LendingTree Personal Loans Review: What You Need to Know
A marketplace, not a direct lender: LendingTree matches you with offers from 300-plus lending partners through one soft-check application, so you can compare several personal loans at once.
Broad amounts, lender-set rates: LendingTree personal loans run from $1,000 to $50,000 over 24 to 84 months, with APRs that depend on the partner lender you choose.
Expect follow-up marketing: Because your details are shared with every matched lender, many borrowers get a wave of calls, texts and emails after applying.
LendingTree isn't a direct lender. It's an online marketplace that connects you with offers from hundreds of lending partners after a soft credit check. Current marketplace listings advertise personal-loan APRs from about 5.96% to 35.99%. Common loan amounts range from $1,000 to $50,000, although some partners advertise loans up to $100,000. Repayment terms vary by lender, with 12 to 84 months common.
Through its lender network, LendingTree lets you compare personal loan offers without submitting a full application to each lender. Just remember that prequalification is not final approval, and the lender you choose may run a hard credit inquiry when you submit a formal application.
For context, LendingTree's current $20,000 rate illustration, based on Q2 2026 marketplace data, shows average APRs of 15.34% for excellent credit, 27.52% for fair credit and 30.51% for poor credit. These are historical marketplace averages, not guaranteed rates.
It's a practical way to comparison shop, especially if your credit is fair or you're not sure which lenders may approve you. The trade-off is that matched lenders may follow up by phone, text and email after you submit your information.
What Is LendingTree and How It Works
LendingTree was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. LendingTree, Inc. trades on Nasdaq under the ticker TREE. The company operates a marketplace rather than originating personal loans itself.
Instead, LendingTree collects information about your borrowing needs and sends your request to matched providers. Those providers may show you personalized rates and terms. LendingTree says it works with hundreds of lenders and other financial partners across its marketplaces, while the number of personal-loan matches you receive can vary.
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. See our guide to personal loans for an overview. If you'd rather go straight to a single lender, our guide to getting a personal loan walks through each step.
What Are the Pros and Cons of LendingTree?
Before applying through LendingTree, weigh the efficiency of its multi-lender network against the trade-offs of using a marketplace.
Pros
Compare potential offers from multiple lenders through one initial request.
Prequalification typically uses a soft credit check, so rate shopping generally doesn't affect your credit score.
A large network can expose you to lenders serving different credit profiles.
You can compare APRs, loan amounts, repayment terms and fees before choosing where to submit a formal application.
Cons
Matched lenders may contact you by phone, text or email after you submit your information.
Rates, fees and terms vary significantly by lender and borrower.
A match or prequalification result does not guarantee final approval.
Many standard offers cap at $50,000, so you may need to identify a specific partner for a larger loan.
LendingTree is a lead-generation marketplace, so it may receive compensation from participating providers.
What Rates, Fees and Terms Does LendingTree Offer?
LendingTree doesn't set one universal APR, loan amount or repayment term because its partners make the loans. Current marketplace listings show APRs of roughly 5.96% to 35.99%. Common personal-loan amounts are $1,000 to $50,000, with some partners offering up to $100,000. Terms can range from 12 to 84 months or longer in some partner listings.
LendingTree does not charge consumers a marketplace fee to compare offers. Individual lenders may charge origination fees, late fees or other costs. Origination fees vary by lender; a range of roughly 1% to 10% is possible, but the fee may be lower, higher or nonexistent depending on the provider and state.
Prepayment penalties are uncommon among major online lenders but are not impossible. Review the full terms of any matched offer carefully. An origination fee may be deducted from your loan proceeds, which can mean you receive less money than the amount shown on the loan agreement.
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 personal-loan lenders look for a score around 580 or higher, while a score of 640 or above may open up more options and more competitive terms. Borrowers with scores around 740 and above generally have access to the strongest offers, although income, debt-to-income ratio, payment history and other factors also matter.
If your credit history is thin, a lender like Upstart may also be worth comparing because some lenders consider additional information beyond a traditional credit score.
Here's a quick FICO score reference:
FICO score range | Rating |
|---|---|
300 to 579 | Poor |
580 to 669 | Fair |
670 to 739 | Good |
740 to 799 | Very good |
800 to 850 | Exceptional |
Payment history and amounts owed are typically the two largest FICO-score categories, accounting for 35% and 30% of a FICO score, respectively. Amounts owed includes factors like your credit utilization rate.
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
Medical bills
Emergency expenses
Home-improvement projects
Moving costs
Auto expenses
Vacation or travel costs
Other eligible one-time expenses
Debt consolidation is one of the most common reasons borrowers seek personal loans through LendingTree. The exact permitted uses vary by lender. If you're specifically consolidating debt and want a provider that may send funds directly to creditors, compare LendingTree's marketplace approach with a specialist like Reach Financial.
Before consolidating, compare the new APR, fees, monthly payment and total repayment amount with the debts you already have. A consolidation loan may not save money if its fees and interest are high or if you continue adding balances to the original accounts. See our debt consolidation guide for more considerations.
