| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |
- Not available in: Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia
| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |

By
Anna SerioUpdated
Upgrade offers fast online loans that prioritize cash flow over your credit score when you apply. They’re a good option if your credit is less-than-perfect, but you have at least $1,000 in income after expenses each month.
It’s flexible about repayments, with a hardship program that allows you to change your due date. But Upgrade’s rates are on the high end, running from 7.74% to 35.99% APR. And origination fees run as high as 9.99%.
There are other lenders out there like Upgrade. These lenders offer similar fast loans to fair credit borrowers. Some have lower rates and fees and others may be more flexible when it comes to cash flow.
| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.99% to 35.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | 640 |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as the next business day |
| Loan Term | 36 to 60 months (unsecured); 60 to 84 months (home-secured) |
| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |
| Min. credit score | 300 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.30%–35.99% (includes any origination fee) |
| Loan amount | $1,000 to $75,000 |
| Loan amount | $1,000 to $75,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.30%–35.99% (includes any origination fee) |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | 300 |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as the next business day |
| Loan Term | 3 or 5 years |
| Min. credit score | 300 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.30%–35.99% (includes any origination fee) |
| Loan amount | $1,000 to $75,000 |
| Loan Amount | $500 - $3,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 149% to 399% |
| Turnaround time | Within minutes |
| Loan amount | $500 - $3,000 |
|---|---|
| Interest rate type | Fixed |
| APR | 149% to 399% |
| Loan Term | 10 to 21 months |
| Turnaround time | Within minutes |
| Loan Amount | $500 - $3,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 149% to 399% |
| Turnaround time | Within minutes |
| Min. credit score | Not stated |
|---|---|
| APR | 7.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $36,500 |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $36,500 |
|---|---|
| APR | 7.99% to 35.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | Not stated |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as 1 business day |
| Loan Term | 2 to 5 years |
| Min. credit score | Not stated |
|---|---|
| APR | 7.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $36,500 |
Avant has a low credit score requirement of around 550 to 580, and is one of the few lenders that accepts self-employed income. Upgrade's credit score requirement is higher at 620.
But Avant's rates are slightly higher than Upgrade, starting at 9.95%. However, Avant's administrative fee caps at 4.75%, and Upstart's origination fee can be as high as 8.99%. These fees are deducted from your loan before delivery. But Avant's maximum loan amount is much lower than Upgrade's, maxing out at only $35,000.
| Min. credit score | 550 |
|---|---|
| APR | 9.95% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $35,000 |
Avant has a low credit score requirement of around 550 to 580, and is one of the few lenders that accepts self-employed income. Upgrade's credit score requirement is higher at 620.
But Avant's rates are slightly higher than Upgrade, starting at 9.95%. However, Avant's administrative fee caps at 4.75%, and Upstart's origination fee can be as high as 8.99%. These fees are deducted from your loan before delivery. But Avant's maximum loan amount is much lower than Upgrade's, maxing out at only $35,000.
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $35,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 9.95% to 35.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | 550 |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as the next business day |
| Loan Term | 24 to 60 months |
| Min. credit score | 550 |
|---|---|
| APR | 9.95% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $35,000 |
| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 8.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 8.99% to 35.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | 640 |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as 1 business day |
| Loan Term | 2 to 5 years |
| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 8.99% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 to $50,000 |
Achieve (formally FreedomPlus) is one of the few personal loan providers that accepts cosigners and coapplicants — most lenders don't allow cosigners on unsecured personal loans. Additionally, Achieve offers a rate discount up to 6% if you bring along a joint applicant. If you're consolidating debt and allow Achieve to send at least 85% of your loan funds directly to your creditors for debt consolidation, you may get an additional rate discount up to 4%.
Rates range from 6.25% to 35.99% — the maximum rate is much lower than Upstart's 35.97%. And if you bring a cosigner or coappliant, you may qualify for a better APR or loan terms overall. Achieve's origination fee is lower, ranging from 1.99% to 8.99%. But Achieve is unavailable in 11 states, and Upgrade is available everywhere except Iowa, West Virginia and Washington D.C.
| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.25% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $5,000 to $50,000 |
Achieve (formally FreedomPlus) is one of the few personal loan providers that accepts cosigners and coapplicants — most lenders don't allow cosigners on unsecured personal loans. Additionally, Achieve offers a rate discount up to 6% if you bring along a joint applicant. If you're consolidating debt and allow Achieve to send at least 85% of your loan funds directly to your creditors for debt consolidation, you may get an additional rate discount up to 4%.
Rates range from 6.25% to 35.99% — the maximum rate is much lower than Upstart's 35.97%. And if you bring a cosigner or coappliant, you may qualify for a better APR or loan terms overall. Achieve's origination fee is lower, ranging from 1.99% to 8.99%. But Achieve is unavailable in 11 states, and Upgrade is available everywhere except Iowa, West Virginia and Washington D.C.
| Loan amount | $5,000 to $50,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.25% to 35.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | 640 |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as same business day |
| Loan Term | 24 to 60 months |
| Min. credit score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.25% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $5,000 to $50,000 |
Select your credit score range and state to see more lenders that might be available to you.
Looking for other options? Check out these similar products.
How we picked theseThe 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.
You can find out more about how Upgrade works by reading our Upgrade review. In the meantime, here are the highlights.
Upgrade is better suited for fair credit borrowers with stable income. It requires you to have at least $1,000 leftover after paying all other expenses, and prefers credit scores 580+. While Upgrade is more flexible with credit score requirements than more traditional lenders, like banks and credit unions, it’s not the cheapest option.
Upgrade charges an origination fee from 1.85% to 9.99% — this fee is deducted from your loan amount before delivery, and if you’re charged the highest fee, that’s a pretty penny. Upgrade also has higher rates than other providers, ranging from 7.74% to 35.99%.
Anna Serio was a lead editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business financing. A trusted lending expert and former certified commercial loan officer, Anna's written and edited more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and has appeared on NBC and KADN. Anna holds an MA in Middle Eastern studies from the American University of Beirut and a BA in Creative Writing from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, CUNY. See full bio
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