Best Personal Loan Companies with the Lowest Rates in December 2025
We’ve named SoFi the best personal loan lender overall — it has fast funding and lets you skip upfront fees
- Winner: is LendingTree’s pick for the best personal loan company in December 2025.
- Why we like it: offers some of the fastest funding on the market and lets you skip upfront fees (they’re optional).
- Runners-up: and . Both offer low rates and unique perks that make them strong alternatives and top LendingTree picks.
Top 10 best personal loan companies
| Lender | User rating | Best for | APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Excellent customer service and no fees | 7.99% – 24.99% |
| Lender |
|
|---|---|
| User rating | |
| Best for | Excellent customer service and no fees |
| APR | |
What is the best personal loan company right now?
For December 2025, is the best personal loan company according to our methodology because it offers quick funding, optional fees and competitive rates.
Other top personal loan companies include (low rates and accessible to people with fair credit) and (low rates and no fees).
LendingTree personal loan experts hand-select each of our top lenders and evaluate them for how easy they are to qualify for, cost and ease of repayment — the factors that matter most to you. Learn more about how we rate lenders.
How LendingTree works
You’d shop around for flights. Why not your loan? LendingTree makes it easy. Fill out one form and get lenders from the country’s largest network to compete for your business.
1. Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need. It’s free, simple and secure.
2. Shop your offers
LendingTree users who get at least one offer receive 20 personal loan offers on average. Compare your offers side by side to get the best deal.
3. Get your money
Pick a lender and sign your loan paperwork. You could see money in your account in as soon as 24 hours.
Best personal loan companies
Best for: Excellent customer service and no fees – Discover
- APR
- 7.99% – 24.99%
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- U.S.-based loan specialists available seven days a week
- Get money as soon as the next business day
- Repayment assistance options if you can’t make payments
- No upfront fees
- Can’t apply for a loan with another person
- Need good or excellent credit to qualify
- Can only borrow up to $40,000
I shopped for personal loans with LightStream using my real information. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: LightStream’s application process was quick and easy — there were only a few questions and the interface was intuitive. I got instant offers, and LightStream gave me a reference number to log back in and review them again later.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: None! Just remember to have your Social Security number on hand.
With a 97% approval rating from LendingTree users, LightStream earns high marks for customer satisfaction. Its U.S.-based loan specialists are available seven days a week, take phone calls and offer extended customer service hours as late as 11 p.m. ET on weekdays.
LightStream personal loans only go up to$40,000, so if you’re looking for a large personal loan, consider other lenders on this list like or .
You’ll need to meet these eligibility criteria to get a LightStream loan:
- Age: Be at least 18
- Citizenship: Have a Social Security number
- Administrative: Have a physical address, email address and internet access
- Income: Minimum income of $40,000 (individually or as a household)
- Credit score: +
What is a personal loan?
A personal loan gives you a lump sum of money that you’ll pay back in equal monthly payments. The lender will usually send the money straight to your bank account — sometimes as soon as the same day.
What else to know:
-
Fixed interest
Interest stays the same during the loan, and so do your payments. Credit card interest goes up and down with the market. -
How to qualify
There’s no universal minimum credit score for personal loans — but the better your credit, the cheaper your loan will likely be. Learn more about personal loan requirements. -
How to apply
You can apply for a personal loan on the lender’s website or use a service like LendingTree to get quotes from up to five lenders at once.
Personal loans are a popular solution for dealing with debt. Nearly three quarters (72%) of Americans have a personal loan, have had one in the past or have considered getting one, according to a LendingTree survey.
Personal loan rates
We’ve compiled the average personal loan rates for LendingTree marketplace users so you can estimate the rates you’ll likely qualify for based on your credit score.
| Credit tier | Average APR |
|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | 11.66% |
| Very good (740-799) | 14.35% |
| Good (670-739) | 22.83% |
| Fair (580-669) | 30.22% |
| Poor (under 580) | 32.09% |
Track personal loan rates with LendingTree
Personal loan rates have held steady over the past year, but they remain relatively high — making it more important than ever to compare lenders and find the best offer for your credit profile.
