The Best Bad Credit Loan Providers

Sunday, April 20th

2025 Bad Credit Loan Provider Reviews

Upstart

• Loan amounts from $1,000 to $50,000 ⁽¹⁾
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Fixed 3 or 5 year terms ⁽³⁾
• 99% of loans are funded within one business day after signing
• Borrowers can get funds as fast as one business day ⁽⁴⁾
• Nearly 3 million customers served

If you've been navigating the tricky waters of bad credit loans, we've got some good news for you. Upstart is the brainchild of ex-Google employees on a mission to make credit accessible while keeping things friendly for borrowers. Why do we continue to rate them at the top for bad credit loans? It's mostly because they've got a unique approach that goes way beyond your credit score.

You're more than a number here

So, what sets Upstart apart? The biggest difference is that they're not fixated solely on that three-digit number that can make or break your loan dreams. They want to know about you - your education, your work history, and how well you're handling your financial business. If you've got a college degree in a solid field and a decent work track record, Upstart is more likely to give you a nod. They even consider your creditworthiness if you don't have enough credit history to produce a standard FICO score. Not many lenders do that.

All applicants welcome

Speaking of FICO scores, it's important to understand that Upstart funds loans through lending partners, who all have different thresholds for approving your application. Expect to need at least a 580 for most loans here, though some partners require a 620. You're also more likely to get matched with cash if you have a decent debt-to-income ratio, no recent bankruptcies, and no currently-delinquent accounts. But, even if you're lacking in that department, Upstart still welcomes you to apply: what have you got to lose?

5 minutes to complete the prequalification paperwork

The online application is a breeze, taking only 5 minutes, but be ready to answer some questions about your job and education. They'll perform a "soft pull" on your credit history - nothing to worry about, just a quick check to verify your details. When you're ready to accept a loan offer, that's when the hard credit check will be done.

Rates and fees are competitive

Upstart offers bad credit loans ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, all with fixed-rate APRs. Your loan will also come with origination fees that will be spelled out in your loan terms. Upstart provides sample fees and terms at the bottom of their site; they quoted a loan of $10,000 with a 9.3% origination fee on a 60-month loan. While you can't do anything about those fees, you can spend less in interest if you pay off your loan faster: Upstart doesn't penalize you for finishing early or for making extra payments along the way.

More than 43,000 five-star reviews

Out of all of the bad credit loan options out there, Upstart has the absolute best reputation. Not only did the Better Business Bureau give the platform its highest "A+” grade and accreditation, but clients who went to Trustpilot to leave feedback gave Upstart over 43,000 five-star reviews. We even searched those reviews for the phrase "bad credit” and still found plenty of praise from people just like you, who say that Upstart made it possible for them to get out of a dire situation, buy the car they needed, or simply pay off a bunch of bills.

Best choice for bad credit loans

While it's true that you'll still be at the mercy of Upstart's vetted lending partners (they're the ones forking over the cash in the end), this is still your best bet for a bad credit loan. Upstart sees you as more than just a credit score, so your brighter financial future could very well start here. Upstart earns our #1 ranking among the options for bad credit loans.

Lending Tree

• Loan amount: $1,000 to $50,000
• Loan marketplace that refers you to multiple lenders
• Lets you check out lender reviews even before applying
• Transparent process at every step
• Funds may be available as soon as next day
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

LendingTree is a versatile online marketplace, letting consumers comparison shop among lenders for various financial needs, from credit cards to small business loans. Established in 1998, LendingTree pioneered the peer-to-peer lending sector, offering an alternative to conventional bank financing. However, their main approach now is to give you a one-stop shop to fill in one initial inquiry form to see which lenders can offer you a bad credit loan, rather than facilitating P2P transactions.

Many lenders, one platform

Applying for a bad credit loan through LendingTree initiates a wave of offers from an extensive network of lenders. While the exact number of partners isn't specified, the Lender Reviews section provides a comprehensive list, allowing you to explore detailed information, ratings, and customer feedback about potential loan sources even before completing your application. Among the bad credit specialists you might connect with are familiar names like Avant, Upstart, Upgrade, OneMain Financial, and more: you'll find all of those (and several others) reviewed separately on our list.

