LightStream vs. SoFi: Which is better?

For borrowers looking for a personal loan, LightStream provides quick funding for cost-conscious borrowers. On the flip side, SoFi offers flexible repayment options, catering to borrowers desiring financial protection.

LightStream vs. SoFi: A quick comparison

• SoFi's terms and conditions

  Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR. APR reflects the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 3/06/23 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
  Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction on your Personal Loan (your “Loan”), you must set up Direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A., or enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee, all within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled Direct Deposit to an eligible Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion, or during periods in which SoFi successfully receives payment of the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off Direct Deposit to your Checking and Savings account or in which you have not paid for the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. You are not required to enroll in Direct Deposit or to pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee to receive a Loan.

LightStream vs. SoFi: Which one’s better?

LightStream and SoFi both offer unsecured personal loans. LightStream serves as a more compatible fit for most borrowers due to its Rate Beat program, guaranteeing lower rates than competitors and 0.5% autopay discounts, which is larger than SoFi’s 0.25%.

LightStream, a subdivision of Truist Bank, is ideal for borrowers with good to excellent credit looking for the lowest minimum APRs. SoFi, which started later than Lightstream in 2011, might be a good fit for borrowers looking for financial assurance through a suite of repayment options. Both might be a good fit, depending on your financing needs.

When to consider LightStream

LightStream is a compatible fit for borrowers who want:

• More rate options: If you get approved by another lender, two days before receiving the funds, LightStream provides a more competitive rate through its rate beat program.
• Generous discounts: LightStream offers a 0.50% discount on monthly payments if you choose an automatic payment via your bank account. This is slightly higher than SoFi’s 0.25%
• Customer service guarantee: After you receive your loan, LightStream sends you a questionnaire. Once you complete the questionnaire, LightStream reviews your feedback and sends you $100.

When to consider SoFi

SoFi is a great fit for borrowers who prefer:

• Loan usage flexibility: Besides some hard and fast rules about not using the funds for secondary school expenses, you don’t need to choose a specific use case for your loan like LightStream requires.
• Ability to have two loans at the same time: Any US borrower besides Michigan residents can take out a second SoFi loan as long as they have made three consistent payments on the first loan.

The similarities

While both SoFi and LightStream have different consumer ratings, both have an independent A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, prefer good to excellent borrowers and offer autopay discounts to lower your monthly costs.

Alternatives to LightStream and SoFi

Here are three alternative products similar to both LightStream and SoFi.

• Upstart: This lender may approve loans for borrowers with credit scores starting at 300.
• Avant: Ideal for borrowers with a fluctuating income, such as self-employed individuals.
• Upgrade: This lender may be a good option for borrowers needing smaller loan amounts, with a minimum loan amount of $1,000.

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Product	Finder Score	APR	Min. credit score	Loan amount
Promoted SoFi personal loans	Finder score 8.9 Great	9.49% to 29.99% fixed APR	680	$5,000 to $100,000	A highly-rated lender with competitive rates, high loan amounts and no required fees.	Go to siteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Promoted Achieve personal loans	Finder score 8.6 Great	8.99% to 29.99%	640	$5,000 to $50,000	Consolidate debt and more with these low-interest loans. Cosigners welcome.	Go to siteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Promoted Upstart personal loans	Finder score 8.3 Great	6.7% to 35.99%	300	$1,000 to $50,000	This service looks beyond your credit score to get you a competitive-rate personal loan.	Go to siteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Credible personal loans	Finder score 8.6 Great	6.94% to 35.99%	Fair to excellent credit	$1,000 to $200,000	Get personalized prequalified rates in minutes and then choose an offer from a selection of top online lenders.	Go to siteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LightStream personal loans	Finder score 9.7 Excellent	6.94% to 25.79%	Good to excellent credit	$5,000 to $100,000	Borrow up to $100,000 with low rates and no fees.	Go to siteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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• Upgrade vs. Upstart

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

Written by

Dhara Singh

Writer

Dhara Singh was a freelance personal finance writer at Finder specializing in loans. Formerly she was a top 10 journalist at Yahoo Finance with more than 38+ million content views where she covered retirement and mortgages. She has also written for Bankrate, and CNET and continues to write for a variety of outlets, such as Investopedia and Worth magazine. Her articles focus on equipping readers with the right information and data so they can make the most informed decisions related to their finances. Dhara previously worked as an insights analyst for Finder’s PR team, where she started the Deadliest Cities to Drive series in 2018, connecting interesting data analysis to a suite of car insurance products. When she’s not writing, Dhara coaches small business owners through her Stories to Sales programs and empowers them to use their life experiences to help other people. She has also self-published a poetry book on Amazon called Tell her She’s Lovely. Dhara holds a B.S. in Finance and Supply Chain Management from Rutgers University and a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. See full bio