Both Personify and Upstart are online lenders offering unsecured personal loans. While they have some similarities, they have different loan offerings and methods for evaluating loan applicants.

Personify offers an experience that is personalized. Their loan applications are reviewed by actual people, and they have a customer service team available with flexible hours. On the other hand, Upstart evaluates loan applications using their own artificial intelligence (AI) program. Their AI continues to learn and looks at loan applications based on non-traditional criteria.

Personify vs. Upstart at a glance

Both Personify and Upstart offer unsecured personal loans. However, options for loan amounts, repayment terms and interest rates vary between the two.

Personify Upstart
Bankrate Score 4.0 4.7
Better for Personal customer service experience Bad credit
Loan amounts $500-$15,000 (depending on the state) $1,000-$50,000
APRs 19.00%-199.99% 4.60%-35.99%
Loan term lengths 12, 18, 24, 36 or 48 months 36 or 60 months
Fees Origination fees Origination fees
Minimum credit score Not disclosed Not disclosed
Time to funding 1-2 business days 1-3 business days

Personify personal loans

Pros

  • Quick funding.
  • Personal support team.
  • Free FICO credit score.

Cons

  • Not available in every state.
  • Origination fees.
  • High interest rates.

As a financial technology company, Personify financial offers personal loans that are designed to be flexible with a simple application process. With Personify personal loans, borrowers can access funds ranging from a few thousand dollars up to $50,000, depending on their creditworthiness and financial situation. Additionally, Personify offers fixed interest rates, allowing borrowers to have a predictable repayment plan throughout the loan term.

Personify also emphasizes personalized customer service, aiming to provide support and guidance throughout the loan process. The company claims to look at the overall picture of a person rather than just numbers to determine eligibility for a loan.

However, there are some drawbacks to getting a personal loan with Personify. The lender doesn’t provide loan services in every state — providing loans in just 24 out of 50 states. They also charge origination fees for loans. One of the major disadvantages to Personify is their high interest rates. Rates start at 19.00% APR and can go as high 199.99%.

Upstart personal loans

Pros

  • Prequalification option.
  • No prepayment fee.
  • Quick funding.

Cons

  • Origination fees.
  • Limited repayment term options.
  • Loan minimums different in some states.

Upstart boasts an innovative approach to lending, utilizing advanced technology and artificial intelligence to assess borrowers’ creditworthiness. Upstart utilizes its AI-powered underwriting model to evaluate an applicant’s creditworthiness, taking into account not only their credit history but also their education, job history, and other relevant factors. This approach enables Upstart to provide loans to borrowers who may have limited credit history but demonstrate potential for financial responsibility.

Upstart’s personal loans range from $1,000 to $50,000, with repayment terms typically ranging from three to five years. The application process is quick and straightforward, allowing borrowers to complete the entire process online. Once approved, borrowers can receive their funds as quickly as the next business day.

The lender does have some disadvantages, though. Borrowers can choose from only two repayment term options of 36 or 60 months. Additionally, borrowers will need to cover origination fees for the loan. And while the lender offers loan minimums of $1,000, some states may have higher requirements for loan minimums.

How to choose between Personify and Upstart

Personify and Upstart have a lot of similarities, but there are few main differences between the two lenders that stand out at first glance. First, Personify has more flexibility in repayment terms. Second, Upstart offers much more competitive interest rates than Personify.

Both Personify and Upstart offer online lending experiences that are different from what you will get with a traditional lender for personal loans. However, they have different approaches to personalizing the lending experience.

Personify offers a personalized experience

Personify stands out for personalized customer service. They position themselves as a personal team of people looking at loan eligibility, instead of bots evaluating the numbers. This is different from what you get from most online lenders.

When you call their customer service, they promise that you will talk to a real person. You can reach the customer service team by phone until 9PM CT on weekdays and they have Saturday hours, too. If talking on the phone isn’t your thing, you can also reach them by mail or email.

Upstart has a unique model for loan eligibility

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Upstart is open about using AI to examine loan applications. However, they promise that they have a unique model for doing so. They don’t examine loan applications solely using the traditional criteria of FICO credit scoring models. Their AI uses non-traditional measures to determine loan eligibility, and they have a higher approval rate for loans because of this.

Compare lenders before applying

Whether you decide to apply for a personal loan with Upstart, Personify or another lender, it’s a good idea to compare several lenders when you are looking. You never know who may give you a better rate or loan terms. Check with banks or credit unions that you already have a relationship with as they may offer current customers special deals on personal loans. Additionally, understand your personal loan needs, so you can look for loans that will fit your lifestyle and budget best.