Best Loans for Good Credit

Looking to leverage your hard-earned good credit to get the best loan? Great news: there’s a wide variety of excellent loans for those with good credit.

When analyzing a lending platform, you’ll want to look at the most crucial factors. These include the lender’s minimum credit score to be eligible, loan terms and amounts, and of course, APR.

Loans can be used for a variety of important purchases, such as a new car, a home remodeling idea, to consolidate existing debt, or even more. Perhaps you want to take advantage of COVID-19’s silver lining, as some loans are seeing record low interest rates.

While it’s true that you should never take out a loan without heavy consideration beforehand, many loans intended for folks with good credit have lots to like and negligible drawbacks. Think of them as financial tools you can use to expand your buying power, enjoy life, or improve your credit even more.

Not sure where you stand on the FICO credit scale? Use the table below to see where you fit in.

What Exactly Does it Mean to Have “Good Credit”?

If you have “good credit”, you might be a little concerned. After all, there are two categories above “good credit” in the FICO credit scale.

When you have a good credit however, you can still find great loan opportunities. You’ll just have to find the right lending platform for you, which is why we’ve compiled the top lending platforms for those with good credit.

Best Loans for Good Credit

Not sure which loans to seek out? We’ve already found the best below; let’s dive in!

1. LightStream – Best Overall Good Credit Loan

LightStream has some of the best loans you can find if you already have good credit. LightStream has lots of experience to call on, and it shows.

• Minimum Credit Score: Good to Excellent Credit Profile
• APR: Low compared to competitors, rates vary
• Loan Range: $5,000-$100,000
• Term Range: Varies

For starters, they don’t have any fees on their loans, and they offer generous borrowing amounts between $5000 in $100,000. Even better, their term limits are pretty flexible and term lengths depend on the loan purpose.

Furthermore, LightStream provides something called the “Rate Beat” program. This is something along the lines of an APR match program with an additional promise to beat that rate by up to 0.10% (within certain conditions, of course). Thus, you can use LightStream to get a fantastic APR if you find another lending service with a similar rate.

There are other reasons why LightStream is a great fit for good credit loans. For instance, they provide a joint application option if you don’t have a lot of credit history or need to take out a loan for a student.

However, they do typically require several years of credit history, in addition to good credit. While prequalification isn’t available, there are plenty of calculators and handy tools available so you’ll be able to review potential monthly payments and interest rates based on your own predefined criteria.

Still, it’s a phenomenal service through and through. The lack of fees, great APR and term flexibility, and APR-beat program all make LightStream one of the best choices on the market overall.

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2. Marcus by Goldman Sachs – Best for Debt Consolidation

Marcus personal loans from Goldman Sachs are great if you need a personal loan for debt consolidation, but their high amount limit makes them a good fit for just about any financial need. You’ll be able to take out a loan between $3500 and $40,000 if you have good credit.

• Minimum Credit Score: 720+
• APR: 6.99%-24.99%
• Loan Range: $3500-$40,000
• Term Range: 3-6 years

They also provide flexible repayment terms between 3 to 6 years in most cases. Many Marcus customers receive funds in as little as 3 days.

Still, there’s a lot to like here. They don’t have any origination or additional fees, nor do they levy prepayment penalties (so you aren’t charged more for paying down your debt aggressively).

Their customer service representatives are also pretty understanding if you need to change your payment options. Again, this makes them a great choice for debt consolidation or other loan needs if you have a tight but fluctuating budget.

However, if you can set up an automatic payment system with them to benefit from a slight rate discount that comes with most of their loan packages. This is fantastic if you want to pay down your loan as soon as possible. Marcus loans also usually come with an option to directly pay your creditors if you do decide to use this loan for debt consolidation.

There’s no co-signing option and you do need pretty good credit to qualify for the majority of their loan agreements. But if you already have a good score, the Marcus loan could be an excellent choice, particularly if you want to eliminate multiple debts at once.

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3. SoFi – Best for High-Income Borrowers with Good Credit

SoFi, an investment firm well-known for building one of the premier robo-advisors, showcases their value once again with their personal loan options. They provide loans for a wide variety of needs, offering amounts between $5000 and $100,000.

• Minimum Credit Score: 680
• APR: 8.99%-25.81%
• Loan Range: $5000-$100,000
• Term Range: 2-7 years

They also let you borrow with repayment terms between 2 and 7 years, plus APR rates potentially as low as 8.99%. Like with Marcus loans, there’s a small downside in that your funding will only arrive after a few business days.

