Best Loans for Bad Credit in April 2024 | LendingTree (2024)

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Written by Amanda Push | Edited by Katie Lowery | Updated April 3, 2024

Best loans for bad credit in April 2024

Avant: Best for quick funding

Happy Money: Best for debt consolidation

LendingClub: Best for co-borrowers

OneMain Financial: Best for secured loans

Upgrade: Best for long repayment terms

Upstart: Best for thin credit histories

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What is considered a bad credit score?

If you have bad credit, your score in most scoring models likely falls somewhere between 300 and 579. Poor credit may be a result of the lack of time or opportunity to build up your credit, financial missteps — such as missing payments or having a high debt-to-income ratio — or perhaps being a victim of a scam or identity theft.

Whatever the reason, lenders often consider your credit score as a signal of your creditworthiness, or how likely you are to pay them back. As a result, poor-credit borrowers often have to pay higher APR rates than those with good or excellent credit.

If you’re looking for a personal loan, here are some of our most recent statistics on what kind of APR you may expect based on your credit score.

Average personal loan APR by credit score

Source: LendingTree user data on closed personal loans for the fourth quarter of 2023.

How to get a bad credit loan

It’s possible to get a personal loan with bad or no credit. However, if you take the time to work on your credit, you could save a lot of money by benefiting from a lower interest rate. If you need a personal loan now, however, consider these tips to finding the best personal loan for bad credit for you:

1. Check your credit score. Keeping tabs on your score can help you gauge which lenders you may qualify with. You can use LendingTree Spring to see where you stand, then find ways to improve your credit score. You can also request your credit reports from the bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com.
2. Seek lenders that consider more than just your credit. Lenders whose assessments of your creditworthiness aren’t solely dependent on your FICO Score may be easier to qualify with. For instance, some lenders may take into account your income, employment and education level.
3. Prequalify for loans online. Through loan prequalification, you can check whether you’re likely to be approved for a loan and what rates you might be eligible for. The process won’t harm your credit score, as it only generates a soft inquiry. This can be a good way to assess what you could qualify for and how much it would cost you.
4. Compare loan offers. Once you’ve received a few personal loan offers, you’ll want to select the best option for you. That means reviewing interest rates, lender fee structures and available terms.
5. Submit an application. After narrowing down your options, it’s time to submit a formal application. This will trigger a hard credit inquiry, which will temporarily lower your credit score. After applying, you may need to wait a few business days to receive a loan decision. If your application is denied, you’ll typically be notified of the factors that contributed to the denial.

Where to find bad credit loans

Personal loans for bad credit can be found at a variety of types of institutions. At LendingTree, you can browse through our personal loan marketplace to compare eligibility requirements, interest rates, terms and loan amounts.

Here are a few different types of lenders that we offer where you can start your search:

• Banks: Some banks, such as Wells Fargo Bank, offer personal loans. However, you may be required to visit the bank’s local branch in order to go through the application process. While the online process can be convenient, visiting a branch can provide a personal touch when seeking a personal loan.
• Credit unions: Getting a personal loan through a credit union often requires borrowers to be members of that institution. For instance, with PenFed Credit Union, you don’t have to become a member to apply, but if you decide to proceed with your offer, you’ll have to become a PenFed member to close the loan.
• Online lenders: When applying for an online personal loan, the process is typically 100% remote. You’ll fill out an online application then submit documentation to verify your identity, income and address.

Types of loans for bad credit

Bad credit loans aren’t just limited to traditional, unsecured loans. Here are the types of loans you can get with bad credit.

Secured loans

Best for consumers with bad credit who own valuable collateral they can afford to lose should they default on the loan.

With a secured loan, you’ll have to offer your lender an asset as collateral, like a car, a home or even a savings account. Because secured loans require valuable collateral, they’re often easier to obtain than unsecured loans and generally offer better rates, since the lender is at less risk.

What to like: Borrowers with poor credit may qualify for lower interest rates since they’re putting up collateral.

What to watch out for: If you default on a secured loan, your lender may legally confiscate your collateral to recover the money. And if your lender doesn’t recoup the cost of the loan by redeeming your assets, you may be responsible for the difference.

Unsecured loans

Best for borrowers who don’t have collateral to secure a loan.

Since unsecured loans don’t require borrowers to offer up collateral, lenders of these types of loans mostly rely on factors such as credit history, income and debt obligations to determine your eligibility. Unlike secured loans, if you default on an unsecured loan, your lender cannot seize your assets.

What to like: If you’re unable to repay your unsecured loan, your lender cannot seize your assets.

What to watch out for: Because these types of loans don’t require collateral, lenders that offer unsecured loans rely heavily on your creditworthiness when it comes to approval and offers. This means that if you don’t have good or excellent credit, you may have a hard time qualifying or receiving low interest rates. If you default, your credit score is likely to take a major hit.

Joint personal loans

Best for borrowers who have a supportive family member or friend willing to back their loan request.

If your credit score isn’t quite high enough to get you approved by a lender, consider getting the support of a loved one and file for a joint personal loan. This enables you to apply for a personal loan with a second person.

What to like: This approach can make it easier for consumers with bad credit to be eligible for a loan, as it lowers the primary borrower’s risk.

What to watch out for: If you’re unable to make payments on this type of loan, not only can your lender attempt to collect from you, they can also try to collect on the loan from your co-borrower. This can also impact both of your and your co-borrower’s credit scores.

Payday loans

Best for those who can afford the sky-high fees and can pay the loan back right away — though it’s better to avoid this type of loan altogether.

Payday loans are considered a more dubious type of loan, with astoundingly high fees and interest rates. These loans are typically less than $500 and are expected to be paid back within two to four weeks. Many people who take out payday loans often have to take out additional loans to pay off the original payday loan, trapping them in a cycle of debt.