Why Does LendingTree Call So Much?
One of the most common complaints about LendingTree is the volume of follow-up contact. When you submit a request, LendingTree may share your information with matched providers so they can respond with offers. Depending on how many providers receive your request, you may get calls, texts and emails from several companies.
LendingTree offers an internal Do-Not-Call request. The company says it will also notify partners matched within the previous 30 days, but you may need to contact individual providers directly to stop their communications. If you want to minimize outreach, consider applying directly with one lender or using a separate email address and phone number for rate shopping.
How Do You Apply Through LendingTree?
Start prequalification: Visit LendingTree's site and select the option to check your rate or see personalized results.
Provide loan details: Share your desired loan amount, purpose, estimated credit score, employment status and income.
Review matches: A soft credit check may surface potential offers from multiple lenders.
Compare offers: Look at APR, loan amount, term length, origination fees, monthly payment and total repayment cost.
Apply with your chosen lender: The lender may request documentation and run a hard credit inquiry before making a final decision.
Review the final agreement: Confirm the rate, fees, payment schedule, funding amount and any prepayment or late-payment terms before accepting.
How Does LendingTree Compare to Other Marketplaces?
Feature | LendingTree | Best Egg | LendingPoint |
|---|---|---|---|
APR range | About 5.96% to 35.99% across current marketplace listings | 6.99% to 35.99% | 7.99% to 35.99% |
Loan amounts | Commonly $1,000 to $50,000; select partners up to $100,000 | $2,000 to $50,000 | $1,000 to $36,500 |
Loan terms | Commonly 12 to 84 months; varies by partner | Generally 36 to 60 months unsecured; secured options may extend longer | 24 to 72 months |
Soft credit check | Yes, for prequalification; a formal application may require a hard inquiry | Yes, for rate checking | Yes, for checking options; a formal application may require a hard inquiry |
Notes | Marketplace with hundreds of partners; matched providers may follow up | Offers secured-loan options in addition to unsecured loans | Known for broad term options and potentially fast funding |
Best Egg may be worth a look if you want a secured-loan option, while LendingPoint may appeal to borrowers who value a broad 24-to-72-month term range and potentially fast funding. Terms, eligibility and fees vary, so compare the actual offers rather than relying only on advertised starting rates.
LendingTree also differs from direct lenders in a fundamental way: It doesn't originate loans itself. If you're weighing a marketplace against a single direct lender, see our LendingTree vs. LendingClub comparison.
Is LendingTree Safe and Legitimate?
LendingTree is a legitimate online financial marketplace, not a direct lender. It has operated since 1996 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its BBB business profile shows an A+ rating, while its BBB customer-review rating is substantially lower. These are different measures: the letter grade reflects BBB's assessment of the business, while customer reviews reflect individual experiences.
When checked, Trustpilot showed a 4.5 out of 5 rating based on 17,431 reviews. Review counts and ratings change, and Trustpilot reviews cover LendingTree broadly rather than only personal loans. Before submitting your information, read the consent and privacy disclosures so you understand which providers may receive your request and how they may contact you.
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 which lenders may approve you.
You want to review multiple potential offers before committing to a formal application.
You're comfortable with possible follow-up marketing contact from matched providers.
A direct lender may be a better fit if you have strong credit and want a simpler application with fewer parties involved. If you have bad credit and prefer a single point of contact, a lender like Rise is one option, though its APRs can be substantially higher than those of mainstream personal-loan providers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming a match guarantees approval: A match or prequalification result is only an initial indication. Final approval depends on the lender's underwriting.
Skipping the fee disclosures: Origination fees, late fees and prepayment terms vary. Review the full agreement before accepting an offer.
Comparing monthly payments alone: A longer term may lower the monthly payment while increasing total interest.
Not preparing for follow-up contact: If you don't want calls from multiple providers, apply directly with one lender or use LendingTree's Do-Not-Call process.
Assuming every listed lender is still active: Business models and product offerings change. For example, Eloan no longer offers the same personal-loan product, and Santander stopped offering personal loans as of mid-2025. Check current lender disclosures before applying.
Bottom Line
LendingTree can be a useful starting point if you want to compare multiple personal-loan offers through one initial request, particularly if your credit is fair or you're unsure which lenders may approve you. Its marketplace model can save research time, but it does not guarantee approval or the lowest rate. Your final APR, fees, loan amount and service experience depend on the provider you choose.
The main trade-off is privacy and convenience: submitting a request may lead to calls, texts and emails from matched providers. If you have strong credit, comparing personal loan requirements directly with banks and credit unions may give you a smoother experience and comparable or better terms.
Key Terms
Annual percentage rate (APR): 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 generally doesn't affect your credit score.
Hard credit inquiry: A credit check tied to a formal loan application that may cause a small, temporary decrease in your score.
Loan origination fee: An upfront fee some lenders charge to process a loan. It may be 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.
Sources
Parts of this article were created with AI assistance. MoneyLion editors reviewed, fact-checked and edited the final version and are responsible for its accuracy.
FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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