How We Compared These Lenders
Each lender was measured on six published facts: loan amounts, APR range, terms, origination fee, funding speed and credit approach, plus state exclusions. Figures come from lender pages, cross-checked against reviewers.
To make the list, a lender had to offer fixed-payment installment personal loans in or near the $500 to $5,000 range that most people comparing leap credit loan options need. Lenders whose main product is a single-payment loan due on your next paycheck were excluded, as were lenders starting at $3,500 or more.
- Small-loan fit. Whether $1,000 to $3,000 is available, or the state minimum pushes you higher.
- Total cost. APR and origination fee together; an 8% fee on $2,000 removes $160 from your deposit.
- Credit approach. Reported minimum scores, soft-pull prequalification, and how much income matters.
All figures are as published by each lender at the time of review and can change. Where a figure could not be confirmed or sources disagreed, we write "varies." Confirm terms on the lender's site. This page is a reference for leap credit personal loans searches, not a ranking.
Summary Table of 12 Small-Loan Lenders
Most mainstream online lenders on this list cap personal loan APRs at 35.99%, while branch-based and limited-credit lenders publish state-specific pricing that can run far higher. Order matches the sections below.
| Lender | Loan amounts | APR range | Terms | Origination fee | Funding speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade | $1,000–$50,000 | 7.74%–35.99% | 24–84 months | 1.85%–9.99% | Within 1 business day after verification |
| Upstart | $1,000–$75,000 | 6.3%–35.99% | 3 or 5 years | Varies | As fast as 1 business day |
| LendingPoint | $1,000–$36,500 | 7.99%–35.99% | 24–72 months | Up to 10% | As soon as next business day |
| Universal Credit | $1,000–$50,000 | 11.69%–35.99% | 36–60 months | 5.25%–9.99% | As soon as 1 business day |
| Best Egg | $2,000–$50,000 | 6.99%–35.99% | 36–60 months | 0.99%–9.99% | 1–3 business days |
| Avant | $2,000–$35,000 | 9.95%–35.99% | 24–60 months | Up to 9.99% | Generally next business day |
| OneMain Financial | $1,500–$30,000 | 11.99%–35.99% | 24–60 months | Varies by state | Same day to 2 business days |
| Mariner Finance | $1,000–$25,000 | 15.99%–35.99% | 12–72 months | Varies | Varies |
| Regional Finance | From $600 | Varies by state | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| World Finance | About $450–$10,000 | Varies by state | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Oportun | $300–$10,000 | Varies | Varies | Up to 10% | Varies |
| NetCredit | $1,000–$10,000 | Varies by state | 6–60 months | None on current loans | Same or next business day |
Anyone checking leap credit rates should read each APR column as a range: the lowest rate goes only to the strongest applicants. Because most lenders deduct the fee before funding, offers with the same annual percentage rate can deposit different amounts. Our page on personal loan rates and fees shows that math.
Online Lenders With $1,000 Minimums
Upgrade, Upstart, LendingPoint and Universal Credit publish $1,000 minimums in most states and aim for next-business-day funding, making them the most direct online fit for people searching leap credit personal loans of $1,000 to $3,000.
Upgrade
Upgrade fits fair-to-good credit borrowers who want an online personal loan with flexible terms. Its published range runs from $1,000 to $50,000 at 7.74% to 35.99% APR, with terms of 24 to 84 months, the longest reserved mainly for larger balances.
Strengths include an autopay discount and, for debt consolidation, direct payment to card issuers for a further rate cut. Upgrade says funds typically arrive within one business day after you accept and clear verification, though payments sent straight to creditors can take up to two weeks.
The drawback is an origination fee of 1.85% to 9.99%, deducted before funding. Reviewers report a minimum score around 600, with most approved borrowers higher. Upgrade lends in all 50 states but not Washington, D.C. Checking your rate is a soft inquiry; the full application is a hard pull. On a small personal loan, choose the shortest term your budget can carry, since a long term lowers the payment but raises total interest.
Upstart
Upstart personal loans fit borrowers whose credit file is thin rather than damaged, such as recent graduates or people new to US credit. It weighs education and employment alongside credit history, and reviewers report a typical minimum around 580, with some no-score applicants considered.
