Sites like LightStream

Upstart could be a better fit than LightStream if you're just starting out. It accepts credit scores as low as 300 and looks at factors like your education and career when making a decision. It also offers a more flexible range of loan amounts, starting from $1,000 – LightStream's minimum loan is $5,000.

Upstart's rates can be as low as 6.7% APR for the best credit borrowers, but its origination fees run as high as 10%. And it requires a lower DTI ratio than other lenders, so it isn't ideal for debt consolidation. But if you're just out of school, you may have a better chance of approval than with LightStream.

• Not available in: Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, West Virginia

• Why we like it

  Upstart could be a better fit than LightStream if you're just starting out. It accepts credit scores as low as 300 and looks at factors like your education and career when making a decision. It also offers a more flexible range of loan amounts, starting from $1,000 – LightStream's minimum loan is $5,000.

  Upstart's rates can be as low as 6.7% APR for the best credit borrowers, but its origination fees run as high as 10%. And it requires a lower DTI ratio than other lenders, so it isn't ideal for debt consolidation. But if you're just out of school, you may have a better chance of approval than with LightStream.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No prepayment penalty
  • Counts education and career in underwriting process
  • Most loans funded within one business day

  Cons

  • Origination fee up to 10%
  • Only two terms to choose from
  • No mobile app to manage loans

• More details

  Loan amount	$1,000 to $50,000
  APR	6.7% to 35.99%
  Interest Rate Type	Fixed
  Min. credit score	300
  Turnaround Time	As soon as the same day
  Loan Term	36 or 60 months

FreedomPlus accepts fair credit borrowers with scores as low as 620 and allows cosigners which can help you get approved. It also offers rate discounts to borrowers who have more than $40,000 in retirement savings, have a qualified coapplicant, or are using the funds to pay off debt.

FreedomPlus has APRs from 8.99% to 29.99%, factoring in an origination fee from 1.99% to 6.99% – which LightStream doesn't charge. While customers give FreedomPlus overwhelmingly positive reviews online, it's not available in all states and doesn't offer loans under $5,000.

• Available in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington

• Why we like it

  FreedomPlus accepts fair credit borrowers with scores as low as 620 and allows cosigners which can help you get approved. It also offers rate discounts to borrowers who have more than $40,000 in retirement savings, have a qualified coapplicant, or are using the funds to pay off debt.

  FreedomPlus has APRs from 8.99% to 29.99%, factoring in an origination fee from 1.99% to 6.99% – which LightStream doesn't charge. While customers give FreedomPlus overwhelmingly positive reviews online, it's not available in all states and doesn't offer loans under $5,000.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Good customer reviews
  • Three types of rate discounts
  • Reduced rates for excellent credit

  Cons

  • Not available in every state
  • Limited range of amounts you can borrow
  • Loan amounts may vary by state

• More details

  Loan amount	$5,000 to $50,000
  APR	8.99% to 29.99%
  Interest Rate Type	Fixed
  Min. credit score	620
  Turnaround Time	As soon as same business day
  Loan Term	24 to 60 months

Best Egg may work if you make at least $25,000 a year and your credit score is above 640 but below 670 – which is LightStream's minimum. Best Egg offers quick loans with competitive rates to customers with good to excellent credit, but it charges an origination fee between 0.99% and 9.99%.

Best Egg has similar rates to LightStream, ranging from 7.99% to 35.99%, and it gets good reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Customers praise the company for its customer service and speedy turnaround, but it may be harder to qualify if you're self-employed.

• Not available in: Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia

• Why we like it

  Best Egg may work if you make at least $25,000 a year and your credit score is above 640 but below 670 – which is LightStream's minimum. Best Egg offers quick loans with competitive rates to customers with good to excellent credit, but it charges an origination fee between 0.99% and 9.99%.

  Best Egg has similar rates to LightStream, ranging from 7.99% to 35.99%, and it gets good reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Customers praise the company for its customer service and speedy turnaround, but it may be harder to qualify if you're self-employed.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Loans start at $2,000
  • Relatively low credit and income requirements
  • Good customer reviews

  Cons

  • No cosigners
  • Not available in all states

• More details

  Loan amount	$2,000 to $50,000
  APR	7.99% to 35.99%
  Interest Rate Type	Fixed
  Min. credit score	640
  Turnaround Time	As soon as the next business day
  Loan Term	3 to 5 years

• Partner terms and conditions

  *Trustpilot TrustScore as of December 2022. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or Blue Ridge Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The Best Egg Credit Card is issued exclusively by First Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, Brookings SD pursuant to a license by Visa International. Visa is a registered trademark, and the Visa logo design is a trademark of Visa International Incorporated. “Best Egg” is a trademark of Best Egg Technologies, LLC. Offers may be sent pursuant to a joint marketing agreement between Cross River Bank, Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. and/or First Bank & Trust and Marlette Marketing, LLC, a subsidiary of Best Egg, Inc.
  
  The term, amount, and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. Your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. About half of our customers get their money the next day. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. Loan amounts range from $2,000– $50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500 ; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001.
  
  For a second Best Egg loan, your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 8.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–8.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4-years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. You need a minimum 700 FICO® score and a minimum individual annual income of $100,000 to qualify for our lowest APR. For example: a 5‐year $10,000 loan with 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81, and a 3‐year $5,000 loan with 7.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $155.12. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. TO REPORT A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT WITH THIS LENDER, YOU MAY WRITE OR CALL–Operations Manager, Email: crt-resolutions@bestegg.com, Address: P.O. Box 42912, Philadelphia, PA 19101, Phone: 1-855-282-6353. This lender is licensed and regulated by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division, P.O. Box 25101, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504. To report any unresolved problems or complaints, contact the division by telephone at (505) 476-4885 or visit the website https://www.rld.nm.gov/financial-institutions/

Like LightStream personal loans with competitive rates starting at 9.49% APR. Both lenders offer the same personal loan amounts — $5,000 to $100,000 — though SoFi might charge fees to some borrowers.

