Best Egg Personal Loans Review: 2026 Pros, Cons, Rates, and Alternatives

Best Egg Rates and Fees

Best Egg’s published APR range is 6.99% to 35.99% fixed. The lowest rates are available to borrowers with strong credit scores (700+ FICO) and high income. The rate you receive depends on your credit profile, loan amount, term, and whether you are applying for a secured or unsecured loan. Best Egg does not offer an autopay discount.

The origination fee ranges from 0.99% to 9.99% of the loan amount and is deducted from your loan proceeds before disbursement. An important detail: for loans with terms of four years or longer, the minimum origination fee is 4.99%. This means if you choose a four- or five-year term, you are guaranteed to pay at least 5% of your loan amount in fees, regardless of your credit quality. On a $25,000 loan with a 4.99% fee, that is $1,248 deducted before you receive a cent.

Best Egg does not charge a traditional late fee. Instead, it charges a $15 returned payment fee if your payment fails due to insufficient funds or a returned check. There is no prepayment penalty.

Secured vs. Unsecured Rate Comparison

Best Egg’s secured loans use collateral to reduce lender risk, which can translate into lower APRs for the borrower. Two types of collateral are accepted: a paid-off vehicle (vehicle equity loan) or permanent home fixtures such as built-in cabinetry, vanities, and lighting (home fixture loan). No formal appraisal is required for home fixtures; Best Egg reviews your credit history and home equity instead. The secured loan option is worth exploring if you have eligible collateral and want to reduce your rate below what an unsecured loan would offer.

Total Cost Comparison

The table below shows the total cost of a $15,000 loan at 12% APR over 36 months, comparing Best Egg’s fee structure against a zero-fee lender.

Best Egg Loan Terms and Options

Best Egg offers personal loans from $2,000 to $50,000 with repayment terms of three, four, or five years. There is no two-year option for quick payoff and no six- or seven-year option for lower monthly payments. The $2,000 minimum is higher than LendingClub and Upstart (both $1,000) but lower than SoFi ($5,000).

All Best Egg loans carry a fixed interest rate. Accepted uses include debt consolidation, home improvement, medical expenses, education, and general personal expenses. The total outstanding balance across all Best Egg loans cannot exceed $50,000 per borrower.

The secured loan option is Best Egg’s most distinctive feature on the terms side. Vehicle equity loans let you use a paid-off car as collateral, while home fixture loans use permanent fixtures in your home. In both cases, the collateral reduces the lender’s risk, which can result in a lower APR than you would receive on an unsecured loan. The tradeoff is real, however: if you stop making payments, Best Egg can seize the collateral. For borrowers with a paid-off vehicle, they do not need daily or substantial built-in fixtures; this can be a way to access better rates.

Best Egg Eligibility and Application

Best Egg requires a minimum FICO score of 640. The company evaluates your credit history (at least three years with one open account), income, debt-to-income ratio (up to 70%, including mortgage payments), and employment status. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, with a verifiable bank account. The 70% DTI maximum is notably more generous than most competitors; SoFi generally expects lower DTI ratios, and LendingClub caps at 40% for individual applicants.

Prequalification uses a soft credit inquiry that does not affect your credit score. If you accept an offer and proceed to a full application, Best Egg performs a hard credit pull. There is no co-signer or co-borrower option; you must qualify individually based on your own creditworthiness and income.

Best Egg loans are originated by Cross River Bank (FDIC-insured, New Jersey state-chartered), with additional origination through Column N.A. and Blue Ridge Bank. From the borrower’s perspective, the entire experience is through Best Egg’s website and app; the banking partners handle the legal origination behind the scenes.

Best Egg Funding Speed

Best Egg reports that approximately 50% of customers receive funds the next business day after approval. The typical timeline is one to three business days, though the process can vary depending on income verification requirements and your bank’s processing speed. Funding occurs only on business days, so loans approved on Friday may not fund until Monday or Tuesday.

This is competitive with LendingClub (55% within 24 hours) and on par with Prosper (one to three days typical). It does not match SoFi’s same-day funding (if approved by 7 PM ET) or Upstart’s 99% next-business-day guarantee, but it is faster than many traditional bank lenders.

Best Egg Customer Experience

Best Egg maintains strong customer satisfaction across multiple platforms. Trustpilot shows a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on more than 9,000 reviews, with frequent praise for the application process, funding speed, and customer service. The Better Business Bureau assigns an A+ rating, and Best Egg has been BBB-accredited since October 2014. BBB customer reviews average 4.87 out of 5 from over 2,200 reviews, which is the highest BBB review score of any lender in this series.

Best Egg was named to J.D. Power’s top 10 in the U.S. Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study in both 2023 and 2024. The company ranked #2 in 2023 but dropped to #8 in 2024 with a score of 698 out of 1,000, slightly below the study average. The decline warrants monitoring, though the Trustpilot and BBB data suggest the core customer experience remains strong.

The Best Egg mobile app is available on both iOS and Google Play. The app integrates with Best Egg’s Financial Health suite, giving borrowers access to credit monitoring, debt management tools, and account management in a single interface. Customer support is available by phone and email.

Best Egg Financial Strength and Reputation

Best Egg (formerly Marlette Funding) is a privately held company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, with approximately 690 employees. The company was founded in 2013 by Jeffrey Meiler and a team of consumer lending veterans. Paul Ricci currently serves as CEO. Since its inception, Best Egg has facilitated more than $40 billion in loans to over 2 million customers, with an approximately $10 billion serviced loan portfolio.

The most significant recent development is Barclays’ announcement in October 2025 that it would acquire Best Egg for $800 million. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval. If completed, Best Egg would operate under one of the world’s largest banking groups, which would provide substantial capital backing and institutional credibility. The company also secured a $500 million purchase facility from Fortress Investment Group in October 2024, adding to its lending capacity.

Best Egg does not have notable regulatory enforcement actions in its history. The company’s lending notes are originated by FDIC-insured bank partners (Cross River Bank, Column N.A., Blue Ridge Bank), and its securitization programs have received investment-grade ratings from Fitch and KBRA. The clean regulatory record stands in contrast to Prosper (SEC settlement, Minnesota consent order) and provides a degree of institutional confidence.

Best Egg Hardship and Payment Assistance

Best Egg’s hardship programs deserve a dedicated section because they are the most comprehensive of any lender in this review series. If you experience financial difficulty, Best Egg offers multiple tiers of assistance, each designed for a different level of need.

• Flexible Relief Program: 0% interest with reduced payments for three months. This is the entry-level option for temporary setbacks.
• Short-Term Assistance: 0% interest with reduced payments for six months. For more significant financial disruptions, such as a job loss or medical event.
• Long-Term Assistance: 0% interest with reduced payments for 12 months. The most substantial relief program covers extended hardship periods.
• Extended Relief: A lower interest rate and reduced monthly payment for 12 or more months. For borrowers who need long-term rate relief rather than a temporary pause.
• Payment Holiday: Extends your loan term to provide a temporary break from monthly payments.
• Skip-a-Pay: Delay a payment when needed, with no interest charged during the skipped month.

The 0% interest periods in the Flexible Relief, Short-Term, and Long-Term programs are particularly valuable. Most competitors that offer hardship programs (SoFi, Prosper, LendingClub) continue to charge interest during deferral periods, which increases your total loan cost. Best Egg’s programs actually pause interest accrual, which saves borrowers money during their most difficult moments. To access these programs, contact Best Egg at (855) 282-6353 or email [email protected].

Who Is Best Egg Best For?

Ideal Borrowers

• Borrowers with eligible collateral who want lower rates. If you have a paid-off vehicle or significant built-in home fixtures, Best Egg’s secured loan option can deliver a lower APR than a comparable unsecured loan. This is especially valuable for borrowers in the 640-700 credit range who might otherwise receive higher unsecured rates.
• Borrowers who value hardship protection. If job stability or income predictability is a concern, Best Egg’s multi-tiered hardship programs, including 0% interest periods of up to 12 months, provide the strongest safety net of any lender in this series.
• Debt consolidators with moderate credit. With a 640 minimum FICO and a generous 70% DTI maximum, Best Egg is accessible to borrowers carrying significant debt loads. The debt consolidation use case aligns well with the Financial Health tools that help you track and manage your payoff.
• Borrowers who want financial management tools. The free Financial Health suite, which includes credit monitoring, credit simulation, debt management, and account aggregation, adds value beyond the loan itself. If you want a lender that helps you improve your financial picture, Best Egg invests in that.