Published figures run from $1,000 to $75,000 at 6.3% to 35.99% APR. State minimums can be much higher: Upstart lists $3,100 in Georgia, $1,500 in Hawaii and $7,000 in Massachusetts. The lender reports that most transfers start within 24 hours of approval and signing.
For a small personal loan, the drawbacks are real. Terms are only three or five years, which is long for a $1,200 balance and adds interest. The origination fee varies; Upstart's own example shows a fee above 8%, deducted before funding. Reviewers report a late fee of the greater of 5% or $15 and no prepayment penalty, so paying early can shorten the loan and cut its cost.
LendingPoint
LendingPoint personal loans fit fair-credit borrowers with steady income and a clean recent banking history. Reviewers report a minimum FICO score around 620 and say the lender looks at your financial track record rather than chasing high scores.
The published range is $1,000 to $36,500 at 7.99% to 35.99% APR, with terms of 24 to 72 months. If approved, funds can arrive by ACH as soon as the next business day. LendingPoint does not lend to residents of Nevada or West Virginia, and its disclosures list higher minimums in some states, including $3,500 in Georgia.
Fees are the main caution. LendingPoint states that origination or other fees of up to 10% may apply depending on your state, the top of the market. On a $1,500 personal loan, a 10% fee leaves you $1,350 while you repay the full amount. The 24-month minimum term also limits short schedules, although reviewers report no prepayment penalty. Compare the amount deposited, not just the APR.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit fits personal loan borrowers with lower scores who still want a mainstream online lender. NerdWallet reports a minimum score of 560, though the lender typically looks for higher, making it one of the more accessible personal loan lenders that cap APRs at 35.99%.
Published figures run from $1,000 to $50,000 at 11.69% to 35.99% APR, with terms of 36 to 60 months. Funds can arrive as soon as one business day after verification; payments sent directly to creditors can take up to two weeks. Reviewers report availability in all 50 states but not Washington, D.C., with a minimum age of 19 in Alabama.
Cost is the trade-off. The origination fee runs from 5.25% to 9.99%, so even the best-qualified borrower pays at least 5.25% up front. The 36-month minimum term also stretches a small balance longer than many borrowers want. On the plus side, reviewers note autopay and direct-pay discounts, and prequalification uses a soft pull.
Online Lenders Starting at $2,000
Best Egg and Avant begin at $2,000 in most states, so among leap credit loan options they suit larger needs, such as a $2,500 car repair or a $4,000 consolidation, rather than a $700 shortfall.
Best Egg
Best Egg fits good-credit borrowers who want a low starting APR and a well-known online personal loan process. The published range is $2,000 to $50,000 at 6.99% to 35.99% APR, with terms of 36 to 60 months. State minimums are higher in places: $6,500 in Massachusetts, $5,001 in Ohio and $3,001 in Georgia.
Best Egg advertises funding in as little as 24 hours and says about half of customers receive funds the next day, with most deposits landing one to three business days after verification. Reviewers report a minimum score around 600 and soft-pull prequalification. A secured option can lower the rate for some borrowers.
Drawbacks: the origination fee runs from 0.99% to 9.99%, and Best Egg says terms of four years or longer carry a fee of at least 4.99%. It skips Iowa, Nebraska, Vermont, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., and the $2,000 floor rules out an $800 need. Reviewers report no prepayment penalty.
Avant
Avant fits fair-credit borrowers who need a personal loan of $2,000 or more and want a straightforward online lender. Reviewers report a minimum FICO score around 580 and a debt-to-income limit, so steady income matters as much as the score.
The published range is $2,000 to $35,000 at 9.95% to 35.99% APR, with terms of 24 to 60 months. Avant says funds are generally deposited for next-business-day delivery when approved by 4:30 p.m. Central time on a weekday. Minimums vary by state, and requests for extra documents can lengthen the decision.
The main cost is an administration fee of up to 9.99%, deducted from proceeds. Avant's disclosure says the fee is treated as part of the principal and accrues interest, which raises the true cost of a small personal loan. Rate checks use a soft inquiry, and reviewers report no prepayment penalty. Anyone who qualifies for a lower-fee lender should compare first.
