Best Unsecured Loans in 2026
Borrow money without risking your assets
- Unsecured personal loans are backed by your promise to pay instead of by collateral, so you won’t risk your home, car or savings account.
- You’ll get better rates and cheaper loans with good credit (670+ FICO Score), but you could still qualify with bad or fair credit.
- APRs measure the cost of your loan, including interest rates and fees, and currently range from about 6% to 36%. We’ll show you how to measure your loan cost in dollars.
- An unsecured loan is a good option if you want to borrow money with predictable monthly payments without risking your assets.
What is an unsecured loan?
An unsecured personal loan is a loan that’s not backed or “secured” by collateral, like a home, car or savings account.
You’ll borrow a set amount of money and then pay it back — plus interest and fees — in equal monthly payments over a predetermined period of time.
Check out the best unsecured loans according to LendingTree’s objective rating system.
When to get an unsecured loan
Unsecured loans are good for people who want predictable payments without risking valuable assets. Consider getting an unsecured loan when you:
- Don’t want to risk your assets
- Want stable monthly payments that don’t change with the market
- Can afford the monthly payments
- Want to consolidate debt
How to get approved and get low rates
Lenders look at several factors to decide whether to offer you money. The more of these common benchmarks you meet, the better your odds and the lower your rates:
- Good credit: 670+ FICO Score
- Stable employment: Long work history, reliable income
- History of on-time payments: Credit cards, student loans and other accounts paid on time
- Low debt-to-income ratio: You make much more than you owe
Your odds of loan approval are good with a DTI ratio below 35%, but you could still qualify with a DTI ratio up to 50%. Use the LendingTree DTI calculator or do the math yourself:
Monthly debt payments ÷ gross monthly income = DTI ratio
See how much your loan could cost in dollars
1. Find your credit band in the table below. Not sure where you stand? Check your score for free on LendingTree Spring.
| Credit tier | Average APR |
|---|---|
| Excellent (800 and above) | 15.75% |
| Very good (740-799) | 17.89% |
| Good (670-739) | 23.27% |
| Fair (580-669) | 27.79% |
| Poor (under 580) | 30.25% |
Check out our Average LendingTree Personal Loan Rates and Marketplace Data to explore more real borrower data, including the average credit score for LendingTree users who received at least one offer.
2. Plug in the average annual percentage rate (APR) for your credit band. Play with the loan terms until you find a monthly payment you can afford — and a total cost you can live with.
Expert LendingTree tip: Choose the offer with the shortest loan term that still has monthly payments you can afford. This will help you save money on your loan.
Unsecured vs. secured vs. payday loans
| Approval difficulty | Rates | Amounts | Repayment terms | Risk due to nonpayment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsecured loan | Hard for bad credit, but not impossible | 6% – 36% (slightly higher than secured loans) | $1,000 – $100,000 | 12 – 84 months | Credit score damage, legal repercussions |
| Secured loan | Better than unsecured for bad or limited credit | 6% – 36% (slightly lower than unsecured loans) | $1,000 – $100,000 | 12 – 84 months | Credit score damage, legal repercussions, loss of asset |
| Payday loan | Easiest — lender doesn’t run credit checks or report to credit bureaus | Up to 400% (extremely high) | Up to $500 | Two to four weeks | Credit score damage, legal repercussions, cycle of debt |
Check your unsecured loan offers on LendingTree
You’d shop around for flights. Why not your loan? LendingTree makes it easy. Instead of applying to just one lender and hoping for a good rate, see multiple lenders compete for your business — so you can choose the best offer.
Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need. It’s free, simple and secure.
Shop your offers
LendingTree users get 11 personal loan offers on average. Compare your offers side by side to get the best deal.
Get your money
Users save an average of $1,659 by choosing the offer with the lowest rate. Once you pick a lender and sign your paperwork, you could see money in your account in as little as 24 hours.
Best unsecured loans
| Lender | User rating | Best for | APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall unsecured loans | 7.74% to 35.49% (with discounts) | ||
|
Excellent customer service and no fees | 7.99% to 24.99% | ||
|
Small unsecured loans | 6.09% to 17.99% (with autopay) | ||
|
Joint unsecured personal loans | 7.74% to 35.99% (with discounts) | ||
|
Unsecured loans for bad credit | 6.20% to 35.99% |
Read more about how we made our picks for the best unsecured loans.
