Best Personal Loans for Fair Credit in December 2025
Get the money you need with a credit score below 670
Fair credit personal loan lenders at a glance
How to compare the best personal loans for fair credit
Comparing lenders is key to finding the loan with the best terms for your situation (and credit profile). If you’re on the hunt for a personal loan for fair credit, keep an eye on:
APR: Because lenders reserve the lowest APRs for excellent-credit borrowers, look for lenders with the lowest maximum APRs. Since you have fair credit, lenders are more likely to offer you an APR on the upper end of their range.
Fees: Some lenders charge origination fees, late fees and prepayment penalties. Avoid these fees — but if you can’t, prioritize lenders with the lowest fees.
Loan terms: A longer loan term may mean lower monthly payments, but you’ll likely pay more interest over the life of your loan. Choose the shortest loan term that provides a monthly loan payment you can comfortably afford.
Loan amounts: Choose a lender that offers loans in the amount you need. Be sure to factor in any origination fees when assessing loan amounts, since the origination fee will be subtracted from the funds deposited in your account.
Funding timeline: After loan approval, you could be waiting for your funds for anywhere between a few hours to a week, depending on the lender. If you need money quickly, pay special attention to each lender’s funding timeline.
Why use LendingTree?
$2.8B in funding
In 2024 alone, LendingTree helped find funding for over $2.8 billion in personal loans.
$1,659 in savings
LendingTree users save $1,659 on average just by shopping and comparing rates.
309,000 loans
In 2024, LendingTree helped find funding for over 309,000 personal loans.
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Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need. It’s free, simple and secure.
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What is a fair credit score?
A fair credit score ranges from 580 to 669 on the FICO model. If you have a fair credit score, you may not qualify for a lender’s lowest APR, and some lenders may not approve you for a personal loan at all.
If you get your credit score up to 670 (which is considered a good credit score), you’ll be more likely to qualify for loans and receive better offers.
You can confirm your current credit score using LendingTree Spring.
| Credit band | Credit type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 300 to 579 | Poor | Considered a risky borrower — may not qualify with many lenders |
| 580 to 669 | Fair | May have a thin credit history, have missed a couple of payments or have a high debt-to-income ratio |
| 670 to 739 | Good | Considered an above-average borrower in the eyes of lenders and may qualify for most loans |
| 740 to 799 | Very good | Considered a dependable borrower and may be eligible for low APRs |
| 800 to 850 | Excellent | Considered a low-risk borrower and may receive the lowest APRs |
Personal loan rates for fair credit
You might still be eligible for fair credit loans — but it’ll probably be more expensive, thanks to a high APR. Below you’ll find the average APRs provided to LendingTree users from our lending partners, organized by credit score.
| Credit score range | Average APR | Monthly payment | Interest | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800-850 (excellent) | 12.50% | $132.90 | $1,379.20 | $6,379.20 |
| 740-799 (very good) | 15.74% | $141.04 | $1,769.75 | $6,769.75 |
| 670-739 (good) | 28.72% | $176.33 | $3,463.69 | $8,463.69 |
| 580-669 (fair) | 92.45% | $396.46 | $14,029.85 | $19,029.85 |
| 300-579 (poor) | 260.34% | $1,084.84 | $47,072.20 | $52,072.20 |
A LendingTree study analyzed random LendingTree borrowers across many forms of credit, including mortgages, personal loans, credit cards and auto loans. The data found that increasing your credit score from fair to very good could save you more than $1,800 in personal loan interest payments and fees.
How to improve your credit score
Improving your credit score isn’t an overnight process. Still, the time and effort it takes can open the door to a larger lender selection, lower APRs and higher loan amounts. Here’s what you can do to boost your credit score:
Paying your bills in full and on time is the most important step to getting your credit in order. Just a single missed payment can cause your credit score to plummet by 50 to 100 points, as payment history accounts for 35% of your score.
Credit monitoring can help you keep tabs on your financial health. Since many services send you an alert when they detect suspicious activity, credit monitoring can make it easier for you to dispute anomalies or put a stop to credit-ruining identity theft.
