Comparing 10 offers. Updated June 2, 2026.
SoFi is a leading online lender offering personal loans up to $100,000 with no fees, fast funding, and member perks like unemployment protection.
Discover offers fixed-rate personal loans with no origination fees, 30-day money-back guarantee, and direct payment to creditors for debt consolidation.
Upstart uses AI to look beyond the credit score, approving borrowers other lenders reject and offering loans from $1,000 to $50,000.
Upgrade offers personal loans from $1,000 to $50,000 with flexible terms up to 7 years and accepts joint applicants and co-signers.
Best Egg specializes in fast, fixed-rate personal loans up to $50,000 with the option to use a vehicle as collateral for lower rates.
LendingClub is one of America's largest personal lenders, offering loans up to $40,000 with joint application options and direct creditor payments.
Avant offers personal loans designed for fair-credit borrowers, with fast funding and a streamlined mobile-first application process.
OneMain Financial offers secured and unsecured personal loans up to $20,000, accepting bad credit and even no credit history.
Rocket Loans, part of the Rocket Companies family, offers fast online personal loans up to $45,000 with same-day funding for qualified borrowers.
OppLoans is a fintech offering installment loans to consumers with no or poor credit, with rates lower than payday loans but still triple-digit APR.
An emergency loan is a short-term personal loan for urgent expenses: car repair, medical bill, broken appliance, last-minute travel, or any unexpected cost that cannot wait. Funding usually arrives in 24 hours, sometimes the same day.
The safer options are personal loans from SoFi, Discover, Upstart, LendingClub Bank, and Avant, with APRs from 8 to 36 percent. For borrowers with fair credit, OneMain Financial and Avant have branch and online options. Credit unions often beat banks on emergency loan APRs.
Payday loans (often 300 to 700 percent APR), car title loans, and tribal loans are last-resort products that frequently trap borrowers in debt. Most US states cap consumer loan APRs at 36 percent for licensed lenders. Always verify the lender is licensed in your state at your state Attorney General website.
SoFi and Discover can fund the same day for existing customers. Upstart, Best Egg, and Avant typically fund the next business day. OneMain Financial branches can deliver a check the same day if you visit in person.
SoFi and Discover can fund the same day for existing customers. Upstart, Best Egg, Avant, and LendingClub typically fund the next business day. OneMain Financial branches issue same-day checks for in-person applications. Average funding time across US online lenders is 1 to 2 business days.
No, almost never. Payday loans typically charge 300 to 700 percent APR and trap borrowers in rollover cycles. Installment lenders like OppLoans (109 to 195 percent APR) are still expensive but reportedly safer. Personal loans at 8 to 36 percent APR are always cheaper if you qualify.
A 401k loan (up to 50 percent of vested balance, max $50,000) charges your own interest (prime plus 1 to 2 percent) and avoids credit checks. The risk is that you must repay the full balance within 60 to 90 days if you leave your job, or it becomes a taxable distribution with a 10 percent penalty.
Federal programs include FEMA disaster loans (declared disaster zones only), SBA disaster loans, and tribal programs for Native American borrowers. State and local programs vary; contact 211 (a nationwide referral service) for emergency assistance options in your area.