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6 top sites like Upstart

Find loans similar to this newer online peer-to-peer platform.

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Anna Serio
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Upstart looks beyond your credit score by factoring in your carer and education when it underwrites your loan. This makes it a good option if you have a limited credit history. But it has high origination fees of up to 8%, and you might be able to find a lower interest rate with another lender. Our team has reviewed over 130 lenders to help you find an alternative if Upstart isn’t exactly what you’re looking for.

Our top 6 sites like Upstart

  • If you’re looking for payment flexibility: Upgrade
  • If you’re looking for peer-to-peer loans: LendingClub
  • If you’ve outgrown Upstart: Best Egg
  • If you’re self-employed: Avant
  • If you’re looking for fast funding: RocketLoans
  • If you want lower rates and no fees: SoFi

For payment flexibility

Upgrade personal loans

4 / 5 ★★★★★

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Upgrade is the closest lender to Upstart out there. They offer the same loan amounts and have similar credit score requirements, interest rates and fees — both charge origination fees as high as 8%. But Upgrade offers the option to defer two repayments, change your due date or make a partial payment if you’re facing financial hardship. This gives you a little more leeway if you’re taking out a loan during a period of economic uncertainty — like the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Not available in: Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Vermont, West Virginia
Pros
  • Same loan amounts as Upstart
  • Lower starting APR than Upstart
  • Hardship program
Cons
  • Origination fee as high as 8%
  • High starting APR compared to other lenders
  • Requires at least $1000 in free monthly cash flow
Loan Amount$1,000 to $50,000
APR5.94% to 35.97%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. Credit Score600
Turnaround Time1 to 4 business days
Maximum Loan Term7 years
Minimum Loan Term2 years

For peer-to-peer loans

LendingClub personal loans

3.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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LendingClub is one of the pioneers of peer-to-peer lending, which offers investor-funded loans. Like Upstart, it’s designed as an alternative to banks and offers a simple online application. But its credit requirements and interest rates are higher — even if it charges a lower origination fee. Its minimum four-day turnaround is also longer than Upgrade’s maximum of three business days.
  • Not available in: Idaho, Iowa
Pros
  • Origination fees up to 6%
  • Loans funded by investors
  • No prepayment penalties
Cons
  • Higher starting APR than Upstart
  • Higher credit requirement than Upstart
  • No loans over $40,000
Loan Amount$1,000 to $40,000
APR6.34% to 35.89%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. Credit Score600
Turnaround Time2 business days
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term3 years

For when you’ve outgrown Upstart

Best Egg personal loans

3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

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Best Egg is an online lender with loan amounts and requirements that compare to Upstart — you only need personal credit score of 600 to qualify. Its interest rates and fees are also lower than what you'll find at Upstart. Origination fees range from — low for a lender that accepts fair credit. But it might be a little more difficult to qualify with Best Egg if you're still building your credit profile. Best Egg relies on more traditional underwriting criteria instead of factors like your education and career. Borrowers with at least three years of credit history may have an easier time qualifying with this provider. And like with many personal loan providers, it may be difficult to qualify if you're self-employed.
  • Not available in: Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia
Pros
Cons
  • Can be hard to qualify if you're self-employed
  • No $1,000 loans
  • High $15 late fee
Loan Amount$2,000 to $50,000
APR5.99% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. Credit Score600
Turnaround TimeAs few as 1 business day(s)
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term3 years

For self-employed borrowers

Avant personal loans

3.45 / 5 ★★★★★

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With slightly lower credit requirements, Avant is truly available to all fair-credit borrowers. And like Upstart, it’s more flexible than most lenders when it comes to borrowers who are self-employed. But its rates start a little higher than Upstart, and offers a more limited range of loans, from $2,000 to $35,000.
  • Not available in: Colorado, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia
Pros
  • Works with irregular income
  • Origination fee from 0.95% to 4.57%
  • Only requires 580 credit score
Cons
  • No loans over $35,000
  • Higher starting APR than Upstart
  • No loans under $2,000
Loan Amount$2,000 to $35,000
APR9.95% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. Credit Score600
Turnaround TimeAs soon as the next business day
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term2 years

For fast funding

Rocket Loans personal loans

3.85 / 5 ★★★★★

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If you need less than $25,000 today, RocketLoans is a better choice. It offers same-day funding on loans of that amount, though you have to wait longer if you need a larger loan. But while its starting interest rate and origination fees are slightly lower, it also has higher credit requirements. This means that you might not get as good of a deal with this lender as you might have with Upstart.
  • Not available in: Iowa, Nevada
Pros
  • Same-day funding on loans under $25,000
  • Lower APR and fees than Upstart
Cons
  • Higher minimum credit score than Upstart
  • Loan terms start at 3 years
Loan Amount$2,000 to $45,000
APR5.97% to 29.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. Credit Score640
Turnaround TimeAs soon as the same day
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term3 years

For lower rates and no fees

SoFi personal loans

4.45 / 5 ★★★★★

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SoFi is the logical next step from Upstart after you've built up your credit and made headway in your career. This online lender is harder to qualify with, sure. But if you can, you'll get lower interest rates, no fees and access to a bounty of benefits like career coaching and financial advice. But it restricts you from using the loan for education or business expenses. And it's not ideal for debt consolidation — it won't send the funds directly to your creditors.
  • Not available in: Mississippi, Vermont
Pros
  • Member benefits like free career coaching
  • Low starting interest rates
  • No fees
Cons
  • No loans under $5,000
  • Can't use funds for business expenses
  • Doesn't send debt consolidation loans to your creditors
Loan Amount$5,000 to $100,000
APR6.99 to 22.23%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. Credit Score680
Turnaround TimeAs soon as the same day
Maximum Loan Term7 years
Minimum Loan Term2 years

How does Upstart compare?

You can read our review of Upstart for more details. But here are the highlights:

Pros

  • Good for younger borrowers with limited credit history
  • Offers a variety of loans with one simple application
  • Pay no fees for early repayment
  • Considers education in addition to credit score

Cons

  • High origination fees of up to 8% rolled into loan
  • Not the lowest starting APR in the market
  • Additional fees for things like paper copy requests and late payments

See how other top providers compare to different lenders by checking out A-to-Z directory.

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