However, SoFi provides a huge array of extra financial service offerings are benefits. For instance, professional development services, events for various members, networking and community opportunities, and even resume and interview help are available.

In this way, SoFi doesn’t just provide simple loan assistance. They can also help you become a better financial steward for your bank account or portfolio.

So they’re a great choice if you’re in a higher than average income bracket and will take advantage of these bonuses. You’ll be able to use this lending institution for just about any loan you can imagine, including mortgage loans, student loans, and more. 

They also offer their loans with fixed and variable rates and provide flexible payment options. However, you aren’t able to refinance your loan in case there’s a mishap or emergency.

Still, we’d recommend them if you’re comfortable with a relatively long-term debt arrangement and want to take advantage of everything they offer. If your average income is over $100,000 a year, they’ll likely be a great fit – especially since you can benefit from SoFi’s capable investment services.

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4. Payoff – Best for Paying Off Credit Card Debt

If you have credit card debt, a loan from Payoff might be the best choice you can make. That’s because they don’t only offer flexible loan arrangements, but they also provide a plethora of tools and support structures to help you make your payments on time and gradually increase your credit score by eliminating your debt.

• Minimum Credit Score: 640
• APR: 5.99%-24.99%
• Loan Range: $5000-$35,000
• Term Range: 2-5 years

For instance, Payoff will provide you with free FICO score updates every once in a while, plus a quarterly check-in with one of their dedicated “member experience” specialists. This gives you a little bit of accountability when it comes to using your loan correctly, and you can ask them for advice to better work down your debt in the most efficient way possible.

Even better, you’ll get a suite of cash flow assessment tools, plus job loss protection for your loan. Thus, it’s a great choice if you aren’t sure about your employment stability in the short term future.

They do have relatively strict requirements if you want one of their loans, like a credit score of 640 or higher and a decent debt to income ratio. They provide loans between $5000 and $35,000 and repayment terms between 2 and 5 years. The other big downside is that they aren’t available in several continental states, including Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, and West Virginia. 

But overall, they’re a great choice for paying down credit card debt, and not only because of what they offer in pure loan options. The tools they provide can be used to make sure that your debt repayment efforts result in lasting financial security.  Before using Payoff’s platform to pay off your credit card debt, check our Payoff review, and make a more informed decision.

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5. Discover – Best for Paying Off the Loan Early

Discover makes it easy for you to repay your personal loans and makes it easy to get your funding on time. In fact, same-day funding is often included because they frequently make same-day decisions after a possible borrower applies.

• Minimum Credit Score: 660
• APR: 6.99%-24.99%
• Loan Range: $2500-$35,000
• Term Range: 3-7 years

Discover doesn’t charge any origination or prepayment fees, either, making it easy for you to aggressively pay down your debt and lower your overall loan. They do charge a late fee, though. You’ll be able to borrow between $2500 and $35,000 for between 3 and 7 years.

Discover also provides the option to pay your creditors directly if you want to improve your credit score as promptly as possible. Furthermore, all users will benefit from a Free Credit Scorecard tool, which includes up-to-date FICO scores and information about any changes or inquiries to your credit report. It’s a great tool to help you keep track of things as you improve your credit.

We like that they offer a plethora of flexible payment options to help folks that may need to change their payment amounts as time goes on. Since you can prepay without a fee, you can easily start with a lower payment amount every month and work up to a higher amount as your finances become more stable.

Still, you can’t refinance your loan entirely and you do need a relatively high credit score of 660. But overall, they’re a great choice if you are committed to improving your credit score and paying down your debt ASAP.

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6. Upgrade – Best for Low-Amount Good Credit Loans

Upgrade is a flexible credit lending institution, as they typically accept a wide range of incomes and credit scores. This being said, the lower end of their APR range is 8.49%: a little higher than what the other lending institutions we’ve looked at so far offer.

• Minimum Credit Score: 640
• APR: 8.49%-35.97%
• Loan Range: $1000-$35,000
• Term Range: 3-5 years

Still, they have a decent loan amount range between as low as $1000 up to $50,000. This can make them a great choice if you only need a small bundle of cash for a short timeframe. You can borrow for terms between 3 years and 5 years, and they’ll potentially help your loan with a low APR by using your cash flow as a worthiness metric instead of your credit score.

