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NerdWallet is a great option for individuals who are just starting to research personal loans. The platform displays loan terms, interest rates, and loan amounts for dozens of lenders. You can also filter lenders based on your credit score or the amount you want to borrow to get a clearer view of your potential options.
NerdWallet mainly works with online-only lenders, so borrowers who prefer an online loan process will benefit most from this platform. You can use NerdWallet’s pre-qualification tool to get personalized offers, but you’ll still need to apply for a loan through the lender’s website.
NerdWallet is also a good resource for anyone who is new to personal finance or wants to learn more about personal loans. The website has tons of educational guides that explain how personal loans work and how they can be used. NerdWallet also offers guides to alternative loan options such as small business loans, student loans, and home equity loans.
NerdWallet is not a direct lender, but rather a marketplace where you can compare personal loans from multiple providers. NerdWallet displays loans from 15 lenders including Upstart, Lightstream, SoFi, Upgrade, and more. You can use personal loans from these companies for everything from refinancing credit card debt to home improvement to paying for emergency expenses.
NerdWallet does not enable you to apply for loans directly through the site. You must visit the lender’s site and go through their application process. However, NerdWallet does have a pre-qualification tool where you can view personalized offers.
The pre-qualification tool requires you to enter information about the amount you want to borrow and what it will be used for. You also need to enter your name, address, phone number, email, and Social Security number. NerdWallet will run a soft credit check, which doesn’t impact your credit score.
NerdWallet will display several offers for which you are pre-qualified. If you see an offer you like, you can apply for it through the lender’s website. NerdWallet will pre-populate your application with information you have already entered to speed up the process.
Notably, you can get a sense of personal loan options available from NerdWallet’s partners without going through the pre-qualification process. NerdWallet offers a comparison table that you can filter based on the amount you want to borrow, your preferred repayment term, your credit score, and your state. The table displays each lender’s range for loan amounts, repayment terms, and interest rates.
NerdWallet’s lenders work with a wide variety of borrowers. You can filter the comparison table based on your state of residence and your credit score. NerdWallet has loan partners in all 50 states and partners who offer personal loans to individuals with bad credit. If you’re not sure whether you’ll qualify, you can use NerdWallet’s pre-qualification tool to check offers.
NerdWallet’s partner lenders offer loans ranging in size from $2,000 to $50,000. Interest rates start as low as 5.40% for borrowers with excellent credit. You can view interest rate ranges for each lender in NerdWallet’s comparison table and check your personalized rates using the platform’s pre-qualification tool.
The lenders that NerdWallet works with offer loan repayment terms from 1-7 years. You can view the repayment term range for each lender in the main comparison table and even sort the results by term length.
NerdWallet uses SSL encryption to protect the information you submit through the pre-qualification tool. You do not have to sign up for a NerdWallet account, although you have the option to create a password-protected account. There is no personal information required to view the comparison table.
NerdWallet offers a contact form for users to get in touch. There is no phone number or email address to contact.
| NerdWallet | Credible | Lightstream | |
| APR | 5.40%-36.00% | 5.40%-35.99% | 5.99%-22.49% |
| Minimum credit score | None | 620 | 660 |
| Loan amounts | $2,000-$50,000 | $600-$100,000 | $5,000-$100,000 |
| Loan term | 12-84 months | 12-84 months | 12-84 months |
| Suitable for | Comparing loans from multiple lenders | Small personal loans | Borrowers with excellent credit |
NerdWallet’s lending partners include both Credible and Lightstream. So, when you use NerdWallet to find personal loans, you’ll see offers from both of these lenders if you qualify for them. In addition, NerdWallet can display offers from more than a dozen additional lenders.
Credible offers some of the lowest interest rates and smallest loan amounts of any personal loan lender. You can borrow as little as $600 with rates starting at 5.40% APR.
Lightstream requires a 660 credit score and loan amounts start at $5,000. If you need a larger personal loan, Lightstream has some of the best interest rates for borrowers with strong credit.
Do I need a NerdWallet account to see loan offers?
No, you can get pre-qualified for a personal loan on NerdWallet and view offers without signing up for an account. NerdWallet is free to use.
How does NerdWallet make money?
NerdWallet is free to use. The company is paid by lenders for each borrower that NerdWallet refers to them.
What lenders are available on NerdWallet?
NerdWallet displays personal loan offers from 15 lenders including Marcus, Lightstream, Discover, Upgrade, Achieve, SoFi, LendingClub, Upstart, Prosper, LendingPoint, Happy Money, Best Egg, Universal Credit, Avant, and OneMain Financial.
How much can I borrow through NerdWallet?
The personal loan providers that NerdWallet works with offer loans ranging in size from $2,000-$50,000.
NerdWallet makes it easy to compare personal loans from 15 providers. You can view lenders in a customizable comparison table or pre-qualify for personalized loan offers. NerdWallet lenders offer loan amounts from $2,000-$50,000 and repayment terms from 1-7 years. There are loans for borrowers with all credit scores and interest rates start at low as 5.40%. Nerdwallet also offers educational guides for borrowers who want to learn more about personal loans.
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This review is based on information available on the NerdWallet website.
