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: 2025 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Fast funding.
  • Large loan amounts.

Upgrade Personal Loans: 2025 Review

5.0

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

Discover Personal Loans: 2025 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Fast funding.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.

LightStream Personal Loans: 2025 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • No fees.
  • Rate discount for autopay.
  • Long repayment terms and large loan amounts.

Upstart Personal Loans: 2025 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Accepts borrowers with bad credit or thin credit histories.
  • Has a low income requirement.
  • Fast approval and funding.

Happy Money Personal Loans: 2025 Review

4.0

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

Best Egg Personal Loans: 2025 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • Wide range of loan amounts.
  • Secured loan options.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.

LendingClub Personal Loans: 2025 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: 2025 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Fast funding.
  • Large loan amounts.

Upgrade Personal Loans: 2025 Review

5.0

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

Discover Personal Loans: 2025 Review

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Fast funding.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.

LightStream Personal Loans: 2025 Review

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
  • No fees.
  • Rate discount for autopay.
  • Long repayment terms and large loan amounts.

Happy Money Personal Loans: 2025 Review

4.0

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

Achieve Personal Loans: 2025 Review

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Multiple rate discounts.
  • Direct payment to creditors for debt consolidation.
  • Joint loan option.

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

Chime MyPay offers an affordable way for customers to access money from their next paycheck early.
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.
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.
SoLo Funds allows you to request a cash advance from its community of lenders. Approval takes a few days, which is much longer than competitors, but all fees are optional.
Empower’s advances are small but funded quickly. The app may approve gig workers or freelancers with unpredictable income.
Sezzle offers interest-free payment plans to shoppers online and in stores, but keep an eye on fees.
PayPal’s Pay Later lets you divide the cost of an online purchase into smaller installments with no fees.
MoneyLion Instacash gives app users small cash advances, but you’ll pay a fee to get funds instantly.
Zip divides your purchase into four or eight equal payments, but it charges an installment fee.
Brigit is a cash advance app that doesn’t request tips to get an advance, but does charge a monthly fee.

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

Chime MyPay 2025 Review: Cash Advances

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • Advance maximums are the lesser of $500 or 50% of your paycheck.
  • Funds available within one day.
  • Low fees for instant funding.

Abe Review: Private Student Loans

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

No-Credit-Check Loans in 2025

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: 2025 Review

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
  • No origination fee.
  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
  • Mobile app to manage loan.