LendingTree Personal Loans Review: What You Need to Know

LendingTree isn't a direct lender. It's an online marketplace that matches you with offers from more than 300 lending partners after a single soft credit check, so you can compare personal loans from $1,000 to $50,000 with APRs that can run from around 6% to 35.99%. It's a solid way to comparison shop, especially if your credit is fair or you're not sure who'll approve you, though expect a wave of calls, texts and emails from matched lenders afterward.

Key Takeaways

• LendingTree is a marketplace, not a direct lender. It connects you with 300-plus lending partners through one application, so you can compare multiple offers instead of applying separately to each.

• Loan amounts and terms are broad. Loans range from $1,000 to $50,000, with APRs that can span roughly 6% to 35.99% and repayment terms from 24 to 84 months, though the exact rate and terms depend on the lender you choose.

• Prequalifying uses a soft credit check, so you can review personalized offers without affecting your credit score. A hard inquiry only happens once you formally apply with a lender.

• A wide range of credit profiles may qualify. Many partner lenders start around a 580 credit score, though 640 and up tends to unlock better rates, and the strongest offers generally go to borrowers near 740 or higher.

• Expect marketing outreach. Since your information is shared with multiple matched lenders, many borrowers report a noticeable increase in calls, texts and emails after applying.

• Debt consolidation is the most common use case, accounting for roughly half of personal loan requests through the platform, according to LendingTree's own data.

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What Is LendingTree and How It Works

LendingTree was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it's publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker TREE. It doesn't lend money directly. Instead, it works as a matchmaker between borrowers and a network of lending partners, letting you compare personal loan offers for personal loans, mortgages, auto loans and more in one place.

To understand the basics, it helps to know how personal loans work in general: you receive a lump sum upfront and repay it in fixed installments over a set term.

What Are the Pros and Cons of LendingTree?

Pros

• Compare offers from multiple lenders with a single application.

• Prequalification uses a soft credit check, so shopping around doesn't affect your credit score.

• A large network of 300-plus lending partners covers a wide range of credit profiles.

• Works with borrowers across the credit spectrum, from fair to excellent.

Cons

• Expect marketing calls, texts and emails from matched lenders after applying.

• Rates, fees and terms vary significantly depending on which lender you're matched with.

• Getting matched with a lender doesn't guarantee final approval.

• The maximum loan amount caps out at $50,000, which may not suit larger borrowing needs.

What Rates, Fees and Terms Does LendingTree Offer?

APRs across LendingTree's network can start as low as roughly 6% for well-qualified borrowers and run up to about 35.99% for those with lower credit. Loan amounts span $1,000 to $50,000, with repayment terms generally running 24 to 84 months, depending on the lender.

LendingTree itself doesn't charge a fee to use the marketplace, but individual lending partners may charge a loan origination fee, commonly somewhere in the range of 1% to 12% of the loan amount, along with possible late fees or prepayment terms that vary by lender.

Review the full terms of any matched offer carefully, since these details can meaningfully change your total borrowing cost.

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.

What Credit Score Do You Need for a LendingTree Personal Loan?

Since LendingTree is a marketplace rather than a single lender, there's no universal credit score requirement. Many partner lenders begin approving borrowers around a 580 credit score, and a score of 640 or higher can unlock more competitive rates, while borrowers closer to 740 and above tend to see the strongest offers.

Here's a quick FICO score reference:

Payment history and amounts owed, or credit utilization, are typically the two biggest factors in your score, making up 35% and 30% of a FICO Score, respectively.

What Can You Use a LendingTree Personal Loan For?

Personal loans matched through LendingTree can typically be used for:

• Debt consolidation or credit card refinancing. This is the most common reason borrowers use the platform, according to LendingTree's own marketplace data.

• Medical bills.

• Emergency expenses.

• Home improvement projects.

• Moving costs.

• Auto expenses.

• Vacation or travel costs.

Why Does LendingTree Call So Much?

The most common complaint about LendingTree isn't about rates. It's about the volume of follow-up contact. Because your prequalification details are shared with every matched lender, you may receive calls, texts and emails from several companies at once after submitting your information.

If you'd rather avoid that, you can use LendingTree's opt-out option to limit phone contact, or consider applying directly with a single lender instead of going through a marketplace.

