Earnest Personal Loans: 18 Online Lenders Side by Side

We compared each lender on seven published facts: loan amounts, APR range, repayment terms, origination fee, minimum credit guidance, funding speed and one notable feature, taken from the lender's own site.

We chose lenders that operate online, accept applications from consumers in multiple states, and make at least some personal loans between $500 and $5,000. Large banks were left out on purpose, because people searching for earnest personal loans after an unexpected bill tend to need smaller amounts than most banks prefer to lend. Branch-based finance companies stayed in when they take personal loan applications online.

Readers who look up earnest interest rates or earnest personal loan rates often expect one number. In practice every personal loan lender quotes a range, and the rate you see depends on your credit, income, debt-to-income ratio, state and the term you pick. For a plain explanation of what moves a rate, see our guide to typical personal loan rates.

A quick note on the search terms themselves. Many people type earnest personal loans, earnest interest rates or earnest personal loan rates into a search bar while shopping for a small personal loan, and land on pages like this one. Those phrases describe what you are looking for, not a company we represent; the 18 lenders below are independent, and none is a lender named Earnest.

We also flag a lender as higher-cost when its published APR can go above 36%. Consumer advocates often use 36% as a reference point for affordable credit, and several lenders on this list price far above it. A higher-cost personal loan can still be legal and clearly disclosed, but the total repaid can be several times the amount borrowed.

A few honest limits: we did not apply for any personal loans, so we cannot say what a specific borrower will be offered. We do not rank lenders by how much they pay us, and inclusion here does not mean a lender is part of our network. Treat the list as a starting point for your own comparison of earnest personal loans alternatives.

The table lists each lender's published amounts, APR range, terms and origination fee, with higher-cost lenders marked so you can see at a glance which personal loan offers can exceed 36% APR.

Personal loan minimums are often higher in certain states, such as Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Ohio, so a lender that lists $1,000 may start at $3,000 or more where you live. APR ranges include any origination fee, which is why two lenders with similar interest rates can show different APRs. If you came here from a search for earnest personal loan rates, use the APR column as your first filter and the fee column as your second.

Borrowers comparing earnest personal loans with good credit and steady income usually see the lowest published APRs from these five lenders, though most set minimums of $1,000 to $2,000, so they suit the upper half of a small personal loan budget.

Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub)

• Amounts: $1,000 to $75,000
• APR: 5.96% to 35.99%
• Terms: 24 to 84 months
• Origination fee: 0% to 8% of the loan amount
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: in as little as 24 hours after approval for funding
• Notable feature: fixed rate and fixed term with no collateral

The lender long known as LendingClub now presents itself as Happen Bank, and its published personal loan APR floor of 5.96% is the lowest on this list. The fee can run as high as 8%, so the actual cost depends heavily on your credit profile. A $1,000 minimum means it can cover a mid-sized personal loan need, such as a car repair or a medical bill. Because the term can stretch to 84 months, check the total of payments rather than only the monthly figure, since a long term can quietly double the interest you pay.

Upstart

• Amounts: $1,000 to $75,000 (state minimums apply, for example $3,100 in Georgia and $7,000 in Massachusetts)
• APR: 6.3% to 35.99%
• Terms: 3 or 5 years
• Origination fee: range not published; the representative example shows 8.15%
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: as fast as one business day
• Notable feature: no prepayment fees

Upstart is known for weighing factors beyond a credit score when it prices a personal loan, such as education and work history, which can help people with a short credit file. The trade-off is limited flexibility: only two term lengths, both fairly long for a small personal loan. A $1,500 laptop purchase stretched over 36 months may cost more in total than a shorter loan elsewhere. Most applicants get a fast decision, and final approval follows a hard credit inquiry, so only accept once you have compared other personal loan offers.

Best Egg

• Amounts: $2,000 to $50,000 (higher minimums in some states, such as Ohio and Massachusetts)
• APR: 6.99% to 35.99%
• Terms: 36 to 60 months
• Origination fee: 0.99% to 9.99%; at least 4.99% on terms of four years or longer
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: in as little as 24 hours; about half of customers get funds the next day, per the lender
• Notable feature: prepay any time without penalty

Best Egg suits a reader researching earnest personal loans who needs $2,000 or more and can handle a three-year term. The fee rule matters: picking a four- or five-year term raises the minimum fee to 4.99%, which is deducted from what you receive. If you need $2,000 in hand, you may have to request slightly more to cover the fee. Checking a rate does not affect your credit score, which makes it easy to include in a side-by-side comparison of personal loan offers before you commit.

