Compare 20 personal loan lenders, alongside discover personal loans

Our comparison lists 20 lenders that make personal loans in or near the $500 to $5,000 range, using figures from each lender’s published disclosures and from independent reviews current at our last update. Where a lender does not publish a figure, we say so.

Lenders change their ranges often, and the rate you are offered depends on your credit, income and state. Treat every number here as a reference point, not an offer. Some lenders on this list may be part of our network and some are not; inclusion here does not mean a lender will review a request sent through our form.

We do not link out to lenders from this page. If one interests you, search for it directly and read its current terms. People who start with discover personal loans often use a page like this to see how a large bank’s published terms compare with smaller lenders; we cover Discover separately below, since we are not affiliated with it.

Online personal loan lenders with $1,000 or $2,000 minimums are the most common choice for mid-size personal loans: they prequalify with a soft check, decide quickly and often fund within one or two business days.

Upgrade

Upgrade is an online lender whose $1,000 floor makes it one of the few large-network options for a small balance. Its lowest advertised rates assume autopay and, in some cases, that part of the loan pays creditors directly. The origination fee comes out of the deposit, so a borrower who needs $2,000 in hand should request a little more. Upgrade offers a soft-pull rate check before a full application.

Upstart

Upstart's model weighs education and employment history alongside credit, which can help applicants with a thin file. The trade-off is a fee that can reach 12 percent and only two term options, so a three-year minimum applies even to a $1,000 loan. Funding can arrive as soon as the next business day after acceptance.

Avant

Avant focuses on fair and rebuilding credit. Its $2,000 minimum rules out the smallest requests, and an administration fee of up to 9.99 percent applies. Reviewers report next-business-day funding when the loan is approved before Avant's afternoon cutoff. Rates at the top of the range are common for scores under 640.

LendingPoint

LendingPoint lends to borrowers in the fair-credit band and starts at $1,000. Its fee can reach 10 percent, which matters most on a short loan where the fee is a bigger share of total cost. Funding as soon as the next business day is reported. Check term choices on the offer itself, since published figures vary.

These personal loan lenders cover a wide credit range, but their APR ceilings near 36% mean fair-credit offers can be expensive. Comparing two or three prequalified offers is the best way to find the low end of each range.

Lenders that combine online applications with branches, or that fund loans through a marketplace of investors, offer more flexibility on credit and collateral, sometimes at the cost of higher minimums or fees.

OneMain Financial

OneMain combines an online application with a large branch network, and it will consider secured loans backed by a vehicle, which can lower the rate. Fees are set by state, either flat or a percentage. Reviewers note funds can arrive within an hour of signing in a branch. The $1,500 minimum suits mid-size requests.

Oportun

Oportun serves borrowers with limited or no credit history and has one of the lowest minimums on this list. Published estimates put most rates near the top of the range. It is not available in every state, and secured loans are limited to a handful of states. Funding usually takes one to four business days.

Prosper

Prosper is a peer-funded marketplace lender that allows joint applications, which can help a borrower with a lower score qualify at a better rate. Its $2,000 floor and origination fee of up to 9.99 percent are worth comparing against lenders that start at $1,000. Funding is often the next business day.

Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub)

Happen Bank is the bank formerly known as LendingClub. It offers direct payment to creditors for consolidation loans and a $1,000 minimum. The origination fee tops out lower than several peers. Reviews differ on maximum term, so confirm the term choices shown with your offer.

OneMain and Oportun are notable for considering borrowers with limited credit history, while Prosper and Happen Bank suit applicants with steadier profiles who want direct payment to creditors or joint applications.

Personal loan lenders that focus on good credit tend to have lower APR floors and, in some cases, lower ceilings, but their minimum amounts are often $2,000 to $5,000, which can be more than a small request needs.

Best Egg

Best Egg targets borrowers with good credit and offers secured options using fixtures in a home. Disclosures note higher minimum amounts in some states and a larger origination fee on longer terms. Funding typically follows within one to three business days after verification.

Happy Money

Happy Money's loans are built around paying off credit card balances, so it suits consolidation more than general spending. Reviews report funding two to five business days after verification and no prepayment penalty. Compare the fee shown on your offer, since sources we checked did not publish a range.

Achieve

Achieve offers rate discounts for paying creditors directly and for adding a co-borrower. Its $5,000 minimum sits at the top of our range, so it only fits the largest requests. Funding is typically one to three days after approval.

Reach Financial

Reach Financial's APR ceiling is lower than most lenders here, but it requires a 660-range score and at least three years of credit history. The fee range is narrow and on the higher side at the low end. It is not available in several states, including Colorado, Connecticut and Nevada.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is the fair-credit brand associated with Upgrade's platform. Its fee range starts higher than Upgrade's, so borrowers who qualify for both should compare the net deposit, not only the APR. It accepts requests from $1,000.

If your score is in the good range and your need is at least a few thousand dollars, these lenders are worth prequalifying with. For smaller amounts, the online lenders above are usually a better fit.