Best for: Overall unsecured loans — SoFi
- APR (with discounts)
- 7.74% to 35.49%
Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., and meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and other factors. If SoFi is unable to offer you a loan but matches you for a loan with a participating bank, then your rate may be outside the range of rates listed above. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Personal Loans can be used for any lawful personal, family, or household purposes and may not be used for post-secondary education expenses. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2024 was around $33K. Information current as of 02/23/26. SoFi Personal Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). See SoFi.com/legal for state-specific license details. See SoFi.com/eligibility for details and state restrictions. Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 02/23/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Plus Discount: SoFi Plus members are eligible for an interest rate reduction of 0.25% on a Personal Loan. To be eligible for the discount, you must meet the SoFi Plus eligibility criteria within 31 days of the funding of your loan. For complete SoFi Plus eligibility, please see the SoFi Plus terms. When you enroll in SoFi Plus, the discount will lower the interest rate that applies to your loan only during periods in which you are enrolled in SoFi Plus. The discount will be removed during periods in which SoFi determines you are not enrolled in SoFi Plus. Each time your loan is re-amortized, your monthly payment amount will change based upon the interest rate that was in place. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this offer for unenrolled participants at any time. You are not required to enroll in SoFi Plus to be eligible for Loan approval.
- No required fees
- Get money as soon as the same day you’re approved
- 0.25% autopay discount
- Won’t qualify if you have bad credit
- Upfront origination fee required for lowest rates
- No small loans (must borrow at least $5,000)
SoFi is the top LendingTree pick for unsecured personal loans because it offers fast loans, has no required fees and is available to people with fair credit. Need money fast for an emergency expense? SoFi could send your money as soon as the same day you’re approved. While there are no required fees, you could choose to pay a one-time origination fee to get lower rates.
Look elsewhere if you need to borrow less than $5,000, which is SoFi’s minimum. You should only borrow as much as you absolutely need to avoid paying more in interest.
You must meet the requirements below to get a loan from SoFi:
- Age: Be the age of majority in your state (typically 18)
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible permanent resident or a non-permanent resident (a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient or asylum-seeker, for instance)
- Employment: Have a job or job offer with a start date within 90 days, or have regular income from another source
- Credit score: 600+
Best for: Excellent customer service and no fees – Discover
- APR
- 7.99% to 24.99%
- Get money as soon as the next business day
- Repayment assistance options if you can’t make payments
- No fees
- Can’t apply for a loan with another person
- Need good or excellent credit to qualify
- Can only borrow up to $40,000 (other lenders offer $50,000 or higher)
Discover loans come with no fees and several perks, including repayment assistance programs if you have a hard time keeping up with payments. Once you’re approved, you can get your money as soon as the next business day.
If you have fair or bad credit, look elsewhere. Discover requires a credit score of 720 or higher.
Best for: Small unsecured loans – PenFed Credit Union
- APR (with autopay)
- 6.09% to 17.99%
- Loans start at just $600 (other lenders start at $1,000 or $2,000)
- No upfront fees
- Rates capped at 17.99%
- Must become credit union member to get a loan (but everyone is eligible to apply)
- Doesn’t publish minimum credit score, income or other info on how to qualify
PenFed Credit Union’s small loans start at $600 and are a great option if you’re only needing to cover a small expense. PenFed’s low rates make it a good fit for a lot of people — APRs from federal credit unions are capped at 18%, while other lenders charge APRs as high as 36%.
You’ll have to become a PenFed member to get your money, but PenFed makes it easy to join at the same time you apply for your loan.
To qualify for a PenFed Credit Union loan, you must meet the following requirements:
- Membership: PenFed Credit Union membership (anyone can apply)
- Administrative: Open a PenFed Credit Union savings account with a $5 deposit; may need to submit documents to verify your identity and income
Best for: Joint unsecured personal loans – Upgrade
- APR (with discounts)
- 7.74% to 35.99%
- Get money in as soon as one business day
- Can send money directly to your creditors if you’re consolidating
- Lets you boost your approval odds by applying with another person
- Fair credit OK
- Charges an origination fee on all loans (1.85% – 9.99%)
Lending platform Upgrade lets you boost your chances of approval by applying with another person for a joint personal loan (a loan you share with a co-borrower). You could see your money in your account in as little as one business day.
Unlike some lenders and marketplaces, Upgrade charges a one-time origination fee on every loan.
