Upstart Review [2025]: Personal Loans for Bad Credit

What is Upstart + who is it best for?

Upstart is a lending platform founded in 2012 by former Google employees. It uses artificial intelligence to identify who qualifies for a loan and how much they should be able to borrow, which isn't uncommon in today's online-centric lending marketplace.

Upstart doesn't issue loans. Instead, it connects you with lenders willing to work with you. It works with many young borrowers who don't have much of a credit history, helping them get loans when they otherwise wouldn't be able to qualify through traditional lenders. Compared to other companies, Upstart could be a better choice for you if you have average or even poor credit. While many lenders only work with borrowers with at least good credit, Upstart only requires a minimum score of 300.

With Upstart, you can apply for a loan and get approved within minutes. The platform offers loans in as little as one business day after approval.

Types of loans from Upstart

Upstart offers a variety of personal loans for different needs, such as debt consolidation, moving, or medical procedures. With Upstart, you can borrow between $1,000 and $50,000 and choose a loan term of three or five years.

Personal loans from Upstart

Loan amount	$1,000 to $75,000
Loan term	3 years and 5 years
APR	6.40% - 35.99% (as of 07/15/2025)
Credit score needed	Minimum 300

When you get a loan through Upstart, you can get your money in as little as one business day. And, the loans offer much lower interest rates than you'd get with a credit card.

Upstart personal loans can be a good option if you're planning on credit card debt consolidation, or if you have a major expense coming up that you can't pay for from your savings.

To qualify for a loan, you need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You must have a U.S. residential address
• You must be at least 18 years old (19 in Alabama and Nebraska)
• You must have a valid email address
• You must have a Social Security number
• You must have a full-time job, or a full-time job offer that starts within six months, a part-time job, or other verifiable source of income
• You must have a personal banking account in the U.S.
• You must have a credit score of at least 620

Please note that Upstart is not available to borrowers in West Virginia or Iowa.

Other loans from Upstart

Although Upstart is best known for personal loans, the company also provides the following: 

• Auto loan refinancing
• Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)
• Short-term loans

HELOCs with Upstart are available for between $26,000 and $250,000.

Upstart's small-dollar, short-term loans range from $200 to $2,500 with terms between three and 18 months. These are designed to be an alternative to payday loans, which are predatory and dangerous. They have lower effective APRs than payday loans and potentially longer repayment periods, making them more predictable and less of a burden to repay overall. However, the APRs for these can reach 36%, which is definitely on the high side for a loan.

What can Upstart personal loans be used for?

Upstart personal loans offer you flexibility, as they can be used in a number of different ways. Regardless of your intended use, Upstart loans offer the same interest rates and repayment options.

1. Credit card consolidation

If you have high-interest credit card debt, consolidating that debt with a personal loan can be a smart way to pay it off and save money. With Upstart, you can qualify for a loan with an annual percentage rate (APR) ranging from 6.40% - 35.99% (as of 07/15/2025).

Learn more: How To Refinance Credit Card Debt

2. Debt consolidation

If you have multiple forms of debt, such as credit card and medical debt, consolidating those debts with a personal loan can streamline your payments. Going forward, you'll have just one loan and one simple payment to remember.

3. Home improvement projects

Whether you're planning on renovating your bathroom or replacing kitchen cabinets, home improvement projects can be expensive. Instead of using a credit card, which can have a sky-high interest rate, a home improvement loan can give you the money you need at a much lower rate.

4. Medical procedures

Unfortunately, your health insurance may not cover the full cost of necessary or elective medical procedures. If that's the case, a personal loan can help cover the cost of the procedure or your deductible, allowing you to get the treatment you need.

5. Weddings

Weddings can cost well over $30,000 today. Few people have that much money in the bank, so if you're planning your dream wedding, a personal wedding loan can help make that goal a reality. And, you can choose a repayment term as long as five years with Upstart, making your payments more affordable.

6. Moving

If you're moving to another city or state for a new job, you may get sticker shock from the cost. Movers, packing materials, and transporting your stuff can easily cost thousands. Taking out a loan to pay for your expenses can be much cheaper than using a credit card, helping you save money.

What Upstart customers are saying

If you're shopping around for the best personal loan, make sure you pay attention to the company's customer service and customer reviews. How a company handles customer inquiries can have a big impact on your experience as a borrower.

Upstart has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, with a three-star rating out of five from customers. On other platforms, Upstart ranks well. On CreditKarma, it has 458 reviews, with a total ranking of 4.9 out of five stars. On TrustPilot, it has over 5,000 reviews and has a five-star rating. In general, users praise its ease of use, speed, and customer service.

However, you should know that Upstart was targeted by a scam in August 2019. Fake representatives were reaching out to customers and requiring them to pay upfront fees or to pay with gift cards. Upstart never requires upfront fees and does not accept payments with gift cards. If you think you've been contacted by a scammer, contact Upstart directly by calling 650-204-1000 or 855-438-8778 to verify.

FAQs

Bottom line

If you're thinking about taking out a personal loan, Upstart can help you get the money you need quickly. And with a minimum credit score requirement of 620, applicants with less-than-stellar credit may be more likely to qualify for a loan through Upstart than they would through other lenders.

Looking for more options? Here's how to get a personal loan that works for you.