Take up to 30 days to decide

Once you receive your loan offers, the ball is in your court. Compare the options and determine which lender and terms align best with your needs. It's important to note that while you're under no obligation to select an offer, if 30 days pass without a decision, you'll need to reapply.

Sample rates for reference

LendingTree doesn't provide specific fee and APR details due to the variability among their partner lenders. Instead, they offer an average personal loan APR by credit score, updated quarterly, for reference. Their APRs track with most of the bad credit lenders we researched, so they were definitely competitive. We're glad that they spotlight lenders who cap their APRs at just under 36%, but keep in mind that many of them have a minimum credit requirement of 580. For the latest data, you can find it on LendingTree's Bad Credit Loans page.

A trusted name in partner referrals

With an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, LendingTree maintains a strong reputation. Satisfied clients have left numerous five-star reviews, praising the service for various funding needs. Recent comments highlight clients securing the lowest available rates and receiving their loan proceeds the following day. LendingTree does get a few complaints revolving around frequent communication from LT's partners, a common concern with most lender-referral services.

Excellent way to shop around for lenders

In the realm of bad credit loans, LendingTree remains a top choice for competitive offers. The platform provides valuable insights into an extensive network of lenders, streamlining the process through a single online form. While successful applicants typically have above-average credit scores, it's worth exploring LendingTree for a loan, even if your credit history is less than perfect. Dive in, compare, and make an informed decision based on your financial needs.

Avant

• Loan amount: $2,000 to $35,000
• Loan terms ranging from 12-60 months
• Fixed rate only
• Administration fees of up to 4.75%
• Application decisions within minutes when possible
• Funds can be deposited within 1 business day after approval
• "A” rated and accredited by the BBB

In the vast landscape of lending options, Avant stands out as a reliable player, having been in the industry since 2012 and facilitating billions in loans. Based in the heart of Chicago, Avant positions itself as a champion for "middle-income borrowers," extending a helping hand to more than two million individuals through various financing solutions, including bad credit loans.

A few eligibility hoops to jump through

There are some criteria you'll need to meet in order to be eligible for a bad credit loan through Avant. First off, be aware that they may not be able to help you if your credit score is in the "poor” category (under 580). They say that the majority of their clients have scores between 600-700, so keep that in mind. You're also more likely to be approved if you have an annual income of at least $20,000 (because, after all, Avant needs to be relatively confident that you'll pay them back).

No surprises in the application

If you meet those qualifications (or are close to it), you'll fill out the initial loan questionnaire online. Like most lenders, Avant will perform a soft credit pull based on your complete SSN, and you'll need to disclose your monthly net income and other personal details. Once your identity has been verified, you'll get a list of loan options to choose from. If you complete the full application after selecting the loan you want, you can anticipate having a final decision within minutes. Just remember that, at that point, a hard pull is being done on your credit history and will impact your score for a time.

Get your funds within a day

Avant's bad credit loans can be deposited super-fast. Most customers have their funds deposited within a business day after they accept the terms of their loan.

Terms and fees you should be aware of

But, as you would expect, these loans aren't free. First off, you'll only be able to borrow between $2,000 and $35,000 here. The lower end of their APRs are higher than many of the lenders on our list, but let's be realistic: people with bad credit are extremely unlikely to qualify for the low end of the interest rate scale, so it doesn't really matter if Avant isn't competitive there. You should also expect to pay an administrative fee of up to 4.75% on your loan. Finally, where you live will impact some of Avant's minimums and maximums, as well as the fees: you can find your state's specific requirements in the dropdowns at the bottom of the loans page.

Past problems have been resolved

In the past (dating back to April 2019, for reference), we had downgraded Avant for having some troubles that had resulted in an alert on its Better Business Bureau listing. Fortunately, those times are well in the past, and Avant now enjoys a solid "A” rating and accreditation from the BBB. It's true that there are still complaints being filed there (over 300 in the last 12 months, to be specific), but the good news is that Avant is responding to and working to resolve each one.

5 stars for helping people with bad credit

That's probably why this lender gets such enthusiastic feedback in other places. Take Trustpilot, for example: across more than 26,000 ratings, Avant averages 4.6 stars. That includes over 21,000 perfect five-star reviews. We even filtered the comments to look for mention of "bad credit”, and Avant still shines in that regard: numerous clients said that Avant helped them when no one else would, even when their score was low (or their credit was nonexistent).

