Compare Lenders That Work With Low Credit
Published APR ranges, loan sizes and terms for 18 lenders that consider fair and low credit scores, grouped by the kind of borrower each one fits.
How do these 18 lenders compare at a glance?
The 18 personal loan lenders below all consider applicants with fair or low credit, but published APRs run from under 10% at mainstream online lenders to well above 100% at some small-loan specialists, so the lender type matters as much as the brand.
| Lender | Published APR range | Loan amounts | Terms | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avant | 9.95% – 35.99% | $2,000 – $35,000 | 24 – 60 months | Administration fee up to 9.99% |
| LendingPoint | 7.99% – 35.99% | $1,000 – $36,500 | 24 – 72 months | Origination fee 0% – 10% by state |
| Best Egg | 6.99% – 35.99% | $2,000 – $50,000 | 36 – 60 months | Origination fee 0.99% – 9.99% |
| Prosper | 8.99% – 35.99% | $2,000 – $50,000 | 24 – 60 months | Minimum credit score 560 |
| Achieve | 6.25% – 35.99% | $5,000 – $50,000 | 24 – 60 months | Minimum credit score 560 |
| Happy Money | About 7.95% – 29.99% | $5,000 – $40,000 | 24 – 60 months | Credit card payoff only |
| Reprise Financial | 9.99% – 36% | $2,500 – $25,000 | 36 – 60 months | Secured and unsecured options |
| Mariner Finance | 15.99% – 35.99% | $1,000 – $25,000 | 12 – 72 months | Online and branch lending |
| Regional Finance | 24% – 35.99% | Varies by state | 12 – 60 months | Branches in about 19 states |
| Lendmark Financial | Up to 35.99% | $500 – $25,000 | 12 – 72 months | Larger loans need collateral |
| Heights Finance | Varies; some products up to 35.99% | $500 – $10,000+ | 12 – 72 months | Branch-focused |
| Tower Loan | Not published | Up to $6,000 online | 12 – 36 months | Branch loans up to $20,000 |
| 1st Franklin Financial | Not published | Up to $15,000 | Varies | Branches in 10 Southern states |
| World Finance | Varies widely by state | About $450 – $10,000 | 6 – 46 months | State sample APRs about 27% – 100%+ |
| Security Finance | Varies by state | About $500 – $2,600 | Varies | Small branch installment loans |
| NetCredit | 34% – 99.99% | $1,000 – $10,000 | 6 – 60 months | High cost, longer terms |
| Rise Credit | 60% – 299% | $500 – $5,000 | 4 – 36 months | Very high cost |
| OppLoans | About 99% – 195% | $500 – $5,000 | 9 – 18 months | No origination fee |
Ranges come from the lenders' published disclosures and major independent reviews when we last checked and change often. Every figure varies by state and by applicant, so confirm the current terms directly with any lender before you apply. We do not link out to lenders from this page.
Which lenders offer APRs that top out near 36%?
Avant, LendingPoint, Best Egg, Prosper, Achieve, Happy Money and Reprise Financial publish maximum APRs at or near 36%, which makes them the lower-cost starting point for anyone seeking a loan with low credit who can meet their minimum loan amounts.
Avant
Avant's personal loans run from $2,000 to $35,000 at 9.95% to 35.99% APR over 24 to 60 months, and charges an administration fee of up to 9.99% that comes out of the loan. Avant does not publish a single minimum score, though reviewers commonly cite the 580 to 600 range. Its $2,000 floor fits mid-size needs rather than very small loans.
LendingPoint
LendingPoint publishes 7.99% to 35.99% APR, amounts from $1,000 to $36,500 and terms of 24 to 72 months, with an origination fee of 0% to 10% depending on state. Reviewers report minimum scores around 600 to 640 and income requirements near $35,000, and some states set higher minimum amounts.
Best Egg
Best Egg offers 6.99% to 35.99% APR on $2,000 to $50,000 over 36 to 60 months, with an origination fee of 0.99% to 9.99%. Review sites list a minimum score near 600, and the lender can pay card issuers directly on consolidation loans.
Prosper
Prosper lists personal loans at 8.99% to 35.99% APR, amounts from $2,000 to $50,000 and terms of two to five years, with origination fees of 1% to 9.99%. Prosper states a 560 minimum score and is not available in Iowa, North Dakota or West Virginia.
