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Best Online Loans of December 2024

When you need cash quickly, an online personal loan can help.

Author
By Jennifer Sisson

Written by

Jennifer Sisson

Freelance writer, Credible

Jennifer Sisson has over five years of finance experience and is an investing, mortgage, real estate, and budgeting expert. Her work has been featured by Business Insider and FinanceBuzz.

Edited by Valerie Morris

Written by

Valerie Morris

Editor, Credible

Valerie Morris has worked in personal finance for more than seven years. She's an expert on personal loans and mortgages.

Reviewed by Meredith Mangan

Written by

Meredith Mangan

Senior editor

Meredith Mangan is a senior editor at Credible. She has more than 18 years of experience in finance and is an expert on personal loans.

Updated November 15, 2024

Editorial disclosure: Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as “Credible.”

Featured

The best online loans are from SoFi and Upgrade on account of low rates, fast funding, and available discounts. 

Personal loans represent about 10% of non-revolving consumer credit in the U.S. and serve a variety of purposes from consolidating credit cards to funding large purchases like vacations and weddings. You used to need to go into a bank or credit union and fill out a bunch of paperwork to get a personal loan. Now, you can go online and apply for one in a matter of minutes.

You can apply for online personal loans with a number of banks, credit unions, online institutions, and fintechs. But some online lenders offer other types of loans that may be predatory in nature, such as payday loans. Make sure you compare APRs before applying. Non-predatory loans typically have APRs below 36%.

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Warning:

Loans that don’t require a credit check and are due within weeks are likely to be predatory in nature.

Where to find the best online personal loans

Excellent credit

SoFi

SoFi

4.8

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

8.99 - 29.99%1

Loan Amount

$5,000 to $100,000

Min. Credit Score

Does not disclose

Pros and cons

More details

Best for fair credit

Upgrade

Upgrade

4.9

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

9.99 - 35.99%

Loan Amount

$1,000 to $50,000

Min. Credit Score

600

Pros and cons

More details

Best for no origination fees (and low rates)

Discover Personal Loans

Discover Personal Loans

4.4

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

-

Loan Amount

$2,500 to $40,000

Min. Credit Score

660

Pros and cons

More details

Best quick loans for good credit

Splash Financial

Splash

4.4

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

-

Loan Amount

$5,000 to $35,000

Min. Credit Score

700

Pros and cons

More details

Best debt consolidation loans for bad credit

Universal credit

Universal Credit

4.7

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

11.69 - 35.99%

Loan Amount

$1,000 to $50,000

Min. Credit Score

560

Pros and cons

More details

Best online experience

Lending club

LendingClub

4.3

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

8.91 - 35.99%

Loan Amount

$1,000 to $40,000

Min. Credit Score

660

Pros and cons

More details

Best bad credit personal loans

One main

OneMain Financial

4.3

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

18.00 - 35.99%

Loan Amount

$1,500 to $20,000

Min. Credit Score

N/A

Pros and cons

More details

Best for all credit types

Avant

Avant

4.1

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

9.95 - 35.99%

Loan Amount

$2,000 to $35,000

Min. Credit Score

550

Pros and cons

More details

Best for consolidating credit card debt

Happy Money

Happy Money

4.2

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Est. APR

8.95 - 17.48%

Loan Amount

$5,000 to $40,000

Min. Credit Score

640

Pros and cons

More details

Why you can trust Credible

The Credible editorial team is independent and unbiased, which means that partners do not influence our editorial content. Using data-driven methodologies, we analyzed over 800 personal loan data points across 30 lenders and scored criteria that are important to you. This approach allows us to objectively rank personal loans. To learn more, read our methodology below.

Methodology

Credible evaluated the best online loans based on factors including the online customer experience, minimum fixed rate, maximum loan amount, funding time, loan terms, fees, discounts, and whether cosigners are accepted. Credible’s team of experts gathered information from each lender’s website, customer service department, in-house resources, and via email support. Each data point was verified by a senior editor for accuracy. Check out our Personal Loans Lender Rating Methodology for more detail.

How to compare online loans

When comparing personal loans and other loans online, check the following:

  • Eligibility: Do you meet minimum income and credit score requirements? Will the lender let you spend the money the way you want? (Some lenders only allow specific loan purposes, such as debt consolidation.) 
  • Loan amounts: Make sure the lender offers the amount of money you need to borrow. Personal loan amounts are often available between $1,000 and $50,000. But what you qualify for will depend on your income, credit, and existing debt. 
  • Funding time: Personal loans are typically funded within days of your loan’s approval, but some lenders offer same- or next-day funding. If you need money fast, choose a lender with fast approvals and same-day funding.
  • APRs: Look at the annual percentage rate (APR), which accounts for the interest rate and any upfront fees, such as origination fees. Note that lenders of short-term loans, like payday loans, often charge fees instead of interest, which can equate to triple-digit APRs. Most legitimate lenders charge APRs up to 36%.
  • Repayment terms: Repayment terms often range from around 1 to 7 years or more, depending on the lender and loan purpose. The longer your loan’s term, the lower your monthly payment is, in most cases. Use a personal loan calculator to see how monthly payments can vary based on loan term.
  • Customer experience: Look at customer reviews on third-party websites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In particular, check if different reviewers are reporting similar issues. 
  • Discounts and perks: Some lenders offer rate discounts for autopay or direct pay, while others don’t. Or you might get same-day funding if you’re already a customer with the lender. Review lender websites and third-party reviews to find out what a lender is willing to do to get and keep your business.  
  • Customer service: Ensure you’ll be able to reach the lender at a time that is convenient for you in case there are any issues with your loan.
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Prequalify:

Before applying for a loan, most lenders let you prequalify to estimate the rate you might get. Compare prequalification rates, loan amounts, and repayment terms across lenders.

