Editor's choice: Upgrade personal loans
- Flexible loan options
- No prepayment penalty
- Quick turnaround
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5 top sites like Upstart
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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 5 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: SoFi
- If you’re a self-employed borrowers: Avant
- If you’re looking for fast funding: RocketLoans
For payment flexibility
Upgrade personal loans
3.98 / 5 ★★★★★
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.
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 - $50,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.94% to 35.97% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. Credit Score | 600 |
| Turnaround Time | 1 to 4 business days |
| Maximum Loan Term | 5 years |
| Minimum Loan Term | 3 years |
| Min. Credit Score | 600 |
|---|---|
| APR | 6.94% to 35.97% |
| Loan amount | $1,000 - $50,000 |
For peer-to-peer loans
LendingClub personal loans
3.6 / 5 ★★★★★
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.
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 - $40,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 8.05% to 35.89% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. Credit Score | 640 |
| Turnaround Time | As little as 4 days |
| Maximum Loan Term | 5 years |
| Minimum Loan Term | 3 years |
| Min. Credit Score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 8.05% to 35.89% |
| Loan amount | $1,000 - $40,000 |
For when you’ve outgrown Upstart
SoFi personal loans
4.3 / 5 ★★★★★
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.
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 - $100,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 5.99% to 18.85% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. Credit Score | 680 |
| Turnaround Time | Up to 30 days |
| Maximum Loan Term | 7 years |
| Minimum Loan Term | 2 years |
| Min. Credit Score | 680 |
|---|---|
| APR | 5.99% to 18.85% |
| Loan amount | $5,000 - $100,000 |
For self-employed borrowers
Avant personal loans
3.45 / 5 ★★★★★
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.
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 - $35,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 9.95% to 35.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. Credit Score | 600 |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as the next business day |
| Maximum Loan Term | 5 years |
| Minimum Loan Term | 2 years |
| Min. Credit Score | 600 |
|---|---|
| APR | 9.95% to 35.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 - $35,000 |
For fast funding
Rocket Loans personal loans
3.85 / 5 ★★★★★
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.
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 - $45,000 |
|---|---|
| APR | 7.16% to 29.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. Credit Score | 640 |
| Turnaround Time | As soon as the same day |
| Maximum Loan Term | 5 years |
| Minimum Loan Term | 3 years |
| Min. Credit Score | 640 |
|---|---|
| APR | 7.16% to 29.99% |
| Loan amount | $2,000 - $45,000 |
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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