Is Best Egg a legitimate lender?

Yes. Best Egg is a licensed personal loan lender operating nationwide. It is owned by Marlette Funding LLC and has originated over $25 billion in loans since its founding in 2014. Best Egg is registered with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and is FDIC-regulated through its banking partner relationships. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and generally positive customer reviews for its straightforward application process and fast funding.

What credit score does Best Egg require?

Best Egg requires a minimum credit score of 640. Most approved borrowers have scores in the 680–760 range. Best Egg also considers income — it requires a minimum annual income (typically $35,000, though this varies). Very high income can compensate for a credit score closer to the 640 minimum. Pre-qualify with a soft pull to see if you're likely to be approved before submitting a formal application.

What are Best Egg's interest rates?

Best Egg's APRs range from 5.99% to 35.99% in 2026. The lowest rates (5.99–9%) go to borrowers with excellent credit (740+) requesting shorter loan terms. Most borrowers see rates in the 12–25% range. Best Egg also charges an origination fee of 0.99–9.99%, which is included in the APR. The best way to know your actual rate is to pre-qualify.

How long does Best Egg take to fund a loan?

Best Egg is one of the fastest personal loan funders — many borrowers receive funds the same day as approval or the next business day. The full process from application to funding typically takes 1–3 business days. Applications submitted in the morning on a business day with complete income documentation are most likely to receive same-day approval.

Does Best Egg hurt your credit score to apply?

Checking your rate with Best Egg uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. If you proceed with a formal loan application, a hard credit inquiry is placed, which may temporarily lower your score by 5–10 points. This hard inquiry remains on your credit report for two years but only affects your score for 12 months.

Best Egg Personal Loans 2026 — Rates, Requirements, and Review

Best Egg has built a reputation as one of the fastest and most straightforward online personal loan lenders — same-day or next-day funding, minimal paperwork, and competitive rates for fair to good credit borrowers. The tradeoff is an origination fee (0.99–9.99%) that some other lenders don’t charge, and a 640 minimum credit score that excludes poor-credit borrowers. Here’s what you need to know before applying.

Best Egg at a Glance (2026)

Feature	Details
APR range	5.99–35.99%
Loan amounts	$2,000–$50,000
Loan terms	36 or 60 months
Origination fee	0.99–9.99%
Late payment fee	$15
Prepayment penalty	None
Min credit score	640
Min annual income	~$35,000
Funding speed	Same-day or next business day
Soft pull pre-qualification	Yes
Co-borrower option	Yes
BBB rating	A+

Best Egg Interest Rates by Credit Score

Credit Score	Typical APR Range
760+ (Excellent)	5.99–10%
720–759 (Very Good)	9–16%
680–719 (Good)	14–22%
640–679 (Fair)	20–30%
Below 640	Not approved

These are estimates based on typical borrower outcomes — your income, debt-to-income ratio, and requested loan amount also affect the final rate.

Origination Fee: What to Expect

The origination fee is deducted from your loan before disbursement. If you’re approved for $20,000 with a 5% origination fee, you receive $19,000 but owe $20,000.

Practical impact:

If you need exactly $20,000 in your bank, you’d need to request $21,053 to receive $20,000 after a 5% fee
The origination fee is included in the APR, so APR comparisons between lenders already account for it
Lower credit scores typically receive higher origination fees; excellent credit may qualify for fees as low as 0.99%

Loan Purpose: What Best Egg Funds

Best Egg approves loans for most personal loan purposes:

Debt consolidation (most common — direct creditor payment not offered)
Home improvement
Medical expenses
Major purchases
Moving costs
Wedding and vacation

Best Egg does not fund business expenses, post-secondary education, or investment purposes.

The Application Process

Step 1: Pre-qualify (5 minutes) Enter basic information — name, address, income, Social Security number. Best Egg performs a soft credit pull. You receive an estimated rate and loan offer within minutes.

Step 2: Full application (10–15 minutes) If you proceed, Best Egg performs a hard credit pull. You may need to upload income documentation — typically pay stubs or tax returns for self-employed borrowers.

Step 3: Approval decision Most decisions come within hours. Same-day approval is common for clean credit profiles with verifiable income.

Step 4: Funding Funds deposit directly to your checking or savings account — typically same-day or next business day after signing your loan agreement.

Best Egg vs. Key Competitors

Feature	Best Egg	Upstart	LightStream	Avant
APR floor	5.99%	6.6%	6.99%	9.95%
APR ceiling	35.99%	35.99%	25.49%	35.99%
Origination fee	0.99–9.99%	0–12%	None	4.75% fixed
Min credit score	640	300	660	580
Funding speed	Same/next day	1–3 days	Same day	Next day
Max loan	$50,000	$50,000	$100,000	$35,000

Best Egg advantages over competitors:

Faster funding than Upstart for fair-credit borrowers
Lower minimum score than LightStream
Same-day funding beats Avant for urgency

Best Egg disadvantages:

Origination fee vs. LightStream’s zero fees
Shorter term options (36/60 only) vs. LightStream’s 24–144 months
Higher minimum score than Upstart (640 vs. 300)

Who Best Egg Is Best For

Ideal Best Egg borrower:

Credit score 640–750
Stable employment with verifiable income ($35,000+/year)
Needs $2,000–$50,000
Wants fast funding (same-day or next-day)
Comfortable with origination fee as part of total cost

Consider alternatives if:

Your score is below 640 (try Upstart, OneMain Financial, or Avant)
You want no origination fee (try LightStream or SoFi)
You need more than $50,000 (SoFi or LightStream)
You need flexible terms beyond 36 or 60 months (LightStream, SoFi)

Trustworthiness and Complaints

Best Egg has processed millions of loans and maintains an A+ BBB rating. Common customer complaints (per CFPB complaint database) include:

Interest rate higher than expected (importance of reading APR carefully)
Origination fee surprises (ensure you check pre-qualification offer carefully)
Customer service response times

These are typical for online lenders and not indicative of fraud or systemic problems.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy