LendingTree is an online marketplace for loans you can use to compare rates from different lenders and, ultimately, find the best deal. It can match you with a variety of loan offerings, such as auto loans, mortgages, business loans and more.
For the purposes of this article, we’re focusing on personal loans, which are typically used to pay off debt, fund home improvement projects or tackle other lingering expenses.
Read on to learn how LendingTree works, and whether it's right for your situation.
Table of contents
- LendingTree personal loans pros and cons
- LendingTree personal loans plan offerings
- LendingTree personal loans pricing
- LendingTree personal loans financial stability
- LendingTree personal loans accessibility
- LendingTree personal loans customer satisfaction
- LendingTree personal loans FAQ
- How we evaluated LendingTree personal loans
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LendingTree personal loans pros and cons
Pros
- Compare multiple lenders' rates and terms on a single platform
- Substantial financial education tools for borrowers
- Doesn't impact your credit score until you submit an official application
- Works with lenders that accept low credit scores
Cons
- Each loan option may have different terms, fees and penalties to research
- Only pre-qualifies you for loans, meaning the lender could still deny you.
- May share your personal information with affiliates and partners
LendingTree pros explained
Below is an overview of the main benefits LendingTree personal loans have to offer.
Compare multiple lenders’ rates and terms on a single platform
LendingTree helps you find the best loan options and interest rates by showing you offerings from more than one provider in the same place. This can help you check rates more efficiently.
Several financial education tools for borrowers
The LendingTree Academy offers free courses on topics like improving your credit score and how to get a personal loan with bad credit. The platform also has a loan calculator that can give you a detailed look at what your monthly payment would be, based on the lender you’re researching.
Doesn’t impact your credit score until you submit an official application
LendingTree’s loan-matching process doesn’t impact your credit score or show up on your credit report. The company doesn’t run hard credit checks for lenders, so you can compare options worry-free.
Works with lenders that accept low credit scores
Even if you don’t have excellent credit, LendingTree may still be able to match you with lenders. LendingTree partners generally have minimum credit score requirements of around 600, though it’s possible to find ones with lower requirements.
The company has relationships with Upstart, which may accept credit scores as low as 300, and Avant, which may accept credit scores as low as 580.
That said, the best terms are reserved for those with good credit, generally those with a FICO score of 670 or above.
LendingTree cons explained
While LendingTree can be a useful tool in researching loan options, there are limitations.
Each loan option has different terms, fees and penalties
LendingTree is not a direct lender. Each loan it matches you with will have its own loan application process, fees and terms. In other words, the site can give you an overview of the fine print, but you should still do your due diligence before deciding on a provider.
Only pre-qualifies you for loans, meaning the lender could still deny you
LendingTree matches you with loans that may be a good fit based on the information you provide. But you’ll need to finish the application process directly through the lender, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get approved.
May share your personal information with affiliates and partners
LendingTree may share your financial information with its network of partners and affiliates, which could trigger an onslaught of marketing emails and phone calls from other companies.
LendingTree personal loans plan offerings
LendingTree doesn’t offer personal loans as a direct lender. But it can match you with all kinds of financial products of varying amounts and terms. Your options will depend on your credit history and income, among other factors. Here’s an overview of the different options you can find on the platform.
Loan amounts
LendingTree can match you with personal loans from $600 - $50,000. However, each lender has its own minimum and maximum loan amounts, so you find that full range with every provider.
Loan terms
Loan terms can also vary from provider to provider. They can last for 1 - 7 years. You can also find APR ranges from lows of around 5.99% - 35.99%. The minimum credit score you need for each loan will depend on the provider offering it.
Fees
LendingTree doesn’t charge any fees for its service. However, its lending partners set their own and can charge varying origination fees, prepayment penalties and other service costs. You may be able to reduce some of these fees by applying with a cosigner.
Income requirements
LendingTree's partners also set their own income requirements for loan eligibility. However, the platform asks for your income during the loan-matching process, and tries to connect you with providers that will accept the amount you earn.
