Finmatchly
UUpstart logo
Personal Loans

Upstart Review

Looks past your credit score

Finmatchly editorial score · 7,310 reviews
Best for Fair CreditBest for Thin or fair credit files
See RatesSecure site · Updated July 2026
APR range
7.80%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1K–$50K
Min. credit score
300
Funding time
Next business day
Why it stands out

Upstart highlights

  • 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
The verdict at a glance

Pros and cons

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
Our full review

Our take on Upstart

Upstart's underwriting weighs education, employment, and income alongside your score, so it approves people other lenders reject. Rates start low but the origination fee can climb steeply for riskier profiles.

Advertiser disclosure: Finmatchly may earn a commission when you visit a partner. This never affects our editorial rankings. Learn more

Figures shown are illustrative editorial examples and may change. Confirm current rates, fees, and terms on Upstart’s own site before you apply.

The alternatives

How Upstart compares

Other top-rated lenders in Personal Loans. Compare the numbers side by side before you decide.

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
BBest Egg logoBest Egg
4.3
6.99%–35.99%Mid-tier credit and secured optionsView Offer
See all personal loans