Upstart is an online lender that offers personal loans to borrowers across the credit spectrum by partnering with dozens of banks and credit unions. Founded in 2012, the platform offers loans ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, with interest rates from 6.70% to 35.99% and repayment terms of 36 or 60 months.
Upstart offers flexible credit requirements and a low minimum loan amount, but it might not be the best fit for everyone.
We recommend you check several Upstart competitors before signing on the dotted line to ensure you’re getting the most affordable loan. If you’re trying to find the best personal loan for your needs, check out the Upstart alternatives below.
In this guide:
- Why you may consider Upstart alternatives
- Upstart alternatives for personal loans
- Additional alternatives to Upstart
- Recap of Upstart alternatives
Why you may consider Upstart alternatives
Upstart’s loans offer plenty to like, but no single lender is the best fit for everyone.
It might be wise to shop around and consider Upstart competitors for the following reasons:
- Origination fee: Upstart charges an origination fee, which can be as high as 10% 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 may be eligible for a personal loan from another lender with no upfront origination fee if you have excellent credit.
- No cosigners allowed: You can 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.
- Inflexible repayment terms: 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 three years and five years, giving you less flexibility with your monthly payment.
Upstart alternatives for personal loans
| Lender | Best for | Key features |
| LendingPoint | Changing your payment date | Rates from 7.99% – $35.99% Prequalify without affecting your credit score Loan amounts from $2,000 – $36,500 |
| Upgrade | Fair credit | Rates from 8.49% – 35.97% Prequalify without affecting your credit score Loan amounts from $1,000 – $50,000 |
| LightStream | Excellent credit | Rates from 7.99% – 25.99% No origination fee Loan amounts from $5,000 – $100,00 |
| SoFi | Good credit | Rates from 8.99% – 23.43% No origination fee required Loan amounts from $5,000 – $100,000 |
| Happy Money | Credit card debt | Rates from 10.50% – 29.99% Prequalify without affecting your credit score Loan amounts from $5,000 – $40,000 |
Best for changing your payment date: LendingPoint
Editorial rating: 4.9 out of 5
- Simple application to see payment options with no impact on credit score
- Proprietary smart technology can paint a more complete picture of you in seconds
- Loan amounts: $2,000 – $36,500
LendingPoint is a personal loan lender offering funds to those with poor or fair credit. As of March 2023, the company has loaned more than $7 billion throughout the United States. Checking your payment options does not affect your credit score, and you can get a decision in a few seconds.
If you’re approved, the lender often funds the loan by the next business day. LendingPoint doesn’t offer personal loans in Nevada or West Virginia. Its minimum annual income requirement is $35,000.
- Credit score category: Fair or bad (580+)
- Soft credit pull to check rates? Yes
- Deposit time: As soon as the next day
- Origination fee: 0% – 8%
- Late fee: Not disclosed
- Rates (APR): 7.99% – 35.99%
- Discounts: None
- Repayment terms: 24 – 72 months
Best for fair credit: Upgrade
Editorial rating: 4.9 out of 5
- Credit health tool to monitor your credit score and get personalized recommendations
- Loan amounts: $1,000 – $50,000
- 15-day grace period before late fee is assessed
Upgrade offers personal loans to those with poor or fair credit. The lender offers flexible loan amounts and repayment terms, but its upfront origination fee can be pricey. Its interest rates aren’t the best on the market, but it allows cosigners, which can make it easier to get approved with a favorable rate.
Qualify for a lower rate by signing up for autopay and using a portion of your loan to pay down other debts. You can also get up to 20% off your rate with an Upgrade Rewards checking account.
- Credit score category: Poor or fair (560+)
- Soft credit check: Yes
- Deposit time: As fast as 1 day
- Origination fee: 1.85% – 8.99%
- Late fee: Up to $10
- Rates (APR): 8.49% – 35.97%
- Discounts: Automatic payments, direct payoff, Rewards Checking account
- Repayment terms: 24 – 84 months
Best for excellent credit: LightStream
Editorial rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Rate Beat program: Will beat a competitor’s offer by 0.10% APR if approved for a lower rate elsewhere
- Unique satisfaction guarantee: Borrowers who are not satisfied with their loan experience can get a $100 refund
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
LightStream is a subsidiary of Truist Bank that offers online personal loans for various purposes. The lender doesn’t charge an origination fee, and its repayment terms can go as long as 12 years for home improvement loans and boat, RV, and aircraft loans. However, the minimum loan amount is somewhat higher than other Upstart alternatives.
Another feature that sets LightStream apart from its competitors is that it will beat any qualified competing interest rate by 0.10%. It doesn’t offer prequalification with a soft credit check, so you must undergo a hard credit inquiry to gauge your approval odds and interest rates.
- Credit score category: Good or excellent (660+)
- Soft credit check: No
- Deposit time: As soon as the same day
- Origination fee: None
- Late fee: None
- Rates (APR): 7.99% – 25.99%
- Discounts: 0.50% discount for autopay
- Repayment terms: 24 to 144 months
Best for good credit: SoFi
Editorial rating: 5 out of 5
- Unemployment protection allows pausing loan payments in case of job loss
- Fast, easy application: Get a decision in minutes
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
Social Finance, SoFi for short, started as a student loan refinancing company in 2011 but has evolved into a full-fledged bank. The lender’s personal loans are designed for borrowers with good and excellent credit, and it offers flexible loan amounts and repayment terms—but its minimum loan amount is high.
That said, SoFi offers unemployment protection. If you lose your job, it will not only modify your monthly payments but help you find a new job.
- Credit score category: Good or excellent
- Soft credit check: Yes
- Deposit time: As soon as the same day
- Origination fee: 0% to 6%
- Late fee: None
- Rates (APR): 8.99% – 23.42%
- Discounts: 0.25% discount for autopay; 0.25% discount for opening a SoFi Checking and Savings Account and setting up direct deposit
- Repayment terms: 24 – 84 months
Best for credit card debt: Happy Money
Editorial rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Checking your rate is free and won’t affect your credit score
- 4-star average rating on Trustpilot
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $40,000
Happy Money, formerly Payoff, is an online lending platform that works with a handful of credit unions to provide loans for credit card consolidation. As of March 2023, the company has made $5.2 billion in loans since it was founded in 2009.
Depending on your eligibility and preference, you may be able to get your loan funds into your bank account or have the lender pay off your credit cards. Happy Money does not offer loans in Massachusetts or Nevada.
- Credit score category: Good or excellent (640+)
- Soft credit check: Yes
- Deposit time: 3 – 6 days if you opt for deposit; up to 30 days if you opt for direct payoff
- Origination fee: 0% – 5%
- Late fee: None
- Rates (APR): 10.50% – 29.99%
- Discounts: None
- Repayment terms: 24 – 60 months
Additional alternatives to 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
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Loan amounts | Credit score |
| LendingPoint | 7.99% – 35.99% | $2,000 – $36,500 | 580+ |
| Upgrade | 8.49% – 35.97% | $1,000 – $50,000 | 560+ |
| LightStream | 7.99% – 25.99% | $5,000 – $100,000 | 660+ |
| SoFi | 8.99% – 23.43% | $5,000 – $100,000 | Good to excellent |
| Happy Money | 10.50% – 29.99% | $5,000 – $40,000 | 640+ |