Prosper

• Amounts: $2,000 to $50,000
• APR: 8.99% to 35.99%
• Terms: 2 to 6 years
• Origination fee: 1% to 9.99%
• Minimum credit: 640
• Funding speed: as soon as one business day
• Notable feature: never a prepayment penalty; fixed rates

Prosper is one of the few lenders here that publishes a hard credit floor, a score of 640, which saves time for anyone comparing earnest personal loans with a score below that line. Its two-year minimum personal loan term is a good fit for a $2,500 roof patch or a set of overdue bills you want to clear within a reasonable window. The fee range is wide, so compare the amount you would actually receive, not just the amount approved. A borrower at the top of the fee range on $3,000 could lose about $300 at funding.

Upgrade

• Amounts: $1,000 to $50,000
• APR: 7.74% to 35.99%
• Terms: 24 to 84 months
• Origination fee: 1.85% to 9.99%, deducted from proceeds
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: within one business day of clearing verifications
• Notable feature: rate discounts for autopay, direct payoff of other debt, or securing the loan with a car

Upgrade offers several ways to lower the APR, including paying creditors directly when you consolidate cards. That makes this personal loan worth a look if your goal is to roll a few balances into one fixed payment. For people researching earnest personal loans to consolidate debt, the direct-payoff discount is the feature to ask about. Every loan carries an origination fee of at least 1.85%, so even the best-qualified borrower pays something upfront. If you secure the loan with a vehicle, understand that missed payments could put the car at risk, which is a real step up in stakes from an unsecured personal loan.

Fair-credit borrowers researching earnest personal loans tend to find these five lenders more flexible, often with branch support and terms as short as 12 months, though their published personal loan APRs start higher and some do not publish every figure.

Avant

• Amounts: $2,000 to $35,000 (minimum varies by state)
• APR: 9.95% to 35.99%
• Terms: 24 to 60 months
• Origination fee: administration fee up to 9.99%, deducted from proceeds
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: next business day if approved by 4:30 p.m. Central, Monday to Friday
• Notable feature: checking options does not affect your credit score

Avant is a common personal loan choice for borrowers in the fair-credit range who need at least $2,000. For readers comparing earnest personal loan rates, its own example shows how fees change the math: a $5,700 loan with a 9.99% administration fee leaves about $5,130 in hand and carries a 29.95% APR over 36 months. Ask for a figure that covers the fee if you need a precise amount. The clear funding cutoff is useful when a bill is due within days.

LendingPoint

• Amounts: $1,000 to $36,500 (higher minimums in Georgia, Colorado and Hawaii)
• APR: 7.99% to 35.99%
• Terms: 24 to 72 months
• Origination fee: up to 10%, depending on your state
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: as soon as the next business day
• Notable feature: published minimum annual income of $35,000

LendingPoint is open about one personal loan requirement many lenders keep vague: a minimum income of $35,000 a year. If you meet it, the $1,000 minimum makes it a reasonable option for a mid-sized personal loan. The fee can reach 10% in some states, which on a $2,000 loan would mean $200 taken out before the money arrives. Run the numbers with the fee included, and compare the total of payments with at least two other lenders before you sign. Readers weighing earnest interest rates against this lender should compare the APR, which already includes the fee.

Mariner Finance

• Amounts: $1,000 to $25,000; online loans between $1,500 and $14,000
• APR: 15.99% to 35.99%
• Terms: 12 to 72 months
• Origination fee: not published (the lender says loans may include origination fees)
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: not published
• Notable feature: 15-day satisfaction window to return the money with no fees

Mariner Finance combines online applications with a large branch network, which some borrowers comparing earnest personal loans prefer when they want to talk through an offer in person. Its APR floor of 15.99% is higher than the online-only lenders above, so it fits fair-credit borrowers better than those with strong scores. The 12-month minimum term is short enough for a quick personal loan payoff. Ask for the origination fee in writing, because the site does not publish an amount.

Lendmark Financial

• Amounts: minimum $2,000 in Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi and $3,000 elsewhere; up to $8,000 unsecured, more with collateral
• APR: maximum 35.99% on new loans; minimum not published
• Terms: 12 to 72 months
• Origination fee: not published (fees may apply by state law)
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: most applications approved and funded within one business day, per the lender
• Notable feature: online or in-branch applications with no prepayment penalties

Lendmark sets a firm ceiling of 35.99% APR on new personal loans, which keeps it out of the higher-cost group even though it serves many fair-credit borrowers. Its representative example shows a 33.10% APR on a $4,500 loan, so expect pricing near the top of the range if your credit is uneven. The $2,000 to $3,000 minimum rules it out for a very small personal loan. Because collateral can raise the amount, be careful not to pledge a car for a modest bill.

