Best low-interest personal loans for February 2026

• Loan amount: Enter how much you want to borrow. Personal loan amounts typically range from $1,000 to $50,000 — but some lenders offer personal loans up to $100,000, depending on your loan purpose.
• Loan term: Personal loan terms usually range between one and seven years. Experiment with shorter and longer terms to find the right payment for your budget.
• Loan interest rate: Enter the rate here. As of Dec. 3, 2025, the average personal loan interest rate is 12.24%.

• Total loan amount paid: This is the principal amount you borrow. 
• Total cost of loan: This is how much you’ll pay, including interest charges, over the term you choose. 
• Total interest paid: This is how much interest you’ll pay if you keep the loan for the full term. Keep in mind, the longer the term, the more interest you’ll pay.

Even though personal loan rates and eligibility criteria vary widely from lender to lender, certain steps can increase your chances of qualifying for the lowest rate offered. 

• Spruce up your credit score: Lenders use your credit score to predict how likely you are to repay your debt. Consider paying off your credit card balances and avoid applying for new credit to keep your score in the best shape. If you've been late on any payments, you may need to wait several months for your score to recover.
• Pay off revolving debt: Besides payment history, your credit utilization ratio has the biggest impact on your score. The less available credit you use, the higher your score will be. If you can’t pay off your balances, get them as low as possible.
• Learn lender requirements: Check to see what the lender requires for the lowest rates. You might need a certain income or choose a secured loan option to get the best rates.
• Ask about discounts: Rate discounts for automatic payments could knock 0.25 to 0.50 percent off your APR. They are uncommon, so if you don’t see any advertised rate discounts on a lender’s website, ask about discounts when you apply.
• Pay off other debt: Lenders compare how much monthly debt you pay to how much you earn. This is called your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. If it's too high, the lender is more likely to offer you a higher APR. Typically, the sweet spot for the best rates is below 36 percent.
• Consider credit unions: If you qualify for membership with a credit union, you may find lower rates than you would with a traditional bank. Federal credit unions are required to cap loan rates at 18 percent, which is much lower than banks and online lenders.

Availability covers loan amounts, qualification requirements, available terms and time to approval and funding. Lenders that serve the widest variety of customers and needs with speedy loans get the highest scores. 

This category measures interest rates, penalties and fees. Lower rates and fees and fewer potential penalties result in a higher score. We also give bonus points to lenders offering rate discounts, grace periods and the ability to change borrowers' due dates.

Customers want a convenient application process and easy ways to contact the lender and manage their loan. We score lenders on their customer service hours and whether they offer an online application and account access, with a bonus for offering a highly rated app.

To effectively shop around, customers should be able to judge their eligibility and potential costs without a hard credit check. A lender scores higher if its website clearly discloses credit requirements, rates and fees, in addition to offering prequalification.