The best debt consolidation loans, compared
16 lenders that make debt consolidation loans, compared on what changes your cost: the APR range, the loan sizes and the fee taken before the money reaches your cards.
Lenders we compare
| Lender | APR | Loan sizes | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
 PenFed | 6.39% to 17.99% | Up to $50,000 | No origination fee |
 LightStream | 9.99% to 23.94% with autopay | $5,000 to $100,000 | No origination fee |
 Discover | 6.99% to 24.99% | $2,500 to $40,000 | No origination fee |
 Wells Fargo | 6.74% to 26.74% | $3,000 to $100,000 | No origination fee |
 SoFi | 6.99% to 35.49% | $5,000 to $100,000 | Optional fee of 0% to 7% |
 LendingClub | 5.96% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 | Origination fee of 0% to 8% |
 Reach Financial | 5.99% to 35.99% | $3,500 to $40,000 | Origination fee of 0% to 8% |
 Achieve | 6.25% to 35.99% | $5,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1.99% to 9.99% |
 Upstart | 6.3% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 | Origination fee, 8.15% in Upstart’s own example loan |
 Best Egg | 6.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee up to 9.99% |
 Upgrade | 7.74% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1.85% to 9.99% |
 Happy Money | 8.95% to 35.99% | $5,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee set by amount, term and credit |
 Prosper | 8.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1% to 9.99% |
 Avant | 9.95% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $35,000 | Administration fee up to 9.99% |
 Universal Credit | 11.69% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 5.25% to 9.99% |
 OneMain Financial | 11.99% to 35.99% | $1,500 to $30,000 | Flat $25 to $500, or 1% to 10%, by state |
Of the 16 debt consolidation lenders compared here, four charge no origination fee: PenFed, LightStream, Discover and Wells Fargo. Rates across the 16 run from 5.96% to 35.99% APR, so the fee and your score decide what you pay.
The first thing to do is call a specialist. They put each offer’s APR, fee and cash received next to your cards. Here are the options they walk you through.
How we picked the best debt consolidation loans
Each lender had to post its full rate range, its loan amounts and a payment example on its own site.
Complaint counts come from the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. A big lender gets more complaints than a small one. The count is a reason to read the complaints, not a score.
16 lenders side by side
Rates include each lender’s autopay discount where it offers one. LightStream says rates without autopay are 0.50 points higher (LightStream).
SoFi and Upstart reach 35% and above at the top of their ranges. With weaker credit, the fee and that top rate decide your cost.
| Lender | APR range | Loan sizes | Fee | CFPB complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PenFed | 6.39% to 17.99% | Up to $50,000 | No origination fee | 97 |
| LightStream | 9.99% to 23.94% with autopay | $5,000 to $100,000 | No origination fee | 638 (all of Truist) |
| Discover | 6.99% to 24.99% | $2,500 to $40,000 | No origination fee | 125 |
| Wells Fargo | 6.74% to 26.74% | $3,000 to $100,000 | No origination fee | 351 |
| SoFi | 6.99% to 35.49% | $5,000 to $100,000 | Optional fee of 0% to 7% | 554 |
| LendingClub | 5.96% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 | Origination fee of 0% to 8% | n/a |
| Reach Financial | 5.99% to 35.99% | $3,500 to $40,000 | Origination fee of 0% to 8% | 17 |
| Achieve | 6.25% to 35.99% | $5,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1.99% to 9.99% | 81 |
| Upstart | 6.3% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 | Origination fee, 8.15% in Upstart’s own example loan | 617 |
| Best Egg | 6.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee up to 9.99% | 262 |
| Upgrade | 7.74% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1.85% to 9.99% | 607 |
| Happy Money | 8.95% to 35.99% | $5,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee set by amount, term and credit | 69 |
| Prosper | 8.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1% to 9.99% | 197 |
| Avant | 9.95% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $35,000 | Administration fee up to 9.99% | 157 |
| Universal Credit | 11.69% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 5.25% to 9.99% | n/a |
| OneMain Financial | 11.99% to 35.99% | $1,500 to $30,000 | Flat $25 to $500, or 1% to 10%, by state | 2,365 |
Upstart: what its fee leaves you
A $10,000 loan in this lender’s own example loses $815 up front, so only $9,185 reaches your cards (its loan page).
