Best Signature Loans (2026)

A signature loan is another name for an unsecured personal loan — the term is more common with banks and credit unions, while online lenders tend to call the same product an “unsecured personal loan.”

Either way, you’re approved based on your credit, income and financial history, with no collateral required. Demand for them is at an all-time high: unsecured personal loan originations hit a record 7.2 million in a single quarter in 2025, according to TransUnion. That flexibility comes at a cost though — rates run higher than secured options, which is why comparing lenders matters.

We looked at interest rates, loan amounts, terms, fees, and how accessible each lender is to find the best picks for 2026.

Best signature loan providers

• Best for low rates with excellent credit: LightStream personal loans
• Best for large loan amounts: SoFi personal loans
• Best for thin or nontraditional credit: Upstart personal loans
• Best for bad credit: OneMain Financial personal loans
• Best for fast funding: Best Egg personal loans
• Best for no fees with mid-range borrowing needs: Discover personal loans
• Best credit union option: First Tech Federal Credit Union personal loans

Finder Score	Loan amount	Loan term	APR
Best for low rates with excellent credit
9.5 Excellent LightStream personal loans	9.5 Excellent	$5,000 to $100,000	Up to 20 years for home improvement; 2–7 years for most other purposes	Varies by loan purpose	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it If you have good to excellent credit and want the lowest possible rate on an unsecured loan, LightStream is hard to beat. As a division of Truist Bank, it offers loans for practically any purpose, from debt consolidation to home improvement to major personal purchases, with no origination fees, no late fees and no prepayment penalties. Its Rate Beat Program promises to beat any qualifying competitor's unsecured loan rate by 0.10 percentage points, and same-day funding is available when you apply and are approved on a business day. The catch: LightStream doesn't offer prequalification, so checking your rate requires a hard credit pull. It's best suited to borrowers who already know they have strong credit. Note that loans are for personal use only and cannot be used for business purposes. Pros & cons Pros No fees of any kind Loans up to $100,000 Rate Beat Program available Same-day funding possible Accepts joint applications (co-applicants) Cons No prequalification — hard credit pull required to see your rate Requires good to excellent credit $5,000 minimum loan amount Cannot be used for business purposes
Best for large loan amounts
9 Excellent SoFi personal loans	9 Excellent	$5,000 to $100,000	2 to 7 years	7.74%–35.49% with autopay and member discounts (0.25% each)	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it SoFi is a federally insured bank that offers personal loans up to $100,000 with same-day funding available. It's a strong pick for borrowers who need to borrow a larger sum without putting up collateral. SoFi doesn't disclose a minimum credit score and accepts income from various sources including self-employment. An origination fee up to 7% is optional, you can elect to pay one to lower your interest rate. Autopay and direct pay discounts are available, and the application process is fully online with a soft credit check to preview your rate. Pros & cons Pros Loans up to $100,000 No minimum credit score disclosed Same-day funding available Accepts self-employed income Soft credit check to see your rate Cons $5,000 minimum loan amount Optional origination fee up to 7% Lowest rates reserved for highly qualified borrowers
Best for thin or nontraditional credit
9.3 Excellent Upstart personal loans	9.3 Excellent	$1,000 to $75,000	3 or 5 years	6.20%–35.99% (includes any origination fee)	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Upstart uses an AI-driven underwriting model that looks beyond your FICO score. In addition to credit history, it considers factors like education background, area of study and employment history, which can work in your favor if you're newer to credit or have an unconventional financial profile, including self-employment. Most applicants receive an instant decision, and funds can arrive as fast as the next business day after accepting. One thing to watch: origination fees can be substantial — up to 12% of the loan amount — so factor that into your rate comparison. Pros & cons Pros Considers education and employment, not just credit score Instant decision for most applicants Accepts self-employed income No prepayment penalty Cons Only two term options (3 or 5 years) Origination fee up to 12% Minimum loan amounts vary by state
Best for bad credit
