Is Upstart or Best Egg better for a personal loan?

Upstart is better if you have a thin credit file, no credit history, or a score below 620 — its AI model can approve borrowers that traditional lenders decline. Best Egg is better for borrowers with fair to good credit (640–720) who want fast funding, competitive rates, and flexible amounts up to $50,000. Best Egg's origination fees are often lower than Upstart's for mid-tier credit borrowers, and it has a strong same-day or next-day funding reputation.

What credit score does Best Egg require?

Best Egg requires a minimum credit score of 640 and a minimum annual income of $100,000 for some loan products, though this varies. For lower income borrowers, approval may require a higher credit score. Best Egg focuses on borrowers in the 640–750 credit score range — above Upstart's AI-approved thin-file borrowers and below the premium tier where SoFi and LightStream dominate.

Does Best Egg charge an origination fee?

Yes. Best Egg charges origination fees of 0.99–9.99% of the loan amount, depending on creditworthiness. This is a wide range — strong borrowers pay closer to 1%, while higher-risk borrowers pay up to 9.99%. Upstart also charges origination fees of 0–12%. Always request the actual fee in your pre-qualified offer, not the range, as it significantly affects the true cost.

How fast does Best Egg fund a personal loan?

Best Egg is one of the fastest funders in the personal loan market. Many borrowers receive funds the same day or next business day after approval. Best Egg's application process is fully online and streamlined for speed. For borrowers with clean credit and verifiable income, approval and funding within 24 hours is common.

Does Upstart or Best Egg have lower interest rates?

For thin-file or low-score borrowers, neither offers low rates — but Upstart may approve where Best Egg declines. For fair-credit borrowers (640–700), rates are competitive between the two. Best Egg's floor (5.99% APR) is lower than Upstart's (6.6% APR), and strong borrowers at Best Egg tend to receive lower origination fees. Pre-qualify with both for a definitive comparison.

Upstart vs. Best Egg Personal Loans 2026 — AI Underwriting vs. Speed

Upstart and Best Egg are both non-bank online lenders serving borrowers who don’t qualify for the best rates at premium lenders like SoFi or LightStream. Upstart’s AI model targets thin-file and entry-level credit borrowers; Best Egg focuses on speed and competitive rates for fair to good credit borrowers. The right choice depends on where your credit profile sits.

Upstart vs. Best Egg: At a Glance

Feature	Upstart	Best Egg
APR range	6.6–35.99%	5.99–35.99%
Loan amounts	$1,000–$50,000	$2,000–$50,000
Loan terms	36 or 60 months	36–60 months
Origination fee	0–12%	0.99–9.99%
Min credit score	300 (AI model)	640
Min annual income	None disclosed	$35,000+ (varies)
Soft pull to check rate	Yes	Yes
Funding speed	1–3 business days	Same-day to next-day
Autopay discount	0.25%	None listed
Unique underwriting	Education, job history, income trajectory	Standard credit model
Best for	Thin file / low score	Fair-good credit, fast funding

Underwriting Philosophy: The Key Difference

Upstart

Upstart was built on the premise that FICO scores leave millions of creditworthy people behind. Its AI model analyzes over 1,000 data points including:

Education level and institution
Field of study and likely career trajectory
Employment history and current employer
Debt-to-income ratio
FICO score and traditional credit history (if available)

Result: Upstart approves approximately 43% more borrowers than traditional credit models, and at APRs averaging 36% lower for those borrowers, according to its CFPB filings.

Best Egg

Best Egg uses a more traditional underwriting approach with a FICO score floor of 640. It is optimized for borrowers with established credit histories — not thin-file innovation but competitive rates for mid-tier borrowers.

Rate Comparison by Credit Profile

Credit Score	Upstart Estimated APR	Best Egg Estimated APR
Thin file (no score)	20–30%	Declined
Under 600	25–35.99%	Declined
600–639	22–32%	Declined
640–679	18–28%	18–28%
680–719	15–24%	14–22%
720–749	12–20%	10–18%
750+	8–16%	7–15%

The overlap is significant in the 640–720 range — pre-qualify with both to see actual offers.

Origination Fee Comparison

Both lenders charge origination fees, but the range is wide:

Loan Amount	Upstart at 5%	Upstart at 12%	Best Egg at 1%	Best Egg at 8%
$10,000	$500	$1,200	$100	$800
$25,000	$1,250	$3,000	$250	$2,000

Strong borrowers at Best Egg see fees near 1%; weaker borrowers see fees near 9.99%. Upstart’s fees are less predictable — the AI model may reward certain non-credit factors with a lower fee even for a lower FICO score.

Always check the actual origination fee in your pre-qualified offer before making any comparison.

Funding Speed: Best Egg Wins

Best Egg consistently funds faster than Upstart:

Best Egg: Same-day or next business day for most approved applications
Upstart: Typically 1–3 business days

For urgent needs, Best Egg is the faster choice when you qualify for both.

Which Terms Are Available?

Term Options	Upstart	Best Egg
24 months	No	No
36 months	Yes	Yes
48 months	No	No
60 months	Yes	Yes

Both lenders are limited to 36 or 60-month terms — unlike SoFi or LightStream, which offer terms from 24 to 84 months. If you want a 48-month loan, neither Upstart nor Best Egg is your option.

Worked Example: $15,000 Loan Over 36 Months

Fair-credit borrower (660 FICO):

	Upstart	Best Egg
APR	22%	21%
Origination fee	6% ($900)	5% ($750)
Monthly payment	$573	$564
Total interest	$5,628	$5,304
Total cost (inc. fee)	$6,528	$6,054
Funds received	$14,100	$14,250

Best Egg wins by ~$474 in total cost for this profile — but if your score is 620, only Upstart approves you.

Who Should Choose Upstart

Credit score below 640 or no credit history
Recent college graduate with limited credit history
Self-employed or gig worker with non-traditional income
Declined by Best Egg, LendingClub, or other fair-credit lenders
Willing to wait 2–3 days for funding

Who Should Choose Best Egg

Credit score 640–740
Want same-day or next-day funding
Want lower origination fees (potentially) for mid-tier credit
Clear income documentation (standard employment)
Need up to $50,000

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