Branch-based installment lenders make the smallest personal loans and are most likely to consider rebuilding credit, often with in-person closing and sometimes with a vehicle as collateral. Their rates are usually higher and vary widely by state.

Mariner Finance

Mariner Finance is a branch-based lender that also takes online applications, with lower maximums online than in a branch. It does not publish an APR range, so the only way to compare is to see an actual offer. Mariner may require a branch visit to close some loans.

Regional Finance

Regional Finance operates more than 350 branches in 19 states and prequalifies with a soft check. Final documents are signed in a branch, which triggers a hard inquiry. Larger loans may need a vehicle lien, and some customers report APRs above 36 percent where state law allows.

Republic Finance

Republic Finance lends in 16 states, mostly in the South and Midwest. Online unsecured loans are typically funded by ACH within one to two business days, while branch loans may be paid by check, sometimes the same day. It does not publish detailed fee terms, so read the agreement closely.

Lendmark Financial

Lendmark is a branch-and-online installment lender based in Georgia. Third-party reviews disagree on its fees, so ask for the full fee schedule and the prepayment terms before signing. Applying is reported to involve a hard credit check rather than a soft-pull rate preview.

World Finance

World Finance makes small installment loans through local branches. Its own example for Georgia shows a $1,820 loan over 12 months at about 40 percent APR, and very small loans can cost far more. It is an option some borrowers use when others decline, but compare carefully: the total cost can be several times that of a mainstream personal loan.

Read the full fee schedule and the prepayment terms before signing a personal loan with any branch lender. Ask for the APR and the total of payments in writing, and compare them with at least one online lender or credit union offer.

Credit unions often have the lowest APR ceilings for members who qualify, and some large-amount lenders offer fee-free loans, though their minimums can be above what a small request needs.

Patelco Credit Union

Patelco is a California credit union with a low APR ceiling for members who qualify. Membership is required, and approval leans toward good credit. Credit unions in general cap rates lower than most online lenders, so a local credit union is worth checking alongside the lenders on this page.

SoFi

SoFi lets borrowers choose between a lower rate with a fee or a fee-free loan at a higher rate. Its $5,000 minimum means it only fits the very top of our range. Rates quoted include discounts for autopay and membership.

If you belong to a credit union, get its personal loan quote first. It gives you a benchmark for every other offer, and many credit unions make small loans that online lenders do not.

Recent published reviews list discover personal loans at 6.99% to 24.99% APR, $2,500 to $40,000, 36 to 84 months and no origination fee, aimed at borrowers with good credit. That makes them competitive for larger loans but outside the range for many small requests.

We are not affiliated with Discover and have not included it in the lender table, to avoid any suggestion that a request sent through our form reaches it. Shoppers checking discover personal loan rates can compare that 24.99% ceiling with the ranges above: it is lower than most, but the $2,500 minimum and 36-month minimum term rule out a short $1,000 loan. Discover it credit cards are a separate product and are not covered here either.

If your credit is strong and you need $2,500 or more for three years or longer, it is reasonable to compare a large bank’s offer with the lenders here. Otherwise, the lenders with lower minimums will usually fit better.

A published APR range shows the lowest and highest personal loan rates a lender charges across all borrowers. The low end usually requires excellent credit, autopay and sometimes a short term; most applicants are offered something in the middle or upper part of the range.

Read ranges as limits, not predictions. A lender advertising 7.99% to 35.99% might offer a fair-credit borrower 24%, while a lender with a narrower 9.95% to 29.99% range might offer the same borrower 27%. Only prequalification shows where you land.

Fee ranges work the same way. A lender charging "up to 10%" may charge 2% to a strong applicant and 9% to a weaker one. Compare the APR on each actual offer, since it includes the fee.

Matching the personal loan lender to your situation narrows the list quickly: small amounts and short terms point to lenders with low minimums, fair credit points to lenders with broad ranges, and strong credit with a larger need points to lenders with low ceilings.

Our rates guide explains what moves an APR within a range, and our eligibility guide covers what each type of lender checks.

Our service sends one request to lenders in our network, which may include some of the lenders above and others not listed. Use this page to judge any offer you receive: if its APR sits near the low end of a lender’s published range, it is a strong offer.

There is no fee to use our service and no obligation to accept an offer. Each lender reviews your request on its own terms. You can also prequalify directly with any lender on this list and compare those quotes with any offer you receive through us. Our application page takes about five minutes, and our personal loan calculator shows the payment for any APR and term.

Before accepting a personal loan from any lender, ask for the APR, the origination fee, the amount you will receive, the total of payments, the prepayment terms, the late fee and the hardship options. Their answers decide the real cost.

1. What is the APR, and does it include a fee?
2. How much will be deposited after fees?
3. What is the total of payments?
4. Can I pay off early without a penalty?
5. What are the late fee and grace period?
6. Do you offer hardship plans or due-date changes?
7. Do you report to all three credit bureaus?

Write the answers next to each offer. The one with the lowest total cost and clear terms is usually the best personal loan for you, whether it comes from our network, a credit union or discover loans.