Upstart Personal Loans Review 2025: AI-Powered Lending for Fair Credit Borrowers

Written by Joe Chappius

- Dec 5, 2025

Adheres to
Reviewed by Ricardo Laizo

Upstart offers personal loans with fixed APRs that vary widely based on credit, plus origination fees. No hidden fees and flexible terms, but total loan costs may be high.

Terms are clear and transparent.

Their support replied within 1 day but gave a generic response, avoiding key questions about post-loan support and loan term differences. This lowers their overall helpfulness despite decent transparency.

  • Advanced AI-Powered Lending Model: Upstart's standout feature is its AI platform that goes beyond traditional credit scoring. This technology evaluates borrowers on multiple factors, resulting in 27% more approvals than traditional companies.

  • Accessibility for Fair Credit Borrowers: Upstart is particularly beneficial for borrowers with fair credit scores or limited credit history (with a minimum credit score requirement of just 300 in most states).

  • Soft Credit Check Pre-Qualification: Upstart allows potential borrowers to check their rate and loan eligibility through a soft credit inquiry that doesn't impact their credit score.

The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for an unsecured Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 18.60% and an 8.51% origination fee of $851, for an APR of 23.07%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9149 and will make 60 monthly payments of $258.

How Upstart compares - Financer Score™

Financer score™ is our own point system which is updated live and based on several criteria that gives you a balanced view of the company quality.

Financer Score™87

Pricing

60

Upstart offers personal loans with fixed APRs ranging between 7.8% and 35.99%. Origination fees of up to 12% may apply. No prepayment penalties, but total loan costs can be significant based on credit history.

Customer Support

60

While testing their support team, we got a response to our email in 1 working day but the reply was generic, most likely AI-generated, and didn’t address key questions about post-loan support or loan term differences.

Terms and Flexibility

90

Terms are clear, with no hidden fees, flexible repayment, and strong borrower transparency. No prepayment penalties. Positive trust factors include quick funding and clear conditions.

Popularity

94

The popularity score indicates the percentage of customers choosing this company the last 90 days.

Customer Experience

96

Upstart receives mixed reviews. Customers appreciate quick application process and AI-driven approvals that consider factors beyond credit scores. However, many complain about high interest rates, origination fees, and inconsistent customer service.

Review this companyRead reviews (7)

The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for an unsecured Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 18.60% and an 8.51% origination fee of $851, for an APR of 23.07%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9149 and will make 60 monthly payments of $258.

Upstart Car Loan in Upstart – Details

Terms & fees

Loan amount$9,000 - $100,000
Term2 years - 7 years
Annual interest rate7.8% - 35.99%
Origination fee0-2%
Monthly fees$0

Requirements

Minimum age18
Minimum income$1,000
National bank requiredNo
National phone number requiredYes
Citizenship requiredYes
Electronic identificationYes

Features

Cosigner possibleNo
Revocation periodNo
Accept bad credit historyYes
Weekend payoutNo
Loan extensionsNo
Early paybackYes
Payment within 24 hoursNo
Loan brokerNo
Interest free loanNo

Additional fields

Payment hoursAlways Open
High approval rateNo
Recommended companyYes

Upstart Loans in Upstart – Details

Terms & fees

Loan amount$1,000 - $50,000
Term3 years - 5 years
Annual interest rate7.8% - 35.99%
Origination fee0% - 12%
Monthly fees$0

Requirements

Minimum age18
Minimum income$1,000
National bank requiredYes
National phone number requiredNo
Citizenship requiredYes
Electronic identificationYes

Features

Cosigner possibleNo
Revocation periodNo
Accept bad credit historyYes
Weekend payoutNo
Loan extensionsNo
Early paybackYes
Payment within 24 hoursYes
Loan brokerNo
Interest free loanNo

Additional fields

Payment hoursAlways Open
High approval rateNo
Recommended companyYes

Company information – Details

Company nameUpstart
Websitehttps://www.upstart.com
Phone1-855-438-8778
Emailsupport@upstart.com
AddressUpstart Operations Dept. P.O. Box 1503 San Carlos, CA 94070
Get started

Upstart partners with banks to provide personal loans to customers ranging from $1,000 to $50,000. The company offers a range of loans including personal loans, debt consolidation loans, and credit card refinancing.

As the world's largest lending platform, qualifying for a loan doesn't damage your credit score and APRs start as low as 6.70%.

Note: Upstart offers its service in most U.S. states except West Virginia or Iowa.

The Upstart model accepts 27% more borrows than traditional models and on average they claim to yield 16% lower APRs for their approved loans.

How We Rate Upstart

At Financer, all companies go through a thorough research and review process. Here's how we rate Upstart:

CategoryRating
Affordability⭐⭐⭐
Application process⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loan terms⭐⭐⭐⭐
Transparency⭐⭐⭐⭐
Customer support⭐⭐⭐
Overall⭐⭐⭐⭐

Do We Recommend Upstart?

Yes, we recommend Upstart as a reliable lender marketplace. Skip to our full review below and see how we rate Upstart.

Upstart Overview

Upstart was created by ex-Googlers and boasts the AI platforms' ability to provide fair and fast personal loans.

The company offers loans to borrowers with fair credit from $1,000 to $50,000 and APRs starting at 6.70%. They offer a range of personal loans as well as auto refinancing.

