Best Personal Loans
A personal loan turns variable, high-interest debt into a fixed monthly payment with a clear payoff date. We rank by APR range, then weigh origination fees — a "low rate" with a 6% origination fee is often worse than a slightly higher rate with none.
The best personal loans in 2026 is the SoFi Personal Loan, which tops our ranking with a money8020 score of 92/100. We track 6 personal loans, 6 with rates checked against the provider and a regulator. All 6 are ranked and compared below.
Which lender offers the lowest real APR for my credit, with no origination fee?
Top 3 in this category.
SoFi Personal Loan
A fixed-rate personal loan with no required fees and amounts from $5,000 to $100,000.
Best Egg Personal Loan
An estimated 5.99%–35.99% APR from Best Egg, sourced from our NerdWallet data partnership.
Citi Personal Loan
An estimated 9.99%–17.49% APR from Citibank, sourced from our NerdWallet data partnership.
All 6, ranked.
Compare the numbers.
Click a column header to sort.
| Product | APR | Annual fee | Score | Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoFi Personal Loan SoFi Bank | — | $0 | 92 | Essential | View |
| Best Egg Personal Loan Best Egg | 5.99%–35.99% | — | 84 | Strong | View |
| Citi Personal Loan Citibank | 9.99%–17.49% | — | 84 | Strong | View |
| Discover Personal Loan Discover | 7.99%–24.99% | — | 84 | Strong | View |
| LightStream Personal Loan LightStream (Truist) | 6.49%–24.89% | — | 84 | Strong | View |
| SoFi Personal Loan SoFi | 7.74%–35.49% | — | 84 | Strong | View |
Run the numbers
Estimate what this could mean for you.
How to choose the best personal loans
To choose a personal loan, compare APR (not just the monthly payment), origination fees, the loan amounts and terms offered, and how fast funds arrive — and pre-qualify to see your real rate.
- APR range and your pre-qualified rate
- Origination and late fees
- Loan amounts and repayment terms
- Funding speed
- Minimum credit score and whether a co-signer helps
Frequently asked questions about personal loans
What credit score do I need for a personal loan?
The best rates generally go to scores in the 720+ range, but many lenders approve applicants in the mid-600s at higher APRs. Some specialize in fair-credit borrowers. Always check your rate with a soft-pull prequalification before applying.
Watch out for origination fees?
Yes — an origination fee of 1–8% is deducted from your loan proceeds or added to the balance, raising your effective APR. When comparing offers, look at the APR (which includes the fee) rather than the headline interest rate.