Achieve
Achieve publishes 6.25% to 35.99% APR on $5,000 to $50,000 over 24 to 60 months. Its own disclosure sets a 560 minimum score, rising to 660 for loans of $35,000 or more. The $5,000 minimum puts it at the very top of the range most people use a Loan With Low Credit for.
Happy Money
Happy Money's Payoff Loan is only for paying off credit card debt, with amounts from $5,000 to about $40,000 to $50,000, terms of two to five years and a minimum score of 640. Published APRs start near 7.95%; reported maximums vary by source.
Reprise Financial
Reprise Financial lends $2,500 to $25,000 at 9.99% to 36% APR, typically over 36 to 60 months, with both secured and unsecured options and funding as soon as the next business day.
Which branch-based lenders work with low credit?
Mariner Finance, Regional Finance, Lendmark Financial, Heights Finance, Tower Loan and 1st Franklin Financial operate local branches in specific states and often approve fair or low credit, sometimes with collateral, but most publish fewer details online.
Mariner Finance
Mariner Finance's personal loan disclosures list $1,000 to $25,000 at 15.99% to 35.99% APR over 12 to 72 months, with online applications generally between $1,500 and $14,000. Co-signers are allowed, which can help thin or damaged files.
Regional Finance
Regional Finance publishes personal loan APRs of 24% to 35.99% and terms up to 60 months through more than 350 branches in roughly 19 states, with maximum amounts set by state. Larger loans may require a vehicle as collateral, and origination fees vary by state.
Lendmark Financial
Lendmark Financial lends $500 to $25,000 over 12 to 72 months and states that APRs on new loans do not exceed 35.99%. Minimums of $2,000 to $3,000 apply in some states, and loans above $8,000 require collateral. Payments are reported to all three bureaus.
Heights Finance
Heights Finance offers personal loans from about $500 to $10,000 or more with terms up to 72 months. Products it markets online carry a maximum of 35.99% APR, but the company notes some state products can exceed that, so ask for the APR before you commit.
Tower Loan
Tower Loan lends up to $6,000 online and up to $20,000 or more at branches, usually over 12 to 36 months, in a handful of Southern and Midwestern states. It does not publish APRs, and reports payments to Equifax and TransUnion.
1st Franklin Financial
1st Franklin Financial makes loans of up to $15,000 through branches in 10 Southern states and finishes approvals in person. It does not publish rates, so compare its written APR with other offers before signing.
Which lenders charge triple-digit APRs?
NetCredit, Rise Credit and OppLoans publish APRs far above 36%, and World Finance and Security Finance can also exceed 36% depending on state, so these lenders cost the most and should come after cheaper options.
NetCredit
NetCredit's personal loans run from $1,000 to $10,000 at about 34% to 99.99% APR over 6 to 60 months. The longer terms lower the payment but can push total interest above the amount borrowed.
Rise Credit
Rise Credit lends $500 to $5,000 over roughly 4 to 36 months at APRs that run from about 60% to 299%, depending on state. It reports to credit bureaus, but the cost is among the highest in this table.
OppLoans
OppLoans offers $500 to $5,000 over 9 to 18 months at roughly 99% to 195% APR, with no origination or late fees. Its own example: a $2,000 loan over nine months at 160% APR costs $394.58 a month.
World Finance
World Finance lends from about $450 to $10,000 over 6 to 46 months through branches. Its published state examples range from about 27% APR on larger, longer loans to more than 100% on very small ones.
Security Finance
Security Finance makes small branch installment loans, typically about $500 to $2,600, with amounts and pricing set by state. Ask for the APR and total of payments in writing before you sign.
What does the APR gap cost on a $3,000 loan?
On a $3,000 personal loan repaid over 36 months, the difference between a 24% APR and a 99.99% APR is more than $5,000 in extra interest, so the lender group you choose decides most of the total cost.
| APR | Term | Monthly payment | Total of payments | Interest paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24% | 36 months | $117.70 | $4,237.20 | $1,237.20 |
| 35.99% | 36 months | $137.39 | $4,946.04 | $1,946.04 |
| 99.99% | 36 months | $264.82 | $9,533.52 | $6,533.52 |
| 160% | 18 months | $446.97 | $8,045.46 | $5,045.46 |
Figures assume a fixed rate, equal monthly payments and no separate fees; totals equal the rounded payment times the number of payments. Origination fees raise the real cost further: a 5% fee on a $3,000 personal loan means about $2,850 reaches your account while you still repay the full $3,000 plus interest.
