Personal and auto loans, compared honestly.
Fintiex compares personal and auto loan rates by credit tier and loan purpose. See realistic APRs for your credit score, not just the best-case teaser rate, before you talk to a single lender.
Rate snapshot by tier
Representative ratesBest personal loan rates today
Rates reflect best available APR for qualified borrowers. Prequalify with a soft pull. No paid placements.
LightStream
Personal LoanLowest APR↓ Down vs last weekTruist-owned online lender with a rate-beat guarantee and the lowest APRs in the prime-credit tier.
- +No origination, late, or prepayment fees
- +Auto-pay discount of 0.5%
- +Rate-beat guarantee against any competitor
SoFi
Personal Loan→ Flat vs last weekStrong rates for prime borrowers with no origination fee and unemployment protection if you lose your job.
- +No origination, prepayment, or late fees
- +Unemployment protection pauses payments if you lose your job
- +Free financial planning and career coaching
Marcus
Personal Loan→ Flat vs last weekGoldman Sachs personal loans. Fixed rates, no fees, and the freedom to skip a payment after 12 on-time months.
- +No fees of any kind, ever
- +On-time payment reward: defer one payment after 12 months
- +Fixed rate that never changes
Discover Personal Loans
Personal Loan↑ Up vs last weekPersonal loans up to $40K with no origination fees and 24/7 U.S.-based phone support.
- +No origination, late, or prepayment fees
- +30-day return policy if you change your mind
- +24/7 U.S.-based customer service
Upstart
Personal LoanApproval friendly↑ Up vs last weekAI-powered underwriting that approves applicants traditional lenders decline. Watch the origination fee.
- +Income and education factored alongside credit score
- +Soft-pull pre-qualification in minutes
- +Funded in 1 business day for approved loans
LendingClub
Personal Loan→ Flat vs last weekMarketplace personal loans with fast funding. Strong fit for debt consolidation with a direct-pay option.
- +Direct-pay option sends loan funds to your card issuers
- +Joint application reduces rate for households
- +Origination fee varies by credit profile
Best Egg
Personal Loan↑ Up vs last weekFast online personal loans with above-average approval odds for fair-credit borrowers. Secured option available.
- +Secured option (against vehicle or fixtures) drops the rate
- +Soft-pull pre-qualification with no credit hit
- +Origination fee 0.99% to 8.99% of loan
Prosper
Personal Loan↑ Up vs last weekOne of the original peer-to-peer lenders, now offering personal loans with transparent fee disclosures.
- +Joint applications accepted for better rates
- +Transparent origination fee, no hidden charges
- +Over $25 billion funded since 2005
What actually determines your loan rate.
Three things to understand before you apply.
The five factors lenders score
Credit score carries the most weight, but lenders also look at debt-to-income ratio (your monthly debt payments divided by gross income), income stability, employment history, and the loan purpose. Debt consolidation loans often carry better rates than general-purpose loans because the repayment is more predictable.
Secured vs unsecured: the trade-off
Unsecured personal loans require no collateral. They are faster to fund but carry higher rates because the lender has no asset to claim if you default. Secured loans (backed by a car, savings account, or other asset) offer lower rates but put your collateral at risk. Some lenders, like Best Egg, offer both options. Use a secured loan only if the rate difference is meaningful and you are confident in your repayment plan.
Prequalification vs formal application
Prequalification uses a soft credit pull, which does not affect your score. You get an estimated rate range based on your credit profile. A formal application triggers a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. Always prequalify with multiple lenders before submitting a formal application. If you apply to several lenders within a short window (typically 14 to 45 days), scoring models treat them as a single inquiry.
Loans by purpose and vehicle.
Common questions.
Personal loan vs credit card: which is better for large expenses?
A personal loan is usually better for expenses over $5,000 that you need more than 12 months to repay. You get a fixed rate, a fixed term, and a single monthly payment. A 0% APR credit card wins for expenses you can pay off within the promotional window, which is typically 12 to 21 months.
Will applying for a personal loan hurt my credit score?
Prequalification uses a soft pull, which has no effect on your score. A formal application triggers a hard inquiry, which typically drops your score 2 to 5 points temporarily. Multiple hard pulls within a 14- to 45-day window are usually counted as a single inquiry by scoring models.
What APR can I realistically qualify for?
Excellent credit (720+) typically qualifies for rates in the 8 to 12% range from prime lenders. Good credit (680 to 719) usually lands 12 to 18%. Fair credit (620 to 679) often sees 18 to 28%. Anything below 620 may require a secured loan or a cosigner to access reasonable rates.
Hard pull vs soft pull: what is the difference?
A soft pull is a background credit check that does not affect your score. Lenders use it for prequalification and rate estimates. A hard pull is a formal credit inquiry that goes on your credit report and lowers your score slightly. Always use soft-pull prequalification first to shop rates without risk.
Can I prepay a personal loan without a penalty?
Most of the lenders in our table (LightStream, SoFi, Marcus, Discover) have no prepayment penalties. Always confirm before signing. Lenders that charge a prepayment fee typically structure it as a percentage of the remaining balance or a fixed number of months of interest.
What is an origination fee and how does it affect my rate?
An origination fee is a one-time charge deducted from your loan proceeds before you receive the money. It typically ranges from 1% to 8% of the loan amount. A loan with a 9% rate and a 5% origination fee can cost more than one with an 11% rate and no fee. Always compare APR, which factors in origination fees.
Find out your monthly payment before you apply.
Personal loan payoff calculator. No signup, no soft pull.