Comparing 5 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.
LightStream is the online lending division of Truist Bank offering unsecured personal loans up to $100,000 with some of the lowest APRs in the US market.
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.
Figure offers fast online HELOCs with funding in as little as 5 days, leveraging blockchain technology for transparent terms and competitive rates.
A solar loan pays for a residential solar panel system, typically $15,000 to $30,000 after the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (30 percent of installed cost through 2032). Most homeowners offset 70 to 100 percent of their electric bill, so the loan often pays for itself within 6 to 12 years.
A solar loan means you own the system and qualify for the 30 percent federal tax credit plus any state incentives. A solar lease or PPA means the installer owns the system and you pay a fixed monthly fee. Owning almost always builds more long-term wealth than leasing.
Specialist lenders include Sunlight Financial, GoodLeap, Mosaic, and Dividend Finance. General lenders like LightStream, SoFi, and Upgrade offer unsecured solar loans without home appraisal. Figure and other HELOC lenders work if you have home equity and want the lowest APR.
Compare APR, the dealer fee (built into the loan amount, often 15 to 30 percent), and the loan term (10, 12, 15, 20, or 25 years). A loan with a low APR but a 25 percent dealer fee can be more expensive than a higher-APR loan with no dealer fee.
The Residential Clean Energy Credit lets US homeowners deduct 30 percent of the installed system cost from federal income tax through 2032. A $24,000 system delivers a $7,200 credit, reducing the effective system cost to $16,800. The credit applies only when you own the system (loan or cash), not when you lease.
A loan means you own the system and receive the 30 percent federal tax credit plus any state incentives. A lease or PPA means the installer owns the system and you pay a fixed monthly fee. Owning almost always builds more wealth over the 25-year system life.
Specialist solar lenders (GoodLeap, Mosaic, Sunlight Financial) charge a dealer fee of 15 to 30 percent of the loan amount, built into the financed total. A low advertised APR can hide a high dealer fee that makes the loan more expensive than a higher-APR loan with no dealer fee. Always ask about the dealer fee before signing.
A HELOC from Figure, Discover, or a local bank often offers the lowest APR for solar financing if you have home equity. The downside is that your home secures the debt. The upside is no dealer fee and competitive variable APRs of 7 to 9 percent.