Calculate your loan payments
How much will your loan cost?
It’s hard to know how much your loan will actually cost when you’re looking at broad APR ranges. We’ll walk you through how to estimate the cost of your loan in dollars and cents.
Let’s assume you borrow $5,000 over a loan term of 48 months. Let’s also assume your loan has no fees. Here’s a quick estimate of the cost of your loan in dollars and cents.
| Credit score range | Average APR | Monthly payment | Interest | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | 11.66% | $130.84 | $1,280.13 | $6,280.13 |
| Very good (740-799) | 14.35% | $137.51 | $1,600.57 | $6,600.57 |
| Good (670-739) | 22.83% | $159.79 | $2,670.02 | $7,670.02 |
| Fair (580-669) | 30.22% | $180.67 | $3,672.17 | $8,672.17 |
| Poor (under 580) | 32.09% | $186.16 | $3,935.60 | $8,935.60 |
Improving your credit before getting a loan will help you get lower rates and save money. You could save more than $1,804 on your loan by raising your score from “fair” to “very good.”
How to choose the best loan
Once you have loan offers, use our loan calculator to compare APRs, monthly payment and total interest payments. Here’s what to expect and watch out for based on your credit score:
| Your credit band | Probable offers | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | Low rates, options with no fees | Prioritize offers with low rates and no origination fee. |
| Good to very good (670-799) | Slightly higher rates, may need to pay fees | Lenders deduct origination fees before sending your loan, so make sure you’ll get the full amount of money you need. |
| Fair (580-669) | Fewer options with higher rates, fees likely | Find the offer with the lowest APR that has a monthly payment you can afford. |
| Poor (under 580) | Few options, highest rates | Add a co-borrower or collateral for lower rates and better odds of approval. |
Expert insights on finding the lowest personal loan rate
If you don’t shop around for the best rate on your next personal loan, you’re probably going to pay too much. Rates, terms and amounts can vary significantly by lender, so it is absolutely worth the effort to compare offers from multiple personal loan companies.
Life’s too expensive today to settle for paying more than you need.
Best loan companies for every need
Frequently asked questions
LendingTree’s top 10 lenders offer safe personal loans that you can apply for online. Read about personal loan disadvantages to protect yourself from the risks that come with any personal loan.
Choosing the right personal loan lender is all about shopping around. Prequalify with several lenders, compare your offers and choose the one that fits your budget. You can get offers from up to five lenders at once with LendingTree.
Online-only lenders typically offer fast funding and can be easier to qualify for than traditional personal loans from brick and mortar banks, but they sometimes come with one-time origination fees that can make your loan more expensive.
Yes, some personal loan comparison sites are trustworthy. LendingTree writers and editors evaluate lenders impartially and don’t receive compensation for their reviews. Learn more about how we review lenders.
Our methodology
We reviewed more than 30 lenders that offer personal loans to determine the overall best 10 lenders by these metrics. According to our systematic rating and review process, the best personal loans come from SoFi, Upgrade, Best Egg, Discover, LendingClub, LightStream, PenFed, Prosper, Rocket Loans and Upstart. LendingTree reviews and fact-checks our top lender picks on a monthly basis.
Accessibility. We look for lenders with fewer barriers to approval and award points for lower credit requirements, nationwide access, fast funding and simple applications.
Rates and terms. We prioritize lenders that offer low starting rates, minimal fees, flexible terms and APR discount opportunities.
Repayment experience. We choose lenders with strong reputations, convenient self-service tools, responsive support and borrower-friendly perks.
Why trust our methodology?
Our writers and editors dig through the facts, contact lenders directly and even go through the application process ourselves if it helps better explain what you can expect. As a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, I’m committed to breaking down complex financial details so people can make confident, informed decisions with their money.
Jessica’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.