Avant vs. Mariner Finance Personal Loans (2026): Which Is Better for Your Needs?

Quick summary: Avant has faster funding and potentially lower interest rates with an online-only platform, while Mariner Finance may be more accommodating to lower credit scores, though some loans require applying in-branch. Avant is best if your score is fair rather than poor and you need to borrow more than $25,000. While Mariner Finance may be best if you need more flexibility, like the option to apply with a co-signer.*

MoneyLion offers a service to help you find personal loan offers. Based on the information you provide, you can get matched with offers for up to $100,000 from our top providers. You can compare rates, terms, and fees from different lenders and choose the best offer for you.

Detailed Comparison: Avant vs. Mariner Finance

Interest Rates & APR 

Annual percentage rate, or APR, refers to the amount of money you’ll pay to borrow money. It’s sometimes used interchangeably with interest rate, but the difference is that APR includes additional fees, such as an origination fee for a personal loan.

Avant personal loans have APRs ranging from 9.95% to 35.99%, while Mariner Finance personal loans range from 16% to 35.99%. 

Your APR is determined based on your credit score and other aspects of your financial profile. The higher your credit score, the less of a risk you pose to lenders. This means higher credit scores (and lower debt-to-income ratios) correspond to lower APRs. So if you apply for a loan with either Avant or Mariner and your credit is on the lower end of the scale, you may get a higher APR when your application is reviewed.

Loan Amounts 

There are slight differences in the loan amounts available through Avant and Mariner Finance. Avant personal loans range from $2,000 to $35,000, while with Mariner you can borrow between $1,000 and $25,000.

Both of these ranges can accommodate many of the most popular use cases for personal loans, including debt consolidation, covering unexpected medical bills and even covering large necessary purchases. 

Repayment Terms 

Avant personal loans have term lengths of 24 to 60 months (2 years to 5 years). Mariner Finance loans have term lengths of 12 months to 60 months (1 year to 5 years).

Longer repayment terms mean your monthly loan payments will be smaller, which can be helpful if you’re on a tight budget. However, the longer you take to repay your loan, the more total interest you’ll pay. So if you can afford a shorter term, it could be worth it to save some money.

Fees & Costs 

Avant charges an origination fee (also called an administration fee) of up to 9.99%, which is deducted from the funds you receive. Mariner Finance may charge an origination fee as well, depending on your state of residence.

Both lenders charge late fees as well. With Avant, you’ll pay $25 if your payment is not made in full within 10 days of the specified date. With Mariner Finance, the fee is equal to 5% of the overdo amount, not to exceed $10.

Eligibility & Approval 

Avant requires a minimum credit score of 550 to be eligible for its personal loans. Generally, any score below 580 is considered poor, so the lender could be accessible even if you’re working to rebuild your credit. 

While Mariner Finance doesn’t publish a minimum score requirement, it’s known to accept lower scores. And unlike Avant, it lets you apply with a co-signer, which can strengthen your application if your credit is poor but your co-signer’s is solid. Mariner also offers secured loans backed by collateral, which can be more accessible to lower-credit borrowers since the collateral lessens the lender’s risk.

Credit score isn’t the only thing you’ll need to consider when determining whether you’re eligible for a personal loan. Both lenders require the following:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old

• Verifiable income

• Valid ID

• Applicants must live in an eligible state (Avant is available in most states, with a few exceptions like Hawaii, and Mariner Finance operates in 27 states)

Application & Funding Experience 

Avant is an online-only lender, while Mariner Finance lets you apply online or in a branch. However, if you’re applying for a loan of less than $1,500, you may need to complete the application in-branch.

Both lenders let you prequalify to check your rates before formally applying, which can be helpful since this doesn’t require a hard credit pull. If you decide to apply, the lender will perform a hard credit pull, however. 

Avant loans may be funded as soon as the next day, while Mariner Finance says funding may take 1 to 2 business days.

Pros & Cons 

Best For: Who Should Choose Which 

Here’s a cheat sheet if you’re looking for a quick answer on whether Avant or Mariner Finance personal loans are better for your situation.

Choose Avant if: 

• You have a good enough credit score to qualify for the lower range of its interest rates 

• You want a simple, fast online application 

• You want to borrow more than $25,000

• You want fast funding

Choose Mariner Finance if: 

• You need to apply with a co-signer

• Your credit score is lower than 550 

• You’re able to apply in-branch (for certain loan amounts)

Final Recommendation & Next Steps 

Avant and Mariner Finance both offer personal loans for lower-credit borrowers, with a variety of term lengths to choose from. 

If you have a fair credit score, you may be eligible for a better interest rate through Avant, since its APR range starts lower than Mariner Finance’s. It could also be the better choice if you want fast funding, and if you need to borrow more than $25,000.

On the other hand, Mariner Finance could be the better option if your credit score is poor and you want to take advantage of options like secured loans or adding a co-signer to your application.

Both lenders let you check your personalized rates without impacting your credit score, and this is a wise step before making a final decision. And remember to compare other personal loan providers beyond these two to ensure you get the best terms possible.

FAQs 

Which lender has lower APRs?

Avant has lower APRs, with a range of 9.95% to 35.99%, compared to 16% to 35.99% with Mariner Finance.

How fast will I get funding for my loan?

With Avant personal loans, you can get funding as soon as the next business day. Mariner Finance personal loans are usually funded in 1 to 2 business days.

Does either lender allow co-signers? 

Avant doesn’t allow co-signers for loan applications, but Mariner Finance does.

Sources

• https://www.avant.com/ - Official Avant website

• https://www.marinerfinance.com/ - Official Mariner Finance website