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A debt consolidation loan is a type of personal loan that's used to pay off existing debt. Ideally, the interest rate on the personal loan is lower than the rate you pay on current debt. Nearly all personal loans can be used to consolidate debt, and almost all have a fixed interest rate. Having a fixed interest rate is important because it means you know exactly how much your monthly payment will be throughout the life of the loan.
Looking for a personal loan with a low interest rate? It's important to compare rates you could get, not just average rates. Click below to check what rates you could prequalify for across multiple lenders:
Lending Partner | Min. Credit Score | Loan Amounts | Apr Range | Next Steps |
---|---|---|---|---|
2025 Award Winner
SoFi Personal Loans
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Min. Credit Score: 680 | Loan Amounts: $5,000 - $100,000 | APR Range: Fixed: 8.99%-29.99% APR (with all discounts) | |
LightStream
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Min. Credit Score: 660 | Loan Amounts: $5,000 - $100,000 | APR Range: 7.99%-24.29% (w/ AutoPay)* | |
Upgrade
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Min. Credit Score: 580 | Loan Amounts: $1,000 - $50,000 | APR Range: 9.99%- 35.99% APR |
Check Rates for Upgrade
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LendingClub
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Min. Credit Score: 600 | Loan Amounts: $1,000 - $40,000 | APR Range: 9.57% - 36.00% |
Check Rates for LendingClub
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Rocket Loans
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Min. Credit Score: 640 | Loan Amounts: $2,000 to $45,000; min. $5,001 in Ohio | APR Range: 8.99% to 29.99% |
Rates quoted are with AutoPay. Your loan terms are not guaranteed and may vary based on loan purpose, length of loan, loan amount, credit history and payment method (AutoPay or Invoice). AutoPay discount is only available when selected prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. To obtain a loan, you must complete an application on LightStream.com which may affect your credit score. You may be required to verify income, identity and other stated application information. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 8.49% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $205.12. Some additional conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2024 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.
*SoFi Personal Loan Disclaimer
Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR. APR reflects the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount.
SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 3/06/24 and are subject to change without notice.Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual ratewill be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors.
Loan amounts range from $5,000–$100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive.
Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.
Impact to credit score: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 9.99%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 24 to 84 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.59% APR (which includes a 13.94% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $341.48. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,293.46. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Upgrade's bank partners. Information on Upgrade's bank partners can be found at https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/.
Great for: Low APR for borrowers with high income
We find that SoFi stands out in the personal loan landscape by offering competitive interest rates and a generous loan limit of up to $100,000. By opening a SoFi checking or savings account and setting up auto-pay, you can enjoy a 0.25% rate reduction, which can be stacked for a total of 0.5% if you do both. Plus, there are no origination fees, late fees, or prepayment penalties, and you can benefit from same-day funding for added convenience.
SoFi® offers some pretty attractive benefits, including loan amounts from $5,000 to $100,000. Unlike many lenders, SoFi® charges no origination fee or prepayment penalty. This lender requires a good credit score of 680 or higher, but you can bring a co-borrower if you don't qualify on your own. The lender also considers alternative sources to determine creditworthiness for borrowers who haven't had time to build a long credit history.
Here's what it takes to qualify for a SoFi® personal loan:
Great for: Borrowers with good credit
LightStream offers the lowest rates on personal loans, hands down, and high loan limits. Also, LightStream doesn't charge fees. All in all, this is one of the most competitive personal loan lenders you'll come across. The catch is that LightStream has stricter borrowing requirements than some other lenders.
If you're looking to consolidate debt but still have a (fairly) healthy credit score, LightStream could be a good choice. LightStream personal loans are available from $5,000 to $100,000, with no origination fees or prepayment penalties. Loan terms ranging from 24 to 48 months allow you some control over your monthly payment amount.
Although you'll likely need a credit score of 660 or greater, LightStream allows co-applicants, which can be good news for borrowers with a lower FICO® Score. If you've been approved for a personal loan by another lender, LightStream will beat that lender's rate by one-tenth of a percentage point (0.1%)
To qualify for a LightStream personal loan, you'll need to meet the following requirements:
Great for: Debt consolidation and fair credit
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Powered by Credible
Upgrade is a solid choice for those seeking flexible loans with a high maximum loan amount, long repayment terms, and secured and unsecured options. We love that you can access funding quickly—often in just one day. While there’s an origination fee, you won’t face a prepayment penalty. Additionally, even though Upgrade's APR is higher than others, you can score better rates by using some of the funds to pay off other debt or offering collateral.
Upgrade provides personal loans as small as $1,000 or as large as $50,000 to qualified applicants. Funds from Upgrade hit a borrower's bank account within four days (often sooner). Loan terms stretch from two to seven years, giving you more control over the size of your monthly payment.
According to Upgrade, here's what it takes to qualify for a loan:
Great for: Low APR for borrowers with good to excellent credit scores
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Powered by Credible
For anyone looking to consolidate high-interest debt, LendingClub is worth exploring. You can save hundreds on interest by combining loans into a single peer-to-peer loan. LendingClub offers a wide range of loan amounts, and you can pay off your loan early without facing any prepayment penalties.
LendingClub is a fintech company working with a network of investors looking for people to loan money to. Loans are available from $1,000 to $40,000, with terms of 36 or 60 months. Because it's a network of investors, there's a good chance you will find funding, even if you have a shorter financial history or a lower credit score.