Upgrade does allow cosigners depending on credit score requirements between both parties, so students might be able to take advantage of their services. They do charge an origination fee and late fees, unfortunately.

But they additionally offer hardship plans to protect you in the event that you lose your job. This will qualify you for a temporary reduction in your monthly payment or a loan modification for the rest of the loan’s term.

Furthermore, Upgrade is valuable since they typically get you your funding within a day of your application being accepted. So they’re a good choice if you need fast cash with reasonable terms.

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7. Best Egg – Best for Big Purchases

If you already have good credit, you might consider Best Egg, which offers APRs between 5.99% and 29.99%. They let you borrow between $2000 and $35,000 in most cases, although borrowers with really good credit can go up to $50,000. Repayment terms are typically between 3 and 5 years, and you should get your funding relatively quickly: in some cases, it’s less than a single business day.

• Minimum Credit Score: 640
• APR: 5.99%-29.99%
• Loan Range: $2000-$35,000
• Term Range: 3-5 years

However, you’ll need a minimum credit score of 640 and a high annual income of $100,000. If you do qualify, you’ll potentially benefit from prequalification and a soft credit check that doesn’t stand a risk of harming your credit score.

Their loans come with additional advantages, like the option to change your payment date depending on what works best for you. Even better, there aren’t any prepayment penalties if you want to pay off your loans early and aggressively.

This being said, they do have several fees, like an origination fee that ranges between 1% to 5.99%. They also charge late fees and return fees if payments aren’t processed because of some digital hiccup. 

All in all, though, they’re a great pick if you already have a high income and good credit history. We’d recommend them if you want a loan for a sizable purchase, like house remodeling or a new car, and feel confident in your ability to pay off the debt sooner than the term limit. 

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A Buying Guide for Finding a Loan for Good Credit

What’s a “Good Credit” Loan, Specifically?

As the name suggests, a good credit loan is a type of personal loan usually only reserved for those with good credit. If you struggle to maintain good credit, you may want to leverage a credit repair company to help your credit score.

Personal loans are typically unsecured. Unsecured loans like these don’t have any additional collateral to back up the debt, like a house or a car. So lenders will use other factors to determine your interest rate and other aspects of a loan, like your credit history, income levels, and debt at the time of loan application. All this gives them an idea about your likelihood to repay a loan.

Good credit loans normally require credit scores at certain thresholds (usually around the 670 zone). This is quite different from bad credit loans which — despite guaranteed approval in some cases — either have very low or no credit limits.

If you already have good credit, it’s easier to get a favorable unsecured personal loan. This translates to lower interest rates, better terms, more options, and so on.

You can also usually get good credit personal loans from a wider variety of financial institutions like banks or credit unions. Those with lower credit have fewer options and loans with worse terms.

What Rates Can You Expect for Good Credit Loans?

In general, good credit loans have better rates, or annual percentage rates (APRs). In a nutshell, this means that you’ll pay less interest over the lifespan of the loan.

The APR for a given good credit loan will, of course, vary by institution. But in general, you can expect a good APR between 6% and 18% from most institutions.

What Kind of Loan Can You Get with a Credit Score of 700?

A “good” credit score is usually defined as between 670 and 740, so 700 is right in a comfortable spot. It’s not “excellent” but should still allow you to get favorable loans with low interest rates and manageable terms.

If you have good credit but you’re worried about maintaining your credit score, you may want to consider a credit monitoring service to help you out. Top-notch credit monitoring services will protect you from identity theft, cyber attacks, and can shield other family members as well.

How You Should Choose a Good Credit Personal Loan

When looking for an ideal good credit personal loan, consider the following factors to narrow down your choices, and to get an agreement that benefits your needs.

Compare Rates

Firstly, be sure to compare the APRs for every good credit personal loan you consider taking out. Although the general range mentioned before (6% to 18%) will hold for the majority of cases, some institutions might have better deals based on your credit history or other factors.

You’ll almost always want a lower APR, with the exception of loans that don’t work for your monthly payment limit. For instance, it might be worthwhile to go with a higher APR if it results in a more affordable monthly payment.

Determine the Loan’s Purpose

Consider what the overall purpose of the loan, as this dictates the interest rate and other features that might come with the loan agreement. As an example, some loans are specifically designed to help people pay off high-interest credit cards. So they may come with additional factors, like allowing you to make higher-than-agreed monthly payments to make paying off your credit cards easier.