How do online loans work?

Online loans can be any type of loan you get online, but generally refer to personal loans. They’re issued by traditional and online banks, credit unions, and fintech lenders. With online loans, you’ll complete the entire application process online, and your funds are typically transmitted electronically to your bank account or directly to your creditors (in the case of a debt consolidation loan). 

Loan uses

Personal loans can be used for a wide range of expenses. The most popular personal loan uses are credit card refinancing and debt consolidation, followed by home improvement loans. But some lenders restrict what you can use a personal loan for, and you need to declare the loan’s purpose when you apply.

Underwriting

Many times, underwriting (the process of verifying your financial information to qualify you for a loan) takes place electronically in a matter of minutes. Lenders typically run a hard credit check when you apply for an online loan, which can ding your score by a few points for up to a year. 

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Good to know:

Prequalification only requires a soft pull which won’t hurt your credit.

Average personal loan interest rates

The average interest rate on personal loans is currently just shy of 15% for three-year loans. Those with excellent credit qualified for rates at 12.43%, on average. Average credit card APRs were 21.76%, according to the Federal Reserve. 

Pros and cons of online loans

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Pros

  • Quick application process
  • Approval can happen within minutes
  • Funds can be available the same or next day
  • Usually no collateral is needed
  • Prequalification has no credit impact
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Cons

  • Fair and bad credit borrowers may see high APRs
  • ew onlines lenders have in-person customer service

How to apply for a personal loan online

Take the following steps to apply for a personal loan online.

  1. Compare lenders: Research lenders’ eligibility criteria, reputation, and any other factors that may be important to you, such as flexible repayment terms.
  2. Prequalify: Once you’ve narrowed down your options, go through the prequalification process, which allows you to check your rate without hurting your credit. Once you formally apply for a loan, the lender will conduct a hard credit pull which could hurt your score by a few points, temporarily. Note that prequalified rates are estimates and not an offer of credit. 
  3. Pick a loan option: Compare rates and terms to choose the loan option that best meets your needs.
  4. Complete the application: Once you choose to proceed with the application, the lender will run a hard credit inquiry, which may decrease your credit score slightly. Provide additional documentation as necessary to complete the application.
  5. Review the loan agreement: If the lender’s final offered rate still works for you, read your loan documents carefully and sign to accept your loan offer.
  6. Get the funds: Wait for the funds to be deposited into your bank account. You can spend the money as soon as you receive it, but make sure to budget for repayment.

Learn More: How To Get a Personal Loan

Online loans for bad credit

If you’re looking for a loan for bad credit (a FICO score below 580), you’ll have fewer options available. Getting approved may be difficult and if you can get approved for a loan, your rate will likely be around or higher than 30% APR. 

Some online lenders use alternative underwriting data to approve more borrowers with bad and fair credit. You can prequalify with bad credit lenders, like Upstart or Universal Credit, both Credible partners. You can also try the following:

Secure the loan: Some online lenders offer secured personal loans, which may be easier to qualify for and may offer a rate discount. For example, Best Egg offers online loans secured by your home fixtures, and Upgrade offers online loans secured by your vehicle. Best Egg and Upgrade are both Credible partners.

Apply with a cosigner or co-borrower: Applying with a co-borrower or cosigner who has good or excellent credit can improve your chances of getting an online loan. A co-borrower will have access to the funds and joint responsibility for repayment, while a cosigner will only be responsible for repayment if you fail to repay.

Improve your credit: Making on-time payments, paying down debt, and limiting applications for new credit can positively impact your score. These measures can take time. However, you may be able to get an quicker boost to your credit score by using a tool like Experian Boost.

Advertiser Disclosure

All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available | LightStream disclosure | SoFi Disclosures | Read more about Rates and Terms

How to avoid predatory lending

If you feel pressured to make a decision about a loan right now, that’s a red flag. The same goes for “guaranteed low rates” that are good as long as you sign up today. 

Check out the rates and terms of multiple lenders before you commit to a loan, and make sure you’re comparing APRs. If one lender has a rate that seems out of line with the others and too good to be true, it probably is. On the other hand, lenders that charge fees instead of interest rates could have very high APRs. Use a payday loan calculator to find the APR on a loan that charges fees instead of interest.

Also, look for ratings or reviews from the lender’s customers on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). 

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Important:

Carefully read all loan documents the lender provides before you sign them.

FAQ

Are online loans safe?

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What is the easiest loan to get online?

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What can you use a personal loan for?

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How to get a fast loan online

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What are some legit online payday loans?

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Meet the expert:
Jennifer Sisson

Jennifer Sisson has over five years of finance experience and is an investing, mortgage, real estate, and budgeting expert. Her work has been featured by Business Insider and FinanceBuzz.