No credit is better than bad credit, but a thin credit history can prevent you from moving from fair credit into the good range. If you’re struggling to build credit, you might want to apply for a secured credit card. You’ll need to put down a small deposit, but using a secured credit card responsibly might help you improve your score and gain access to better loan options in the future.
The amount of debt you have is one of the factors that affects your credit score. If you owe money on several credit cards, try to pay them down. After they’re paid off, it’s best to keep them open and use them sparingly. Closing your account completely can be detrimental to your credit score as it lowers the average age of your credit history.
Unfortunately, it can be common to find a mistake on your credit report. You can dispute a credit report error with the relevant credit bureau. Start by checking your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com.
How to get a loan with fair credit
Qualifying for a loan with fair credit isn’t always easy, but there are some steps you can take to make the process go a bit more smoothly.
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Avoid applying for new credit
When you apply for new credit, lenders will typically perform a hard credit inquiry to examine your credit score and history. These hard pulls can temporarily damage your credit score. If you know you’ll need to apply for a personal loan, avoid applying for other credit to keep your score as high as possible. -
Prequalify
Prequalification doesn’t hurt your credit score and can help you see the loans you’re eligible for before jumping into the formal application process. -
Add a cosigner
Using a cosigner to get a personal loan can improve your chances of approval, especially if they have a strong credit profile. However, this isn’t a risk-free route: If you’re unable to repay the loan, it’ll negatively impact your cosigner’s credit and they may be held liable for repayment.
Alternatives to fair credit loans
While personal loans for fair credit may be a good option for some people, other alternatives worth exploring include:
Buy now, pay later
Buy now, pay later apps allow you to make everyday purchases with a low down payment (or none at all). However, these apps are easy to use and don’t require much for approval, so it can take discipline to avoid overspending.
Secured loans
Secured loans can be a good alternative to fair credit loans, especially if you have a lower credit score and have trouble getting approved. A secured loan requires that you put down collateral (like a vehicle) to lower your risk in the eyes of lenders. Keep in mind that if you default on the loan, you risk losing your collateral.
Credit cards
If you need access to funds on a rolling basis rather than a lump sum, a credit card may be a better choice than a personal loan. Credit cards are especially helpful for small, recurring expenses like bills. Keep in mind that credit card interest rates can be high for borrowers who don’t have good to excellent credit.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Although it may be more difficult to secure a personal loan with a fair credit score, many lenders are willing to work with borrowers with less-than-perfect credit. Keep in mind you may receive a higher APR, as lower rates are typically reserved for borrowers with good or excellent credit.
Loans for fair credit often require that you provide documents proving your income and identification. When applying for a personal loan, you’ll most likely need to provide documents such as W-2s, a government-issued form of ID and bank statements.
Loans that don’t require credit checks, like payday loans, can be easy for borrowers to qualify for and offer quick access to cash. However, these types of loans are often predatory and charge interest rates as high as 400%. Instead, consider a payday alternative loan or a secured loan.
The minimum credit score required for a personal loan varies from lender to lender. Some lenders don’t specify their minimum required scores, so be sure to ask the lender directly before applying. Some lenders offer loan products specifically for borrowers with fair or bad credit.
Our methodology
We reviewed more than 30 lenders to determine the overall best nine personal loans for borrowers with fair credit. To make our list, lenders must offer personal loans to borrowers with credit scores below 670. We further prioritized lenders with competitive APRs and considered the following factors:
Accessibility. Lenders are ranked higher if their personal loans are available to more people and require fewer conditions. This may include lower credit requirements, wider geographic availability, faster funding and easier and more transparent prequalification and application processes.
Rates and terms. We prioritize lenders with more competitive fixed rates, fewer fees and greater options for repayment terms, loan amounts and APR discounts.
Repayment experience. For starters, we consider each lender’s reputation and business practices. We also favor lenders that report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide any unique perks to customers, like free wealth coaching.