Better Mortgage Review 2026

Better, also known as Better Mortgage, is a direct online lender founded in 2014 whose claim to fame is a completely digital process (with the exception of some portions of the closing). Better's website states that the company has 400K customers and has funded roughly $100 billion in home loans through its online portal, and it claims its AI technology has enabled the company to help American families save an average of $20,000 over the life of their loan.

The lender offers a variety of loan options, including home purchase, refinance, fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, FHA and VA loans, as well as investment property loans. If you qualify, you could get preapproved online in as few as three minutes. The lender has closed loans in as little as three weeks, but expect the typical 30 days to 45 days in most instances. 

Pros and cons of Better Mortgage

How Bankrate scored Better

Affordability: 5 stars

Better scores 5 out of 5 stars for affordability, thanks primarily to its attractive rates.

• Interest rates: Better’s annual percentage rates (APRs) closely track with Bankrate’s national averages.
• Down payment: Better offers low- and no-down payment loan options, including 3 percent conventional loan, 3.5 percent FHA loans and no-money down VA loans.

Availability: 5 stars

Better offers several types of mortgages to eligible borrowers across the country, scoring 5 out of 5 stars for availability. There are also Better Mortgage refinance options, including HELOCs and VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans (IRRRLs).

• Home loans offered: Better works with borrowers in need of conventional, FHA and VA loans. 
• Footprint: Better works with borrowers all across the U.S. There are no Better Mortgage branch locations, however, as part of their collaboration with NEO Home Loans powered by Better, they have 65+ physical locations.
• Where to find: You can apply for a mortgage with Better online or by phone.

To help you better understand what types of borrowers are interested in this lender, here’s more information about Bankrate users who submitted a form to this lender through our site.

Borrower experience: 4.6 stars

Better’s borrower experience scored highly overall across our experience metrics, including convenience, transparency and a decent rate lock. 

• Preapproval and application process: You can obtain a preapproval and apply for a loan through the Better website. If eligible, you could receive a commitment letter within 24 hours of applying for preapproval — faster than some traditional lenders.
• Transparency: Better displays mortgage rates on its website and updates them several times a day. (Note that the rates it displays assume you’re applying with a credit score of 760 and putting 20 percent down.) To use the rate tool to get a personalized quote, you’ll need to sign up for emails from the lender that contain mortgage news and promotions.
• Customer service: You can reach Better’s customer service team at 415-523-8837, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can also be assisted by Betsy, the lender’s AI assistant, 24/7 at better.com/betsy. 

Images courtesy of Better Mortgage as of August 14, 2025. Note: Depending on method of contact, your individual credit profile and other circumstances, your experience might differ.

Better is a publicly traded company that originates a significant volume of loans. Its J.D. Power score for 2023 (the latest year available) was 715, just below the average score of 730 for all mortgage originators. As of this review, the lender has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau and “great” reviews on Trustpilot, with a rating of 3.9 out of 5.

What Bankrate users say about Better

Bankrate reviewers had mixed feelings about the company, with some saying that communications with borrowers were not as good as they could be. Some point out that the lender wasn’t as helpful in underwriting, often making multiple requests for documentation, particularly for more complicated credit or financial situations.