credit is thin

Best for Mid-tier credit and secured options

APR range
6.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2K–$50K
Min. credit score
640
Funding time
Next business day
  • Secured loan option using home fixtures as collateral
  • Funding as soon as the next business day
  • Direct pay to creditors on consolidation loans
  • Pre-qualify with a soft credit check

Pros

  • Approves scores in the mid-600s and sometimes lower
  • Secured route can drop your APR meaningfully
  • Straightforward online application and quick decisions

Cons

  • Origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% on every loan
  • Loan amounts top out at $50,000
#6
UUpgrade logo

Upgrade

Small loans, flexible approval

Best for Bad-credit borrowers and joint applicants

APR range
8.49%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1K–$50K
Min. credit score
580
Funding time
Within 1 business day
  • Joint and secured applications improve approval odds
  • Free credit health tools and score tracking
  • Loans from $1,000 for smaller borrowing needs
  • Autopay and direct-pay discounts available

Pros

  • Works with borrowers who have bruised credit
  • Co-applicant option can secure a better rate
  • Fast funding within a day of clearing verification

Cons

  • Origination fee of 1.85%–9.99% comes off the top
  • Top-tier APRs are steep for weaker credit
  • Smaller maximum loan than the leading lenders
How we chose

Independent research, no pay-to-play

Every lender above earns its place on the merits. We weigh the numbers that decide real outcomes in this category — cost, terms, eligibility, and the quality of the experience once you’re a customer — against verifiable data and hands-on testing. Advertising partners never buy a better ranking, and our editorial scores are set independently of any commission we may earn.

Read our full rating methodology
Good to know

Personal Loans questions, answered

No. Every lender in this comparison lets you pre-qualify with a soft credit pull that has no effect on your score. A hard inquiry only happens if you accept an offer and formally apply.

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