Our top picks for best installment loans
To make our choices for the best installment loans, we collected 806 data points for popular lenders, including customer reviews and overall ratings from ConsumerAffairs reviewers, plus 26 individual data points for 31 lenders. We then used these data points to evaluate factors that have the most impact on borrowers, such as how long it takes to get funding, annual percentage rates (APRs), loan amounts, repayment terms and credit score requirements, to help us make our final selections.
Our picks may be Authorized Partners who compensate us. This doesn’t affect our recommendations or evaluations, but it may impact the order in which the companies appear.
Our picks for the best installment loans come from:
- Loan amount
- $2,000 to $50,000
- Term lengths
- 3 to 5 years
- Minimum credit score
- Typically 640
Partner Disclosures
Best Egg disclosures
Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Eligibility is not guaranteed. The term, amount and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. If offered, your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. Your application is complete when you submit it to Best Egg. Your acceptance of an offer may impact your credit score. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. Loan amounts range from $5,000–$50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. Only two active Best Egg loans are available at one time and your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4 years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. Eligibility for the best available rate subject to creditworthiness. For example: a 5-year $10,000 loan with a 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81; a 3-year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. Best Egg loans can be prepaid at any time without penalty. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Best Egg loans have a minimum term of 36 months and a maximum term of 60 months. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, operating from its Wilmington, Delaware, branch location, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Marlette Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.
LightStream disclosures
Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your 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 8.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $207.54. 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.
Upgrade disclosures
Your loan terms are not guaranteed and are subject to our verification and review process. You may be asked to provide additional documents to enable us to verify your income and your identity. To be offered the lowest rates, you may be required to have some of your funds sent directly to pay off existing debt(s). This rate shown includes an Autopay APR reduction of 0.5%. Autopay enrollment is optional and by enrolling, your payments will be automatically deducted from your bank account. The APR includes the yearly interest rate and a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Late payments and other fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. Please refer to Upgrade's Terms of Use and Borrower Agreement for terms, conditions and requirements. Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Personal loans are issued by Upgrade's bank partners: https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/. † After acceptance, your funds will be sent within one (1) business day of clearing necessary verifications. Funds availability is dependent upon your bank’s transaction processing time and may take up to 2 weeks if sent directly to third party creditors.
- Loan amount
- $1,000 to $50,000
- Term lengths
- 2 to 7 years
- Minimum credit score
- 620
Partner Disclosures
Best Egg disclosures
Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Eligibility is not guaranteed. The term, amount and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. If offered, your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. Your application is complete when you submit it to Best Egg. Your acceptance of an offer may impact your credit score. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. Loan amounts range from $5,000–$50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. Only two active Best Egg loans are available at one time and your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4 years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. Eligibility for the best available rate subject to creditworthiness. For example: a 5-year $10,000 loan with a 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81; a 3-year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. Best Egg loans can be prepaid at any time without penalty. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Best Egg loans have a minimum term of 36 months and a maximum term of 60 months. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, operating from its Wilmington, Delaware, branch location, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Marlette Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.
LightStream disclosures
Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your 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 8.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $207.54. 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.
Upgrade disclosures
Your loan terms are not guaranteed and are subject to our verification and review process. You may be asked to provide additional documents to enable us to verify your income and your identity. To be offered the lowest rates, you may be required to have some of your funds sent directly to pay off existing debt(s). This rate shown includes an Autopay APR reduction of 0.5%. Autopay enrollment is optional and by enrolling, your payments will be automatically deducted from your bank account. The APR includes the yearly interest rate and a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Late payments and other fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. Please refer to Upgrade's Terms of Use and Borrower Agreement for terms, conditions and requirements. Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Personal loans are issued by Upgrade's bank partners: https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/. † After acceptance, your funds will be sent within one (1) business day of clearing necessary verifications. Funds availability is dependent upon your bank’s transaction processing time and may take up to 2 weeks if sent directly to third party creditors.
