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Best Egg vs. Prosper

Choose Best Egg for lower APRs, Prosper for easier approval

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Prosper and Best Egg

Best Egg and Prosper are two prominent personal loan providers, each offering unique benefits and features. This article will compare these lenders to help you determine which is the best fit for your financial needs.


Key insights

Best Egg offers competitive APRs and fast funding, making it ideal for quick financial needs.

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Best Egg lets qualified borrowers take out two active loans for a higher total borrowing limit.

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Prosper's peer-to-peer lending model provides flexible terms and a community-driven approach.

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Prosper has lower credit score requirements than Best Egg, making it easier to qualify.

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Best Egg personal loans

Best Egg offers fast personal loans that can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Loans range from $2,000 to $50,000, and you can get up to two loans at once for a total of $100,000 borrowed at a time.

Payment term lengths range between 36 and 60 months. Interest rates range from 6.99% to 35.99%, and the origination fee will be between 0.99% and 9.99%.

Best Egg offers two features that make it easy to use: Direct Pay and Payment Pathway. If you're consolidating loans, Direct Pay will send your payment directly to your old lenders rather than you so you can make the payment yourself.

With the Payment Pathway option, your minimum payment decreases as your loan balance is paid down. This can work well for someone who is struggling to make their payment since the payment will decrease over time.

Prosper personal loans

Prosper is a peer-to-peer lender, meaning the funds you receive are from individual investors. However, the loan is managed by Prosper through WebBank.

It also offers fast personal loans between $2,000 and $50,000 that can be used for just about any purpose. You can have up to two loans at once, but the total amount borrowed can’t exceed $50,000.

Payment term lengths are between two and five years, and the interest rates range between 8.99% to 35.99%. The origination fees run between 1% and 9.99%. If your payment is late, there is a fee of $15 or 5% of the late payment amount, whichever is greater.

Prosper allows you to prequalify for a loan on its website. You can enter your information to see if you qualify and what the terms might be. This lets you see what you qualify for without affecting your credit score. If you're happy with the terms, you can complete your application.

APRs and fees

Both lenders offer online loans and are similar when it comes to annual percentage rates (APRs) and fees. Best Egg and Prosper charge origination fees on all loans. The fees at Best Egg are, potentially, slightly lower, but not by much. The lowest origination fee you can pay at Best Egg is 0.99%, while at Prosper it's 1%. Both have a maximum origination fee of 9.99%.

Best Egg's lowest APR is 6.99%, which is 2% lower than Prosper's lowest rate. That’s a significant amount, especially at higher loan amounts. Both lenders have rates that top out at 35.99%.

Loan uses and flexibility

Personal loans can be used for a variety of purposes. However, there are some restrictions. For example, you can't use a personal loan for a down payment on a home, college tuition, gambling or anything illegal.

Melissa Cox, owner and certified financial planner at Future-Focused Wealth, said, “Most of my clients use personal loans for consolidating high-interest credit card debt, covering unexpected medical expenses or financing large one-time costs like a wedding, home repairs or even a short-term move.

“In some cases, we also use personal loans as a bridge during career transitions or family emergencies. The key is making sure the loan supports something intentional, not impulsive.”

Best Egg specializes in personal loans for the following:

  • Debt consolidation
  • Credit card refinancing
  • Home improvements
  • Moving expenses
  • Major purchases
  • Fertility and adoption
  • Vacations
  • Special occasions

Prosper specializes in personal loans for:

  • Debt consolidation
  • Home improvements
  • Health care financing
  • Household expenses
  • Vehicle purchases

Eligibility and application process

Prosper has lower credit score requirements than Best Egg. With Prosper, you need to have a credit score of at least 600. While at Best Egg, you'll need a credit score of at least 640. Beyond that, the eligibility requirements are similar.

To qualify, both Best Egg and Prosper require applicants to:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Live in the U.S.
  • Be of legal age
  • Have a U.S. bank account
  • Have a valid email
  • Provide a physical address

Most personal loan lenders will also want a debt-to-income ratio under 43%. This means that less than 43% should go towards your current debt payments.

Both lenders allow you to prequalify for a loan. This allows you to see what loan terms you qualify for without impacting your credit score.

When asked how borrowers can increase their odds of approval, Cox said, “First, check your credit report and clean up any errors. Then, work to lower your debt-to-income ratio, either by paying down revolving debt or increasing income.

“Lenders want to see consistent income, low credit utilization, and a history of on-time payments. If you’re not quite there yet, I sometimes help clients apply with a co-borrower or explore secured loan options to boost approval chances.”

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FAQ

Is Best Egg the same as Prosper?

No, Best Egg and Prosper are different companies. Both offer personal loans, but they operate independently with different terms, rates and qualification requirements.

How quickly can I get a loan from Best Egg?

Once your loan is approved, your funds will be deposited into your bank account in one to three business days.

Are there any prepayment penalties with Best Egg or Prosper?

There are no prepayment penalties with Best Egg or Prosper. You can pay your loan off with either lender at any time.

How do I apply for a loan with Prosper?

You can apply for a loan with Prosper on its website. Prosper allows you to prequalify for a loan, so you can check what terms you would qualify for without impacting your credit.


Article sources

ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:

  1. Best Egg, “What is the origination fee?” Accessed Aug. 4, 2025.
  2. Best Egg, “What should I expect once my loan is approved?” Accessed Aug. 4, 2025.
  3. Best Egg, “What is Direct Pay?” Accessed Aug. 4, 2025.
  4. Best Egg, “Payment Pathways FAQ.” Accessed Aug. 4, 2025.
  5. Credible, “What You Can’t Use a Personal Loan For.” Accessed Aug. 4, 2025.
  6. Discover, “What is Debt-to-Income Ratio?” Accessed Aug. 4, 2025.
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