Upstart Personal Loans Review: Is It a Good Fit for Your Credit?
- Accepts borrowers with new or limit
- Get loan funds as quick as the next
- Change payment dates easily
Debt can be overwhelming, even when you’re paying as much toward your bills as you can every month. Using a personal loan to refinance or consolidate your debt into something more manageable can help you pay off your debt faster and for less money. A company called Upstart is an AI-driven lending platform that partners with banks and credit unions to offer personal loans to people with fair or thin credit history, and you can get your funds in as quick as one business day.
But how good is Upstart, and how do its personal loan terms compare with those of other companies on the market? In our Upstart review, we’ll explain the process and how it rates in helping borrowers with debt consolidation, education funding and more.
Upstart
- Accepts borrowers with new or limited credit
- Get loan funds in as little as 1 business day
- Change payment dates easily
Information is accurate as of July 2026; offers change; verify terms.
What Is Upstart?
Upstart is a California-based lending company that partners with banks and credit unions to provide loans to individuals who may not traditionally qualify for a loan. What makes Upstart stand out is its reputation as a financial technology (fintech) company, using artificially intelligent algorithms and nontraditional variables to determine if a borrower is creditworthy.
Rather than relying solely on your credit score — which Upstart does take a look at — the company also considers factors such as your education and employment to predict whether a loan is right for you. This makes Upstart an appealing option for those with little credit history, but you’ll pay higher APRs and an origination fee. You can find out your rate before you apply with a soft credit pull, which won’t impact your score.
During our research and review process, we took a moment to speak to co-founder Dave Girouard about Upstart’s AI technology. This is what he had to say about the system and how it enables more individuals to obtain needed loans:
“Many more Americans are creditworthy than they appear to be based on credit scores, which were innovative 30 years ago but are now frozen in time. Upstart applies AI technology to lending. The result is a more accurate assessment of risk. By assessing more than 1,000 variables for each applicant, Upstart’s system finds many more ways beyond the credit score to prove that an individual is creditworthy, leading to better credit outcomes for each applicant and comparing them across millions of actual loans.”
If you’re concerned about Upstart’s trustworthiness, the company has been around for more than a decade now and has been helping individuals with their money since the very beginning.
Upstart Rates, Terms and Fees
As of July 2026, Upstart offers personal loans in three- or five-year terms, with an APR range of 6.2% – 35.99%. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $75,000, although minimum and maximum amounts vary by state laws. The company does not specify the range for origination fees, but notes on its site, “Personal loan origination fees typically range from 0% to 10% of the loan amount.”
Most loans through Upstarts are unsecured, but there is an option to secure your personal loan through Upstart with your vehicle. That option requires a lien to be placed on your vehicle. Upstart notes on its website that rates can run higher for those with fair/poor credit and an origination fee may apply.
| APR range | 6.2% – 35.99% |
| Loan amount range | $1,000 to $75,000 |
| Term lengths | 3 or 5 years |
| Origination fees | Varies |
| Funding speed | 1 business day |
| Minimum credit score | 300 |
Information is accurate as of July 2026; offers change; verify terms.
Pros and Cons of an Upstart Personal Loan
Pros
- Flexible AI underwriting
- Considers those with thin/low credit
- Fast funding
- Wide range of loan amounts
Cons
- Interest rates can be high
- Origination fee can be high
- Limited term options
Upstart Eligibility: Who Qualifies?
Qualifying for an Upstart loan is a bit different than with most other companies as your approval is based upon an unknown artificially intelligent algorithm. So, we can’t simply say that having a certain credit score or past credit history will automatically make you eligible for a personal loan.
As of July 2026, we know that Upstart personal loans require a credit score of 300 or above and that it doesn’t impose a minimum education requirement to be eligible for a personal loan. So while Upstart does take education into consideration, it won’t exclude you from a loan if you, for example, haven’t been to college.
Additionally, Upstart’s general eligibility requirements include:
- Have a verifiable name, date of birth and Social Security number (Upstart does not accept International Taxpayer Identification Numbers)
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid U.S. residential address
- Have a personal banking account
- Have a valid email account
- Have a source of income
Loan availability may vary based on your state.
How to Apply for an Upstart Loan
So, you’re eligible to apply for an Upstart personal loan, now what?
- Go to the Upstart website and check your rate. This process requires a soft credit check and will not affect your credit score.
- Review your offers. Remember to look at the APRs rather than the interest rates, which does not include additional costs like origination fees. Personal loans through Upstart carry a fixed rate of 6.25% to 35.99% APR. With Upstart, the only two term options are three or five years.
- If you wish to move forward with a personal loan, select your loan and complete your application. A hard credit inquiry will be made. Hard credit inquiries remain on your account for typically two years and may affect your credit score. You may also need to verify your income at this step.
- Once you’ve been approved and you’ve accepted your personal loan’s terms, Upstart is speedy getting money to you or your creditors — as fast as one business day.
Is Upstart Legit?
Upstart is an established, publicly traded lending platform that partners with banks and credit unions to fund loans. It has been in business for more than a decade and has a Trustpilot score of 4.9/5. The publicly traded company earned $1.04 billion in revenue in 2025 and has a solid A rating from the Better Business Bureau.
In 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced a no-action letter issued to Upstart, requiring it to regularly report lending and compliance information. No-action letters are typically issued to reduce potential regulatory uncertainty about new products — in this case, Upstart’s AI-automated model for approving loans. At Upstart’s request, the CFPB terminated the no-action letter in November 2020.
Upstart Alternatives
When choosing a loan, it’s a good idea to compare options. In addition to Upstart, consider other loan matching services, like AmOne. For a complete comparison of alternatives, check out our guide to the best personal loans.
In general, Upstart is not a great option for those who can qualify for more traditional personal loans. The company was founded with a focus on getting money to those with a fair credit score or no credit history. Upstart tends to charge a high APR (plus an origination fee) on its loan amounts, so those with excellent credit may want to look elsewhere. More traditional banks may be able to offer you lower APRs and better terms if you have a strong credit score.
That said, if you don’t have the best credit score or are lacking history, Upstart is a great option — just watch out for those high interest rates. Additionally, Upstart is a good option for those who need funds fast since money can reach your bank account in only a few business days after you’ve been approved.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, Upstart has been in business for more than a decade serviced more than 4 million customers. It’s a publicly traded company and its platform is connected to more than 100 banks and credit unions. The company has a solid A rating from the Better Business Bureau.
If you need personal loans, and have fair credit or little credit history, we recommend Upstart as an option.
The minimum credit score to apply for a loan through Upstart is 300. However, the company notes that rates can run higher for those with fair/poor credit and an origination fee may apply.
No, Upstart is an AI-driven lending marketplace that connects borrowers with 100+ banks and credit unions.
Yes! You can prepay your Upstart personal loan in whole or partially at any time via the Upstart website. Upstart does not have any penalties for paying off your loan early, so feel free to do so if it is the best decision for your financial situation.
Michael Archambault is a former senior writer for The Penny Hoarder. Senior Managing Editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this post for July 2026.
