Editor’s Rating
3.6 / 5
Bottom Line: Loans through Upstart are good for people with fair-to-good credit, and typically have low APRs. The loans also have dollar amounts of $1,000 - $50,000 but have an origination fee.
This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any company. Opinions and ratings are our own.
Pros
Cons
Upstart Loans Review Summary
Loans through Upstart typically have APRs of 4.6% - 35.99%, which is great for people with excellent credit as the minimum APR is on par with what most lenders offer. Borrowers can also take out loans of , the high end of which is great for debt consolidation, home renovations and more.
People with credit scores as low as 300 can qualify for loans through Upstart in most states. Additionally, most borrowers are instantly approved, and applicants may be able to get their funds in as little as one business day.
Below you’ll see how WalletHub rates loans through Upstart in our three major categories: Terms, Requirements & Application, and Reviews & Transparency. You’ll also find a comparison to other popular personal loan providers.
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Upstart Personal Loan Terms
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APRs | 4.6% - 35.99% |
Loan Amount | $1,000 - $50,000 |
Loan Terms | 36 , 60 months |
Origination Fee | 0% - 12% |
Prepayment Fee | None |
Late Fee | 5% ($15 min.) |
Minimum Credit Score | Bad* |
Minimum Income | $12,000* |
Loan Purpose | Debt Consolidation, Refinance, Home Improvement |
Time to Receive Loan Money | As soon as the next business day |
Other Requirements |
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*According to multiple third-party sources Check My Rate |
*According to multiple third-party sources
Upstart Rates, Fees & Other Terms
Category Rating: 3.3/5
- Typical APR range:Loans through Upstart have fixed rates with a typical APR range of4.6% - 35.99%. These rates run high, relative to what many other lenders charge.
- How rates are determined: Upstart’s underwriting model uses machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to consider applicants based on variables like credit score, education, income and employment, among other factors.
- Fees:Loans through Upstart come with an origination fee of0% - 12%, depending on your creditworthiness. There is also a late payment fee of 5% ($15 min.) of the payment, but there are no fees for paying off a loan early.
- Loan amounts & timelines: Loans through Upstart have dollar amounts of $1,000 - $50,000 with repayment terms of 36 , 60 months.
Upstart Requirements & Application Info
Category Rating: 3.5/5
- Minimum credit score:You will need a credit score of at least 300 (in most states) to qualify for a loan through Upstart. That is pretty low, compared to many other lenders on the market, which require credit scores of 660 or higher.
- Minimum income:You will need an annual income of $12,000 or more from sources such as a job, a job offer, disability benefits or retirement funds, according to the company.
- Age:You must be at least 18 years old (applicants from Alabama and Nebraska must be at least 19 years old).
- Citizenship:You must be residing in one of the 50 U.S. states (military personnel on active duty are exempt from this rule).
- Identification:You must have a Social Security number, a verifiable name and date of birth, and a valid email address.
- Bank account:You must have a personal bank account at a U.S. financial institution with a routing number.
- Pre-qualification:You can check what loan rates you’re eligible foronline. This process will not affect your credit score, though if you decide to apply for a loan afterward, there will be ahard pullof your credit history.
- No joint loans:You cannot add a co-borrower or co-signer to your application.
- Ways to apply:If you decide to apply for a loan through Upstart, the only way to do it is online.
Upstart Reviews & Transparency
Category Rating: 3.3/5
- Better Business Bureau: Upstart gets an A+ score from the Better Business Bureau. And they’ve been accredited with the bureau since 2015.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Customers have only filed around 167 complaints about loans through Upstart with the CFPB. Some complaints include a person having a fraudulent Upstart account opened in their name and people being approved for different rates than they were estimated to receive in the pre-qualification process. Upstart usually gives “timely” responses to the complaints filed against them.
- WalletHub: Upstart has an average user rating of 3.5/5.
- Transparency: Upstart discloses the terms and requirements of their personal loans, but some information is hard to find on their website.
Overall, Upstart gets a decent score in this category because they have a positive reputation and are generally clear about their terms and requirements.
Summary: Loans Through Upstart Score by Review Category
Category | Score |
---|---|
Rates, Fees & Other Terms | 3.3/5 |
Requirements & Application Info | 3.5/5 |
Reviews & Transparency | 3.3/5 |
OVERALL | 10.1/15 |
Upstart Personal Loans vs. Popular Competitors
Upstart | LendingClub | SoFi | |
Reviews | ***** | ***** | ***** |
APRs | 4.6% - 35.99% | 9.57% - 35.99% | 8.99% - 25.81% |
Loan Amounts | $1,000 - $50,000 | $1,000 - $40,000 | $5,000 - $100,000 |
Loan Terms | 36 , 60 months | 24 - 60 months | 36 - 84 months |
Minimum Credit Score | Bad* | Fair* | Fair* |
*According to multiple third-party sources
Methodology
In order to provide the most accurate review of loans through Upstart, WalletHub used 17 key metrics grouped into three overall sections: Terms, Requirements & Application, and Reviews & Transparency. We rated each section on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 being the best, and then averaged the scores of the three sections to produce an overall rating for the loan.
- The “Terms” section includes information about how expensive the loan is, including rates and fees. It also takes into consideration how much consumers can borrow and how quickly they must pay it back. For companies where typical APR and fee ranges differ greatly by state, we used data from the most populous state serviced by the company. Terms for loans through Upstart do not fluctuate significantly by state, however.
