Loans
How to compare personal loans by what they actually cost
APR gets the headline, but fees, term and the way a lender pays out the money change the real price.
Sep 8, 2026 · 6 min read
See what borrowing really costs.
Compare loans and credit cards side by side, ranked by the interest and fees you would actually pay, not the rate in the ad.
$50$5,000
Lowest total cost for you
Lender’s APR range Your estimate
- Navy Federal Credit UnionPersonal LoanLowest cost12.26% est. APR8.74–18.00%$83/mo$500 interest & fees
- CitiPersonal Loan12.84% est. APR9.99–17.49%$84/mo$526 interest & fees
- U.S. BankPersonal Loan15.22% est. APR9.24–24.99%$87/mo$630 interest & fees
- Regions BankUnsecured Personal Loan16.81% est. APR8.74–29.99%$89/mo$700 interest & fees
Estimates use typical rates for your credit range and include origination fees.
See all 12 personal loans- Total cost, not headline rates
- Every offer is ranked on interest plus fees for your amount, term and credit range.
- No account and no hard inquiry
- Estimates come from published rate ranges. Nothing touches your credit.
- 46 products from 16 institutions
- Personal loans and credit cards today, read from each lender's own site. More loan types are on the way.
Start with the loan you need
Categories with enough verified offers show where rates start and how wide the range runs. The others open once we can verify at least two lenders.
- Personal loansConsolidate debt, cover a large expense or fund a project with a fixed monthly payment.6.25%12 lenders comparedlowest starting APR, up to 35.99%
- MortgageBuy a home or refinance one. Compare purchase and refinance rates from banks and online lenders.Comparison coming soonChase publishes 6.946% APR (30-year fixed) as of Sep 21, 2026.
- Auto loansFinance or refinance a new or used vehicle.Comparison coming soonBank of America publishes 4.94% APR (60-month term) as of Sep 8, 2026.
- Student loan refinancingRefinance private or federal student debt into one loan. Understand what you give up first.Comparison coming soon
- Home equityBorrow against the value of your home with a lump-sum loan or a revolving line of credit.Comparison coming soonU.S. Bank publishes 6.20%–11.10% APR (variable rate range) as of Sep 17, 2026.
- Small business loansTerm loans, lines of credit and equipment financing for established U.S. small businesses.Comparison coming soon
Interest is only part of what a loan costs.
Origination fees, term length and how a lender prices your credit tier all change the total. So we calculate what each loan would cost you, then sort by that.
Fees counted, not hidden
Origination fees come out of the money you receive, and we include them.
Priced for your credit range
Ranges are placed by credit tier, so a lender's lowest starting rate is not shown as if it were yours.
Rankings are not for sale
Order follows a published rule. No lender or issuer pays to rank higher.
What a $2,500 loan costs to borrow
3 years, good credit (690–719). Interest plus origination fees.
- Navy Federal Credit Union 12.26% APR$500
- Citi 12.84% APR$526
- U.S. Bank 15.22% APR$630
- Regions Bank 16.81% APR$700
- Best Egg 18.01% APR$864
Best Egg charges up to 9.99% to originate. For this borrower we estimate $110 in fees, or 13% of what the loan costs.
The lowest APR belongs to Navy Federal Credit Union.
Credit cards worth a closer look
A few cards from the lineup we have verified, with the terms each issuer publishes.
- Flat 2% cash rewardsWells FargoActive CashWellsActive Cash
- Annual fee
- $0
- Regular APR
- 18.49%–28.49%
- Top reward
- 2%
- Intro APR
- 0% for 12 mo
- 75,000-point welcome bonusChaseSapphire PreferredChaseSapphire Preferred
- Annual fee
- $95
- Regular APR
- 19.24%–27.49%
- Top reward
- 5x
- Intro APR
- None
- 2x miles on every purchaseCapital OneVenture RewardsCapitalVenture Rewards
- Annual fee
- $95
- Regular APR
- 19.49%–28.49%
- Top reward
- 2x
- Intro APR
- None
- Unlimited first-year matchDiscoverit Cash BackDiscoverit Cash Back
- Annual fee
- $0
- Regular APR
- 17.49%–26.49%
- Top reward
- 5%
- Intro APR
- 0% for 15 mo
Rates lenders publish
Single rates read from lenders’ own pages, each with its date and source. Use them as reference points until a category opens for full comparison.
See what each quote assumes| Product | Rate | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal loan, lowest starting APRAchieve · lowest of 12 lenders compared | 6.25% APR | Sep 21, 2026 | achieve.com |
| Home purchase, 30-year fixedChase | 6.946% APR | Sep 21, 2026 | chase.com |
| Home equity line of credit, variable rate rangeU.S. Bank | 6.20%–11.10% APR | Sep 17, 2026 | usbank.com |
| New car loan (dealer), 60-month termBank of America | 4.94% APR | Sep 8, 2026 | bankofamerica.com |
Read before you borrow
Credit score
How your credit score changes the rate you are offered
Lenders price risk in tiers. Moving up a single tier can cut thousands of dollars from a loan.
5 min read
Credit cards
Balance transfer cards: when they save money and when they don't
A 0% window can be the cheapest way to pay off debt, if you know the fee and have a plan for the end date.
5 min read
Mortgages
What credit score do you need to get a mortgage?
The minimums are lower than most people think. The best rates are not.
6 min read
Know the total cost before you apply.
Set your amount and credit range, compare up to four offers side by side, and only then go to the lender.