LendingTree online lending marketplace

You may have seen one of LendingTree’s commercials with the tagline: “When banks compete, you win.” That’s the model LendingTree revolves around. Depending on what you need — whether that’s a mortgage, personal loan, student loan or even a credit card — LendingTree finds out a bit about you and connects you to providers that can best help you.

What types of loans does LendingTree offer?

Here’s a quick rundown of what types of loans and products you can find through LendingTree:

Type of loan	Loan amount	Loan term	Collateral required?
Personal loans	$1,000 to $50,000	1 to 10 years	No	Read review
Auto loans	Varies by lender	12 to 72 months	Yes	Read review
Small business loans	Varies by lender	Varies by lender	Depends on the loan	Read review
Student loans	Varies by lender	Varies by lender	No	Read review
Credit cards	Varies	Ongoing	Depends on the credit card
Home mortgages and refinancing	Up to $424,100	15 or 30 years	Yes	Read review

• Personal loans

  LendingTree can connect you with a lender that offers personal loans up to $50,000. Loan terms last anywhere from one to seven years, and if you’re approved, you can use your funds for just about anything. This includes:

  • Debt and credit card consolidation
  • Home improvement projects
  • Buying a home
  • Making a large purchase
  • Buying a car
  • Making your home green

  • Business expenses
  • Going on vacation
  • Wedding expenses
  • Moving
  • Medical expenses

• Auto loans

  The amount you’ll qualify for varies on the lender you’re connected with, your finances and the vehicle you’re looking to buy. However, you’ll still have plenty of options, including:

  • New car purchase
  • Used car purchase
  • Refinance
  • Lease buyout
  • Boat loans
  • RV loans
  • Motorcycle loans

• Small business loans

  The lenders LendingTree works with offer a variety of business loans. And with no upfront fees and a minimal focus on personal credit, you may be able to get the financing your business needs without much hassle — or long applications.

• Student loans

  Need help paying for school? LendingTree has lenders that offer students loans with APRs as low as 3%. It has a huge network of lenders, many of which accept cosigners, so you’ll have plenty of options when you’re looking to finance your education.

• Home mortgages and refinancing

  LendingTree has lenders that offer both mortgages and mortgage loan refinancing. Like all of its options, the exact terms you qualify for will vary, but your options include:

  • Mortgages
  • Refinancing loans
  • Home equity loans
  • Reverse mortgages

• Credit cards

  LendingTree will show you different credit cards depending on your credit score. The site has cards tailored to borrowers in every credit category, including poor credit, so you’ll likely find an option that meets your needs. You can also filter cards by different categories, including balance transfer, rewards, business and more.

Compare a variety of loans through LendingTree

Name	Min Credit Score	Max Loan Amount	APR
LendingTree personal loans	300	$50,000	Starting from 2.49%	Read review
LendingTree Student Loans	Good to excellent credit	Varies by lender	Starting from 3%	Read review
LendingTree	Good to excellent credit	Varies by lender	Starting from 3.09%	Read review
LendingTree business loans	Good to excellent credit	Varies by lender and type of financing	Fixed	Read review
LendingTree home equity loans	Good to excellent credit	Depends on home value	Fixed	Read review

Why should I consider taking out a loan with LendingTree?

• Multiple options available. LendingTree can help connect you with a lender no matter what stage of life you’re in — from taking out a student loan to buying your first home.
• There’s no obligation or fee. Offers presented on LendingTree are just that — offers. Browsing on LendingTree doesn’t mean you’re locked into taking out a loan, and you can stop using the site at any time without paying anything. And even if you find a lender, you can still opt out before you sign any paperwork.
• Learn your credit score. If you’d like to find out your credit score, you can do so for free through LendingTree. This can help you discover which loan products best suit you and which you’d be better off not applying for.

Where does LendingTree fall short?

• Expect calls from lenders. When you use LendingTree to look for a loan, your contact information will be passed on to banks and other lenders. At that point, you may be contacted with offers — even if you’ve already found the loan you need.
• Not guaranteed. There’s no guarantee you’ll be connected with a lender. And even if you are, you might not get the loan. It’s all dependent on your credit score and personal financial situation.
• May impact your credit. While filling out LendingTree’s online form won’t lower your score, completing an application with a lender likely will. Be prepared for this, and try not to apply for too many loans at once to keep your score intact.

How does LendingTree make money?

As an online loan marketplace, LendingTree makes money by directing you to lenders. Banks find customers through LendingTree, and in turn they pay LendingTree for the referrals. So instead of charging you a fee, LendingTree makes a commission off banks — saving you time and money.

Keep in mind that you’re never under any obligation to pay LendingTree any fee and aren’t required to accept any loan offer you’re presented.

What does the Internet have to say about LendingTree?

As of January 2019, LendingTree isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and only receives an A- rating. BBB customer reviews are a mixed bag, but it earns a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It does slightly better on Trustpilot, landing a 9.1 out of 10 from more than 6,500 reviews. Over 80% of reviewers rated it as “Excellent.”

Customer service appears to be a strong point, reflected in the fact that LendingTree takes the time to give personalized responses to negative reviews.

The biggest complaint concerned the volume of calls borrowers had to deal with. This is a hazard of using online connection services — they work by passing your information along to third-party lenders you might qualify with. But the amount of calls, emails and texts you get from LendingTree partners seems excessive.

Is it safe to use LendingTree?

Yes. LendingTree uses 128-bit encryption or higher when transmitting your personal data over the Internet. Web pages are also secured with SSL technology, which you can verify by clicking on either a key or lock icon that appears in your browser. Stored information is protected by firewalls.

As for it’s privacy policy, LendingTree is pretty transparent. It lists the information it collects, how that information is used and how you can unsubscribe. It even lists its subsidiaries — which is more than most websites offer.

How to find a lender through LendingTree

LendingTree works by pointing you toward different lenders. The basic process works like this:

1. Fill out an online form. Tell LendingTree the type of loan you’re looking for as well as basic information about yourself.
2. Review offers from multiple lenders. If you qualify, you may see several offers that are customized to your profile.
3. Accept an offer and start working with the lender. When you find a loan offer you like, you’ll be forwarded to a representative with whom you can finish the process.

It doesn’t cost anything to use LendingTree. But you may need to pay fees assessed by the lender, including processing fees or closing costs.

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility criteria varies by the type of loan you need. But in general, you’ll need to meet these basic requirements:

• Have a credit score of at least 640.
• Have a debt-to-income ratio of 45% or lower.
• Be a US citizen or legal resident.
• Have a steady source of income.

There might be some exceptions, but people who meet or exceed the above qualifications have a better chance of finding a loan with LendingTree.

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Compare LendingTree to other online lender connection services

Bottom line

LendingTree is a well-known connection service that can match you with a variety of lenders — whether you’re looking to take out a mortgage, personal loan or student loan. But this doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to find a provider that can help. And expect to field calls from its network of partners — even after you’ve taken out a loan.

See how LendingTree stacks up to the competition with our guide to personal loan connection services.

Frequently asked questions

• Will LendingTree help me if I have bad credit?

  Yes. LendingTree has options for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit. However, lenders tend to have better terms for borrowers with better credit. This means you may be stuck paying higher interest rates — which could make your loan much more expensive.

• How long has LendingTree been in business?

  LendingTree was founded in 1996. It was acquired in 2003 by InterActiveCorp, which owns web properties like About.com, CollegeHumor, Investopedia and The Daily Beast.

• How do I stop calls from LendingTree?

  You can sign up for LendingTree’s Do-Not-Call List online. Simply click the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of its page and enter your email.