Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
A Best Egg personal loan can be used for just about anything -- but we find it especially attractive for consolidating high-interest debt. If you're juggling several credit cards and other high-interest consumer loans, consolidating them into one low-interest loan will not only simplify your life, but it will also save you money. In this Best Egg review, we'll cover what we like about the unsecured personal loan, what we'd change if we could, and how a Best Egg loan might benefit you.
Full Best Egg personal loan review
Best Egg
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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= Fair
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Minimum Credit Score
550
Loan Amounts
$2,000 - $50,000
APR Range
8.99% - 35.99%
Term Length
36 - 60 months
Best Egg offers personal loans at competitive rates to applicants with good or excellent credit, with the lowest rates and fees going to borrowers with excellent credit scores.
- Low minimum loan amount (in most states)
- Easy application process
- Funds disbursed in as little as one day
- Origination fees
- No joint applications accepted
Compare the best personal loans
Get the best rates and terms to fit your needs. Here are a few loans we'd like to highlight, including our award winners.
| Lender | APR Range | Loan Amount | Min. Credit Score | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Fixed: 8.99%-29.99% APR (with all discounts)
|
$5,000 - $100,000
|
680
|
|
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
5.20% - 35.99%
|
$1,000 - $50,000
|
None
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Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
10.49% to 19.49%
|
$2,000 - $30,000
|
720
|
This personal loan is a good fit for: The borrower seeking a debt consolidation loan that saves time and money.
Pros
- Variety of loan amounts, including an uber low loan amount of $2,000 (available in most states)
- See if you pre-qualify with a soft credit pull
- Get your money in as little as one business day
Cons
- Origination fees
- No mobile app to pay your loan
- High income and credit score required for the best loan terms
Top perks
Low minimum loan amount: Best Egg loans are available from $2,000 to $35,000 (or up to $50,000 if you're a highly qualified borrower). The fact that you can borrow as little as $2,000 means that you don't have to commit yourself to a large loan when a smaller amount of cash will do. If you're financing minor home repairs, for example, Best Egg might be a good option. The only exceptions are in these four states:
- Massachusetts: $6,500 minimum
- Ohio: $5,000 minimum
- Georgia: $3,000 minimum
Repayment options: It's important to choose a repayment term that fits your budget. If you're approved for a Best Egg personal loan, the servicer will show you both 36-month and 60-month repayment terms. That way, you can compare the two and figure out which monthly payment works best.
Easy application: As an online lender, Best Egg has mastered the art of the easy application. It asks you a few questions, and within minutes, makes a decision and shares it with you. There's no visiting a brick-and-mortar office and no nervous anticipation. You tell the lender what it needs to know, and it lays out your options in an easy-to-understand way. And because the initial decision is based on a soft credit check, you can learn if you qualify without damaging your credit score.
What could be improved
No joint applicants: Best Egg accepts individual loan applications only, meaning you can't ask someone with a stronger credit score to apply jointly or go in halfsies with your partner. Given that the best rates and terms are reserved for applicants with credit scores of 700 or better, it would be nice to have the option of applying with someone with an excellent score.
Origination fees: Lenders often lump fees that don't have a specific purpose under the umbrella of "origination fee." Best Egg tacks on an origination fee of 0.99% to 8.99% of your loan amount. According to the lender, any loan taken out for 48 months or longer will be hit with an origination fee of 4.99%. Some of the best personal loans don't come with origination fees.
Let's say you take out a 60-month loan for $10,000. Your credit is good, so you're charged the minimum origination fee (for loans longer than 48 months) of 4.99%. The fee amounts to $499 and is subtracted from your loan. In this case, instead of receiving $10,000, you'll get $9,501 in your bank account. However, you'll owe interest on the total amount of $10,000.
Not available in every state: Though Best Egg has wide coverage in the U.S., its loans are not available in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, or U.S. Territories.
How to qualify for a Best Egg loan
The best interest rates are offered to borrowers earning $100,000 or more, with credit scores of 700 or above. However, those aren't the only people who can get approved for a loan with Best Egg. Best Egg also works with borrowers who meet the following criteria:
- Have a credit score of at least 640
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Have a valid bank account
- Have an acceptable debt-to-income ratio
- Are at least 18 years old (19 in Alabama or Nebraska)
- Can provide proof of income
Application process
Below, we'll walk through how to get a loan with Best Egg.
- Complete an online application and tell Best Egg a little about yourself and your finances.
- Push send and wait a few minutes for a response. If you qualify for a loan, you'll get more information about the offers available.
- If you select an offer, Best Egg will run a hard credit check to verify your information (this will ding your credit score slightly).
- Best Egg may ask you to verify other information by submitting documents. For example, it may need to see your pay stubs, bank statements, or proof of identity.
- You will be asked to sign loan documents. Once you've signed, it will take one to three business days for Best Egg to deposit the funds into your bank account.
A Best Egg personal loan is right for you if:
When it comes to personal loans, you have options. However, a Best Egg personal loan may fit the bill if:
- You have a relatively high income and a great credit score
- You would benefit from a debt consolidation loan -- combining your debt payments into a single, lower-interest payment
- You want a fast loan decision
No matter how well a particular loan seems to fit your situation, do yourself the favor of rate shopping before settling on a lender. The best loan is the one that saves you the most money.
FAQs
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Best Egg doesn't charge prepayment penalties, so, yes, you could pay off your Best Egg personal loan early.
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Best Egg charges an origination fee between 0.99% and 8.99%, which is essentially the cost of the loan. Those with higher incomes and better credit scores will likely get lower origination fees.
Our Loans Experts
Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.
Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Dana George has positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target and Upstart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Dana George has positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target and Upstart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
*SoFi Personal Loan Disclaimer
Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 02/06/2024 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2022 was around $30K. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of other factors.
Loan amounts range from $5,000–$100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0%-7%, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive.
Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.
Impact to credit score: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
*Upstart Loan Disclaimer
The full range of available rates varies by state. The average 3-year loan offered across all lenders using the Upstart platform will have an APR of 21.97% and 36 monthly payments of $35 per $1,000 borrowed. For example, the total cost of a $10,000 loan would be $12,646 including a $626 origination fee. APR is calculated based on 3-year rates offered in the last 1 month. There is no down payment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application.
Citi Personal Loan disclaimer:
**Rates as of 10-06-2023 . Your APR may be as low as 10.49% or as high as 19.49% for the term of your loan. The lowest rate quoted assumes excellent credit, and a loan term of 36 months or shorter. Otherwise, a higher rate will apply. For example, if you borrow $10,000 for 36 months at 15.99% APR, to repay your loan you will have to make 36 monthly payments of approximately $351.52.
There is a 0.5% APR discount if you enroll in automatic payments at loan origination. Additionally, existing Citigold and Citi Priority customers will receive a 0.25% discount to the interest rate. If you are in default, your APR may increase by 2.00%. No down payment is required. Rates subject to change without notice.
You must be at least 18 years of age (21 years of age in Puerto Rico). Co-applicants are not permitted. Loan proceeds cannot be used for post-secondary educational or business purposes.
If you apply online, you must agree to receive the loan note and all other account disclosures provided at loan origination in an electronic format and provide your signature electronically.
Credit cards issued by Citibank, N.A. or its affiliates, as well as Checking Plus and Ready Credit accounts, are not eligible for debt consolidation, and Citibank will not issue payoff checks for these accounts. If you are unsure of the issuer on the account, please visit https://www.citi.com/affiliatesproducts for a list of Citi products and affiliates.