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 |
| Name | Min Credit Score | Max Loan Amount | APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LendingTree personal loans | 670 | $50,000 | Starting from 5.28% | 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 at 0.99% | Read review |
| LendingTree business loans | Good to excellent credit | Varies by lender and type of financing | Fixed | Read review |
| LendingTree | Good to excellent credit
| Depends on home value | Fixed | Read review |
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.
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.
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 its 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.
LendingTree works by pointing you toward different lenders. The basic process works like this:
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 criteria varies by the type of loan you need. But in general, you’ll need to meet these basic requirements:
There might be some exceptions, but people who meet or exceed the above qualifications have a better chance of finding a loan with LendingTree.
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.
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.
Compare a wide variety of business financing options, including small business loans, lines of credit and equipment financing, from trusted lenders.
Find out how LendingTree works, if they’re any good and how the rates and fees compare to other options.