- The “Requirements & Application” section examines how easy it is to apply for a loan and how long it takes to receive the money. It also looks at exactly who is eligible to apply.
- The “Reviews & Transparency” section measures the lending platform’s reputation as well as how clearly the lender discloses its terms and requirements. This takes into account user reviews and information from watchdog organizations.
The average of these three scores reflects how close a loan offer is to WalletHub’s definition of a 5-star loan. For more information, please read WalletHub’sfull methodology.
Your loan amount will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will qualify for the full amount. Minimum loan amounts vary by state: GA ($3,100), HI ($2,100), MA ($7,000).
The majority of borrowers on the Upstart platform are able to complete the application process automatically without providing additional supporting documents. Final approval is conditioned upon passing the hard credit inquiry.
The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 18.44% and a 8.64% origination fee of $864, for an APR of 22.88%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9136 and will make 60 monthly payments of $257. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in March 2023. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved.
If you accept your loan by 5pm EST (not including weekends or holidays), your funds will be sent on the next business day. Loans used to fund education related expenses are subject to a 3 business day wait period between loan acceptance and funding in accordance with federal law.
Neither Upstart nor its bank partners have a minimum educational attainment requirement in order to be eligible for a loan.
When you check your rate, we check your credit report. This initial (soft) inquiry will not affect your credit score. If you accept your rate and proceed with your application, we do another (hard) credit inquiry that will impact your credit score. If you take out a loan, repayment information may be reported to the credit bureaus.
Upstart Review FAQ(54 questions)
Most Popular
Is it easy to get a loan through Upstart?
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2
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
It is easy to get a loan through Upstart because applicants do not need a credit score to qualify, and you can get approved with bad credit. Other requirements you'll need to meet to get a loan through Upstart include being at least 18 years old, having a bank account and having enough income to afford the loan.
Requirements to Get a Loan Through Upstart
- Minimum credit score: None
- Minimum...
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4
Is Upstart legit?
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Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
Yes,personal loans through Upstart are legit because Upstart is an accredited business registered to do business in the states it services, which is a legal requirement to be a legitimate lending platform. Another reason why personal loans through Upstart are legit is that the company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Why Personal Loans Through Upstart Are Legit
- Upstart is registered as a business in the states it...
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Is it difficult to get a personal loan through Upstart?
16
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16
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
It is not hard to get a personal loan through Upstart because the company does not require applicants to have a credit score to qualify. Some requirements you'll need to meet, though, include being at least 18 years old (19 in NE and AL), having an SSN and having an annual income of at least $12,000.
Requirements for a Personal Loan Through Upstart
- Minimum Credit Score: None
- Minimum Income: Annual income...
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1
What are my Upstart approval odds?
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17
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
Your Upstart approval odds are good if you meet the minimum requirements to get a loan. Some requirements include being at least 18 years old (or 19 in NE and AL), having an annual income of at least $12,000, and having no bankruptcies or public records on your credit report. If you meet all the requirements, your approval odds are high, but approval is never guaranteed.
What You Need for Good Upstart Approval Odds
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Does a personal loan through Upstart affect your credit score?
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Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
Yes, a personal loan through Upstartdoes affect your credit score, both when you apply and during the entire time that you are paying the loan off. Initially, a personal loan through Upstart will affect your credit score negatively, but the long-term impact can be very positive, if you repay the loan on schedule.
How a Personal Loan Through Upstart Affects Your Credit Score
Hard pull:There will be a hard inquiry into your...
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Can you refinance a personal loan through Upstart?
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16
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
Yes, you can refinance apersonal loan through Upstartby using either a new personal loan or abalance transfer credit cardfrom a different company. By paying off your remaining balance with a new, lower-cost loan or credit card, you'll shift what you owe to the new company and save money on finance charges.
How to Refinance a Loan Through Upstart with a New Loan
- Check your credit score. Checking your credit helps you...
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What are Upstart's requirements for borrowers?
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16
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
Upstart's requirements include being at least 18 years old (19 in NE and AL), having an annual income of at least $12,000, and having no bankruptcies or public records on your credit report. You will also need to have a verifiable bank account to qualify for a personal loan through Upstart.
Upstart Requirements for Borrowers
- Credit Score: None
- Income: $12,000 annual income from sources like a job, a job offer, disability...
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1
What is the catch with Upstart?
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16
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
The catch withUpstartis that the loans through the company have an origination fee of 0% - 12%, which is a one-time fee that you will pay before your funds are delivered. You will also be subject to a late fee of 5% ($15 min.) if your loan payment is past due. Additionally, if you need to request a physical copy of your loan agreement, you will have to pay a $10 fee.
On a positive note,...
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1
Is Upstart hard to get approved for?
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16
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
A personal loan through Upstart is not hard to get approved for since there is no credit score requirement. However, you will need an annual income of at least $12,000, a valid bank account, and no bankruptcies or public records on your credit report to qualify. Approval by Upstart also is never guaranteed, even if you meet all the requirements.
Requirements to Get Approved by Upstart
- Credit Score: None
- Income...
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1
Can you pay off a loan through Upstart early?
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17
Grace Enfield, Content Writer
@grace_enfield
Yes, you can pay off a loan through Upstart early, and doing so is a smart idea because it will save you money on interest. There is no prepayment penalty on a personal loan through Upstart, meaning that you will not be charged extra if you pay off the loan sooner than you're required to.
Example of How Much You Can Save By Paying Off a Loan Through Upstart Early
- Situation:...
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