To qualify for a loan through Upgrade, you must meet the requirements below:
- Age: Be at least 18 years old (19 in some states)
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or live in the U.S. with a valid visa
- Administrative: Have a valid bank account and email address
- Credit score: 580+
Best for: Unsecured loans for bad credit – Upstart
- APR
- 6.20% to 35.99%
- Available to borrowers with bad or no credit
- Get money in as soon as one business day
- Considers factors like education and employment, which could make it easier to qualify
- Can’t take out a loan with another person
- Only two repayment terms to choose from (36 or 60 months)
- May charge a one-time origination fee
Upstart is a lending marketplace that lets you check if you prequalify for an unsecured personal loan with partner lenders. You could get your money in as little as one business day after approval.
Upstart only offers two loan terms, which could make it hard to customize your loan to your needs. Short-term loans could help you save money on interest, while long-term loans could help you get lower monthly payments in exchange for paying more in interest.
Upstart has transparent eligibility requirements, including:
- Age: Be 18 or older
- Administrative: Have a U.S. address, personal banking account, email address and Social Security number
- Income: Have a valid source of income, including a job, job offer or another regular income source
- Credit-related factors: No bankruptcies within the last three years, reasonable number of recent inquiries on your credit report and no current delinquencies
- Credit score: None
Alternatives to unsecured loans
| Loan alternative | How does it work? | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card | Borrow money and pay it back again and again with a card | Easy to use, good for everyday purchases and small emergencies | Can only borrow up to your credit limit, easy to rack up debt |
| Personal line of credit | Borrow money and pay it back again and again with a loan | Lower rates than credit cards | Typically need good credit, uncommon and hard to find |
| Cash advance | Borrow money from your credit card | Quick cash, easy to use in an emergency | Can be extremely expensive |
Why use LendingTree?
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What sets LendingTree content apart
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Our personal loan writers and editors have 52 years of combined editorial experience and 42 years of combined personal finance experience.
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How we chose the best unsecured loans
We reviewed more than 40 lenders and loan marketplaces to determine the overall best unsecured loans. To make our list, lenders must offer unsecured loans with competitive APRs.
From there, we assessed each lender or marketplace across four categories: eligibility and access; cost to borrow; loan terms and options; repayment support and tools.
According to our standardized rating system, the best unsecured loans come from SoFi, Discover, PenFed Credit Union, Upgrade and Upstart.
Our categories
We assess how easy it is for people to qualify and apply. This includes state availability, soft-credit prequalification, membership requirements, funding speed and whether borrowers with less-than-excellent credit can get a loan.
We evaluate how affordable the loans are based on minimum and maximum APRs, loan fees and rate discounts. Lenders with unclear or potentially predatory costs receive lower scores.
We consider repayment term flexibility, loan amount ranges and whether options like secured loans, joint loans or direct-to-creditor payments are offered — plus whether the lender clearly communicates these options.
We evaluate borrower experience after funding: customer service access, hardship or forbearance programs, payment flexibility and digital tools like mobile apps or credit monitoring.
Our process
We gather data directly from lenders through their websites, disclosures and direct communication with company representatives. Our editorial team verifies and updates information regularly. We value transparency and award less favorable scores when lenders obscure or omit details.
Our editorial team applies the same scoring model and standards to every lender. Lenders cannot pay to influence our ratings. Read more about our editorial guidelines.
Why trust LendingTree’s methodology?
LendingTree’s writers and editors diligently vet dozens of lenders to narrow down which ones offer the most affordable rates and a customer-centered experience. We have ongoing conversations with loan companies to ensure accuracy and collect first-person feedback to understand the holistic process of getting and repaying a loan.
Using my financial health counseling certification, I’m here to walk you through the important — and sometimes stressful — process of understanding your personal finances and credit.
Amanda’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Unsecured debt isn’t backed by collateral. Credit card debt is typically unsecured, so your credit card company can’t take your property if you stop making payments. Mortgage debt, on the other hand, is secured. You could lose your home if you default.
Personal loans can be secured or unsecured, but unsecured loans are more common. People sometimes choose secured loans to get better approval odds or lower rates. Secured loans are also common when the loan is used to pay for property, like a mortgage or car loan.
Yes, unsecured loans can be a safe way to borrow money, but it’s up to you to make sure you understand your loan and can afford your payments. Read your loan agreement carefully and check the total cost of interest — it can be high, especially for long loans with high APRs.
Before you sign, make sure you can afford your monthly payment. Missing payments can hurt your credit and eventually land your account in collections.