Branch-Based Installment Lenders
OneMain Financial, Mariner Finance, Regional Finance and World Finance pair online applications with local branches, which helps borrowers who want face-to-face service or a secured personal loan, though their published pricing is less detailed.
OneMain Financial
OneMain fits fair or limited-credit borrowers who may want to secure a personal loan with a vehicle, apply jointly, or finish in a branch. Reviewers report no minimum credit score; the lender looks at income, expenses and overall finances.
OneMain publishes amounts from $1,500 to $30,000 at 11.99% to 35.99% APR, with terms of 24 to 60 months. State minimums can be higher, such as $3,100 in Georgia. Funds can arrive as soon as one hour after signing when sent to an eligible debit card, while ACH or check typically takes one to two business days.
OneMain loans include origination fees that vary by state, either a percentage or a flat amount. Reviewers report it does not lend in seven states plus Washington, D.C. Optional add-ons such as credit insurance raise the cost, and reviewers note that state attorneys general sued the company over how add-ons were sold, which it disputes. Decline any add-on you did not ask for.
Mariner Finance
Mariner Finance personal loans fit borrowers in its branch states who are rebuilding credit and may need a secured option. Reviewers report a typical minimum score around 580, with cosigners or collateral helping some applicants qualify.
Mariner publishes amounts from $1,000 to $25,000 at 15.99% to 35.99% APR, with terms of 12 to 72 months. Online applications cover $1,500 to $14,000, while other amounts go through branches; in Georgia, loans start above $3,000. The 12-month minimum term is a real strength for a small personal loan, since shorter schedules cost less interest.
The drawbacks are transparency and add-ons. Mariner says its loans may include origination fees but publishes no amount, and it does not publish a standard funding time; reviewers report one to two business days. Reviewers count branches in about 27 states and caution that optional credit insurance increases the overall cost. Ask for the full fee breakdown and the exact amount you will receive before signing.
Regional Finance
Regional Finance fits borrowers in the South and Southwest who want a small installment personal loan with in-person service. Its site lists licenses in 20 states, including Florida, Georgia, Texas and Virginia, and loans start at $600, one of the lowest minimums here.
Beyond that, the main pages publish little: maximum amounts vary by state, and APRs, terms and fees are not posted. Reviewers have reported disclosures of roughly 21.9% to 35.9% APR on larger loans but up to 99.9% on loans of $600 to $2,500. Reviewers also report origination fees of up to 10% depending on state.
On the plus side, reviewers say you can check rates with a soft pull, and branch customers can sometimes finalize and receive funds the same day. The drawback is cost on the smallest balances, so compare a $700 offer here against a credit union or an online personal loan lender with a $1,000 floor.
World Finance
World Finance fits borrowers who need a very small installment personal loan, prefer a local branch, and have few other options. Its rates page lists loans of roughly $450 to $10,000, with some states allowing more, and the lender says most applications are approved in about an hour.
Pricing varies widely by state, with no single APR range published; its Georgia examples run from about 34% on a mid-sized loan to above 100% on a very small one. Terms also vary by state. Published fees include an origination fee, often a flat $25 to $100 or a percentage, plus late fees of $5 to $30, within state limits.
Reviewers report no set minimum score and reporting to the three major credit bureaus, which can help rebuild credit when payments are on time. The trade-off is clear: small balances here can cost far more than a mainstream personal loan, so treat it as a last-resort comparison point.
Lenders Focused on Thin or Limited Credit
Oportun and NetCredit openly serve borrowers with limited or damaged credit and cap unsecured loans at $10,000, but their personal loans are priced at or above the top of the mainstream 36% APR range.
Oportun
Oportun personal loans fit borrowers with little or no credit history who need a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Reviewers report no minimum credit score and no credit history requirement, and the lender says typical first loans run from $500 to $4,000.
Oportun publishes unsecured loans from $300 to $10,000 plus secured loans in eight states. It does not publish one APR range; its own examples use APRs near 36%. Payments can fall every two weeks. Reviewers report terms of roughly one to five years and funding in one to four business days.
