Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit in 2026
A low credit score doesn't mean you can't get a personal loan — but it does mean you need to be more careful about which lender you choose. We found the best options that balance accessibility with reasonable terms.
Our Top Pick
Upstart
Best for Bad CreditUpstart specializes in approving borrowers with fair to limited credit through sophisticated AI analysis beyond traditional credit scores. APR rates range from 7.94% to 35.99%, with loan amounts from $1,000 to $50,000. Funding happens within 1-2 business days. Upstart is ideal for borrowers with poor credit histories, past financial challenges, or limited credit but strong recent payment behavior.
Rankings
Upstart
by Cross River Bank
Upstart uses AI-powered underwriting to approve borrowers with fair and limited credit histories, making it accessible to those rejected by traditional lenders.
Key Features
Pros
- • Approves fair and limited credit borrowers (typically 600+ credit score)
- • AI-powered underwriting considers full financial picture
- • Fast funding (1-2 business days)
Cons
- • Higher APR rates for lower credit scores (up to 35.99%)
- • Maximum loan amount of $50,000 is moderate
Avant
by Elevate Credit, Inc.
Avant makes personal loans accessible to borrowers with fair credit, offering quick online approval and funding for those seeking alternatives to payday loans.
Key Features
Pros
- • Accessible to borrowers with fair to poor credit (580+)
- • Fast funding (1-3 business days, often 1 business day)
- • No origination or prepayment fees
Cons
- • APR rates can be high for lower credit scores (up to 35.99%)
- • Maximum loan amount of $35,000 is moderate
OneMain Financial
by OneMain Holdings
OneMain Financial offers secured and unsecured personal loans to borrowers with fair credit, with local branch locations providing in-person service.
Key Features
Pros
- • Physical locations for in-person consultation
- • Accepts fair to poor credit borrowers (typically 580+)
- • Secured loan options for better rates
Cons
- • High APR rates (18.99% - 35.99%)
- • Origination fees up to 10%
Universal Credit
by Cross River Bank (originator); Universal Credit is a brand of Upgrade, Inc.
Universal Credit (a brand of Upgrade) offers $1,000–$50,000 unsecured personal loans for fair-credit borrowers, with a free credit-builder service for subprime applicants who aren't approved.
Key Features
Pros
- • Loan amounts up to $50,000 (suitable for debt consolidation)
- • Accepts fair credit (typical minimum FICO around 580)
- • Pre-qualification with soft credit pull (no hard inquiry)
Cons
- • Origination fee of 5.25%–9.99% is deducted from loan proceeds (you receive less than the loan amount)
- • High APR ceiling (up to 35.99%) for lower-credit borrowers
Upgrade
by Upgrade, Inc.
Upgrade offers personal loans and financial wellness features to borrowers with fair to good credit, with emphasis on helping customers build credit and achieve financial goals.
Key Features
Pros
- • Accessible to fair credit borrowers (typically 600+ credit score)
- • Cash rewards for on-time payments
- • Credit-building features and financial tools
Cons
- • APR rates higher than premium lenders for lower credit
- • Limited to 15% rewards even with perfect payment history
LendingClub
by LendingClub Corp
LendingClub is a peer-to-peer lending platform that has moved toward institutional funding, offering competitive rates and significant loan amounts with accessibility to fair-credit borrowers.
Key Features
Pros
- • Competitive APR rates for fair and good credit
- • Accessible to fair credit borrowers (typically 600+ credit score)
- • Peer-to-peer lending model with institutional backing
Cons
- • Funding slower than online alternatives (3-6 business days)
- • APR rates can be high for poor credit (up to 35.89%)
Full Comparison
| Feature | Upstart | Avant | OneMain Financial | Universal Credit | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APR Range | 7.94% - 35.99% | 9.95% - 35.99% | 18.99% - 35.99% | 11.69% - 35.99% | 9.99% - 35.99% |
| Loan Amounts | $1,000 - $50,000 | $2,000 - $35,000 | $1,500 - $10,000 | $1,000 - $50,000 | $1,000 - $50,000 |
| Term Lengths | 24 - 84 months | 24 - 60 months | 24 - 60 months | 36 or 60 months | 24 - 84 months |
| Origination Fee | None | None | Up to 10% | 5.25% - 9.99% (deducted from loan proceeds) | None |
| Funding Speed | 1-2 business days | 1-3 business days | 1-2 business days | 1-4 business days after approval | 1-3 business days |
| Our Rating | 4.4/5Best | 4/5 | 3.8/5 | 3.7/5 | 4.1/5 |