While its personal loan rates might be slightly higher than LightStream, Sofi provides its borrowers with financial advisors and networking opportunities. It even has an and an entrepreneur program to provide seed funding for startups. These free resources are designed to help you get ahead financially when you're just starting your career.

• Available in all states

• Why we like it

  Like LightStream personal loans with competitive rates starting at 9.49% APR. Both lenders offer the same personal loan amounts — $5,000 to $100,000 — though SoFi might charge fees to some borrowers.

  While its personal loan rates might be slightly higher than LightStream, Sofi provides its borrowers with financial advisors and networking opportunities. It even has an and an entrepreneur program to provide seed funding for startups. These free resources are designed to help you get ahead financially when you're just starting your career.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Borrow up to $100,000 in funds
  • Career resources

  Cons

  • Higher rates than LightStream
  • Good to excellent credit required

• More details

  Loan amount	$5,000 to $100,000
  APR	9.49% to 29.99% fixed APR
  Interest Rate Type	Fixed
  Min. credit score	680
  Turnaround Time	Up to 2 business days
  Loan Term	2 to 7 years

• Partner 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.

Laurel Road offers personal loans ranging from $1,000 to $80,000 to healthcare professionals that earn at least $60,000 a year, have a debt-to-income ratio of 40% or less and a credit score of at least 660. It also offers student loan refinancing with rates below 4% APR with discounts added in.

Laurel Road allows cosigners and offers competitive rates, even if you aren't a medical professional. But its loans are best for doctors and dentists: they can qualify for higher loan amounts and special rates. And if you're a resident or in a fellowship, you can make $25 monthly repayments until you've completed your program.

• Available in all states

• Why we like it

  Laurel Road offers personal loans ranging from $1,000 to $80,000 to healthcare professionals that earn at least $60,000 a year, have a debt-to-income ratio of 40% or less and a credit score of at least 660. It also offers student loan refinancing with rates below 4% APR with discounts added in.

  Laurel Road allows cosigners and offers competitive rates, even if you aren't a medical professional. But its loans are best for doctors and dentists: they can qualify for higher loan amounts and special rates. And if you're a resident or in a fellowship, you can make $25 monthly repayments until you've completed your program.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • 0.25% autopay discount
  • No origination or prepayment fees
  • Discounts and higher loan amounts for medical professionals

  Cons

  • High income requirement
  • 660+ credit score required

• More details

  Loan amount	$5,000 to $80,000
  APR	9.99% to 24.5%
  Interest Rate Type	Fixed
  Min. credit score	680
  Turnaround Time	As soon as 2 business days
  Loan Term	3, 4, 5 or 7 years

While not a direct lender, the Credible connection service searches and matches you to multiple prequalified rates with personal loan lenders – which can help you save time. To get started, all you need to do is fill out a short online form and create an account.

Credible scans its network to find you prequalified rates from lenders. If matched, you'll be redirected to the lender's website to finalize your application. It's best for busy people looking for high loan amounts who don't mind using Credible's limited selection of partners.

• Available in all states

• Why we like it

  While not a direct lender, the Credible connection service searches and matches you to multiple prequalified rates with personal loan lenders – which can help you save time. To get started, all you need to do is fill out a short online form and create an account.

  Credible scans its network to find you prequalified rates from lenders. If matched, you'll be redirected to the lender's website to finalize your application. It's best for busy people looking for high loan amounts who don't mind using Credible's limited selection of partners.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • One form to view multiple offers
  • Best Rate Guarantee of $200
  • Low potential APR of 6.94%

  Cons

  • Limited selection of lenders
  • May receive multiple marketing calls and emails from lenders
  • Some affiliate lenders charge fees to borrow

• More details

  Loan amount	$1,000 to $200,000
  APR	6.94% to 35.99%
  Interest Rate Type	Fixed
  Min. credit score	Fair to excellent credit
  Turnaround Time	As soon as 1 business day
  Loan Term	Varies by lender

• Partner terms and conditions

  Rates for personal loans provided by lenders on the Credible platform range between 6.94% - 35.99% APR with terms from 12 to 120 months. Credible also works with network Partners like MoneyLion, AmONE, Alternative Providers, and non-lender providers who offer loan and other products with different rates and terms than described here. Rates presented include lender discounts for enrolling in autopay and loyalty programs, where applicable. Actual rates may be different from the rates advertised and/or shown and will be based on the lender’s eligibility criteria, which include factors such as credit score, loan amount, loan term, credit usage and history, and vary based on loan purpose. The lowest rates available typically require excellent credit, and for some lenders, may be reserved for specific loan purposes and/or shorter loan terms. The origination fee charged by the lenders on our platform ranges from 0% to 12%. Each lender has their own qualification criteria with respect to their autopay and loyalty discounts (e.g., some lenders require the borrower to elect autopay prior to loan funding in order to qualify for the autopay discount). All rates are determined by the lender and must be agreed upon between the borrower and the borrower’s chosen lender. For a loan of $10,000 with a three year repayment period, an interest rate of 7.99%, a $350 origination fee and an APR of 10.43%, the borrower will receive $9,650 at the time of loan funding and will make 36 monthly payments of $313.32, assuming your lender deducts the origination fee from the offered loan amount. Assuming all on-time payments, and full performance of all terms and conditions of the loan contract and any discount programs enrolled in included in the APR/interest rate throughout the life of the loan, the borrower will pay a total of $11,279.43. As of March 3, 2022, none of the lenders on our platform require a down payment nor do they charge any prepayment penalties