LendingTree personal loans pricing
LendingTree doesn’t set its own pricing for personal loans. Instead, it connects you with providers that may offer you different interest rates, depending on your personal financial risk factor (credit score, annual income, etc).
The company can match you with personal loans with interest rates as low as 6.99%. But, as with every type of loan, the best rates available will fluctuate over time.
LendingTree personal loans financial stability
Moody’s, a trusted financial rating and research firm, downgraded LendingTree’s corporate family ratings score (CFR) to Caa1 in May 2023. This grade is considered "to be speculative of poor standing" and "subject to very high credit risk."
Moody’s scale ranges from a high of AAA to a low of C, and includes numerical modifiers 1 through 3. A modifier of 1, as in Caa1, indicates a rank in the higher end of its category.
That being said, LendingTree doesn’t offer loans directly, so the company’s Moody’s rating is far less important than the one given to the lender you’ll have an ongoing financial relationship with once your application is approved. Again: Do your own research before committing to a lender.
LendingTree personal loans accessibility
Availability
LendingTree may be able to help you with getting a personal loan — or refinancing your debt — no matter which state you live in. However, the company makes no guarantees that every partner lends in all 50 states.
Contact information
LendingTree accepts customer service phone calls from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST on business days. The company's phone number is 1-800-505-7916. It also has an online contact form you can fill out to request a response.
If you want to write to LendingTree, you can address the letter to:
LendingTree, LLC
1415 Vantage Park Drive
Suite 700
Charlotte, NC 28203
User experience
You can use LendingTree for free without having to create an account. The company also has a free app, so you can research the best personal loans for your financial situation from your phone.
In particular, LendingTree's user-friendliness and easy-to-use tools are what helped it clinch the runner-up spot for Best Loan Marketplace on Money's rankings of personal loan lenders.
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LendingTree personal loans customer satisfaction
Customer reviews for LendingTree show the site has a simple application process. Still, some reviewers, particularly those with poor credit, complain about the lack of available options.
LendingTree is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating. Several customer complaints mention unwanted marketing contact from the company and difficulty unsubscribing. LendingTree is typically quick to respond.
On Trustpilot, LendingTree has a 4.3 (out of 5) rating and over 13,500 reviews.
LendingTree personal loans FAQ
Is LendingTree a direct lender?
No, LendingTree is not a direct lender. It matches you with lenders who can offer personal loans, mortgages and other types of loans.
What is the maximum loan amount I can get from LendingTree?
The highest personal loan you can find through LendingTree is $50,000, but that maximum isn't available to every applicant.
Can I refinance personal loans with LendingTree?
LendingTree can match you with personal loans for the purpose of debt consolidation. You may be able to get a lower interest rate on a new personal loan that you can then use to pay off existing loans or credit cards with a single down payment. This could reduce your interest rate and number of payments.
Can I get a LendingTree personal loan with bad credit?
Yes, LendingTree can match you with loan providers who accept credit scores as low as 300. However, your options will likely be limited if your score is this low.
How we evaluated LendingTree personal loans
As with all of our best personal loan lenders, our analysis of LendingTree was informed by a variety of factors, including loan rates and fees, loan term flexibility, customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance. We also looked at the company’s financial strength ratings, data collection policies and user experience.
These factors may not encompass everything that matters to you when searching for a loan, so you should do your own research before selecting a provider.
Summary of LendingTree’s personal loans review
LendingTree’s personal loans can help you fund major purchases or consolidate your debt at a better interest rate. The company’s loan-matching service provides a broad look at potential loan options, and will give you a good sense of which of those options is right for you without running a hard credit inquiry.
LendingTree isn’t a direct lender, though, so you’ll need to apply with a separate company once you’re matched with a loan, which will impact your credit score. You could also be denied or receive a different offer than what you were pre-qualified for on LendingTree. The bottom line? LendingTree can be a useful tool for researching what’s out there in the way of personal loans, but it can’t put money in your bank account directly.
