Upstart and Personify are both well-known personal loan lenders that offer products and services to applicants that may not qualify for a loan elsewhere. However, Upstart may be the better choice for most borrowers due to its lower rates and more affordable overall borrowing costs.

Upstart vs. Personify at a glance

While both lenders offer loans for lower credit borrowers, they come with differing details, fees and approval requirements.

Upstart Personify
Bankrate Score 4.7 4.0
Better for
  • Borrowers with less-than-ideal credit
  • Lower interest rates
  • Those with fair credit
  • Small loan amounts
Loan amounts $1,000-$50,000 $500-$15,000
APRs 7.80%-35.99% 19.00%-199.99%
Loan term lengths 36-60 months 12-48 months
Fees
  • Origination fee: Up to 12%
  • Late fee: The greater of $15 or 5%
  • ACH or returned check fee: $15
  • Paper copies fee: $10
  • Origination fee: 1% to 5% (in certain states)
  • Late fee: Undisclosed amount
  • Nonsufficient funds fee: Undisclosed amount
Minimum credit score Not specified Not specified
Time to funding As soon as one business day As soon as the next business day

Upstart personal loans

Pros

  • Competitive interest rates
  • No credit score requirements
  • Low minimum loan amount

Cons

  • High maximum APR
  • Origination fee
  • Prohibited for education-related expenses in certain states

Upstart serves borrowers across the credit spectrum, catering to those with lower credit and is known for its unconventional approval model. Rather than looking solely at creditworthiness, Upstart uses a more holistic approach to approval and looks at education, work history and financial history.

Personify personal loans

Pros

  • Relaxed eligibility requirements
  • Fast funding
  • Low minimum loan amount

Cons

  • Low maximum borrowing amount
  • Exceptionally high APRs
  • Limited availability

Personify offers unsecured installment loans up to $15,000 for borrowers who wouldn’t otherwise get approved. Like Upstart, Personify also takes a more holistic approach to gauging approval odds; however, it does have a few more requirements than Upstart.

For one, borrowers must live in a valid U.S. state to qualify. They also must have a verifiable checking account in their name and must be able to apply online to qualify for a Personify personal loan.

How to choose between Upstart and Personify

Borrowers with lower or thin credit history may qualify for an Upstart or Personify personal loan due to the unique lending structures. However, both offer different perks and aren’t suitable for every borrower on the market. Here’s how to be sure you’re picking the right lender for your situation.

Upstart has a competitive APR

Upstart’s minimum APR of 4.60 percent is among the lowest rate offered in the personal loan marketplace. While the most creditworthy borrowers qualify for the lowest rates, Upstart’s maximum of 35.99% is much lower than Personify’s 199.99% maximum rate.

Personify has a smaller loan amount

Offering a minimum loan amount of $500, Personify caters to low-credit borrowers who are looking for a considerably smaller loan than what most lenders offer.

While most banks, credit unions and lenders offer borrowing amounts up to $50,000, Personify’s maximum borrowing limit of $15,000 is ideal for those looking to fund a financial gap or finance a smaller expense.

Compare lenders before applying

Applicants with low-to-poor credit scores may have limited options among lenders, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t more lenders catering to borrowers in this credit bucket.

Before choosing one lender over the another, research and compare personal loan lenders that cater to those across to the credit spectrum to make sure you’re scoring the most competitive rate possible.