How Do You Apply Through LendingTree?

1. Start the prequalification process. Visit LendingTree's site and select the option to check your rate or see personalized results.

2. Fill out the loan details. Share your loan amount, purpose, estimated credit score, employment status and income.

3. Review your matches. A soft credit check surfaces personalized offers from multiple lenders, often within minutes.

4. Compare offers. Look at APR, loan amount, term length and fees side by side.

5. Apply directly with your chosen lender. This step may trigger a hard credit inquiry and finalizes your loan terms.

How Does LendingTree Compare to Other Marketplaces?

Best Egg personal loans may be worth a look if you want a secured loan option, while LendingPoint personal loans tend to fund quickly for borrowers who need cash fast.

Is LendingTree Safe and Legitimate?

LendingTree has been in business for nearly three decades and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Its Trustpilot score sits around 4.5 out of 5 based on more than 16,000 reviews. Ratings can shift over time, so it's worth checking current listings directly if trust signals matter most to your decision.

Who Should Use LendingTree?

LendingTree may be a good fit if:

• You want to comparison shop without researching individual lenders one by one.

• Your credit is fair or you're unsure who'll approve you, since the marketplace works with lenders across a range of credit tiers.

• You're consolidating debt, which is the most common reason borrowers use the platform.

• You're comfortable with follow-up marketing contact from multiple matched lenders.

A direct lender may be a better fit if you have strong credit and want to avoid extra calls and emails, or if you're looking for bad credit personal loans with a single point of contact instead of multiple offers.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Assuming a match guarantees approval. Being matched with a lender is just the first step, and final approval still depends on that lender's underwriting.

• Skipping the fine print on fees. Origination fees, late fees and prepayment terms vary significantly by lender, so review each offer's full terms before accepting.

• Not preparing for follow-up contact. If you're not comfortable receiving calls from multiple lenders, consider applying directly with one instead.

Bottom Line

LendingTree can be a practical starting point if you want to compare multiple personal loan offers quickly without a string of individual applications, particularly if your credit is fair or you're consolidating debt.

Just keep in mind that your actual rate, fees and service experience depend entirely on the lender you ultimately choose, and that comparing offers means opening the door to marketing outreach from several companies at once.

If you have strong credit, reviewing personal loan requirements with a direct lender may get you a smoother experience and comparable, or better, rates.

Key Terms

• APR (annual percentage rate): The yearly cost of a loan, including interest and most fees, expressed as a percentage.

• Soft credit check: A credit inquiry used for prequalification that doesn't affect your credit score.

• Hard credit inquiry: A credit check tied to a formal loan application, which can cause a small, temporary dip in your score.

• Loan origination fee: An upfront fee some lenders charge to process a loan, often deducted from the amount you receive.

• Debt consolidation: Combining multiple debts into a single loan, typically to simplify payments or potentially lower your overall interest rate.

• FICO score: A widely used credit score model ranging from 300 to 850 that lenders use to help assess risk.

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

Sources

• Better Business Bureau: LendingTree, LLC business profile

• Trustpilot: LendingTree customer reviews

• LendingTree marketplace data on personal loan rates and reasons for borrowing

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

FAQ

Here are quick answers to common questions about LendingTree personal loans.

What credit score do I need for a LendingTree personal loan? There's no single required score, since LendingTree works with more than 300 lenders that each set their own criteria. Many partners start approving borrowers around 580, though scores of 640 or higher typically unlock better rates.

Does checking rates on LendingTree hurt my credit score? No. Prequalifying relies on a soft credit check, which doesn't affect your credit score. A hard inquiry only happens once you formally apply with the lender you choose.

How does LendingTree make money? LendingTree earns compensation from its lending partners when a borrower is matched with and accepts an offer, rather than charging borrowers directly to use the marketplace.

Why do I get so many calls after using LendingTree? Because your information is shared with every lender you're matched with, multiple companies may reach out by phone, text or email. You can reduce this by opting out of phone contact through LendingTree's site or by applying directly with one lender instead.

Is LendingTree safe and legitimate? Yes. LendingTree has operated since 1996, holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and maintains a strong Trustpilot score, though it's worth confirming current ratings since they can shift over time.