Now an excellent loan choice for people with bad credit

It's always a pleasure to move a lender up in our rankings when their efforts show improvement in their customer satisfaction, and that's certainly the case with Avant. We encourage you to fill out their preliminary application and see if they can make you an offer you can't refuse.

Upgrade

• Loan amount: $1,000 to $50,000
• Origination fees of 1.85% to 9.99% deducted from loan proceeds
• Repayment terms from 24-84 months
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Two lending partners
• In business since 2017

From rewards checking to affordable personal loans, credit cards, and financial education, Upgrade has been making waves since 2017. With its headquarters in San Francisco and additional offices in Phoenix, Atlanta, Orange County (CA), and Montreal, Upgrade has left its mark, serving over 2.5 million customers and lending over $24 billion.

Borrow up to $50K

When applying for your bad credit loan through Upgrade, you'll begin the process by specifying your desired loan amount, ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, and indicating the loan's purpose - such as major purchase or debt consolidation. Individual or joint application? You decide. Provide essential personal details for yourself and anyone involved in the loan agreement, including annual income. If you're self-employed, take note of the specific qualification requirements highlighted on the page.

Prepare to give your full SSN

To unlock your loan options here, you'll need to create an Upgrade account using your email address and a chosen password. The next step? Verification through entering your full Social Security Number. Should Upgrade fail to locate your credit profile through TransUnion or another credit bureau, a prompt notification will inform you of the denial of your loan request.

Understand the rates, terms, and fees

Upgrade's bad credit loans feature good fixed-rate APRs with repayment terms spanning 24 to 84 months. Keep an eye on origination fees - a one-time charge of 1.85% to 9.99%, deducted from your loan proceeds. You'll want to include that in your calculations when deciding how much you want to borrow. Once you get a loan offer, finalize your application, and accept the terms, you could have your funds deposited into your bank account within 24 hours of loan approval.

2 funding banks behind the service

Upgrade is one of two services on our list that draw their funding from partnerships with Cross River Bank and Blue Ridge Bank. (We're not sure if the two platforms have a financial relationship, so we point that out as more of an FYI.) While Cross River Bank boasts a "C-" rating from the Better Business Bureau, Blue Ridge Bank comes in with a more favorable "B+" rating. As for Upgrade itself, it maintains an impeccable "A+" rating from the BBB.

Borrowers are really happy with these loans

With over 30,000 five-star reviews, Upgrade's reputation stands tall. Just peek at the comments on Trustpilot, where 92% of customers award Upgrade a 4- or 5-star rating. While some borrowers note slightly longer wait times than expected for loan processing, the majority praise the application process for its speed, simplicity, and reliability. Some customers have expressed delight and almost disbelief about qualifying for a loan with a credit score below 600, and others give Upgrade high fives for its transparency.

Definitely one to consider

While Upgrade may be a newer player compared to some competitors, its rapid ascent to an excellent reputation positions it as an exceptional choice for your bad credit loan needs. Origination fees aside, Upgrade's stellar customer service and higher-than-average approval rates for buyers with bad credit make it a compelling option. Don't hesitate - Upgrade is undoubtedly worth exploring for your loan journey.

Best Egg

• Loan amount: $2,000 to $35,000; up to $50,000 with special offers
• One-time origination fee ranging from 0.99% to 8.99% of the full loan amount
• Funding as quick as 24 hours through two lending banks
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Over 1.1 million loans funded

Best Egg is pretty standard as far as online lenders go. They look at more than just your credit score when determining if you qualify for a bad credit loan, and they try to help you find the best fit for your budget and your circumstances. Best Egg has extended over $21 billion across 1.1 million funded loans.

Offers vary by state

Best Egg typically provides loans ranging from $2,000 to $35,000, but what you can borrow will depend on your application and the state where you live. They also dangle this out there: with a special offer code, loans up to $50,000 may also be offered (if permitted by law).