- Loan amount
- $2,000 to $35,000
- Term lengths
- 2 to 5 years
- Minimum credit score
- Typically 600 to 700
- Loan amount
- $5,000 to $100,000
- Term lengths
- 2 to 20 years
- Minimum credit score
- 670 to 700
Partner Disclosures
Best Egg disclosures
Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Eligibility is not guaranteed. The term, amount and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. If offered, your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. Your application is complete when you submit it to Best Egg. Your acceptance of an offer may impact your credit score. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. Loan amounts range from $5,000–$50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. Only two active Best Egg loans are available at one time and your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4 years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. Eligibility for the best available rate subject to creditworthiness. For example: a 5-year $10,000 loan with a 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81; a 3-year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. Best Egg loans can be prepaid at any time without penalty. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Best Egg loans have a minimum term of 36 months and a maximum term of 60 months. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, operating from its Wilmington, Delaware, branch location, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, or Column N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Marlette Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.
LightStream disclosures
Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your 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 8.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $207.54. 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.
Upgrade disclosures
Your loan terms are not guaranteed and are subject to our verification and review process. You may be asked to provide additional documents to enable us to verify your income and your identity. To be offered the lowest rates, you may be required to have some of your funds sent directly to pay off existing debt(s). This rate shown includes an Autopay APR reduction of 0.5%. Autopay enrollment is optional and by enrolling, your payments will be automatically deducted from your bank account. The APR includes the yearly interest rate and a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Late payments and other fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. Please refer to Upgrade's Terms of Use and Borrower Agreement for terms, conditions and requirements. Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Personal loans are issued by Upgrade's bank partners: https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/. † After acceptance, your funds will be sent within one (1) business day of clearing necessary verifications. Funds availability is dependent upon your bank’s transaction processing time and may take up to 2 weeks if sent directly to third party creditors.
How to get an installment loan
You’ll typically take the following steps to get an installment loan:
1. Compare lenders and offers
Andrew Lokenauth, founder and CEO of TheFinanceNewsletter.com, a financial education website, said that it's always smart to shop around and compare loan offers across multiple lenders before you take steps to apply. Specifically, he said you should compare monthly payments and APRs between lenders.
"APR measures the amount of interest you pay to borrow on credit and lending accounts," Lokenauth said. "The higher the APR, the higher you pay in interest."
It’s also a good idea to compare term lengths, loan amounts and fees, plus review any lender requirements, to help you narrow down the lender with the best offer for you.
2. Apply for a loan
While the process can vary from lender to lender, you’ll generally submit information like your name, contact information, income and reason for borrowing. Lenders might also ask for additional information, such as a driver's license, pay stubs or other proof of income.
3. Submit application
Once you submit your application, you could be approved instantly or in as little as one day. Some lenders even offer funding the same day or within one business day. However, depending on the lender, approval and funding could take up to a week.
» MORE: How installment loans work
FAQ
What credit score do I need for a personal loan?
You’ll typically need a good credit score or better to get most personal loans, or a FICO score of 670 to 739. Some lenders offer loans to people with fair credit, or FICO scores of 580 to 669.
Can I get an installment loan with bad credit?
Some lenders offer installment loans to consumers with low credit scores. However, borrowing with bad credit can be very expensive since you’ll typically have to pay a high APR.
Do installment loans affect your credit score?
Applying for an installment loan can result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score. However, opening a loan will improve your credit mix, and if you make on-time payments, it will also improve your payment history.
» MORE: What affects your credit score?
Are installment loans a good idea?
An installment loan may or may not be a good idea, depending on your goals and what you need the money for. Installment loans are popular for debt consolidation, home improvements and other large expenditures that can take several years to complete or pay for.
Bottom line
The best installment loans let you access cash now, then pay off your balance with a fixed interest rate over several years. With that in mind, these loans can work well for any number of financial goals, provided you can afford the monthly payments. Still, it’s best to avoid borrowing if you don’t have a plan or if you don’t really need the money.
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:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “Do Personal Installment Loans Have Fees?” Accessed Feb. 5, 2026.
- myFICO, “What is a FICO Score?” Accessed Feb. 5, 2026.