Republic Finance

• Amounts: not published (minimums and maximums depend on your state; secured in-branch loans up to $25,000)
• APR: up to 35.99%; minimum not published
• Terms: 12 to 60 months for typical applicants
• Origination fee: not published (varies by state and creditworthiness)
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: electronic deposit in one to two business days, or a same-day check at a branch
• Notable feature: prequalify online with no impact to your credit score

For readers checking earnest personal loan rates against branch lenders, Republic Finance publishes a 35.99% APR cap and a sample loan of $7,000 at 30.04% over 60 months, but it leaves amounts and fees to your state. That makes prequalification the only way to see real numbers. Optional insurance products may be offered at closing; they are voluntary, so decline anything you do not want. If you need a personal loan of around $1,500 for a dental bill, ask about the minimum in your state first.

Speed matters most when a bill is due this week, and for earnest personal loans shoppers these three lenders stand out for quick funding or for serving small amounts and thin credit files, each with personal loan prices that stay at or below about 36% APR on the products described.

OneMain Financial

• Amounts: $1,500 to $30,000 (state minimums and caps vary, for example $3,000 minimum in California)
• APR: 11.99% to 35.99%, fixed
• Terms: 24 to 60 months
• Origination fee: flat $25 to $500, or 1% to 10% of the loan amount, subject to state limits
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: as soon as one hour after closing with a bank-issued debit card; ACH in one to two banking days
• Notable feature: secured and unsecured options, no early payoff penalty

Among earnest personal loans alternatives, OneMain Financial is one of the fastest options when you need money the same day, thanks to its debit-card funding after closing. It serves many borrowers with fair or limited credit and lets you add collateral to qualify for more. The fee structure is unusual: some states use a flat dollar fee, others a percentage, so a $2,000 personal loan could carry anything from $25 to $200 or more upfront. Get the exact fee before you close on the personal loan.

CreditNinja

• Amounts: $300 to $5,000
• APR: up to 35.99% on its own installment loans; bank-partner products may differ
• Terms: 3 to 24 months
• Origination fee: not published (listed in the loan contract)
• Minimum credit: no minimum score to apply, per the lender
• Funding speed: same business day if approved before 10:30 a.m. Central, Monday to Friday
• Notable feature: short terms built for small amounts

CreditNinja is built for small, short personal loans, with a range that sits almost exactly inside the $500 to $5,000 window most readers researching earnest personal loans need. Its own loans are capped at 35.99% APR, but the lender notes that products from bank partners can carry different amounts, terms and APRs. Read which entity is making your loan and confirm the APR on the agreement. Short terms of three to 24 months keep total interest down, though monthly payments run higher.

Oportun

• Amounts: $300 to $10,000; typical unsecured amounts are $500 to $4,000 for new customers
• APR: maximum not published for unsecured loans; the published example shows 35.95%, and secured loans are capped at 36%
• Terms: not published as a range (examples use 30 and 39 months; secured loans have a 24-month minimum)
• Origination fee: administrative fee up to 10% of principal
• Minimum credit: prior credit history not required
• Funding speed: not published as a timeframe; funds sent by direct deposit after approval
• Notable feature: serves people with no credit history

Oportun is one of the few personal loan lenders that says outright it does not require a prior credit history, which makes it a realistic option for newcomers to US credit. Typical first loans of $500 to $4,000 match common needs like a rent gap or a vet bill. The administrative fee of up to 10% is significant on a small personal loan, so look at the amount you will actually receive. Because the unsecured APR ceiling is not published, read the personal loan offer closely.

Each of these five lenders publishes APRs that can rise above 36%, sometimes far above it, so treat them as a last resort after you have checked lower-cost personal loan offers, local credit unions and payment plans.

NetCredit

• Amounts: $1,000 to $10,000, depending on your state
• APR: 34.99% to 99.99%
• Terms: 6 to 60 months
• Origination fee: not published; the lender says it charges no application, prepayment, non-sufficient funds or late fees
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: typically same day if approved before 1 p.m. Central on weekdays
• Notable feature: reports payments to the major credit bureaus

NetCredit describes its own product as an expensive form of credit, and the range bears that out: the APR starts just under 35% and can reach 99.99%. On a $2,000 personal loan, a rate near the top of that range would make the interest larger than the amount borrowed over a multi-year term. Same-day funding and credit reporting are real benefits, but only if the payment fits comfortably. Compare it with lenders capped at 35.99% before you accept.