The biggest cost is an administrative fee of up to 10% of principal, deducted so the deposit is smaller than the amount repaid. Reviewers report Oportun does not lend in about ten states, including New York and Massachusetts, or in Washington, D.C. For a borrower with no score, it can be a way to start building one, provided the payments fit.
NetCredit
NetCredit personal loans fit borrowers with damaged credit and steady income who have been declined by mainstream online lenders. Reviewers report it looks at credit history, income and debt-to-income rather than a score cutoff, and prequalification uses a soft check.
Reviewers list installment loans from $1,000 to $10,000, with terms of 6 to 60 months and APRs of about 34% to 99.99% depending on state. NetCredit says applications approved before 1 p.m. Central time on a business day are typically funded the same day, and later approvals generally the next business day.
Its strength is a simple fee structure: reviewers report no origination, application, prepayment, late or returned-payment fees on recently originated loans. Its drawback is price; at the high end, interest over a long term can exceed the amount borrowed. Reviewers report it skips several states, including New York and Pennsylvania. Use it only after checking lower-cost personal loan lenders.
Choosing Among Leap Credit Loan Options
Start with the amount you need and your credit profile, then compare the total cost of each real offer, because the lowest advertised APR on any list of leap credit loan options rarely matches what a specific borrower is quoted.
- Match the amount to the floor. Under $1,000, only Oportun, Regional Finance and World Finance go that low here, and all can be costly.
- Match your credit to the lender. Good credit points toward Best Egg, Upgrade or Upstart; fair credit toward LendingPoint, Avant, Universal Credit or OneMain; thin or damaged credit toward Oportun or NetCredit.
- Compare total cost, not the monthly payment, using our personal loan calculator.
- Prequalify with soft pulls first to see real leap credit rates and lender rates without a hard inquiry.
Representative example: $2,000 borrowed over 12 months at 24% APR works out to about $189.12 a month, or about $2,269.43 in total; at 35.99% APR it is about $2,410.97 in total (estimates only; your lender's offer may differ). Unsure? Review personal loan eligibility requirements.
Reading Leap Credit Reviews Next to Lender Reviews
Reviews help only when you know which company they describe, and searches for leap credit reviews or leapcredit often return unrelated businesses, so check the company name, website and license first.
People typing leapcredit into a search bar may land on lenders, apps and request services that share a similar name but nothing else,. Our guide on how to read and verify reviews of loan-request services explains how to use the CFPB complaint database, state regulators and the Better Business Bureau and the red flags that matter most.
- Match the legal name and web address in any review to the company you are dealing with.
- Ignore leap credit reviews that describe a different company's app or card.
How Our Request Form Relates to This List
Our service is an independent loan-request connector, not a lender, and the lenders and lending partners in our network may differ from the 12 companies on this page. Appearing here does not mean a company receives requests from us.
A leap credit loan request through our site takes about five minutes for $500 to $5,000. It may be shared with lenders in our network, and any lender that makes an offer shows its own APR, fees and schedule before you sign. Our service is free, with no obligation to accept.
We are not affiliated with any lender, app or company that uses a similar name, and leapcredit searches can surface businesses unrelated to us; leap credit reviews of those businesses do not describe our service. Lenders may compensate us; our advertiser disclosure explains how. Read how our request process works, or start a personal loan request when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which lender on this list has the lowest minimum loan amount?
Oportun starts at $300, World Finance at roughly $450 and Regional Finance at $600. All three can charge APRs at or above 36% on small balances, so compare total cost first.
Why do some cells in the table say "varies" instead of a number?
Several lenders do not publish one APR range or fee, or their pages and reviewers disagreed. Your exact figures appear in the lender's offer and loan agreement.
Do all of these lenders charge an origination fee?
No. NetCredit reports no origination fee on recently originated loans, and several others publish ranges starting near 1%. Most deduct it from your deposit, so check the amount you will receive.
Are these 12 lenders the ones that see a leap credit loan request on this site?
Not necessarily. We are an independent connector, and the lenders and partners in our network may differ from this list. Any lender that responds shows its own personal loan terms before you sign, and you can decline.
