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Best low-interest personal loans for May 2025

Updated May 19, 2025

What to know first: Borrowers with excellent credit may qualify for rates below 7 percent. The lowest rates are typically offered for shorter terms if you can afford the higher monthly payment.

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LightStream: Best for large loan amounts

4.5
Est. APR
6.49- 25.29%
* with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs*
Loan amount
$5k-$100K
Min credit score
695

PERSONAL LOANS

Upstart: Best for borrowers with bad credit

4.7
Est. APR
6.60- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k-$50K
Min credit score
300

Upgrade: Best for debt consolidation

4.6
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$1k-$50K
Min credit score
580

PERSONAL LOANS

Prosper: Best for peer-to-peer loans

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k-$50K
Min credit score
600

SoFi: Best online lender

4.7
Est. APR
8.99- 29.49%
with all discounts
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$5k-$100K
Min credit score
650

Discover: Best for low maximum rates

4.8
Est. APR
7.99- 24.99%
Loan term
3-7 yrs
Loan amount
$2.5k-$40K
Min credit score
660

PERSONAL LOANS

Best Egg: Best for secured personal loans

4.6
Est. APR
6.99- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k-$50K
Min credit score
600

PERSONAL LOANS

Achieve: Best for co-borrowers

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 29.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k-$50K
Min credit score
620
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A closer look at our top low-interest loans

Here's a deep dive into each lender, why they're the best in each category and specifically who would benefit most from borrowing from the lender.

LightStream: Best for large loan amounts

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: LightStream is one of the most competitive online lenders in the personal loan space, offering a quick application process and fast funding. They also offer a maximum loan amount of $100,000 — much higher than many other lenders. 

Est. APR
6.49%–25.29%
Loan amount
$5k–$100k
Min credit score
695

Upstart: Best for borrowers with bad credit

Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: Founded in 2012 by ex-Googlers, Upstart is headquartered in San Mateo, California and has originated more than $34 billion in personal loans. If you’re looking to consolidate debt to boost your score for a low-interest rate loan in the future, make a large purchase or cover some personal expenses, an Upstart personal loan may be able to help you do it.

Est. APR
6.60%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$50k
Min credit score
300

Upgrade: Best for debt consolidation

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Upgrade personal loans are a good fit for smaller loan amounts or longer repayment terms of up to seven years. The low minimum loan limit comes in handy for an emergency expense, but can also be used to refinance credit cards, consolidate debt, take on home improvement projects or finance major purchases.

Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$50k
Min credit score
580

Prosper: Best for peer-to-peer loans

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Prosper is a marketplace pioneer with access to loans for fair credit borrowers. When it launched in 2005, the company became the first peer-to-peer firm to enter the personal loan lending space. 

Est. APR
8.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k–$50k
Min credit score
600

SoFi: Best online lender

Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: A SoFi personal loan is a good choice for borrowers who need a large sum of money but have slightly lower scores than most high-loan amount personal loan lenders allow. SoFi offers a wide range of repayment terms and accepts joint applications. Referral bonus programs and automatic payment discounts could also get you a lower rate.

Est. APR
8.99%–29.49%
Loan amount
$5k–$100k
Min credit score
650

Discover: Best for low maximum rates

Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8

Overview: Discover charges no origination fee and its starting APR is one of the lowest among lenders we reviewed. These factors make it a good match for good credit borrowers. The lender is also one of very few that offer customer service every day of the week.

Est. APR
7.99%–24.99%
Loan amount
$2.5k–$40k
Min credit score
660

Best Egg: Best for secured personal loans

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Since 2014, Best Egg has funded over 1 million loans, provided financial tools to consumers and supported local charities. It’s also one of the few lenders to offer secured loans, which may help borrowers qualify and save.

Est. APR
6.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k–$50k
Min credit score
600

Achieve: Best for fast funds with a co-borrower

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Whether you need money to consolidate credit card debt, make some home improvements or make a large purchase, an Achieve (formerly known as FreedomPlus) personal loan can help you do it. And if you need a little help from a friend to get a lower rate or higher loan amount, Achieve is one of the few lenders that allows both co-signers and co-borrowers.

Est. APR
8.99%–29.99%
Loan amount
$5k–$50k
Min credit score
620

TD Bank: Best bank loan

Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8

Overview: TD Bank offers personal loans in 16 states, where it also features brick-and-mortar locations for in-person customer service. Borrowers who prefer to complete the loan process virtually can prequalify, apply and manage their account online, as well. 

Est. APR
8.99%–23.99%
Loan amount
$2k–$50k
Min credit score
700

Calculate your low-interest personal loan payment

Use Bankrate's loan calculator to compare interest rates and repayment terms to find the best repayment plan for your budget. Check what factors provide the most affordable estimated monthly payment and see how much total interest you may need to pay.

Loan Calculator

Estimated monthly payment
$92.22
Total loan amount paid
$5,000.00
Total interest paid
$592.91
Total cost of loan
$5,592.91
Principal amount
Total interest paid

How to compare low-interest personal loans

Every lender and product is different. When it comes to comparing personal loans, there are several factors to consider, not just which product has the lowest annual percentage rate (APR). When shopping for a low-interest personal loan, keep the following factors in mind to determine the best options for your situation.