5.8 Standard OneMain Financial personal loans	5.8 Standard	$1,500 to $20,000	24 – 60 months	11.99% to 35.99%	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it OneMain Financial has been lending to borrowers outside the prime credit range for over 100 years. It doesn't publish a minimum credit score and considers your full financial picture, income, expenses and circumstances, rather than credit alone. Loans are available online or in more than 1,300 branches across the country, and you can get funds as soon as one hour after closing. Rates are higher than prime lenders, but OneMain offers both secured and unsecured options, adding collateral may improve your rate if you choose. Self-employed income is accepted. Pros & cons Pros No disclosed minimum credit score In-person branch option available Funds as soon as 1 hour after closing Secured option available to potentially lower your rate Accepts self-employed income Cons Higher APR range than prime lenders $30,000 maximum loan amount Origination fee applies (flat or percentage, varies by state)
Best for fast funding
8.5 Great Best Egg personal loans	8.5 Great	$2,000 to $100,000	36 to 60 months (unsecured); 60 to 84 months (home-secured)	6.99% to 35.99%	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Best Egg is an online lending platform that originates loans through Cross River Bank and Blue Ridge Bank. Its application process is simple, and about half of customers receive funding the next business day after verification. It offers both unsecured and secured personal loans, if you're a homeowner, the secured option can unlock lower rates and longer terms. For unsecured signature loans specifically, Best Egg goes up to $50,000, with fixed rates and no prepayment penalty. The origination fee (0.99%–9.99%) is deducted from your loan proceeds, so factor that into the amount you request. Pros & cons Pros About half of customers funded next business day Soft credit check to see your rate Secured option available for homeowners No prepayment penalty Accepts self-employed income Cons Origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% on all loans $50,000 maximum for unsecured loans Not available in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or US territories
Best for no fees with mid-range borrowing needs
8 Great Discover personal loans	8 Great	$2,500 to $40,000	36 to 84 months	7.99% to 24.99%	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Discover Personal Loans stand out for a simple reason: there are truly no fees, no origination fee, no prepayment penalty and no late fee. That's rare in the personal loan space. Loan amounts run from $2,500 to $40,000 with an APR ceiling of 24.99%, which means even less-qualified borrowers won't face the extreme high-end rates some lenders charge. Funds can be sent as early as the next business day after acceptance, and Discover can pay creditors directly for debt consolidation. You'll need at least $25,000 in annual individual or household income to qualify, and self-employed borrowers are accepted, income can be verified via bank statements or tax forms rather than pay stubs. Pros & cons Pros No fees of any kind APR capped at 24.99% Soft credit check to see your rate Direct payment to creditors for debt consolidation Next business day funding available Cons $40,000 maximum loan amount
Best credit union option
8 Great First Tech Federal Credit Union personal loans	8 Great	$500 to $50,000	2 to 7 years	7.89% to 18%	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it First Tech FCU offers some of the most competitive rates you'll find on a signature loan, from 6.99% to 18.00% APR. It charges no application, origination or prepayment fees. Loan amounts start as low as $500, making it one of the few lenders accessible for very small borrowing needs, and terms run up to 84 months. A 45-day payment deferral option is also available after funding. The main limitation is membership eligibility. First Tech primarily serves employees and family members of eligible tech companies. Those who don't qualify through an employer can join through the Financial Fitness Association or the Computer History Museum, both of which can be joined during the online application process. Pros & cons Pros APR range capped at 18.00% Borrow as little as $500 No application, origination, or prepayment fees 45-day payment deferral option Soft credit check to see your rate Cons Membership required — not open to all borrowers without an extra step Self-employed income acceptance not listed on site Limited branch access (36 locations, primarily in tech-hub states)

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Methodology: How we picked the best signature loan providers

We selected lenders that offer unsecured personal loans (signature loans) and evaluated them on APR ranges, loan amounts and terms, fees (including origination fees and prepayment penalties), funding speed, credit requirements and prequalification availability. We also considered how accessible each lender is to borrowers with nontraditional credit profiles. Where available, we reviewed customer feedback from Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau. All product details were sourced directly from each lender’s own website.

