Low Interest Personal Loans 2026: Best Lenders for Rates Under 10% APR
Rates from 6.99% APR · Loans up to $100K · 0% origination fees · Soft credit check
Soft credit check only · No SSN required to compare · No score impact
Quick Answer
A low interest personal loan has an APR under 10%. The lowest rates start at 6.99% APR (LightStream) for borrowers with excellent credit (740+). To get the lowest rate: maintain a 700+ credit score, keep DTI below 30%, choose a shorter term, compare 5+ lenders, and look for 0% origination fees. Compare your offers at Money Pup Loans with a soft credit check.
Lenders with the Lowest Personal Loan Rates — August 2026
| Lender | Lowest APR | Max APR | Min Credit | Origination Fee | Autopay Discount | Max Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Money Pup Loans | Varies | Varies | 580+ | Varies | Varies | $50K |
| ⭐ LightStream | 6.99% | 25.49% | 680+ | 0% | 0.50% | $100K |
| 💼 SoFi | 8.99% | 29.99% | 680+ | 0% | 0.25% | $100K |
| ✅ Discover | 7.99% | 24.99% | 660+ | 0% | 0.30% | $40K |
| 🏦 Marcus | 8.99% | 24.99% | 660+ | 0% | 0.25% | $40K |
| 🤖 Upstart | 7.80% | 35.99% | 580+ | 0-8% | None | $50K |
| 🔓 Avant | 9.95% | 35.99% | 580+ | 0-4.75% | None | $35K |
What APR Can You Get by Credit Score?
| Credit Score | Tier | Lowest APR Available | Typical APR Range | $20K/48mo Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 740-850 | Excellent | 6.99% | 7-10% | $483/mo |
| 670-739 | Good | 8.99% | 9-15% | $506-$558/mo |
| 640-669 | Fair | 12% | 12-20% | $526-$608/mo |
| 580-639 | Poor | 18% | 18-30% | $588-$698/mo |
Want the lowest rate possible?
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8 Proven Ways to Get the Lowest Personal Loan Rate
✅ Maintain 700+ credit score
Every 20-point increase can lower your APR by 1-2%. Check your report for errors and pay down balances.
✅ Keep DTI below 30%
Lenders offer their best rates to borrowers with low debt-to-income ratios. Pay down existing debt before applying.
✅ Choose a shorter term
A 2-3 year loan typically has a 1-2% lower APR than a 5-7 year loan. You also pay less total interest.
✅ Compare 5+ lenders
Rates can vary by 5-10% between lenders. Use a marketplace to compare with one soft pull. Never accept the first offer.
✅ Look for 0% origination fees
A 5% origination fee on a $20K loan costs $1,000. Choose zero-fee lenders: LightStream, SoFi, Discover, Marcus.
✅ Set up autopay
Most lenders offer a 0.25-0.50% APR discount for autopay. On a $20K loan, that saves $100-200/year.
✅ Add a co-signer
A co-signer with 740+ credit can lower your APR by 3-5%. Both parties share responsibility for repayment.
✅ Borrow only what you need
Smaller loans often get lower rates. A $5K loan may get 10% while a $30K loan gets 14% for the same borrower.
Find Your Lowest Rate
Compare lenders with one soft credit pull. No score impact. Rates from 6.99% APR. Loans up to $100K.
See My Offers →$20,000 Loan: Low Rate vs High Rate Cost Comparison
| APR | 36 mo Payment | Total Interest | 48 mo Payment | Total Interest | 60 mo Payment | Total Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7% | $618 | $2,244 | $479 | $2,990 | $396 | $3,761 |
| 10% | $645 | $3,233 | $508 | $4,348 | $425 | $5,496 |
| 15% | $690 | $4,847 | $557 | $6,722 | $475 | $8,539 |
| 20% | $743 | $6,753 | $608 | $9,200 | $530 | $11,784 |
| 30% | $844 | $10,379 | $701 | $13,631 | $638 | $18,288 |
Getting your rate from 20% to 10% saves $4,872 on a $20K/48-month loan. Getting from 30% to 7% saves $10,641. Every percentage point matters.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a low interest rate for a personal loan?
A low interest rate for a personal loan in 2026 is anything under 10% APR. The lowest available rates start at 6.99% APR (LightStream) for borrowers with excellent credit (740+). Most borrowers with good credit (670-739) can get 9-15% APR. To get the lowest rates, you need a credit score of 700+, debt-to-income ratio below 30%, and stable income.
→ Find your lowest rate — soft credit check only, compare multiple lenders, no score impactWhich lenders offer the lowest personal loan rates?
The lenders with the lowest personal loan rates in 2026 are: LightStream (6.99-25.49%), SoFi (8.99-29.99%), Discover (7.99-24.99%), Marcus (8.99-24.99%), and Upstart (7.80-35.99%). All of these lenders offer 0% origination fees except Upstart. Using a lender marketplace lets you compare all of them with one soft credit pull.
→ Find your lowest rate — soft credit check only, compare multiple lenders, no score impactHow can I get the lowest APR on a personal loan?
To get the lowest APR: (1) maintain a credit score of 700+, (2) keep your debt-to-income ratio below 30%, (3) choose a shorter loan term (2-3 years vs 5-7), (4) borrow a smaller amount, (5) compare at least 5 lenders, (6) consider a co-signer with excellent credit, (7) look for lenders with 0% origination fees, (8) set up autopay for a 0.25-0.50% rate discount.
→ Find your lowest rate — soft credit check only, compare multiple lenders, no score impactCan I get a low interest personal loan with fair credit?
With fair credit (640-679), the lowest APR you can expect is about 12-15%. To get below 10%, you generally need good credit (670+). However, some lenders like Upstart consider factors beyond credit score (education, job history) which can result in lower rates for fair-credit borrowers. Compare multiple lenders to find your best offer.
→ Find your lowest rate — soft credit check only, compare multiple lenders, no score impactDo personal loan rates vary by loan amount?
Yes. Larger loan amounts sometimes have lower APRs because lenders earn more in absolute interest. However, very large loans ($50K+) may require manual underwriting and have stricter requirements. The biggest rate factor is always your credit score and debt-to-income ratio, not the loan amount.
→ Find your lowest rate — soft credit check only, compare multiple lenders, no score impactAre there any fees that increase the effective APR?
Yes. Origination fees (1-8%) increase your effective APR. A 10% APR with a 5% origination fee has an effective APR of about 12.5%. Look for lenders with 0% origination fees (LightStream, SoFi, Discover, Marcus) to get the true lowest rate. Also check for prepayment penalties (rare but possible) and late payment fees.
Written by
Michael Thompson
Personal Finance & Interest Rate Specialist · 18 years experience
Michael helps borrowers secure the lowest possible APRs through strategic lender comparison and credit optimization.
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