Best rates require good credit and high income

How about rates, fees, and costs? You should expect to pay a one-time origination fee from 0.99% to 8.99% of the full loan amount. It'll be deducted from the proceeds before Best Egg deposits your loan money into your account. Interest rates are decent but not great, with the lowest rates being reserved for those with a minimum 700 FICO score and a minimum individual income of $100,000 (ouch).

No minimum credit score requirement disclosed

Best Egg doesn't come out and say how low is too low of a credit score to qualify for a loan, so you'll need to complete the preliminary application. We did see several comments from people who had prequalified on the initial application but got turned down when they chose a loan and submitted the final paperwork, so bear that in mind.

Get your loan proceeds in 1-3 business days

If you do qualify for a Best Egg loan, your funds can be deposited within 1 business day: about half of their clients get their money that quickly. Otherwise, it'll likely take up to 3 business days to land in your account.

Better feedback than its lending partners

Best Egg is one of two services on our list who fund their loans through a partnership with Cross River Bank and Blue Ridge Bank. (We tried digging around to see if the services are two sides of the same coin, but at the time of this evaluation we hadn't definitely found a relationship between Best Egg and the other lender.) Those two banks don't have flawless ratings with the Better Business Bureau (a "C-” for Cross River and a "B+” for Blue Ridge), but fortunately Best Egg itself enjoys an "A+” rating and accreditation there. Better yet, Best Egg has over 8,500 ratings from clients on Trustpilot, with 93% of people giving the service a 4- or 5-star score.

Good option for bad credit borrowers

There's definitely nothing we can point to as a reason not to try Best Egg for your loan, even if you have bad credit. We're not the biggest fans of origination fees, but they tend to be part and parcel of this industry. Best Egg's rates and terms line up with competitor lenders on our list, and customer satisfaction is high. This lender is worth a shot.

LendingPoint

• Loan amount: $2,000 to $36,500
• Funds within 1 business day
• Minimum credit score of 660+
• Minimum annual income of $35,000
• Origination fees of up to 10%
• Loans offered in all states but NV and WV
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

LendingPoint got its start back in 2015, attempting to answer a question: "How can access to fair credit be provided to the consumers who need it most?” They identified a major flaw in the FICO-based model of evaluating credit-worthiness, which left out lots of borrowers like you who are still deserving of an offer. The company used data models with the help of AI to find out how to give more "yes” answers to people with less-than-stellar credit.

Don't apply if you don't have at least a 660

While LendingPoint is very proud of the fact that they believe that "you are so much more than numbers on papers or filled-in form fields”, they still require you to have at least a 660 credit score. That's the biggest reason why this lender winds up in the "just above average” category on our list: most experts say that a 660 is on the border of fair-to-good credit, and not what we would typically classify as "bad” credit.

Nothing surprising in rates or fees

But, let's say your score is right around that (or a smidge higher, even), and you've got the minimum required annual income of $35,000+. What can you expect from the loan process at LendingPoint? You can borrow anywhere from $2,000 to $36,500 here, though it may vary a bit by state. By the way, you automatically are disqualified if you live in Nevada or West Virginia; LendingPoint simply doesn't lend to residents of those states. Also, expect an origination fee of up to 10%, deducted from your loan proceeds prior to deposit: the exact amount will depend on the limits in your state.

You could pay less interest after 6 on-time payments

One perk we spotted in LendingPoint's FAQs: if you make on-time payments for six consecutive months, they'll automatically review your account to see if they can lower your interest rate. So, you may start out with a rate that rivals other lenders interest rates, but drop down after an unbroken payment history. That's something worth striving for.

Fantastic reputation for customer service

LendingPoint has one of the best reputations of any service on our list. To start, the Better Business Bureau gives the company an "A+” rating and accreditation for responding appropriately and in a timely way to the 160 complaints filed there over the last year. Feedback on Trustpilot is even more glowing, with 95% of reviewers awarding LendingPoint a perfect five-star score - across nearly 8,500 ratings. Borrowers often leave compliments for specific employees, describing all of them as fast, knowledgeable, friendly, and even funny sometimes.

Good for borrowers with mid-tier credit and above

LendingPoint could be a great option if your credit is in the mid-range of scores, but they won't offer you anything if you're below that 660 mark. We give them a solid 3.5 star rating here for being easy to work with and for coming in so highly praised by thousands of happy clients, but we'd love to see them stretch just a little bit and incorporate even more borrowers who might not currently qualify on credit score alone. That is their goal, after all.