  • Lender requirements: Review each lender's income, credit score and debt-to-income (DTI) requirements to make sure you qualify for the loan. You'll also want to make sure the lender's minimum or maximum loan amounts meet your needs.
  • Interest rates and fees: The APR you are offered will vary widely by lender and your financial situation. Some lenders also charge certain fees — like origination fees, prepayment penalties and late fees — that other lenders do not.
  • Repayment terms: Each lender may offer different repayment terms, typically ranging from one to seven years. Consider the monthly payment you can afford and how long you want to pay for a loan.
  • Approval and funding timeline: Think about how quickly you need a personal loan and match that timeline with lenders that are able to process and fund loans as quickly as you need them to.
  • Discounts and perks: Some lenders offer perks and discounts to certain borrowers, including those who may already have accounts with the lender or those who sign up for autopay.
  • Lender reviews: Read through lender reviews to learn more about customer service and what to expect when working with the lender.

Low-interest personal loan rates

There are many factors that go into each person's interest rate, including your credit profile, the amount you need to borrow, type of loan you want and the current federal funds rate. The Federal Reserve impacts personal loan rates by raising or lowering this rate, which impacts the cost of borrowing money. 

Average rates as of May 14, 2025

Personal loans 12.26%

Lenders offer a range of rates, including a minimum and maximum rate. Depending on your credit, your rate will fall somewhere in between. The higher your credit score, the lower your rate may be, though other factors are considered as well. For example, shorter terms may receive a lower rate, and you may be able to lower your rate by signing up for autopay.

What are low-interest personal loans?

Generally, a low-interest personal loan has a rate far below the national average. As of May 14, 2025, the average personal loan rate was 12.26 percent. That’s much higher than the lowest single-digit rates advertised on many lenders’ websites.

Personal loans have a wide range of rates, and the APR you qualify for depends on your credit score. A low interest rate for an excellent credit borrower may be as low as 6.49 percent, while a low rate for a bad credit loan might start at 28.5 percent.

Although the lowest rates go to excellent borrowers, you should still shop for the lowest rate even if you have bad, fair or good credit. Bad credit lenders may offer special discounts if you make payments on time or set up automatic payments.

Pros and cons of low-interest personal loans

Green circle with a checkmark inside

Pros

  • A lower monthly payment gives you more room in your budget.
  • You'll save more money on interest than you'd pay with other types of debt, such as credit cards.
  • No risk of losing an asset like a home or car, since most low-interest personal loans are unsecured.
Red circle with an X inside

Cons

  • Harder to qualify for if you have an unstable income or credit issues.
  • The lowest APRs are typically offered for shorter repayment terms with higher monthly payments.
  • May require more paperwork to prove creditworthiness.
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See related

How to qualify for competitive rates on low-interest personal loans

Learn what steps you need to take to qualify for a low-interest personal loan.

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How to get a low-interest personal loan

Even though personal loan rates and eligibility criteria vary widely from lender to lender, certain steps can increase your chances of qualifying for the lowest rate offered. 

  • Spruce up your credit score: Lenders use your credit score to predict how likely you are to repay your debt. Consider paying off your credit card balances and avoid applying for new credit to keep your score in the best shape. If you've been late on any payments, you may need to wait several months for your score to recover.
  • Pay off revolving debt: Besides payment history, your credit utilization ratio has the biggest impact on your score. The less available credit you use, the higher your score will be. If you can’t pay off your balances, get them as low as possible.
  • Learn lender requirements: Check to see what the lender requires for the lowest rates. You might need a certain income or choose a secured loan option to get the best rates.
  • Ask about discounts: Rate discounts for automatic payments could knock 0.25 to 0.50 percent off your APR. They are uncommon, so if you don’t see any advertised rate discounts on a lender’s website, ask about discounts when you apply.
  • Pay off other debt: Lenders compare how much monthly debt you pay to how much you earn. This is called your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. If it's too high, the lender is more likely to offer you a higher APR. Typically, the sweet spot for the best rates is below 36 percent.
  • Consider credit unions: If you qualify for membership with a credit union, you may find lower rates than you would with a traditional bank. Federal credit unions are required to cap loan rates at 18 percent, which is much lower than banks and online lenders.

How much a low-interest personal loan can save you

You could be saving thousands of dollars in interest accrual with a low-interest personal loan. Let's look at how much you could save on a $15,000 loan with a low interest rate compared to the same loan with a rate that is close to average and one with a higher rate.

Interest rate Loan term Monthly payment Interest paid Total amount paid
5% 24 months $658.07 $793.70 $15,793.70
10% 24 months $692.17 $1,612.17 $16,612.17
13% 24 months $713.13 $2,115.06 $17,115.06
25% 24 months $800.57 $4,213.75 $19,213.75

FAQs

How we choose our best low-interest personal loan lenders 

Bankrate's trusted personal loans industry expertise

48

years in business

45

lenders reviewed

20

loan features weighed

900

data points collected

To select the best low-interest personal loans, Bankrate’s team of experts evaluated over 30 lenders. Each lender was ranked using a meticulous 20-point system, focusing on four main categories: