If you’re looking for loans like Upstart, you’re not alone. While Upstart is known for approving borrowers with limited or fair credit, it’s not always the best option, especially if you want lower fees, more flexible terms, or the ability to add a cosigner.
Many of the best alternatives, like Upgrade, Prosper, and LendingClub, cater to borrowers with fair credit and may offer more flexibility than Upstart. Below, we break down the best Upstart alternatives, who they’re best for, and how to choose the right one for your situation. Check out how Upstart stacks up against our other picks at a glance:
Table of Contents
Best loans like Upstart
LendingTree
How LendingTree can help you find the best loan like Upstart
LendingTree is a free online loan marketplace that connects you with a network of more than 300 personal loan lenders, more than any other platform on our list. It’s ideal for borrowers who want to maximize their chances of prequalification or explore a wide range of offers side by side.
After completing a short form, you’ll see personalized loan options with no effect on your credit. Most LendingTree lenders offer fixed-rate personal loans with repayment terms from one to seven years and fast funding. However, since you’ll work directly with the chosen lender, rates, fees, and eligibility rules vary by provider.
- Compare prequalified offers from 300+ lenders
- Soft credit check to view rates
| Rates (APR) | 6.99% – 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – $50,000 |
| Repayment terms | 1 – 7 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: Not disclosed
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: Loan partners may not be available in all states
Repayment terms
LendingTree loans have repayment terms ranging from one to seven years. Some lenders may charge a prepayment penalty if you pay off your loan early.
Upgrade
Why Upgrade is the best loan like Upstart for fair credit
Upgrade offers fair interest rates to people with fair credit (FICO 580 to 669) who need a personal loan. You get the flexibility to choose your monthly payment and loan term, and Upgrade offers multiple rate discounts to help you save on interest.
- Choose your monthly payment and loan term
- Joint applications accepted
- Loan funds may be available in as little as 1 day
- Smaller loan maximum limit
- 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee
| Rates (APR) | 8.49% – 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – $50,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 7 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: 580
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Repayment terms
Upgrade loans have repayment terms from two to seven years, and your monthly due date is adjustable to fit your budget. A short-term financial hardship program is available if you’re temporarily unable to manage payments.
Prosper
How Prosper is like Upstart (and how it’s different)
As a peer-to-peer lender, Prosper connects borrowers directly with individual investors rather than traditional banks to fund loans. It’s one of the best personal loan options for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit. A 560 credit score could be enough to get approved, and loan rates are competitive. However, Prosper doesn’t offer same-day funding, so you might need to wait a little longer to access funds once approved than with Upstart.
- Lower minimum credit score requirement compared to other lenders
- No prepayment penalties
- Choose your repayment term
- No same-day funding
- 1.00% – 7.99% origination fee
| Rates (APR) | 8.99% – 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $2,000 – $50,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 5 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: 560
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: Not available in Iowa and West Virginia
Repayment terms
Prosper loans have repayment terms ranging from two to five years, with no prepayment penalty if you decide to pay your loan off early. It doesn’t offer rate discounts for autopay, though you may choose automatic payments to ensure you don’t miss a due date.
SoFi
Why SoFi is the best personal loan like Upstart for good credit
SoFi is an excellent choice for borrowers with good credit (FICO 670 to 739) who are looking for fast funding and minimal fees. You can use SoFi personal loans for debt consolidation, home improvements, or virtually any other large expense.
- No origination fees, late payment fees, or prepayment penalties
- Check rates in as little as 60 seconds
- Some borrowers may qualify for same-day funding
- Higher minimum loan amount
- Autopay discount is lower than what some lenders offer
| Fixed rates (APR) | 8.99% – 29.99% with all discounts |
| Loan amounts | $5,000 – $100,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 7 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: 660
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Repayment terms
SoFi personal loans feature terms from two to seven years. If you enroll in autopay, you’ll get a 0.25% rate discount. There’s no penalty if you decide to pay your loan off early.
LendingClub
Why LendingClub is the best lender like Upstart for joint personal loans
If you’re looking for a joint personal loan, LendingClub may have what you need. You can apply with a co-borrower or joint application, and the required minimum credit score is just 600. There are no prepayment penalties.