The table shows why a lower-APR lender is worth a second look even if its application takes longer. Online lending loans from lenders that cap rates near 36% can cost a fraction of high-cost small loans for the same amount and term.
Which lender fits the amount you need?
Match the lender to your amount first: for $500 to $1,000, most options are branch lenders or high-cost online lenders; from $2,000 up, lenders capped near 36% APR open up; and from $5,000, Achieve and Happy Money join the list.
$500 to $1,000
Lendmark Financial, Heights Finance, World Finance and Security Finance start near $500 at branches, and Mariner Finance, LendingPoint and NetCredit start at $1,000. OppLoans and Rise Credit also start at $500 but at much higher APRs. For a small personal loan in this range, check a local credit union too; many offer small-dollar loans at lower rates.
$2,000 to $5,000
Avant, Best Egg and Prosper start at $2,000, and Reprise Financial at $2,500. This is where a borrower with fair credit has the most choice among personal loans capped near 36% APR, so it pays to prequalify with two or three before accepting any offer.
$5,000 and above
Achieve and Happy Money begin at $5,000, and most lenders capped near 36% reach $25,000 or more. Happy Money only refinances credit card balances, so it suits consolidation rather than a general-purpose personal loan.
How should you read these published ranges?
Treat a published APR range as the outer limits of what a lender charges; with low credit, expect offers near the top of each range and remember that the minimum loan amount, the origination fee and your state can matter as much as the rate.
A lender advertising 7.99% to 35.99% will rarely offer a 580-score borrower anything near 8%. The bottom of the range goes to strong credit and high income. For most people reading this page, the realistic comparison is the top half of each range.
Minimum amounts filter lenders out quickly. If you need $900, lenders with $2,000 or $5,000 floors are not options, however good their rates. Our rates guide explains where common scores tend to land, and our eligibility page lists what lenders usually require.
What should you check before choosing a lender?
Before choosing a lender, confirm its license in your state, the APR and total of payments in writing, every fee, whether early payoff is free, whether it reports to all three bureaus, and whether the payment fits your budget.
A short checklist:
- Look the lender up on your state regulator's license search.
- Compare offers by APR and total of payments, not the monthly payment alone.
- Ask for the origination fee in dollars and whether it comes out of the deposit.
- Confirm there is no prepayment penalty.
- Ask which bureaus receive your payment history.
- Decline optional add-ons such as credit insurance unless you truly want them.
Use the personal loan calculator to test the payment at the APR you are offered. Be cautious with lenders that market easy approval loans with no word on APR; a fast yes says nothing about cost.
How does a request through our network differ from applying directly?
Applying directly means filling out each lender's form and taking each lender's credit check, while one request through our free network reaches several lenders that consider a loan with low credit, so you can compare real offers before choosing any.
We are not a lender and do not appear in the table above. Lenders in our network decide for themselves whether to make an offer, and terms come from them. Some of the lenders above may participate; others do not. Either way, the checks in this guide apply to every offer you receive.
If you prefer to apply directly to one of the lenders listed, that is a sound choice too. Most of them let you apply online; loans from branch lenders may still need a visit to finish. Prequalify where a soft check is offered, compare at least two personal loans, and pick the one with the lowest total cost you can comfortably repay.
Questions people ask
Which lender is cheapest for a loan with low credit?
Lenders whose published APRs cap near 36%, such as Avant, LendingPoint, Best Egg, Prosper and Reprise Financial, are usually cheaper than small-loan specialists. Your actual rate depends on your score, income, state and loan amount.
Why do some lenders not publish their rates?
Branch lenders often set rates by state law, loan size and collateral, so they quote rates after reviewing an application. Always get the APR and total of payments in writing before you sign.
Are lenders with triple-digit APRs legal?
In many states, yes, within state limits or through bank partnerships. Legal does not mean affordable, so compare their total cost with lower-APR options first.
Does checking offers from several lenders hurt my credit?
Prequalification with a soft check does not affect your score. A hard inquiry happens only when you submit a full application or accept an offer.
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