Others might be for more standard things, like buying a car. These might have favorable interest rates or be accessible to younger people with good credit but not a lot of credit history.

What Features Does the Loan Have?

Spend some time looking at any additional features a loan might have. For instance, some lenders provide loans that can be tracked using a proprietary mobile app. Others might have flexible payment schedules or let you defer payments if you run into unexpected financial hardship.

Can You Get Pre-Qualified?

It may be worthwhile to go with a lender that pre-qualifies you for one of their loans. Prequalifying means that a lender trusts that you’ll pay back a loan on time without doing a deep dive into your finances or credit history.

This is advantageous since you’ll know how much the loan will cost before you sign on the dotted line, allowing you to budget ahead of time. It’s also helpful since it usually doesn’t involve a “hard” credit check, which can affect your credit score.

Any Additional Benefits?

Lastly, consider any additional benefits a loan might come with, like financial education resources or free credit score monitoring.

How Much Do Good Credit Personal Loans Cost?

The overall “cost” for a personal loan involves both the APR (which determines how much interest you’ll pay over the loan’s lifespan) and the monthly payment you’ll have to adhere to. In addition, you’ll have to figure the total term length for the loan into your calculations.

So in short, combine:

• The loan’s term limit, or how many payments you need to make to pay off the debt
• The APR, which determines your interest (i.e. any extra money you’ll pay on top of the agreed loan amount)
• The payment amount each month

Note that your overall cost can be lowered by aggressively paying off loans as soon as you are able. Paying more than the monthly amount eventually results in you paying less interest overall.

Also, longer terms usually accompany lower monthly payments but with more interest in exchange. The reverse is also true; short-term loans with low interest rates are usually accompanied by higher monthly payments.

For Instance, How Much Is a 100k Loan Per Month?

Let’s do a bit of example math to demonstrate these principles. 

Say that you have a $100,000 loan you plan to pay it off in ten years. The APR for this hypothetical good credit loan is a very reasonable 14%.

So you start off with $100,000 that you’ll need to pay back: this is the starting amount of the loan.

Then consider adding 14% for every year. Eventually, this adds up to a grand total of $186,319.72 by the time the loan is paid off in a decade.

This also translates to a monthly payment of $1552.66.

Is it a good deal? That’s up to you to decide. It depends on your budget, what you’re taking the $100,000 out for, and whether your loan agreement allows you to aggressively pay the debt down if you come into more money ahead of schedule.

Why Get a Personal Loan?

There are plenty of reasons why someone might seek out a personal loan, and especially along with good credit.

For instance, people with lots of debt often employ debt consolidation strategies. This allows them to combine all of their debts into a single personal loan and repay that loan over time.

The advantage of this strategy is that it’s easier to handle multiple lines of debt consolidated into one monthly payment than it is to juggle a dozen different bills. This method can legitimately save money through lower interest rates, but will require using one of the best debt consolidation lenders to be worth it.

Other people might be interested in good credit personal loans to handle unexpected but emergency expenses. For instance, hospital bills or the cost to repair your car after it was totaled in an accident might be more than your savings account can handle. Taking out a personal loan will allow you to stay afloat and handle the debt in a more manageable timeframe.

Or you might be interested in home renovations. Remaking or remodeling your home can cost quite a bundle, so a personal loan with good credit will let you continue saving while still enjoying your home’s new interior or porch without going bankrupt.

Is It Smart to Get a Loan to Pay Off Debt?

In general, people who use personal loans (like the aforementioned debt consolidation loans) to pay off debt have only a few options. In some cases, people who are in a lot of debt have bad debt repayment strategies or don’t handle money very well. This may result in them having to take out an unending chain of new loans to cover previous debts, spiraling further and further into financial insecurity.

However, taking out a personal loan can be smart to pay off your debt if you stick with the loan’s payment agreement. Obviously, this is easier for some loans than it is for others. But using personal loans to pay off debt can be helpful if they take the immediate pressure of debt repayment off your shoulders and allow you to set up a better payment schedule or timeframe.

Summary

In the end, the best loan for good credit will depend highly on your personal needs, repayment schedule, and monthly budget. There’s a plethora of loans for a variety of income levels and needs. Study each loan carefully and consider what we said above about how to choose an ideal loan for your financial situation.

Have you tried out any of these loans yourself? Let us know and let’s discuss.