Personal loan review
Loans issued by Upgrade's bank partners
Upgrade personal loans
Best for: Fair credit and debt consolidation
Upgrade works with a wide range of credit profiles and can pay your creditors directly when you consolidate debt — which may earn a lower rate. Checking your rate is a soft pull, and funds can arrive as soon as one business day after approval.
- Soft-pull rate check
- Joint applications
- Pays creditors directly
- 0.5% AutoPay discount
Terms last reviewed October 23, 2026
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Upgrade at a glance
- APR range
- 7.74%–35.99%Discounts may apply for AutoPay or direct payment to creditors
- Loan amounts
- $1,000–$50,000
- Repayment terms
- 2–7 years
- Origination fee
- 1.85%–9.99%Deducted from loan proceeds
- AutoPay discount
- 0.5% off APR
- Credit needed
- Poor to goodNo published minimum; reportedly around 580–600
- Time to funding
- As soon as one business day after approval
- Soft-pull rate check
- Yes
- Joint applications
- Yes
- Pays creditors directly
- Yes
- Secured loan option
- No
Pros and cons
Pros
- Accepts fair credit
- Direct payment to creditors for consolidation
- Soft-pull rate check
- Joint applications accepted
Cons
- Origination fee on every loan (1.85%–9.99%)
- High maximum APR
- No co-signers (joint applicants only)
What a $10,000 loan could cost
Your rate depends on your credit and finances. Here's the range of monthly payments at Upgrade's lowest and highest advertised APRs, before any origination fee.
| Term | At 7.74% APR | At 35.99% APR |
|---|---|---|
| 36 months | $312/mo $1,238 total interest | $458/mo $6,487 total interest |
| 60 months | $202/mo $2,091 total interest | $361/mo $11,676 total interest |
Requirements
- Fair credit or better
- Verifiable income
- US citizen or permanent resident who has reached the age of majority in their state
How to apply
- Check your credit report and score so you know which rates are realistic.
- Check your rate on Upgrade's site — it's a soft pull, so it won't affect your score.
- Compare the offer with at least two other lenders on APR and total cost.
- Submit the full application with proof of income and identity.
- Review the final loan agreement, then sign and receive your funds — as soon as one business day after approval.
Featured in
- Best Personal Loans of 2026 — Best for fair credit
- Best Debt Consolidation Loans of 2026 — Best overall for consolidation
- Best Personal Loans for Fair Credit (2026) — Best overall for fair credit
Frequently asked questions
Does Upgrade do a hard credit check?
Checking your rate with Upgrade uses a soft credit inquiry, which doesn't affect your score. A hard inquiry happens when you formally apply.
How fast does Upgrade fund loans?
As soon as one business day after approval, once your loan is approved and verified. Timing also depends on your bank.
What credit score do you need for Upgrade?
No published minimum; reportedly around 580–600. Lenders also look at your income, existing debts and credit history, so there's no guaranteed approval score.
Does Upgrade charge an origination fee?
Yes — 1.85%–9.99% of the loan amount. Deducted from loan proceeds
How we compare lenders
Our methodology
We review each lender's published terms and compare them on the four things that matter most to borrowers. Rankings are editorial: partners can't pay for a better position, and any sponsored link is labelled. Lender terms change often, so we show the date each lender was last reviewed.
Cost
Published APR range, origination and other fees, and any AutoPay or Direct Pay discounts.
Flexibility
Loan amounts and term lengths, and whether secured or joint options are available.
Access
Which credit profiles a lender serves, and whether you can check your rate with a soft pull.
Speed & service
How quickly funds arrive after approval, and borrower-friendly features like paying creditors directly.
Rates, fees and terms are as published by Upgrade and were last reviewed on October 23, 2026. They can change at any time, may vary by state, and your offer depends on your credit profile. Confirm current details with Upgrade before applying. This review is general information, not financial advice.
Alternatives
Other lenders to compare
LightStream
Excellent credit and no fees
- APR
- 7.24%–24.89%
- Amount
- $5,000–$100,000
SoFi
Large loans and fast funding
- APR
- 6.99%–35.49%
- Amount
- $5,000–$100,000
PenFed Credit Union
Low maximum APR and small loans
- APR
- 6.74%–17.99%
- Amount
- $600–$50,000