Written by Amanda Push | Edited by Katie Lowery | Reviewed July 31, 2023
Lender | User ratings | Best for... | APR range | Loan amounts | Loan terms | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Debt consolidation | 9.57% - 35.99% | $1,000 - $40,000 | 36 to 60 months | See Offers | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Large loan amounts | 7.99% - 25.49% *with autopay | $5,000 - $100,000 | 24 to 144* months | See Offers | |
User ratings coming soon | Military members and veterans | 7.49% - 18.00% | $250 - $50,000 | Up to 180 months | See Offers | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Quick funding | 18.00% - 35.99% | $1,500 - $20,000 | 24 to 60 months | See Offers | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Zero required fees | 8.99% - 25.81% *with autopay | $5,000 - $100,000 | 24 to 84 months | See Offers | |
User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Bad credit borrowers | 8.49% - 35.99% *with autopay | $1,000 - $50,000 | 24 to 84 months | See Offers |
Read more about how we chose our lenders.
APR range | 9.57% - 35.99% |
Loan amounts | $1,000 - $40,000 |
Term (months) | 36 to 60 |
Origination fee | 3.00% - 8.00% |
Min. credit score | 600 |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
May receive funds within 24 hours of approval No prepayment fees Option to prequalify for a loan | Charges an origination fee of 3.00% - 8.00% Charges high interest rates (up to 35.99%) Limited loan terms of 36 to 60 months |
LendingClub offers joint loans to applicants who may not qualify for a personal loan otherwise. With this lender, you can receive your funds within 24 hours of approval and won’t be charged a prepayment penalty if you choose to pay off your loan early.
Another one of LendingClub’s perks is that it offers consumers the choice to use their personal loan funds toward business purposes — an option most other lenders prohibit.
However, LendingClub’s APR can run high, and when you take out a loan, you’ll have to pay an origination fee — 3.00% - 8.00% of the total balance of your loan.
APR range | 7.99% - 25.49%* with autopay |
Loan amounts | $5,000 - $100,000** |
Term (months) | 24 to 144* |
Origination fee | No origination fee |
Min. credit score | Not specified |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Low starting interest rates No origination fees No prepayment fees Same-day funding available (conditions apply) | No option to prequalify You can take out a longer-term loan, but you’ll pay more interest Consumers with low credit may not qualify |
Not only does LightStream, a division of Truist Bank, offer same-day funding to applicants (conditions apply), but it also doesn’t charge borrowers any fees.
While LightStream has some of the most competitive rates on our list, it may be difficult for consumers with less-than-perfect credit scores to qualify. However, LightStream does offer borrowers with low credit scores the option to fill out a joint loan application.
LightStream doesn’t offer prequalification, so if you want to see your potential rates, you’ll have to submit to a hard-credit pull.
*Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 5.99% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $304.17. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2023 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
**While LightStream offers loans up to $100,000, LendingTree marketplace customers may not receive offers at this maximum loan amount.
APR range | 7.49% - 18.00% |
Loan amounts | $250 - $50,000 |
Term (months) | Up to 180 |
Origination fee | None |
Min. credit score | Not specified |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Low maximum interest rate of 18.00% Long repayment terms, up to 180 months Small borrowing minimum of $250 | Charges a $29 late fee Must be connected to the military to be eligible Unclear on some personal loan qualification requirements |
While Navy Federal Credit Union does allow you to apply for a personal loan with a cosigner, you will have to become a member first. To become a member with this lender, you’ll need to fit one of the following criteria:
With Navy Federal, you won’t have to pay an origination fee and the APR is capped at 18% due to federal laws around how much interest credit unions can charge.
APR range | 18.00% - 35.99% |
Loan amounts | $1,500 - $20,000 |
Term (months) | 24 to 60 |
Origination fee | 1.00% - 10.00% |
Min. credit score | Not specified |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
May receive funds within one business day of approval No prepayment penalties Flexible loan terms | Low maximum loan amount Charges higher interest rates Charges an origination fee (1.00% - 10.00%) |
If you can qualify for a personal loan with a co-borrower, OneMain Financial offers benefits including quick funding timelines and prequalification services.
Aside from offering joint applications, OneMain Financial also provides secured loans to borrowers who want to increase their chances of getting approved. With this lender, borrowers can put up a vehicle as collateral and potentially secure lower interest rates.
On the downside, however, OneMain Financial charges higher interest rates than other lenders that allow for cosigners (35.99%). With a OneMain Financial personal loan, you may also have to pay an origination fee that can range anywhere from 1.00% - 10.00%.
APR range | 8.99% - 25.81%* with autopay |
Loan amounts | $5,000 - $100,000* |
Term (months) | 24 to 84 |
Origination fee | No origination fee required |
Min. credit score | 680 |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Does not charge any required fees Offers unemployment support Provides 0.25% autopay discount High maximum loan amount | Co-applicant must live at same address as you Having a co-applicant can lengthen the application process significantly High minimum loan amount |
Aside from allowing consumers to have a co-applicant, SoFi offers personal loan borrowers a plethora of perks, including no required fees. This means borrowers won’t have to worry about origination fees, prepayment penalties or even late fees. SoFi also gives borrowers the option to accept a small origination fee (0% to 6%) in exchange for a lower APR.
