Upstart and LightStream both fall among the top 10 personal loan companies on Best Company, offering personal loans for a variety of needs in all 50 states.
Applying for a loan with either company is quick and painless, offering same-day approval and loan funding. And, you don't need to worry about getting hit with a prepayment penalty fee if you choose to pay off your loan early.
However, Upstart and LightStream are intended for two very different groups of consumers:
Continue reading for a complete breakdown and comparison of these personal loan companies.
Note: Recent customer reviews for both companies are mostly negative with complaints of poor customer service.
Upstart
$1,000–$50,000
36–60 Months
620
Not Accepted
9 Years
LightStream
$5,000–$100,000
24–144 Months
680
Accepted
8 Years
Upstart
LightStream
Upstart
LightStream
Helpful Favorable Review
Craig Orem, UT
Upstart was able to help me and my family when it seemed like we didn't have many options. The whole approval process was much easier than expected and the interest rates were very affordable. Thanks Upstart!!
1 year ago
Helpful Critical Review
Phillip Pharr, TX
wtf. I Filled out, everything on line supposedly was pre approved and qualified from the web site just need the additional documents. I’m an independent truck driver. Showed them proof of income with deposits from my pay that are direct deposited into my account. These deposits clearly show the company I get paid from with the deposits...bottomline is if they can’t use the documents that they requested or for that matter accept them. Then this sounds like it’s clearly a sham lender! Don’t waste your time with their easy application and approval.
1 year ago
Helpful Favorable Review
Shauna L Round Rock, TX
My Score in the lower 700's. Income 150 yearly. Applied online, received an answer via email within the hour. Then was prompted to set up the deposit and monthly payment options. Money was in my account the following day after 2:30.
4 months ago
Helpful Critical Review
Lucas Raymondville, TX
I would like to give this so called company a zero rating if possible. I tried twice to apply within two days. The first time, I had a credit freeze on one of the credit bureaus. After all the hard work removing the freeze and checking with the other credit bureaus, I tried again. I was rejected again (within minutes). I have a credit score over 700 so not sure what the problem is. Supposedly an insufficient credit history which i don't even understand. I have had several credit cards and good history all paid off. Not sure what type of customers they are looking for.
2 weeks ago
When choosing between Upstart and LightStream, it is important to take a look at your credit score and credit history, as this will have the largest impact on whether or not you'd qualify for one company or the other. Also consider the following:
Upstart is a peer-to-peer lending company, connecting borrowers with private investors rather than large banks or financial institutions, while LightStream is a direct lender, underwriting and funding loans in-house.
Peer-to-peer lending can be a better option for borrowers with bad credit or minimal credit history because the company connects you with private investors rather than large banking institutions that generally only take credit into account when making lending decisions.
However, there is increased speed and efficiency with direct lenders since they do all loan processing, underwriting, and funding in-house. But, direct lenders generally have strict qualification requirements that may be difficult for low-credit borrowers to meet.
Upstart and LightStream differ in the rates, loan amounts, and loan terms that they offer:
Upstart vs. LightStream | ||
Upstart | LightStream | |
APR range | 8.27%–35.99% | 2.49%–19.99% (with AutoPay) |
Minimum credit score | 620 | 680 |
Loan amounts | $1,000–$50,000 | $5,000–$100,000 |
Loan terms | 36–60 months | 24–144 months |
Upstart and LightStream are intended for two different groups of consumers. If you have an excellent credit score (700+), LightStream would be the better choice for you, as you could get much lower rates and more favorable loan terms. But, if you have a lower credit score, you may not qualify for a LightStream loan and might find success with Upstart instead.
More than anything, it is important to consider your personal needs and finances when choosing a personal loan provider.
From the chart above, you can see that Upstart and LightStream's minimum credit score differs widely.
Yes, LightStream could be a great option for your personal loan needs, but it may be difficult to qualify for a loan even if you have a credit score of 680. Thus, you will likely need an excellent credit score of 700+ not only to qualify, but to receive the lowest interest rate available.
Upstart, on the other hand, has a much lower credit score requirement and takes other factors into account when determining your eligibility for a loan, including your income, education, and employment history.
Neither Upstart or LightStream have a prepayment penalty fee, allowing you to save on interest by paying your loan off early. LightStream doesn't even have an origination fee or late fee, while Upstart has both.
With an Upstart personal loan you will be charged an origination fee of 0 to 8 percent of your loan amount. And, if you make a late payment, you will be charged a 5 percent or $15 late fee (whichever is greater).
Upstart does not accept joint applications or cosigners, but LightStream does accept either.
Applying for a personal loan on a joint application or with a cosigner can increase your chances of approval if you have a low credit score, as well as get you a lower interest rate than you might get otherwise.
Even if you have low credit, there could be an opportunity for you to qualify for a LightStream personal loan if you apply with a creditworthy cosigner. However, you may find that it is difficult to find someone who is willing to cosign your loan, and it may not be worth the time and effort when you could apply and qualify for a loan elsewhere on your own merits.
An Upstart loan can be used for whatever purpose you choose.
However, a LightStream loan must be used for the stated purpose in your application. You can still use your loan for multiple purposes such as credit card debt consolidation, home improvements, medical expenses, etc, but you must use it for the purpose specified in your application. This can be limiting if you were hoping to use your loan for multiple purposes or to have some wiggle room if other expenses came up, but it can also ensure that you don't borrow more than you need, saving you more money on interest.
On Best Company, Upstart has upwards of 340 reviews, while LightStream only has upwards of 80 reviews. Thus, it is difficult to make a fair comparison since there is such a large disparity in total reviews for each company.
Upstart reviews are majority positive, with 86 percent of customers rewarding the company 4 or 5 stars. However, it is important to note that the majority of these favorable reviews are outdated and more recent reviews (2019, 2020, and 2021) are mostly negative. From more recent reviews, it appears that customer service has diminished with many customers complaining of lack of communication and poor overall customer support.
Similarly, the majority of recent LightStream reviews are 1-star. Customers outline bad experiences with customer service as well as difficulty being approved.
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