Borrowers have 36 or 60 months to pay and the approval process is very fast.

Here's a quick summary of Upstart:

OverviewFeatures
Loan type:Unsecured personal loans
Loan amount:$1,000 - $50,000
Loan term:36 or 60 months
APR:From 6.70% to 35.99%
Min. credit score:300
Monthly fees:None
Payout time:One business day
Weekend payout:No
Requirements:Minimum age: 18Residing in the United States (don’t have to bea citizen or permanent resident) (exception formilitary)Minimum credit score of 300 in most statesNo bankruptcies or public records on your creditreportNo accounts that are currently in collections ordelinquentLiving in the 50 US states

Upstart has a transparent application process and you can check your rate without affecting your credit score.

Upstart has a unique AI system. As a lot of Americans are blocked from accessing credit, even with a stable payment history, Upstart implements a smarter credit model for lenders.

Fees

Upstart's fees are as follows:

  • Origination fees: One-time origination fee between 0% - 12%

  • Prepayment fees: None

  • Late fees: 5% of the amount or $15, whichever is greater

  • Failed payment fees: $15 for each unsuccessful payment

  • APRs: Range from 6.70% to 35.99%

Repayment Terms

Upstart's loan terms are either three or five years, i.e., 36 or 60 months. This is ideal for borrowers who want a longer repayment term.

You may repay your loan earlier and there are no prepayment penalties.

Who Is Upstart For?

Upstart is ideal for borrowers with fair credit who are looking for a low-APR loan from $1K-$50K. Upstart is available in most US states.

Eligibility Requirements

Here are the loan requirements when applying through Upstart:

  • Be of legal age to contract in your state of residence 18 or 19 years

  • Be a US citizen or a Permanent Resident

  • Have an annual income of higher than $12,000 or a signed contract to start within six months

  • Cannot have a current or recent bankruptcy

  • Cannot be a resident of West Virginia or Iowa

Tip: Our online loan calculator can help you find a loan if you live in a state that Upstart does not service.

Who It's For

Upstart is for you if:

  • You have a good credit history

  • Need funds fast

  • Don't have collateral

  • Want to complete an online application

Who It's Not For

Upstart may not be a good option for you if:

  • You want no origination fees

  • Need a loan of more than $50,000

  • Want to take out a secure loan

  • Live in these states: WV or IA

How To Apply for a Loan Through Upstart

Visit Upstart online

Visit Upstart online and choose the type of loan you need.

Choose the amount

Choose the amount you want to borrow.

View your terms

Get an estimate on your rates and terms to get an idea of the affordability.

Confirmation

If you want to go ahead with the loan, you'll see a confirmation of your details.

Get your funds

Once you accept, your fund will be deposited into your bank account as soon as the next day.

How Financer Rates Upstart

Our review of Upstart is that it is a good option for borrowers who have fair credit and need good rates.

They have a relatively streamlined approach to their approval system and do accept more borrowers than traditional models.

Their rate-determining factors are not just based on your credit score but also on other factors such as your education, the length of your credit history, your areas of study, and your job history.

This enables them to accept borrowers straight out of university that are yet to build their credit history.

Compare personal loan rates here

Reputation

Upstart has a good reputation across the board. It is the world’s largest lending platform. Their fast application process takes only a few minutes.

The results are shown quickly. Their reputation holds due to their ability to accept more customers than traditional methods.

Upstart provides loans that are generally paid into the borrower's account the next day. Those take three days to be approved by law.

Website and Functionality

Our experience with the Upstart website and customer feedback we have received is that it is very straightforward and simple to navigate.

The site having simplicity allows the borrower to find information quickly that is relevant to their individual needs.

Does Financer recommend Upstart?

Yes, we do recommend Upstart to customers that have a short credit history and have a guaranteed future income.

Compare personal loan rates here

More Upstart Reviews

What Users On the Web Are Saying

Upstart gets 4.9 out of 5 stars onTrustpilot, with users generally giving positive feedback:

On Quora, Upstart also gets generally positive user feedback:

More User Reviews - Add Your Rating

Read more reviews on Financer from verified users below.

Have you used Upstart before? Leave your review now.

Latest Reviews

DF

David Foster

Upsides

Upstart has proven to be a breath of fresh air, redefining the borrowing experience with innovation, transparency, and genuine concern for me and my finances.

Downsides

Great service, would highly recommend

DE

Daniel Edwards

Upsides

From my experience, the customer support at Upstart is not just responsive but also genuinely caring. 10/10

Downsides

nothing I can think of at this time.

AF

Amanda Foster

Upsides

Upstart has given me great options and good information. Great APRs and loan types that will match with my personal needs. I am impressed with their transparency and how easy the application process was.

Downsides

I would highly recommend Upstart

A

Abby

Upsides

I spent a long time exploring a few various options to secure the most favorable interest rate for my situation and a manageable monthly payment. Upstart came through with competitive rates and flexible terms that worked perfectly for my budget.

Downsides

Unfortunatly they are not available in all states.

AM

Amber Morrow

Upsides

No upsides mentioned

Downsides

No downsides mentioned

JK

Jussi Korhonen

Upsides

No upsides mentioned

Downsides

No downsides mentioned

U

Us

Upsides

Reasonable costs and excellent customer service. I can highly recommend Upstart for anyone looking to get a personal loan.

Downsides

No downsides mentioned

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