Not Ideal For

• Fee-sensitive borrowers with strong credit. If your FICO is 680+ and you qualify at SoFi or LightStream, you will save significantly on origination fees. The guaranteed 4.99% minimum fee on 4+ year terms is a particular disadvantage for longer loans.
• Borrowers who need more than $50,000. SoFi and LightStream both offer up to $100,000. Best Egg’s ceiling is the same as Prosper’s, and limits your options for large borrowing needs.
• Borrowers who need a co-borrower. Best Egg does not allow co-signers or co-borrowers. LendingClub and Prosper both offer joint application options.
• Borrowers who need long or short repayment terms. With only three-, four-, and five-year options, Best Egg lacks the two-year fast payoff and six- to seven-year low-payment flexibility that SoFi and LendingClub provide.
• Borrowers who need same-day funding. While 50% of borrowers fund the next day, Best Egg does not guarantee same-day disbursement. SoFi remains the fastest option for qualified borrowers.

How to Apply with Best Egg

1. Check your rate. Visit Best Egg’s website or app and enter your desired loan amount, purpose, and personal information. Best Egg runs a soft credit pull and returns prequalified offers within minutes. This does not affect your credit score.
2. Review your offers. Compare the APR, monthly payment, term, and origination fee for each option. If you have eligible collateral, explore the secured loan option, which may offer a lower rate.
3. Select an offer and complete the application. Submit income and employment documentation. Best Egg performs a hard credit pull at this stage.
4. Verify your identity and income. Upload pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements as required. For secured loans, provide information about your collateral.
5. Accept final loan terms. Review the loan agreement, confirm the repayment schedule, and sign electronically. Note the origination fee and net proceeds.
6. Receive your funds. Approximately 50% of borrowers receive funds the next business day. The typical timeline is one to three business days. Funding occurs only on business days.

How Best Egg Compares

Best Egg occupies a middle ground between SoFi’s premium zero-fee model and Prosper’s marketplace approach. Against SoFi, Best Egg offers a lower APR floor (6.99% vs. 7.74%) and a secured loan option, but gives up the zero-fee structure, longer terms, and same-day funding. Against Prosper, Best Egg matches on fee structure and credit requirements, while adding the secured loan option and substantially stronger hardship programs. Prosper’s co-borrower option and healthcare lending are its counters. For borrowers who do not qualify at SoFi but want better hardship protections than Prosper, Best Egg is a strong middle path.

Final Verdict

Best Egg earns a 3.5 out of 5, reflecting a solid personal loan product with two standout features weighted down by a fee structure and term selection that trail the best in class. The secured personal loan option is genuinely rare among online lenders and can deliver meaningful rate savings for borrowers with eligible collateral. The hardship programs are the strongest we have reviewed, with 0% interest periods of up to 12 months that provide real financial relief, not just a payment pause with accumulating interest.

The limitations are the familiar ones in this price tier: an origination fee that can reach nearly 10% (with a 4.99% floor on longer terms), terms capped at five years, no co-borrower option, and a $50,000 ceiling. If your credit qualifies you for SoFi or LightStream, the fee savings alone will outweigh Best Egg’s advantages for most borrowers. But if you have collateral to pledge, or if hardship protection is a priority because your income situation is unpredictable, Best Egg offers something most competitors cannot match. The pending Barclays acquisition adds a layer of institutional backing that could strengthen the product further.

Methodology

This review is part of a series evaluating 16 personal loan lenders across six weighted categories: Rates & Fees (25%), Loan Terms & Flexibility (20%), Eligibility & Accessibility (20%), Speed & Application Process (15%), Customer Experience (10%), and Transparency & Reputation (10%). Scores are based on data collected directly from lender websites, SEC filings, the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database, J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study, and app store ratings.