To qualify for a LendingClub personal loan, you'll need to meet the following requirements:
Great for: Flexible personal loans
Rocket personal loans can be used for just about anything, including debt consolidation.
In addition to mortgages, Rocket also provides personal loans, which can be a good choice for consolidating high-interest debt if your credit score is 640 or higher. Rocket debt consolidation loans range from $2,000 to $45,000. Repayment terms are either 36 or 60 months, and you can expect same-day loan approval. Plus, you may even receive same-day funding.
If you're interested in a Rocket loan, you'll need to meet the following requirements:
As you've probably noticed, each lender has its own qualification requirements. However, here's what most lenders look for:
The process of applying for a debt consolidation loan is relatively straightforward. You will:
Save yourself time and stress by gathering the following before filling out a loan application:
As with every major financial decision, taking out a debt consolidation loan involves both pros and cons. Here, we look at each.
Sometimes, a consolidation loan isn't the best choice. You also have these options:
If your credit score is good to excellent, you may qualify for a credit card with a 0% promotional rate. Let's say you have relatively small balances on high-interest debt. Although you don't owe much, you still don't want high interest rates weighing you down.
A 0% promotional credit card normally offers a promotional period lasting from 12 to 24 months. You'll never have to pay interest as long as you pay the card in full before the promotional period expires.
If you own a home and have equity in that property, you may want to consider a home equity loan. Since your home serves as equity, you may even land a lower interest rate than you would with a personal loan.
Looking into a peer-to-peer (P2P) loan can be worthwhile if you have fair to poor credit and have trouble qualifying for a traditional loan. P2P loans match borrowers with individual investors who may be willing to loan money to those with less-than-ideal credit.
A debt management plan (DMP) is sometimes entered into when you work with a credit counseling agency. Under a DMP, a trained counselor will negotiate your debt with each of your creditors and help you create a repayment plan you can afford. Like a debt consolidation loan, a DMP allows you to trade several (or more) payments per month for a single monthly payment.
Asking someone you know to loan you money can feel tricky. Still, it may be the least expensive option if you don't need to borrow much and can guarantee you'll repay the loan as promised.
As mentioned, taking out a debt consolidation loan is a big decision -- and one that only you can make. As you consider the wisdom of a debt consolidation loan, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
A debt consolidation loan is a personal loan used to pay off existing high-interest debt and repay it in monthly installments. Most personal loans have a fixed interest rate, meaning you know from day one how much you can expect to pay each month until the loan is fully paid off. Before applying for a debt consolidation loan, it pays to figure out if the APR is low enough to justify paying all loan fees.
Loan products are rated on a scale of one to five stars, primarily focusing on:
The easiest way to save money when getting a loan is to find a product with a competitively low interest rate. Items assessed may include:
Cutting origination fees is now table stakes in the personal loans market. We also think fees should be $0 or justifiably low across the life of a loan. Items assessed may include:
The most valuable loan products tend to offer a deep bench of options that meet a wide array of customer needs. These include a diverse range of loan amounts and terms, as well as loan structures. Items assessed may include:
See our full methodology here: Ratings Methodology
A debt consolidation loan is a loan used to pay off other debt. It usually has a lower interest rate than other debt (like credit card debt). You can also use it to pay off multiple debts -- for example, multiple credit cards or loans. Then, you have only one debt payment to remember instead of several.
Getting a debt consolidation loan could help your credit score go up. Consolidating debt leaves you with more available credit (for example, paid off credit cards). As long as you don't add charges to the cards you just paid off, the credit utilization portion of your credit score improves. In addition, making monthly payments on time helps boost your score.
The credit score required to consolidate debt depends on the lender. Some lenders that cater to those with poor credit consider applicants with scores as low as 560-580.
How much debt you can consolidate depends on a number of factors, including your credit history, income, and how much money a lender will offer you.
Ramsey is not a fan of debt consolidation loans, believing that it will take you longer to repay the debt. In his opinion, the longer it takes you to repay the loan, the more interest you'll pay.
A longer term on a debt consolidation loan is not necessarily a bad thing, if you can use that loan to get a lower interest rate, a lower monthly payment, and build momentum to pay off debt faster. Use a debt payoff app and crunch the numbers to see how long it will take you to pay off existing debt at the rate you're paying. Then, find out how much a consolidation loan will cost you monthly. Finally, compare the total interest paid in both scenarios.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Rates quoted are with AutoPay. Your loan terms are not guaranteed and may vary based on loan purpose, length of loan, loan amount, credit history and payment method (AutoPay or Invoice). AutoPay discount is only available when selected prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. To obtain a loan, you must complete an application on LightStream.com which may affect your credit score. You may be required to verify income, identity and other stated application information. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 8.49% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $205.12. Some additional conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2024 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.
*SoFi Personal Loan Disclaimer
Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR. APR reflects the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount.
SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 3/06/24 and are subject to change without notice.Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual ratewill be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors.
Loan amounts range from $5,000–$100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive.
Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.
Impact to credit score: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 9.99%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 24 to 84 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.59% APR (which includes a 13.94% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $341.48. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,293.46. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Upgrade's bank partners. Information on Upgrade's bank partners can be found at https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here