Personal Loan Reviews 2026

MoneyLion is a fintech company that offers a suite of financial products through its mobile app, including personal loans, credit-builder loans, cash advances, banking, and investing. Their Credit Builder Plus program is particularly notable, it's designed to help people build or rebuild credit through a combination of a credit-builder loan and savings account. MoneyLion also offers Instacash, interest-free cash advances up to $500. This review focuses on MoneyLion's own borrowing products: the Credit Builder Plus loan is capped near $1,000, while MoneyLion personal loans run up to $5,000.

LightStream is the online lending division of Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust). They offer premium rates and terms to borrowers with excellent credit, with no fees and the ability to offer fast funding.

Upstart uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to evaluate borrowers beyond traditional credit scores. Founded by former Google employees, Upstart considers factors like education, employment history, and area of study to assess creditworthiness, making it an option for those with limited credit history.

Best Egg offers personal loans through Cross River Bank and Blue Ridge Bank. They stand out by offering both secured and unsecured personal loan options, with the secured option allowing borrowers to use their car as collateral for potentially better rates.

As of 2026, Marcus by Goldman Sachs no longer accepts new personal loan applications. Goldman Sachs exited consumer personal lending in 2023 and sold its loan portfolio; existing loans are still serviced. The details below are historical. Existing Marcus loans keep their original rate, payment schedule, and no-prepayment-penalty terms, and Marcus today offers only high-yield savings and CD products under the Goldman Sachs Bank USA brand. The personal-loan details below are kept for reference and historical comparison; if you need a new loan, see the no-fee alternatives noted throughout this review.

Happy Money (formerly Payoff) is a unique personal loan lender that focuses exclusively on helping people pay off credit card debt. Unlike general-purpose lenders, Happy Money won't fund a vacation or home improvement, they're laser-focused on debt freedom. The company partners with credit unions to fund loans and emphasizes a 'Payoff approach' that includes financial education and psychology-based support.

Upgrade offers a variety of personal loan products including standard personal loans, secured loans, and home improvement loans. They provide free credit monitoring and financial tools to help borrowers improve their credit over time.

Discover is a well-established financial services company offering no-fee personal loans with competitive rates. Discover is now a Capital One company following the 2025 acquisition, though it continues to operate under the Discover brand. Their unique 30-day money-back guarantee lets you return your loan within 30 days with no penalties if you change your mind.

PenFed (Pentagon Federal Credit Union) is one of the largest credit unions in the United States, with over 2.8 million members and $36 billion in assets. Originally serving military and government employees, PenFed now offers open membership, anyone can join by opening a savings account. As a member-owned credit union, PenFed focuses on providing value to members rather than maximizing profits, resulting in competitive rates and low fees.

Rocket Loans is a personal loan product from Rocket Mortgage (formerly Quicken Loans), one of America's largest mortgage lenders. Launched in 2017, Rocket Loans leverages the company's technology infrastructure to offer a streamlined digital lending experience. The platform is known for extremely fast funding (often fast) and a simple application process that is quick to complete.

Navy Federal Credit Union is the world's largest credit union, serving over 13 million members with more than $165 billion in assets. Unlike PenFed, membership is limited to those with military affiliation: active duty, veterans, Department of Defense civilians, and their family members. For those who qualify, Navy Federal offers some of the most competitive personal loan rates available, with APR capped at just 18.00% and no origination fees.

Prosper is one of the first peer-to-peer lending platforms in the United States, founded in 2005. The platform connects borrowers directly with individual and institutional investors who fund the loans. Prosper offers unsecured personal loans that can be used for debt consolidation, home improvements, medical expenses, and other purposes.

SoFi (Social Finance) started as a student loan refinancing company and has grown into a comprehensive financial services platform. They offer personal loans with no fees and competitive rates for well-qualified borrowers, plus unique benefits like career coaching and unemployment protection.

Achieve (formerly FreedomPlus, part of Freedom Financial Network) is a personal loan lender that specializes in debt consolidation. What sets Achieve apart is their holistic approach, they're part of a larger company that also offers debt settlement, resolution, and financial counseling. This means they can help borrowers find the right solution even if a personal loan isn't the right fit. Achieve also accepts co-applicants, making them accessible to borrowers who might not qualify alone.

LendingClub pioneered the peer-to-peer lending space and has since evolved into a full-spectrum online bank. They offer personal loans for debt consolidation, major purchases, home improvement, and more. LendingClub is known for their direct payment feature for debt consolidation loans.

Avant is designed specifically for middle-income consumers with average credit. They use a streamlined online process to provide quick decisions and fast funding, making them a popular choice for those who don't qualify for prime lending rates.

OneMain Financial is one of America's oldest consumer lenders, tracing its roots back to 1912. Unlike online-only lenders, OneMain operates over 1,400 branch locations where borrowers can apply in person and sometimes receive fast funding. OneMain is known for working with borrowers who have lower credit scores, and they offer both secured (using your vehicle as collateral) and unsecured personal loans.

Oportun is a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) that focuses on serving underbanked communities, particularly immigrants and people with no credit history. What makes Oportun unique is that they don't require a credit score at all, they use alternative data to assess creditworthiness. They also accept Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), making them one of the few lenders accessible to immigrants without Social Security numbers.

NetCredit is a high-APR lender that serves borrowers with poor or no credit history who cannot qualify elsewhere. With APRs ranging from 34% to 99.99%, NetCredit is significantly more expensive than traditional lenders and should only be considered as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted. The company does report to credit bureaus, which can help borrowers build credit over time.

Rise Credit is a high-APR lender that serves borrowers with poor or no credit history. With APRs ranging from 60% to 299%, Rise is among the most expensive personal loan options available and should only be considered when all other alternatives have been exhausted. One notable feature is their rate reduction program, your APR can decrease over time with on-time payments, though you'll still be paying extremely high rates.

CreditFresh is a line of credit product offered through First Electronic Bank and CBW Bank. Unlike traditional installment loans, CreditFresh provides a revolving credit line that allows you to draw funds as needed up to your credit limit. While the product offers fast funding and accepts borrowers with poor credit, it comes with extremely high interest rates that can reach roughly 200% APR in some states. This makes CreditFresh one of the most expensive borrowing options available.

OppLoans (now operating under parent company OppFi) provides personal installment loans to borrowers with poor or no credit who cannot qualify for traditional bank loans. Unlike payday loans, OppLoans offers longer repayment terms (9-18 months) with fixed monthly payments. However, the APR ranges from 99% to 195%, making these loans extremely expensive. While OppLoans positions itself as a better alternative to payday loans, the interest rates are still far higher than traditional personal loans, and borrowers often end up repaying 2-3 times what they borrowed.