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Bottom line: Uplift can be a good choice if you’re looking to beat the high rates offered by travel credit cards. But its limited selection of partners — and potentially high APR for borrowers with fair credit — mean you’ll be limited in how you use your funds. Read our full review or get our 30-second take.
Min. Loan Amount | $100 |
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Max. Loan Amount | $15,000 |
APR | 0% to 36% |
Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
Min. Credit Score | 550 |
Origination Fee | 2% |
Loan Term | 3 months to 2 years |
Uplift offers a unique buy-now, pay-later service through top airlines, cruise lines, resorts and travel booking agencies. Its interest rates are relatively competitive for borrowers with good credit. And you won’t need to have your entire balance paid off before you travel.
Plus Uplift reports payments to Equifax so you can build your credit. Unlike many lenders, you’ll be able to skip the long application process and finance directly when you book a vacation package.
But beyond that, it works like any other personal loan. There are no major features that set it apart, and you’ll only be able to finance your vacation. If there are other expenses you want to cover, Uplift won’t be the right choice for you.
You’re also limited to booking travel through one of its partner sites. And interest rates could be as high as 36%, which could cost more than a credit card — without the added benefits.
To finance your next vacation with Uplift, you’ll need to meet a two basic criteria:
You'll also need to be going on the trip to be eligible for financing.
Uplift finances exclusively through the merchants in its network, so you'll be able to break down the cost your trip into monthly increments.
Pricing is based on your credit score and the cost of your travel package, among other factors. While Uplift accepts borrowers with bad credit, you’re unlikely to qualify for a competitive rate. If you have good to excellent credit, you may be able to score an APR close to its minimum of 0%, making it a much less expensive than most credit cards.
You can use our calculator to gauge how much your travel might cost when financed through Uplift. Enter the amount you need to borrow, how long you expect to be paying off the loan in the term field and your potential interest rate to see your monthly payment.
Calculate the cost of an Uplift travel loan
Your loan |
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Loan amount |
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Principal | $ |
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Interest | $ |
Total Cost | $ |
For other ways to finance your travel, compare lenders by selecting your credit score and state. Then click Show me my personalized options to view our selection of lenders. Providers like SoFi, LightStream and Marcus by Goldman Sachs all offer more flexible loans that can be used to finance travel expenses at a low APR.
BBB accredited | Yes |
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BBB rating | Not rated |
BBB customer reviews | 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 132 customer reviews |
Trustpilot Score | 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 123 customer reviews |
Customer reviews verified as of | 31 August 2021 |
As of August 2021, Uplift's Better Business Bureau (BBB) page is being updated — so there are no reviews or complaints available. But on its Trustpilot page, people are pleased with Uplift's customer service. The most recent reviews praise Uplift's easy application and the simple payment system.
And while Uplift responds directly to its lower reviews, there are numerous negative reviews about Uplift’s poor response to the COVID-19 crisis, including the lack of full refunds for canceled trips. Keep this in mind as you plan and pay for future trips.
When you use Uplift, you’ll need to find a travel partner through its website — or you can book directly from a provider’s website. Since you don’t apply directly through Uplift, the application process will depend on the travel provider you book through. If your trip is available to finance, you’ll see the option to pay with Uplift on the checkout page when you’re set to book your vacation.
Uplift does not have its own mobile app. However, financing through Uplift should be available through the travel provider's mobile app in addition to its website.
If you’re approved and want to accept the loan offer, you’ll need to enter your full Social Security number and payment information. Uplift will do a soft pull of your credit to determine final approval. Though not always the case, you may also need to provide a down payment when you book your trip.
Uplift works with a wide selection of flights, cruises, resorts and vacation packages, including:
You can view Uplift’s full list of partners on its website.
Interest starts to accrue as soon as you receive your financing. Monthly payments are automatically withdrawn from the debit or credit card you have on file — and Uplift sends you both email and text reminders before each withdrawal.
Uplift also allows you to make manual payments on its website by signing in to your account. And since there are no prepayment penalties, you could save on interest if you pay your loan off before its due date.
If you know you won’t be able to make a payment, notify Uplift at least three days before the due date to request a 15-day grace period to prevent a late payment. Payments more than 30 days late may be reported to Equifax, which could damage your credit.
Much like a credit card, you must pay back Uplift even if you aren't able to travel. If the travel provider gives you a cash refund, then you can use that to make payments on your loan. But even if your refund is a travel credit or gift certificate, you need to continue to make payments.
Uplift is a legitimate service that allows you to borrow for your vacation — and it works with top travel partners across the US. It has a secure website and a privacy policy that covers how your information is collected and used. You can contact Uplift by phone or email, and it frequently responds to customer complaints on its Trustpilot page.
A travel loan isn't always the right choice. In fact, it could be the wrong choice if you don't have firm plans or don't qualify for a low APR on your loan. Although using Uplift makes travel much more affordable, it can still be more expensive than saving up or using a credit card.
Not sure Uplift is right for you? Check out our guide to financing your vacation or compare more personal loan options to pay for your next trip.
6 Comments
February 11, 2020
I live in WV and when I go to apply at the end of my vacation package its states not eligible in WV. Is this true?
February 11, 2020
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for reaching out to Finder.
Yes, it’s true. Unfortunately, Uplift is not authorized to do business in West Virginia due to regulatory practices.
If you want to learn more information about regulatory lending practices in West Virginia, you may contact your state securities regulator.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
October 3, 2019
Does Uplift report payments to the major credit bureaus?
Than you,
Randy
October 3, 2019
Hi Randy,
Thanks for reaching out to Finder.
Yes, Uplift will report accurate payment status on a monthly basis to the credit bureau, although they did not give specific information which credit bureau(s) they report to.
They also reserve the right to report partial or late payments of 30 days or longer to consumer reporting agencies in accordance with applicable law.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
September 23, 2019
Can you have more than one UpLift loan at a time?
September 25, 2019
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out to Finder.
Yes. UpLift allows you to have more than one active loan however, credit restrictions may apply and all loan approvals are credit dependent at the time of your application.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse