Best Personal Loans for March 2025
LightStream makes our list twice, as Best Overall and Best for Large Loan Amounts. It hit the sweet spot in our scoring rubric: low APRs, a wide range of loan amounts, and a very wide range of repayment options. If you need a large sum, for a home improvement or a boat, LightStream lends up to $100,000. You’ll have up to 20 years to repay for specific loan uses (like home improvements).
Low APRs
No fees
Loan amounts up to $100,000
Loan terms up to 240 months (20 years)
Same-day funding
High minimum loan amount
No pre-qualification
Requires good to excellent credit
Limited customer support options
In our research, LightStream scored well in all the areas that matter most to most borrowers. Its advertised APRs are competitive, and there are no fees, not even for late payments. It offers lengthy repayment terms and loan amounts of up to $100,000. With autopay, you can shave 0.50% of your APR. If you find a better rate on an unsecured loan from another lender, LightStream will beat it by 0.10%.
Fund dispersal is fast, as soon as the same day if you accept a loan proposal before 2:30 p.m. ET. You can also delay funding up to 90 days, which can help if you’re planning a home improvement and don’t want to begin repaying a loan before you’ve spent any of it.
Although LightStream is our top choice, it has some flaws. The most glaring is the lack of loan pre-qualification, which Investopedia considers an important shopping tool. You’ll have to complete an application to find out your loan details, which means a small hit to your credit score.
LightStream’s minimum loan amount of $5,000 may be too high for some borrowers, depending on their needs. LightStream is a solid choice if you have good to excellent credit, but you’ll
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