Bad Credit Loans

• Loan amount: $100 to $10,000
• Referral service that connects you with lenders
• "A+” rated by the BBB
• In business for 20+ years

Bad Credit Loans might be the first site you come up with when searching for, well, a bad credit loan. This service, like several others on our list, doesn't actually cut you a check for the cash you need. Instead, you fill out a basic online application and they connect you with their network of lenders who specialize in funding loans for people with far-from-perfect credit.

Basic eligibility requirements before you apply

Because of that, Bad Credit Loans can only extend some initial qualification criteria; the rest will come from the lenders themselves. Go ahead and fill out the online form if you:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Have proof of US citizenship
• Have regular income from full-time work, self-employment, or Social Security/Disability benefits
• Have a checking account in your name
• Have work/home phone numbers
• Have a valid email address

They ask for your banking info

That form starts by asking for your zip code, last 4 digits of your SSN, and your birthdate. From there, you'll need to provide your name, your desired loan amount, monthly income, and so on: the questions you'll be asked pretty much anywhere you apply for a bad credit loan. But, we started to feel a little uncomfortable when the form asked us for our full SSN (before we were ready to commit to a hard pull on our credit) AND our full bank information, including routing number and account number, even though we specified that we wanted our funds as a paper check and not direct deposit.

Borrowing limits may be lower than average

Through Bad Credit Loans, you should be able to borrow from $100 up to $10,000. That's not quite as much as most of the services on our list, FYI. Then again, when we entered all of the information of a fictitious loan applicant with bad credit, this site redirected us to a completely different URL with options to start the process all over again with a list of suggested lenders, whose upper loan amounts went as high as $35,000.

Major improvements over time

We have mixed feelings about Bad Credit Loans. On the one hand, we were pleased (and, frankly, stunned) to see that the company's rating from the Better Business Bureau went from an "F” to an "A+” over the course of three years, with no complaints filed there. And, even customer sentiment has improved since the last time we checked out Bad Credit Loans: you'll still find complaints about personal information being detected on the dark web after they applied here and from people who didn't qualify for a loan, but there are also compliments from those who got the money they needed without any drama.

Transparent about selling your contact info

We're also glad that Bad Credit Loans says the quiet part out loud: right at the top of the site, they tell you that they "may be compensated for sharing your info and marketing non-loan products”. It's not even buried in the fine print: click that link and you'll see that when you fill out the application here, they will absolutely sell your information to lenders, third-party service providers, and other marketing-based lead generators, which will result in "multiple marketing communications for both loans and other credit-related products and services”. Sounds like spam to us!

From "worst” to "just average”

At the end of the day, all of that self-disclosure and "F to A+” swing isn't enough to move the needle all the way. Yes, we're glad that Bad Credit Loans seems to be getting more transparent with what they do and don't do, but we don't love signing up for endless unwanted marketing contacts just to get the loan we want. We've moved this platform up from the basement to the main floor, so to speak, with a 3-star rating; however, we'd still recommend a sprinkling of healthy caution before applying here, and we suggest looking at the higher-ranking bad credit loan options on our list first (especially given how much sensitive data Bad Credit Loans asks for in the application).

OneMain Financial

• Loan amount: $1,500 to $20,000
• Terms ranging from 24-60 months
• Funds can be direct deposited
• Collateral may be required on larger loans
• Available in 44 states
• Origination fees of $25 to $500 or up to 10% of the loan total
• In business for over 100 years

If you've got less-than-perfect credit and you're on the hunt for a loan, OneMain Financial has been a stalwart financial institution, with over a century's worth of experience. With a footprint that extends to an impressive 1,500+ branches across the nation, OneMain Financial offers both online and in-person options for your lending experience.

Secured and unsecured loans

OneMain offers both secured and unsecured personal loans. What does that mean? On loans of higher amounts (and/or for those with bad credit), you could be asked to offer your vehicle as collateral; if you default on your loan, OneMain Financial would have the right to repossess the car. You may or may not see that in the loan package this lender offers you, but you need to understand what it is if you do.