- Simple online application process
- Excellent customer reviews
- Loans can be used to fund a variety of expenses and goals
- Late fees apply if you miss your payment due date
- Origination fee of 2% to 6%
| Rates (APR) | 7.90% – 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – $40,000 |
| Repayment terms | 2 – 4 years |
Eligibility requirements
- Soft credit check? Yes
- Minimum credit score: 600
- Minimum income: Not disclosed
- States: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Repayment terms
LendingClub personal loans have repayment terms of two to four years. Rate discounts are not available, but a higher credit score could help you unlock the lowest rate. No prepayment penalties are associated with LendingClub loans.
Why consider Upstart alternatives?
If you have bad credit, Upstart is one option, but lenders like Upgrade and Prosper, or loan marketplaces like LendingTree, may offer more flexibility or better rates depending on your profile.
It might be wise to shop around and consider Upstart competitors for the following reasons:
You want more approval flexibility
While Upstart may approve lower credit scores, its model is based on income, education, and other factors, which may not be right for everyone. Several lenders on our list may offer more options if your credit profile doesn’t fit Upstart’s model.
Choose instead…
LendingClub or Prosper — may offer more options if your profile doesn’t fit Upstart’s model
Origination fee
Upstart charges an origination fee, which can be as high as 12% of the loan amount. Because this fee is deducted from your loan disbursement, you may need to borrow more money to ensure you get the amount you need. You might be eligible for a personal loan from another lender with no upfront origination fee if you have good credit.
Choose instead…
SoFi — offers personal loans with no origination fee
No cosigners allowed
You might get approved for an Upstart personal loan even if you have a 300 credit score, the lowest possible. But if the interest rate you qualify for is too high, you can’t get a lower one by adding a cosigner to your application. You might try looking for a lender that allows cosigners to help you secure a lower interest rate.
Choose instead…
Upgrade or LendingClub — allow cosigners or co-borrowers on personal loans
Inflexible repayment term
Depending on the lender, you can often get a personal loan with repayment terms ranging from one to 12 years. With Upstart, however, your options are limited to a three- or five-year term, giving you less flexibility with your monthly payment.
Upstart vs. other lenders
Compared to lenders like SoFi and Upgrade, Upstart stands out for its low credit score requirements. However, competitors may offer lower fees, more flexible terms, or cosigner options depending on your credit profile.
How to choose the best Upstart alternative
The best alternative to Upstart depends on your credit profile and goals:
- Fair or bad credit: Upgrade, LendingTree, Prosper, or LendingClub
- Good to excellent credit: SoFi
- Need a cosigner or co-borrower: Upgrade or LendingClub
If you qualify for multiple options, be sure to compare APRs, fees, and repayment terms, not just approval odds.
Other loans like Upstart
Upstart personal loans may be a viable option for borrowers in specific scenarios, but you might consider other alternatives to get financing for significant expenses or debt consolidation:
- Other personal loans: As we detailed above, many other personal loans for borrowers with fair credit exist. And if you have a great credit score, you may qualify for a lower rate with one of the best personal loan companies.
- Home equity loan or line of credit: For homeowners, a home equity loan or home equity line of credit may be more beneficial in terms of the cost of borrowing than an Upstart personal loan. Interest rates for home equity products are often in the single digits—unlike Upstart loans, which can be as high as 35.99%. Just watch out for closing costs and other fees.
- Credit cards: If you have good credit, you may qualify for a credit card with a 0% APR promotion. These promotions can last six to 21 months, giving you time to make a large purchase or transfer a balance and pay it off interest-free.
Take your time to research and compare all your options to determine which is the best fit.
Recap of Upstart alternatives
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About our contributors
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Written by Ben LuthiBen Luthi is a Salt Lake City-based freelance writer who specializes in a variety of personal finance and travel topics. He worked in banking, auto financing, insurance, and financial planning before becoming a full-time writer.
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Edited by Kristen Barrett, MATKristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their pack of senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.