Compare personal loans before you apply, without the guesswork
A guided questionnaire checks whether your amount, credit range and income fit what lenders look for, then points you to independent lending partners. You compare offers in writing, side by side.
- No Social Security number
- No fee for borrowers
- We never pull your credit
- Not a lender: partners decide
Personal Loan Compare helps you compare personal loan options before you apply. Answer a few questions and we check whether your amount, credit range, income and monthly payments fit lender guidelines. It takes about three minutes, asks for no Social Security number, charges no fee and does not touch your credit score.
Three steps, no credit pull
- 1
Tell us what you need
Purpose, amount, state, a credit range and your monthly payments. About three minutes, in plain ranges.
- 2
We check fit, not credit
Your answers are compared with plain, lender-style criteria. We never pull your credit report here.
- 3
You compare in writing
When offers arrive, use our checklist and calculators to see which one costs less overall.
A guided questionnaire, then independent partners
We do not decide who gets a loan and we are not a lender. We ask the screening questions lenders ask, so you skip requests that would not fit and keep control of your credit file.
You
Answer a short, guided questionnaire in six small steps.
Guided questions
Amount, state, credit range, income and monthly payments, shown as plain ranges.
Fit check
Answers are compared with lender-style criteria, in your browser and again on our server.
Independent partners
Lending partners review and decide. They disclose APR, fees and terms in writing before you commit.
- Loan
- Location
- Credit
- Income
- Budget
- Contact
Start with your situation
Each guide explains what to compare, what to avoid and which free options to try first.
- Debt consolidationRoll balances into one fixed payment, if the math works.
- Home improvementPlan repairs and upgrades with the full cost in view.
- Medical billsLook at hospital aid and payment plans before you borrow.
- Auto repairCompare options when the repair bill lands all at once.
- Emergency expensesHandle a surprise cost without a rushed decision.
- Credit card payoffCheck whether a fixed-term loan beats revolving balances.
- Moving costsBudget the move before you sign anything.
- WeddingsKeep the big day from becoming a long-term burden.
- Major purchasesWeigh a loan against saving or financing at the store.
- Small business ownersUnderstand personal-credit borrowing for your business.
Know where your credit stands
Your credit range changes which lenders may say yes, and what to watch for on every offer. Pick the range that sounds like you.
Find your city
Local guides pair Census Bureau data for your city with the borrowing situations that fit it.
Six lines to check on any offer
Sorting by monthly payment hides what an offer really costs. Check these six lines on every written offer.
Total cost
What do I pay in interest and fees over the whole term?
APR, not just rate
Is the APR quoted, not only the interest rate?
Fee timing
Is an origination fee taken from the money before it reaches me?
Payment fit
Does the payment keep my debt-to-income ratio healthy?
Flexibility
Can I pay early without a penalty, and is there a hardship option?
Lender check
Is the lender licensed where I live, and what do complaints say?
Everything to know before you compare
Three steps, no credit pull
- Tell us what you need. Purpose, amount, state, a credit range and your monthly payments. About three minutes.
- We check fit. Your answers are compared with the guidelines lenders actually use, so you do not waste a credit inquiry on a lender that would say no.
- You compare in writing. When offers arrive, our offer checklist and side-by-side calculator show which one costs less, not just which one has the smallest payment.
What actually separates one personal loan from another
Most people sort offers by monthly payment. That number hides the two things that decide the real price: how long you pay and what is taken out before the money arrives. We built the whole site around six lines you can check on any offer:
| Line | The question to ask | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Total cost | What do I pay in interest and fees over the whole term? | Truth in Lending disclosure |
| APR | Is the APR quoted, not just the interest rate? | Offer and disclosure |
| Fee timing | Is an origination fee taken from the proceeds? | Loan agreement |
| Payment fit | Does the payment keep my debt-to-income ratio sane? | DTI calculator |
| Flexibility | Can I pay early without a penalty? Is there a hardship option? | Loan agreement |
| Lender check | Is the lender licensed where I live, and what do complaints say? | State regulator |
Pick your situation
- Debt consolidation
- Home improvement
- Medical bills
- Auto repair
- Emergency expense
- Credit card payoff
- Moving
- Wedding
- Major purchase
- Small business owners
Know where your credit stands
Credit range changes which lenders will say yes and how much they charge, but not in the way most people fear. Read the honest guide for your range: excellent, good, fair or limited.
Why borrowers are comparing right now
Households are carrying a lot of revolving debt. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported U.S. credit card balances of about $1.26 trillion at the end of June 2026, part of $18.8 trillion in total household debt. The Federal Reserve's 2025 household survey found that 63 percent of adults could cover a $400 emergency expense with cash or its equivalent, which leaves 37 percent who could not. Those numbers explain why many people look at a fixed-payment loan: it has an end date, which a revolving balance does not.
Local guides
We publish city guides with Census Bureau data and local context for metro areas across the country. In the Carolinas, see Carolina Personal Loans.
Frequently asked questions
Are you a lender?
No. We are a comparison and matching service. We do not make credit decisions, and lenders set every rate, fee and term.
Does it cost anything to use this site?
No. Borrowers never pay us. Lending partners may pay us when you are matched or take a loan, which we explain on our disclosures page.
Will checking my match affect my credit score?
No. We do not pull your credit. A lender may run a credit check later, and it must tell you first.
Which states can request a match?
Availability of lending partners varies by state. If we cannot match you yet, you can join an email list and read every guide.
What is the first thing to compare on two offers?
Total cost of borrowing: the interest and fees you pay across the whole term. A lower monthly payment over a longer term often costs more overall.
How do I avoid a loan scam?
Never pay a fee before you get a loan, and walk away from anyone who promises approval no matter what your credit looks like. Our scam guide lists the warning signs.
Ready to see your options?
Three minutes, no Social Security number, no fee.
Please read. Personal Loan Compare is not a lender. We are a comparison and matching service that refers you to independent lending partners, and we may be compensated by them. Lenders set every rate, fee and term, and they disclose them in writing before you commit. A questionnaire result is not an offer, an approval or a commitment. See our disclosures.