However, when seeking a loan with a co-applicant, there are a few things to bear in mind before applying with SoFi.
First of all, any co-applicants must live at the same address as you. Second, having a co-applicant can add at least a week to the application approval process. If you’re in need of quick cash, this may not be the best option for you.
SoFi also offers large loan amounts (up to $100,000), so if you’re in need of a large sum, this lender may be worth considering.
*While SoFi offers loans up to $100,000, LendingTree marketplace customers may not receive offers at this maximum loan amount.
APR range | 8.49% - 35.99%* with autopay |
Loan amounts | $1,000 - $50,000 |
Term (months) | 24 to 84 |
Origination fee | 1.85% - 9.99% |
Min. credit score | 580 |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
May receive funds within one business day of approval Offers secured loans as an option Provides autopay discount | Charges an origination fee (1.85% - 9.99%) May be charged a late fee after 15 days of a missed payment High interest rates (up to 35.99%) |
Upgrade has a low minimum credit score of just 580, so applicants whose credit needs some work can still qualify for a loan. However, Upgrade has interest rates as high as 35.99%, and lower interest rates are typically reserved for borrowers with good credit.
To help offset these higher rates, consumers can apply with a co-applicant to secure lower interest rates, or they can take out a secured loan with Upgrade.
Borrowers will want to keep in mind that they may have to pay Upgrade an origination fee (1.85% - 9.99% of your loan amount) as well as late fees.
A cosigner is a second person who signs a loan agreement, taking equal legal responsibility for repaying the loan.
Using a cosigner can make it much easier for the original borrower to qualify for a loan because, in the eyes of lenders, a second person agreeing to take ownership of the loan lessens the risk of lending to that individual.
If the original borrower is unable to repay the loan, the lender can try to collect from the cosigner.
The terms cosigner and co-borrower are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are important legal distinctions to keep in mind.
Co-borrowers have a right to access the funds or assets that are borrowed, while a cosigner does not. For instance, if you’re a student, and one of your parents cosigned a loan to cover your school expenses, your parent does not have the right to access the funds you borrowed.
On the other hand, if you take out a home improvement loan to pay for a kitchen remodel and your spouse is the co-borrower, he or she has an equal right to access the funds from the loan. Your spouse is also equally on the hook for any missed payments or if you default on the loan.
Before you decide to cosign a personal loan, it’s important to evaluate the downsides of choosing this route. Here’s what you need to know about the risks of using a co-applicant on a loan:
Applying for a personal loan with a cosigner comes with its own set of hoops you’ll need to jump through along with your co-applicant. Here’s what you should consider before applying for a loan:
Applying for a personal loan with a cosigner isn’t much different than applying for one by yourself, though the process may take a little longer and you may need to make some extra considerations.
Knowing your credit scores ahead of time can guide you on which lenders you may or may not qualify with. It can also give you an idea of what kind of interest rate you may qualify for. If your cosigner has a good credit score, you may qualify for lower rates.
During the loan application process, lenders will want to verify your information. To help speed up the process, it may be helpful to prepare those documents ahead of time. A few items you may need offer for both applicants include:
Securing the lowest interest rates and fees is an important aspect of shopping around for a personal loan. Before submitting an application, check which lenders offer the opportunity to prequalify for a loan. This can allow you to check what rates you may be eligible for without hurting your credit score.
Once you find a lender that best fits your needs, you’ll formally apply and submit to a hard-credit pull, which can temporarily lower your credit score. Once you’re officially approved and you sign your loan contract, you will receive your loan funds in the form of a lump sum.
Credit score requirements vary from lender to lender. In general, it is wise to have a cosigner with at least a credit score of 670 or higher. This can make it easier to not only get approved for a personal loan but also receive better offers that can save you money and offer you financial flexibility.
If your cosigner has a good credit score and a history of repaying debts on time, it may be easier for you to get approved for a loan. This is because including a co-applicant lowers the lender’s risk when offering you a loan, since it can hold two people accountable for repayment instead of just one.
Loans with a cosigner may be a good route if you are in need of a personal loan but don’t have a good credit score, need a large amount of money or want to receive a lower interest rate. A co-applicant with a solid credit score and history can make it easier to achieve those financial goals. If you’re unable to find a cosigner, you may also want to consider bad credit loans.
If you’re unable to repay a personal loan that you took out with a cosigner, both your and your cosigner’s credit scores can be impacted. Because both of you are legally responsible for the repayment of the loan, your lender can require that either you or your cosigner pay.
If your co-applicant can afford it, they may have to make those payments until the loan is paid off. If they’re unable to repay the loan, you both may default on the loan. In this case, your loan may be sent to a collection agency that may attempt to collect it or sue you both if you don’t repay the debt.
We looked at 12 lenders that offer personal loan services to determine the six best lenders for borrowers with cosigners or co-borrowers. By offering a detailed and objective account of each lender’s rates and terms, LendingTree’s goal is to provide you with all the information you need to make a financially sound decision specific to your situation.
Here are the criteria we used to choose the best personal loans that allow for a cosigner: