Best Personal Loans for Debt Consolidation

Debt happens. When it does, there are multiple ways to handle it. You could borrow money from a friend or family member, but this can get sticky or uncomfortable with repayments. You can also try to cover one credit card debt using another credit card, but this can turn into a vicious cycle that leaves you crushed under major, insurmountable debt. A better option is to take out a personal loan that will cover your entire debt at the same time.
A personal loan is easy to manage, readily available, and comes with no strings attached. Here’s how debt consolidation is taken care of with this type of loan.

Getting a Loan for Debt Consolidation: What You Need to Know

Before we get into how to find the right loan, what characteristics make up the best loan for you, and what taking out a loan in general means, let's explain some terms. Generally speaking, when a person seeks a solution to their debt issues it's because the amount, variety, and depth of debt have become unmanageable or more stressful than they'd like to deal with. In this case, getting a cash advance from a relative probably won't be enough to resolve the debt, and the problem will resurface the next month. That's why debt consolidation becomes a good solution.

How Personal Loan Debt Consolidation Works

Debt consolidation is a term used for a financial plan that combines all your loans into a single one. This is helpful because one monthly payment is a whole lot easier to manage and keep track of than several monthly payments. Let’s review an example:

• You have $5,000 worth of credit card debt on your Visa card
• You have $3,000 worth of credit card debt on your American Express card
• You also pay $1,000 each month for a medical procedure you had done a year back
• Finally, you’ve got a $1,200 monthly auto loan payment to make

That means you are making 4 different payments each month to cover the various forms of debt outstanding on your account. Between the different amounts for each payment, different payment due dates, and varying interest rates, it's easy to get things confused. When this happens, payments are missed, and you end up paying more unnecessarily. Debt consolidation loans help you pay off all of your combined debt at once and give you a single monthly payment to focus on. That's one payment date, one APR, and one amount to think about. Much simpler.

And the best part of using a personal loan to consolidate your debt is that there are no strings attached. Unlike other loans that require some form of collateral or need to be used for a specific purpose, personal loans are totally free from any restrictions. You can use the money however you see fit, and you won't have to put anything down to get the loan. It's the most flexible type of loan out there.

How to Choose the Best Loan Provider for Debt Consolidation

Everyone claims to be the absolute best, but how do you know which loan provider is really going to do the most for your debt consolidation purposes? The most important features to look for in this type of service are:

APR

This is the most important factor because it'll tell you how much you'll pay overall for your debt consolidation loan. The higher the interest rate is, the more you will pay over time. Try to get the lowest rate possible, and use a comparison tool to compare various offers.

Repayment Terms

Sometimes all you need is a little cut on your monthly payments. If that’s the case, taking out a personal loan that can be paid off over a longer period of time can help you minimize your monthly payments. See how long each loan provider will allow you to stretch repayments, and make your decision like that.

Reputation

Online lenders are a dime a dozen, but not all are as reputable as others. Read online reviews, check out their BBB ratings, and browse their websites to get an idea of how reliable each service is before you sign on the dotted line.

How to Apply for a Loan When You're in Debt

Now that you are ready to clear your slate, it’s time to apply. When applying for a debt consolidation loan, you should go through a few steps including:
Step 1: Calculate how much you need to be debt-free, and then take out a loan for that amount. It's typically a good idea to give yourself some wiggle room too for legal fees, transaction fees, and other unforeseen charges that might come up during the process. You may need to work with your credit card company, your bank, and even your boss to get all the numbers crunched, so get organized before you sit down to apply.
Step 2: Check your credit report. The better your credit looks, the better the terms you'll qualify for. Check your personal credit report to make sure there are no errors that could hurt your chances of approval.
Step 3: Apply for the loan. This can generally be done online and takes only a minute or two.
Step 4: Wait to hear from the loan provider about terms and rates. Sometimes if your credit is poor, you may have to apply to several providers before you find one that is willing to work with you. Don’t give up though, because there are definitely lenders that specifically work with poor credit borrowers, like Monevo and Fiona.

What is an APR?

APR is an acronym for annual percentage rate. It combines the charges, fees, and payments to tell you the grand total of what your loan will cost you per year. The lower the APR, the less you are going to pay in the long run.
The APR calculation on personal loans will vary depending on your lender, but it will typically be lower than what you would receive from a payday or short-term loan – usually starting at 10% and capping at 35.99%. It is not ideal to owe any money, but if you require a loan, then a personal loan could certainly be a viable option.
APR rates mentioned include associated fees.
Full repayment for the loans displayed range between 61 days to 180 months.
Representative example: assuming a loan of $10,000 over 60 months at a fixed rate of 3.1% per annum and fees of $60.00. This would result in a representative rate of 3.3% APR, with monthly repayments of $180.80, for a total amount paid of $10,848.00.

* LightStream Terms and Conditions:

*Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay may be higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 4.99% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $299.66. SunTrust now Truist is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2020 Truist Financial Corporation. SunTrust®, Truist, LightStream®, the LightStream logo, and the SunTrust logo are service marks of Trust Financial Corporation. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by SunTrust now Truist Bank. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2022 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.

* Marcus By Goldman Sachs® Offer Terms and Conditions:

Your loan terms are not guaranteed and are subject to our verification of your identity and credit information. To obtain a loan, you must submit additional documentation including an application that may affect your credit score. The availability of a loan offer and the terms of your actual offer will vary due to a number of factors, including your loan purpose, our evaluation of your creditworthiness, your credit history, if we have recently declined your loan application and the number of loans you already have with us. To obtain a loan, you must submit additional documentation including an application that may affect your credit score. Rates will vary based on many factors, such as your creditworthiness (for example, credit score and credit history) and the length of your loan (for example, rates for 36 month loans are generally lower than rates for 72 month loans). Your maximum loan amount may vary depending on your loan purpose, income and creditworthiness. Your verifiable income must support your ability to repay your loan. Marcus by Goldman Sachs is a brand of Goldman Sachs Bank USA and all loans are issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch. Applications are subject to additional terms and conditions. You may be required to have some of your funds sent directly to creditors to pay down certain types of unsecured debt. Receive a 0.25% APR reduction when you enroll in AutoPay. This reduction will not be applied if AutoPay is not in effect. When enrolled, a larger portion of your monthly payment will be applied to your principal loan amount and less interest will accrue on your loan, which may result in a smaller final payment. See loan agreement for details.

* LendingClub Terms and Conditions:

A representative example of loan payment terms is as follows: you receive a loan of $13,411 for a term of 36 months, with an interest rate of 12.16% and a 5.30% origination fee of $711, for an APR of 15.99%. In this example, you will receive $12,700 and will make 36 monthly payments of $446.46. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $40,000 and loan term lengths are 36 months or 60 months. Some amounts and term lengths may be unavailable in certain states. APR ranges from 8.05% to 35.89% and is determined at the time of application. Origination fee ranges from 3% to 6% of the loan amount. Lowest APR is available to borrowers with excellent credit. Advertised rates are subject to change without notice. Loans are made by LendingClub Bank, N.A., Member FDIC (“LendingClub Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of LendingClub Corporation, NMLS ID 167439. Loans are subject to credit approval and sufficient investor commitment before they can be funded or issued. Certain information that we subsequently obtain as part of the application process (including but not limited to information in your consumer report, your income, the loan amount that your request, the purpose of your loan, and qualifying debt) will be considered and could affect your ability to obtain a loan from us. Loan closing is contingent on accepting all required agreements and disclosures at Lendingclub.com. “LendingClub” is a trademark of LendingClub Bank.

* One Main Financial Terms and Conditions:

Example Loan: If you borrowed $6,000 with a 24.99% APR and 60-month term, your payments would be $176.07 per month. This example is based on an average customer with good credit. Not all applicants will be approved. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on your ability to meet our credit standards (including a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and availability of collateral). If approved, not all applicants will qualify for larger loan amounts or most favorable loan terms. Larger loan amounts require a first lien on a motor vehicle no more than ten years old, that meets our value requirements, titled in your name with valid insurance. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on your state of residence and your ability to meet our credit standards (including a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and availability of collateral). APRs are generally higher on loans not secured by a vehicle. Highly-qualified applicants may be offered higher loan amounts and/or lower APRs than those shown above. OneMain charges origination fees. Depending on the state where you open your loan, the origination fee may be either a flat amount or a percentage of your loan amount. Flat fee amounts vary by state, ranging from $25 to $500. Percentage-based fees vary by state ranging from 1% to 10% of your loan amount subject to certain state limits on the fee amount. Loan proceeds cannot be used for postsecondary educational expenses as defined by the CFPB’s Regulation Z such as college, university or vocational expense; for any business or commercial purpose; to purchase securities; or for gambling or illegal purposes. Borrowers in these states are subject to these minimum loan sizes: Alabama: $2,100. California: $3,000. Georgia: Unless you are a present customer, $3,100 minimum loan amount. North Dakota: $2,000. Ohio: $2,000. Virginia: $2,600. Borrowers (other than present customers) in these states are subject to these maximum unsecured loan sizes: North Carolina: $7,500. An unsecured loan is a loan which does not require you to provide collateral (such as a motor vehicle) to the lender.

‡ Upgrade Terms and Conditions:

Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 8.49%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 24 to 84 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.59% APR (which includes a 13.94% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $341.48. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,293.46. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Upgrade's bank partners. Information on Upgrade's bank partners can be found at https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/.

* Freedom Plus Terms and Conditions:  

The financial solutions for which you will be evaluated are offered by service providers with which we are affiliated and/or compensated by who participates on our website. Terms and conditions apply to each, and not all are available in every state.

The financial solutions for which you will be evaluated are offered by service providers with which we are affiliated and/or compensated by who participates on our website. Terms and conditions apply to each, and not all are available in every state.

Achieve.com, a d/b/a of Bills.com, LLC (NMLS ID #138464) operates as a marketing lead generator for affiliates and non-affiliates, and as a broker for loans and debt resolution services offered by its affiliates. We also offer certain mobile applications that allow consumers to view and analyze their finances. We may take applications for our affiliates, but we do not make credit decisions, originate loans, process consumer loans or bill payments, or provide any other financial services. We do not collect any fees or other compensation from consumers.

Personal loans are available through Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977), originated by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank or Pathward N.A., Equal Housing Lenders and may not be available in all states. All loan and rate terms are subject to eligibility restrictions, application review, credit score, loan amount, loan term, lender approval, credit usage and history. Loans are not available to residents of all states. Minimum loan amounts vary due to state specific legal restrictions. Loan amounts generally range from $5,000 to $50,000 (including the origination fee) and are offered based on underwriting conditions and loan purpose. APRs range from 7.99 to 29.99% and include applicable origination fees. Repayment periods range from 24 to 60 months.

For example: A four-year $20,000 loan with an APR of 18.34% would have an estimated monthly payment of $561.60 and total cost of $26,956.80. To qualify for a 7.99% APR loan, a borrower will need excellent credit, a loan amount of $12,000.00 or less, and a term of 24 months.

Loan origination fees vary from 1.99%to 6.99%, most loans have a fee of 4.99%. Adding a co-borrower with sufficient income; using at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the loan proceeds to pay off qualifying existing debt directly; or showing proof of sufficient retirement savings, could help you also qualify for a lower rate. Average interest savings for personal loans range from 0% - 6% based on closed loans that qualified for one or more of our rate discounts in July 2022.

†Times noted are estimates and can vary for a loan request from Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS #227977). Same day approvals assume that a fully completed application with all required supporting documentation is provided early enough on a day that our offices are open. Achieve Personal Loans consultants are available Monday–Friday 6AM to 8PM MST and Saturday–Sunday 7AM to 4PM MST.

* SoFi Limited Offer Terms and Conditions: 

SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A.  

Fixed rates from 7.99% APR to 23.43% APR APR reflect the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 8/22/22 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See Personal Loan eligibility details. 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 above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. See APR examples and terms. 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.

*  Reach Financial Terms and Conditions:

All loans are subject to eligibility criteria and review of creditworthiness and history. Terms and conditions apply. All loans advertised are unsecured personal loans issued by either Metabank® National association, member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, a Utah chartered commercial bank, member FDIC, as creditor, on the Liberty Lending platform. If you are approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your credit profile, your application, and the loan term you select. Fixed Annual Percentage Rates (APR) range from 5.99% to 35.99%. You could receive a loan of $10,000 with an interest rate of 8.93%, an origination fee of $200, for an APR of 9.80%, which would result in total payment of $12,435 with 60 monthly payments of $207.20. Your actual rate may differ and depends on your credit history, loan amount, and term. Total approved loan amount reflects origination fee, which ranges from 0% to 5%. *Within 24 hours of your loan approval, loan proceeds will be available to pay the creditors named on your Truth-In-Lending Disclosure.

* Universal Credit Terms and Conditions:

Personal loans made through Universal Credit feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 11.69%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 5.25% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 36 to 60 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 28.47% APR (which includes a 22.99% yearly interest rate and a 7% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,300 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $387.05. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $13,933.62. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Universal Credit's bank partners. Information on Universal Credit's bank partners can be found at https://www.universal-credit.com/bank-partners/.