Personify Financial

• Amounts: $500 to $15,000 in most states (Georgia starts at $3,100)
• APR: 36.00% to 199.99% for loans made by Personify Financial or First Electronic Bank; 6.00% to 35.99% for loans from participating creditors
• Terms: 12 to 48 months
• Origination fee: 5% to 5.99% on certain loans
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: in as little as one business day
• Notable feature: free monthly FICO score for customers

Personify publishes two very different price ranges, so the first thing anyone researching earnest personal loans should check on an offer is who the lender is. Loans from Personify itself or its bank partner start at 36% APR and can approach 200%, while offers from participating creditors stay at or below 35.99%. A $1,000 personal loan at the high end could cost well over $1,000 in interest across a year or more. Read the lender name and APR on the agreement before signing.

RISE

• Amounts: $500 to $5,000
• APR: about 60% to 299%, varying by state
• Terms: up to 36 months
• Origination fee: not published; no application fee and no prepayment penalty
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: typically the next business day if approved before 6 p.m. Eastern
• Notable feature: five-business-day window to return the principal and pay nothing

If your search for earnest personal loans started with a sudden bill under $5,000, RISE will likely appear. It lends exactly within the $500 to $5,000 range and accepts many borrowers with damaged credit, but its published APRs start around 60% and can reach 299%. That pricing means a small personal loan balance can become expensive quickly if you keep it for the full term. The five-day return window is a genuine safety valve, so use it if you find a cheaper option after signing. Paying early saves real money because there is no prepayment penalty.

OppLoans

• Amounts: $500 to $5,000 per its disclosures (some page headings say up to $4,000)
• APR: maximum 195%; minimum not published
• Terms: not published
• Origination fee: not published
• Minimum credit: not published; bank partners consider more than your credit score
• Funding speed: as soon as the same business day if approved before noon Central
• Notable feature: applying does not affect your FICO score, and payments are reported to the three major bureaus

OppLoans arranges personal loans offered through bank partners and publishes only a maximum APR of 195%, not a minimum or a term range. That leaves you relying on the offer itself for the true cost. Ask for the total of payments in dollars and compare it with the amount you borrow. A $1,500 personal loan at a triple-digit APR can easily cost more in interest than the original bill, so try lower-cost routes first.

Integra Credit

• Amounts: $500 to $3,000 (Texas figures; other states publish their own)
• APR: 159% to 249% (Texas)
• Terms: 12 to 21 months (Texas)
• Origination fee: not published; a $15 late fee applies in Texas after a 10-day grace period
• Minimum credit: not published
• Funding speed: typically the next business day if the agreement is signed by 8 p.m. Central
• Notable feature: state-by-state rates pages for about 25 states

Integra Credit publishes its personal loan pricing state by state, and the Texas page shows how costly it can be: 159% to 249% APR on $500 to $3,000. The lender itself calls the product an expensive form of credit. At those rates, a $1,000 personal loan held for a year could cost more than $1,000 in interest. If you are considering it, compare it with a payment plan from the company you owe, because most utilities and medical offices offer one.

The best personal loan lender for you is the one whose offer gives the lowest total cost for an amount and term you can repay comfortably, so compare real offers by total of payments, not by advertised APR floors.

Start with your amount, because it is the fastest way to narrow a list of earnest personal loans options. If you need less than $1,000, the realistic choices narrow to CreditNinja, Oportun and the higher-cost group, plus a few lenders whose minimums happen to be low in your state. For $2,000 to $5,000, most of the list is open to you, and that is where comparing earnest personal loans options pays off most.

Next, match the term to the need, since the same earnest interest rates can produce very different totals over 12 months versus 60. A short-lived expense like a water heater is better covered by a personal loan repaid in 12 to 24 months than spread over five years. Use this checklist when an offer arrives from any lender you found while researching earnest personal loans:

1. Confirm the lender's legal name and that it is licensed in your state.
2. Write down the APR, the origination fee in dollars and the amount you will actually receive.
3. Compare the total of payments across at least two or three personal loan offers.
4. Check for prepayment penalties, late fees and any optional add-on products.
5. Make sure the monthly payment fits your budget with room to spare.

For a line-by-line walkthrough, see how to read a loan offer. If you are still deciding where to shop, our comparison of banks versus online lenders explains when each tends to win.

As an illustration only, the representative example we use across the site is borrowing $2,000 over 12 months at 24.00% APR, which works out to 12 monthly payments of $189.12, a total repaid of $2,269.44 and total interest of $269.44 (estimate, no origination fee assumed). Your own personal loan offer may be higher or lower.

When people search earnest personal loans reviews, they often find star ratings without any numbers behind them. The published figures on this page give you a firmer base: a lender with a lower APR ceiling and a published fee range is easier to evaluate than one that reveals its price only at the end. Before you apply for a personal loan anywhere, review the general eligibility requirements so you know which documents lenders usually ask for.