What to like: Payday loans don’t require credit checks, and you can often get your money right away.

What to watch out for: These types of loans are often predatory and may charge as much as 400% APR.

Cash advances

Best for those who are in financial emergencies and quickly need money.

Cash advances are small, short-term loans that you can get from your credit card company. In these instances, you can withdraw cash from your credit card from your total balance.

What to like: You won’t have to go through a credit check and can receive money fast if you need it.

What to watch out for: You may have to pay a fee, and you’ll pay much higher APRs than you would on typical credit card purchases.

Bank agreements

Best for consumers who have a good history with their bank.

If you have a strong relationship with your bank, you may be able to get what’s known as a bank agreement. This can take the form of a small, short-term loan or even the ability to overdraft on your account (up to a certain amount).

What to like: If you’re in need of a short-term fix, you can use an already favorable relationship for financial assistance.

What to watch out for: This option may not be offered at all banks.

Bad credit home equity loans

Best for those who need large sums of money and have equity in their home.

If you have bad credit, you may be able to cash in on the equity you’ve built into your home using a home equity loan. These loans have fixed rates and are typically paid off between five and 30 years. Like personal loans, with a home equity loan, you’ll be given the money in a lump sum.

What to like: Allows borrowers to take out up to 80% of their home’s value.

What to watch out for: Because you’re using your home as collateral, defaulting on your home equity loan may result in losing your home.

HELOC loans for bad credit

Best for borrowers who aren’t sure how much money they need and want to be able to borrow from their home’s equity over a period of time.

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) works similarly to a credit card; consumers can borrow as much as they need (up to a limit) against their home’s equity and only have to pay back the amount they took out. Unlike home equity loans, HELOCs typically have variable interest rates.

What to like: Consumers can borrow and pay back as needed, and reuse the line of credit.

What to watch out for: Since interest rates are variable, borrowers may experience high monthly payments.

Student loans for bad credit

Best for those who are pursuing financing for educational purposes.

If you’re in school or preparing to attend college and have poor credit, you may be able to get student loans for bad credit to help cover expenses. While many lenders don’t allow borrowers to use a personal loan toward education financing, lenders like Upstart do allow for it.

What to like: Some student loan lenders will cover up to the entire cost of your tuition.

What to watch out for: Some lenders have strict or vague forbearance and deferment programs — or none at all — in case you’re unable to repay the loan down the road.

How to compare personal loans for bad credit

Compare lender APRs

The annual percentage rate (APR) is what your financial institution charges you for taking out a loan, but there is a difference between interest rate and APR.

While the APR does include the interest rate you’ll be paying to borrow the funds, it gives you a more comprehensive picture of how much your loan will cost, as it also includes any additional fees. The lower the APR is, the less the loan will cost you over time. Therefore, you may want to choose a lender that can offer you a lower APR.

Account for fees

Your financial institution could charge you several fees for your personal loan in addition to the annual interest rate. Some of these fees could include administrative costs deducted upfront from the amount you’re borrowing, while others could be charged for making a late payment or paying off your loan before the end of its term.

3 common personal loan fees

Read lender reviews

Do your due diligence when deciding on the best lender for your needs. As part of your research, make sure to read online personal loan lender reviews.

Examine repayment terms

Your repayment terms can make a difference in how large or small your monthly loan payments will be. Generally, lenders offer unsecured personal loan repayment terms between 12 to 60 months, but you can also find long-term loans with repayment terms as long as 144 months.

The longer your payment term, the higher your APR rate may be, but you’ll pay in smaller monthly payments. You’ll also pay more in total interest over the life of a long-term loan. If your repayment plan is shorter, however, your APR rates may be lower but your monthly payments will be larger.

While some lending companies only offer two or three different repayment terms, other companies may have more flexible terms to choose from.

How to spot scams for bad credit loans

Unfortunately, some poor-credit loans really are too good to be true. To avoid being scammed by a shady lender, be on the lookout for the following signs:

• The lender demands you pay fees upfront: A legitimate lending institution won’t ask for payment before you’ve been approved and receive your loan. While some trustworthy lenders may require that you pay an application fee or a credit report fee, these are typically taken out of the loan you borrowed.
• The lender requires that you act immediately: If a lender is pressuring you to make a decision within a small window of time, that may be a red flag. A proper lender won’t corner you and understands that the decision to take out a loan may require some time to think over.
• The lender has no physical address: A reputable lender will have the company’s physical address listed on its website (not a post office box), and you’ll be able to confirm it by using Google Maps or a similar app.
• The lender is not registered in your state: Whether a lender is online or in person, in order to do business in your state, it must be registered in your state, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Lenders should note which states they are or aren’t registered with. If you’re suspicious of a scam, you can reach out to your state attorney general’s office to find out if that lender is registered where you live.
• The lender contacts you first: If you did not initiate contact with the lender, you may not want to answer any phone calls or other types of communication — it may be a ploy to get your financial information. A credible lender won’t cold call you, asking you to disclose your personal information.
• The lender doesn’t have a secure website: Some scammers may attempt to steal your information through their website. When researching bad credit loans, be sure to check that a website’s URL has the letter “s” following “http,” as well as a padlock icon on pages that ask you for your financial information.
• The lender doesn’t check your payment history: A reputable lender won’t guarantee your approval for a loan. Legitimate lending institutions will first want to see your payment history, your credit and DTI ratio and other financial information.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you find out you’ve been scammed, the first step is to contact law enforcement and file a police report. Unfortunately, there may not be much they can do, but you’ll want to document the crime as much as possible.

Once you’ve filed a police report, you should also report the scam to the FTC Internet Crime Complaint Center. By reporting it, you could potentially prevent others from being scammed in the future.

How we chose the best personal loans for bad credit