Personal Loan Reviews

Read NerdWallet reviews of personal loans, plus cash advance and buy now, pay later apps. Compare loans from multiple lenders to get one with costs and features that match your needs.

Get started with personal loans

NerdWallet's top-rated personal loans

SoFi Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
SoFi offers online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.

Upgrade Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Secured and joint loans.
  • Mobile app to manage loan payments.

Discover Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Fast funding.

LightStream Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • No fees.
  • Rate discount for autopay.
  • Long repayment terms.

Upstart Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Accepts borrowers new to credit.
  • Fast funding.
  • Option to change your payment date.

Happy Money Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Offers direct payment to creditors.
  • No late fee.

Best Egg Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Wide range of loan amounts.
  • Secured loan options.

LendingClub Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Joint loan option.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.

NerdWallet rates lenders on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. See our personal loan rating methodology.

More loan reviews by category

SoFi Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
SoFi offers online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.

Upgrade Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Secured and joint loans.
  • Mobile app to manage loan payments.

Discover Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Fast funding.

LightStream Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • No fees.
  • Rate discount for autopay.
  • Long repayment terms.

Happy Money Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Offers direct payment to creditors.
  • No late fee.

Achieve Personal Loans: 2024 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.

Other ways to borrow: Buy now, pay later and cash advance apps

Varo’s cash advance may be useful for Varo bank customers who need cash fast and want more than two weeks to pay it back.
Apple Pay Later lets you pay for a purchase in four equal installments with no interest or fees.
Klover cash advances are helpful for users who need to bridge a small income gap and are comfortable with the app’s data collection practices.
Sezzle offers interest-free payment plans to shoppers online and in stores, but keep an eye on potential fees.
PayPal’s Pay in 4 lets you buy now and pay later with a simple plan that charges zero interest and no fees.
Zip divides your purchase into four equal payments, but it charges an installment fee.
Afterpay divides your purchase into four equal installments with zero interest, but it charges a late fee for missed payments.
Acima offers lease-to-own financing, but it’s pricey. Borrowers can minimize financing costs by paying off the lease early.
Klarna’s pay-in-four plan lets you divide your purchase into four interest-free installments instead of paying all at once.
EarnIn’s advances are large and fees are low, but the app only works with employees who are paid regularly and have a fixed working location or employer-provided email address. The app also has inflexible, predetermined repayment dates.

These products have their own rating systems. Read our buy now, pay later rating methodology and cash advance apps rating methodology.

Most recent personal loan reviews

Empower App 2024 Review: Cash Advances

Empower’s advances are small but funded quickly. The app may approve gig workers or freelancers with unpredictable income.

Dave App 2024 Review: Cash Advances

Dave’s ExtraCash advance may require more effort — and expense — than it’s worth. The app requires users to open a checking account, pay a membership fee and take extra steps to get an advance.

MoneyLion Instacash 2024 Review: Cash Advances

MoneyLion Instacash gives app users large cash advances in small increments, but you’ll pay a fee to get funds instantly.

Brigit 2024 Review: Paycheck Advances

Brigit is an app that offers cash advances up to $250 plus budgeting and credit-building features — but charges a monthly fee.




SoLo Funds 2024 Review: Peer-to-Peer Cash Advances

SoLo Funds provides peer-to-peer cash advances that may be suitable for small, non-urgent expenses.

Personal Loans With No Credit Check in 2024

No-credit-check loans are easy to get but should usually be considered after lower-cost alternatives.

8 Top Car-Buying Apps

Buying a car can be complicated. These apps offer unique features and helpful tools that can simplify the process.


Santander Personal Loans: 2024 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.

Zable Personal Loans: 2024 Review

3.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Preapproval option with soft credit check.
  • Borrowers can change their repayment date.
  • Fast funding.

Auto Approve Auto Loan Refinancing and Lease Buyout Loans: 2024 Review

Auto Approve matches applicants to the best auto refinancing or lease buyout loan from a network of lenders.

Truist Ready Now Loan Review

  • Charges fixed fee.
  • Offers small loans up to $1,000.
  • No credit score requirement.