The APR is 23.37%, and the payment is about $261 a month for 60 months. That adds up to about $15,660.
So the fee plus interest cost about $6,475 on the $9,185 you receive. Compare the cash you receive, not the amount you borrow.
Its range is 6.3% to 35.99% APR, with loans from $1,000 to $75,000. A wide range does not mean you will be approved at your score.
If a lender has turned you down, read bad credit debt consolidation loans first.
Best for large balances
LightStream and Wells Fargo both lend up to $100,000. LightStream lends from $5,000 at 9.99% to 23.94% APR with autopay (LightStream).
Wells Fargo lends $3,000 to $100,000 at 6.74% to 26.74% APR. You must have been a Wells Fargo customer for 12 months to apply (Wells Fargo).
Wells Fargo says 97% of its customers got funds the day they signed, from April to June 2026.
Its own example is $17,000 over 48 months at 13.99% for $464 a month. At that rate, $18,000 over 48 months is $492 a month.
Your budget must hold that payment every month for all 48 months. Call and the specialist checks it against what you pay on your cards now.
Best with no origination fee
LightStream, Discover and Wells Fargo skip the upfront charge, so the full amount you borrow goes to your cards.
Discover lends $2,500 to $40,000 at 6.99% to 24.99% APR over 36 to 84 months (Discover).
Upstart charges a fee. In its own example, the fee is 8.15% of the loan.
What to check before you apply
Look at four lines on any offer. First, the APR, not the interest rate, because APR includes the fee.
Second, the amount you get after the fee. Third, the term in months. Fourth, whether the lender pays your cards directly or sends you the cash.
Compare the full cost, not only the rate. A shorter term can cut interest, but it raises the monthly payment.
Run your own balances in the calculators. Or call, and the specialist lines up your fees, offers and cards side by side. Paste it and get the rate, the fee and the true monthly cost back in plain words. Want a person to go through it before you sign? A specialist can compare it with what your cards cost now.Holding an offer from one of these lenders?
Related topics
- Personal loan for debt consolidation
- Wells Fargo
- Payday loan consolidation
- Debt consolidation loan calculator
Before you borrow
What is the best loan company to consolidate debt?
The best one is the lender with the lowest full cost for your amount, term and score. Advertised ranges cannot show that. Call and the specialist compares fees, cash received and total repayment for you.
How much will I pay monthly on a $50,000 debt consolidation loan?
Over five years at 11.9%, it is about $1,110 a month before fees. At 18%, it is about $1,270 a month. Upstart, LightStream, Wells Fargo and SoFi all publish ranges that cover $50,000.
Does a consolidation loan hurt your credit?
A hard inquiry and a new account can lower your score at first. Lower card balances can help after that. Keep the old cards open and empty so your available credit stays high.
Which bank has the best consolidation loan?
Among banks, Wells Fargo and Discover list their full APR range, loan sizes and a payment example, and charge no origination fee. Credit unions averaged 10.74% on 36-month unsecured loans in Q2 2025, against 12.02% at banks.
How can I clear $30,000 of debt in a year?
At 11.9%, a $30,000 loan paid in 12 months is about $2,664 a month. Few budgets can hold that. Over three years, it drops to about $995 a month, so pick the shortest term you can pay every month.
Compare your loan offers today
You are choosing between 16 lenders that charge very different fees for the same loan. Upstart’s $10,000 example sends only $9,185 to your cards after an $815 fee, and that gap adds to what you repay. Call now and a specialist puts every offer’s fee, APR and cash received next to your cards.