Rated.ly

Updated July 21, 2026

The 5 Best Personal Loans of 2026

Compare rates and terms from top online lenders.

Advertising disclosure: We may earn a commission when you visit partners via links on this page. Commissions never affect our scores or rankings.

Editor's Choice
1SoFi logo

SoFi

No fees and member perks

Best for No fees
  • Stand-out choice for no fees
  • Consistently strong customer feedback
  • Competitive pricing for what you get
  • Best value may require a longer commitment
  • Some advanced features cost extra
Outstanding Value
2LightStream logo

LightStream

Lowest rates for strong credit

Best for Low APR
  • Stand-out choice for low apr
  • Consistently strong customer feedback
  • Competitive pricing for what you get
  • Best value may require a longer commitment
  • Some advanced features cost extra
Best for Fair credit
3Upgrade logo

Upgrade

Accessible loans, fast funding

Best for Fair credit
  • Stand-out choice for fair credit
  • Consistently strong customer feedback
  • Competitive pricing for what you get
  • Best value may require a longer commitment
  • Some advanced features cost extra
Best for Thin credit files
4Upstart logo

Upstart

AI underwriting looks beyond scores

Best for Thin credit files
  • Stand-out choice for thin credit files
  • Consistently strong customer feedback
  • Competitive pricing for what you get
  • Best value may require a longer commitment
  • Some advanced features cost extra
Best for Simplicity
5Marcus by Goldman Sachs logo

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Simple terms from a trusted bank

Best for Simplicity~No fees for personal loans
  • Stand-out choice for simplicity
  • Consistently strong customer feedback
  • Competitive pricing for what you get
  • Best value may require a longer commitment
  • Some advanced features cost extra

Still deciding? Compare at a glance

A quick side-by-side of every personal loan provider we ranked.

BrandScorePriceBest for
#1SoFi9.3No feesVisit Site
#2LightStream9.2Low APRVisit Site
#3Upgrade8.8Fair creditVisit Site
#4Upstart8.7Thin credit filesVisit Site
#5Marcus by Goldman Sachs8.5~No fees for personal loansSimplicityVisit Site

See the full feature-by-feature comparison →

How we rate personal loans

1

Research

Map the market and shortlist leading brands

2

Test

Hands-on evaluation across weighted criteria

3

Score

Standardized 10-point methodology

4

Update

Re-reviewed as products change

Our editors score every personal loan provider on a standardized 10-point scale across four weighted pillars: features & performance (35%), pricing & value (25%), customer experience & support (25%), and trust & reputation (15%). Scores are reviewed and updated as products change. Read our full methodology.

Frequently asked questions

How did Rated.ly choose the best personal loan provider?

Our editors evaluated each personal loan provider on features, pricing, customer feedback, and overall value, then scored them using our standard 10-point methodology. See our How We Rate page for details.

Which personal loan provider is best overall?

SoFi currently earns our top score of 9.3 thanks to its strength in no fees. The right pick for you depends on your priorities — compare the full list above.

Ready to choose your personal loan provider?

SoFi is our top-rated pick with a score of 9.3/10 — the strongest all-round choice for most people.

Visit SoFi
Daniel Kovacs

Daniel Kovacs

Editor, Money & Auto

Daniel is a consumer-finance writer who has compared hundreds of financial and automotive services. His mission: cut the jargon and show you the true cost of every option.