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Finder Score	APR	Min. credit score	Loan amount
Promoted 9 Excellent SoFi personal loans	9 Excellent	7.74%–35.49% with autopay and member discounts (0.25% each)	680	$5,000 to $100,000	A highly-rated lender with competitive rates, high loan amounts and no required fees.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 8.5 Great Best Egg personal loans	8.5 Great	6.99% to 35.99%	640	$2,000 to $100,000	Fast and easy personal loan application process. See options first without affecting your credit score.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 9.5 Excellent LightStream personal loans	9.5 Excellent	Varies by loan purpose	Good to excellent credit	$5,000 to $100,000	Borrow up to $100,000 with low rates and no fees.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.3 Excellent Upstart personal loans	9.3 Excellent	6.20%–35.99% (includes any origination fee)	300	$1,000 to $75,000	This service looks beyond your credit score to get you a competitive-rate personal loan.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
8.2 Great Upgrade personal loans	8.2 Great	7.74% to 35.99% (includes origination fee)	580	$1,000 to $50,000	Check your rates with this online lender without impacting your credit score.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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How we picked these

What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 6+ types of personal loans across 50+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

Read the full breakdown

How to prequalify for a signature loan

Most personal loan lenders let you check your rate with a soft credit pull before you formally apply. Here’s how the process typically works:

1. Check your credit score. Know where you stand before shopping. Most signature loan lenders look for a score of 620 or higher, though requirements vary.
2. Gather your financial information. You’ll typically need your annual income, employment status and monthly housing costs. Self-employed borrowers should have recent tax returns or bank statements ready.
3. Use the lender’s prequalification tool. Enter your desired loan amount, purpose and basic financial info to see estimated rates without affecting your credit.
4. Compare offers across lenders. Rate shopping within a short window (typically 14–45 days) generally counts as one inquiry on your credit report.
5. Submit a formal application. Once you’ve chosen a lender, complete the full application. This triggers a hard credit pull.
6. Review and sign your loan agreement. Read your terms carefully — including your APR, repayment schedule and any fees — before signing.

Alternatives to a signature loan

A personal loan isn’t your only option. Depending on your situation, one of these might work better:

• 0% APR credit card. If you can pay off what you owe within the promotional period, a balance transfer or purchase card with a 0% intro APR can be cheaper than any personal loan.
• Home equity loan or HELOC. Homeowners with equity may access lower rates by borrowing against their home via a home equity loan or HELOC, though it puts your property at risk if you default.
• Retirement account loan. Some 401(k) plans allow you to borrow from your balance — no credit check required — though it comes with tax risks and opportunity cost.
• Family or peer lending. Borrowing from a trusted person can come with low or no interest, though it may complicate the relationship if repayment becomes difficult.
• Earn or save instead. For non-urgent purchases, delaying and saving avoids interest entirely. A high-yield savings account can help your money grow while you wait.

Frequently asked questions

• What's the difference between a signature loan and a personal loan?

  Technically, a signature loan is a type of personal loan — specifically one that's unsecured (no collateral) and approved based on your credit and income. The term is used more often by banks and credit unions, while online lenders typically call the same product an "unsecured personal loan." They work the same way.

• What credit score do I need for a signature loan?

  It depends on the lender. Lenders like LightStream require good to excellent credit. Upstart works with thinner credit profiles. OneMain Financial has no disclosed minimum. In general, a higher credit score means a lower rate.

• Can self-employed people get a signature loan?

  Yes, most lenders accept self-employed income. You'll typically need to document it through tax returns, bank statements or profit-and-loss statements rather than pay stubs. SoFi, Upstart, OneMain, Best Egg and Discover all accept self-employed income. First Tech FCU does not list their self-employed income policy on their site.

• How fast can I get a signature loan?

  Several lenders on this list offer same-day or next-business-day funding after approval.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Laycock as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Megan B. Shepherd

Editor, Loans & Insurance

Megan B. Shepherd is a personal finance expert and editor for loans and insurance at Finder. Her personal finance expertise has been featured on Forbes, Nasdaq, MediaFeed, Fox News, Time, Reviews.com, and carinsurance.com, adding invaluable information related to personal loans, financial strategies and smart borrowing tactics. Megan graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BS in Business Administration with an entrepreneurial focus. She's worked as a certified financial adviser and has earned certificates of completion from A.D. Banker & Company. See full bio

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