Interest rates are high

In terms of rates, fees, and loan amounts, OneMain isn't that competitive with other options on our list. The max you can borrow here is $20,000 (where some rivals cap it at $35,000 and up), and the interest rates here aren't necessarily better than what you're paying on your credit cards already. They're also going to charge you origination fees of $25 to $500 or up to 10% of the loan total.

Not available in all 50 states

That's presuming, of course, that you live in one of the 44 states where OneMain Financial operates. We wish they'd make it easy to see which ones aren't eligible, to save people like you the hassle of having to apply only to find out you're not in their service area, but so far that hasn't happened. Also, your state's laws will affect how much you can borrow, both on the minimum and maximum amount.

BBB rating and customer sentiment on the decline

Despite its century-long presence, OneMain Financial bears the weight of customer dissatisfaction, evident in over 1,000 complaints logged on the BBB site in the last three years. While the company maintains accreditation, its rating has slipped from an "A+" to a "B." The Better Business Bureau attributes this downgrade to action taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) against OneMain, related to refunding practices for certain add-on loan products.

Still has some happy borrowers

Yet, amidst the criticism, we see that OneMain Financial still receives praise for being fast, fair, and easy to work with. Across 10,000+ reviews, borrowers give shout outs to specific employees for their helpful and professional demeanor, and they're often quite happy with the loan process (although those comments tend to be from recently-funded clients and not those who are further along in the repayment process).

Room for improvement

While we give OneMain Financial credit for being transparent with their rates and fees, there's nothing to get excited about with respect to their bad credit loans. You'll pay more for what you borrow than with many rival lenders on our list, and we're not thrilled about the legal action pending against the company as a whole. That lands OneMain as just below average here.

Personal Loans

• Loan: From $500 to $35,000
• "A" rated by the BBB
• Accepts super low credit ratings
• Shares your information with multiple lending networks

Personal Loans is one of several services in our review that acts as a third-party connection between borrowers and lenders. In order to qualify for a bad credit loan, you'll need to meet certain minimum criteria, like being at least 18 years old and having some form of reliable income.

Not many specifics

While Personal Loans does have a Rates and Fees page, they don't offer many specifics. When it comes to your APR, costs or loan terms, you'll only find those out when you complete the application process and get matched with a lender. Example loans on their page show interest rates from 12% to 24%, but our research shows that you can expect a range that could be lower or higher than that. Repayment timeframes stretch between 3 and 72 months, depending on the size of your bad credit loan.

Short online form

To get started in your search for a lender willing to give you a bad credit loan, you start with their easy short online form. Enter the amount you're requesting, your credit score range (this site uses "Below 500" as their criteria for poor credit), and why you need a loan (for example, an emergency situation, pay down debt, and so on). On the second page, you'll have to get much more personal, including your driver's license number and full SSN. That always makes us pause a minute, especially if we're not sure of a provider's reputation.

"A" rating by the BBB

So, how does this company's reputation stack up against the rest? Personal Loans had an "A" rating from the BBB at the time of our most recent visit. They've had 8 customer complaints in the last 3 years, and all were responded to and closed, so that's a good sign. We found a few inconsistencies on the site (one page saying we should see their coverage map to see if our state is one they service, but not finding any maps on the page we were told to visit), but nothing too bad.

Sharing your information

Personal Loans is transparent about who they'll share your personal information with. Unfortuantely for us, it's a little too much. To start with, they'll share your information with the lenders in their network - which is to be expected, if you want to get loan offers. Next though, they'll share your contact information with non-lender 3rd party networks. While they do this to offer you a wide range of loan offers, these networks will then share your information with the lenders in their networks. Personal Loans does not have any information on the lenders in those 3rd party networks, so there's no way of knowing who will end up contacting you - by text, email, or phone calls.

The hidden cost of getting your loan

Can you get loan offers through Personal Loans even if you have bad credit? Absolutely. And you may receive offers through them even if your credit score doesn't qualify you for loans from the other services in our review. According to the BBB, they're a reputable company to deal with, so that's the good news. The "hidden" cost is their sharing of your contact information with all the lenders in their 3rd party networks. As long as know upfront that you may be dealing with phone calls and text messages, getting that bad credit loan may be worth it.