Category: Laptops

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Summer is prime time for finding the best laptop deals of the year. The later it gets, the better the back-to-school laptop deals will get. At $750, Apple’s M1 MacBook Air is an excellent find not just for students, but anyone looking for a no-frills do-it-all (except gaming) machine. If you’re more inclined to Windows and trying to save money, Best Buy has a great offer on a Dell Inspiron laptop right now. It’s down to $400 after a 33% discount. It’ll be up to most productivity tasks without breaking a sweat.

There’s plenty more to consider elsewhere. We’re always updating this guide with our latest finds for unbeatable laptop deals. Our guide covers multiple price points and usage needs for various buyers, and we compare prices across retailers to ensure we’re presenting the best deals.

We understand most people don’t need a super powerful piece of kit, so where we can find a solid laptop that will handle the basics for work or study for a low price point (many well under $500), we’re there. Of course, some of you might need something with a little more grunt to run more demanding applications or do a little gaming, and we’ve got you covered there too.

Best laptop deals of the week

Whether you need a simple Chromebook for browsing or a more substantial Windows laptop for work or school, here are all the best laptop deals you can shop this week, including many quality options under $300.

Best MacBook deals

MacBook sales come and go like the wind, so catch a wave on these discounts (up to 25% off) while they’re still available.

Best gaming laptop deals

You’ll pay quite a bit more for gaming laptops compared to business- and student-oriented models, but these deals can get you some serious horsepower for relatively affordable prices.

Want to see more laptop sales?

If you haven’t found something for your needs above, peruse the laptop sales highlighted at the retailers below to see if something else catches your eye. Most have everything from budget laptops around $200 or less, plenty of mid-range picks, and even discounts on more powerful machines specializing in gaming, graphic design, or media editing.

We will also regularly update the laptop selection above with fresh deals over time, so feel free to bookmark us and check back in soon.

• Russia’s currency in recent days has plunged to its lowest level against the greenback since the war in Ukraine began. 
• The ruble traded around 96 against the US dollar on Tuesday, a 30% decline from January.
• Russia’s economy is struggling in the face of western sanctions and war in Ukraine, experts say.

Russia’s currency just plunged to its lowest level against the dollar since the beginning of its war in Ukraine — another sign that the nation’s economy is sputtering as the conflict drags on and its economy is burdened with Western sanctions.

The ruble has traded around 96 against the dollar since last Friday. It’s the cheapest Russia’s currency has been since Putin began his invasion of Ukraine in February last year, which caused the ruble to briefly plummet to 120 against the dollar. 

The ruble is one of the worst-performing global currencies of the year, and has declined around 30% from levels in January, when it traded around 65 to the dollar. In July, the currency blew past a key comfort level for the Kremlin, signaling the market’s concern for Russia after the Wagner group staged a short-lived coup against President Vladimir Putin.

Economists have been sounding the alarms for Russia’s economy for the past year, as the nation has been slammed by sanctions and soaring military spending. Restrictions on oil and natural gas trade led Russia’s energy revenue to tumble 45% in first three months of the year. Meanwhile, government spending surged 34%, leading Russia to post a $29 billion budget deficit over the first quarter– a 107% decline from last year’s $14 billion budget surplus. 

Russian officials have put up a show of defiance amid war and sanctions, and Putin has claimed Russia’s economy could actually grow this year with GDP surpassing 2%.  But those estimates are largely drawn from “cherry-picked” economic figures, according to Yale researchers, who say that under-the-radar statistics paint a far bleaker picture of Russia’s economy. 

Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

Credit reporting errors can damage your FICO score and make it harder to qualify for a loan. If inaccurate information is hurting your financial profile, Credit Saint can help. Operating nationwide, Credit Saint disputes credit reporting errors and engages with creditors on behalf of its customers to make sure inaccurate information is removed.

The company offers a conditional money-back guarantee and competitive pricing, earning it a largely positive reputation and putting it in competition with the best credit repair services. Read on to learn more and find out whether Credit Saint suits your needs.

Credit Saint Overview

Credit Saint is a credit repair company based in New Jersey. Operating since 2004, the company claims to have helped over 200,000 clients worldwide, and boasts of offering the most comprehensive service in the industry. While Credit Saint has an office in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, it offers service nationwide.

Credit Saint has three different packages with monthly fees ranging from $79.99 to $119.99 and one-time setup fees of $99 or $195. You can pause or cancel your membership at any time with no additional charge, and Credit Saint offers a conditional money back guarantee after the first 90 days. 

Feedback from Credit Saint customers is generally positive, though there are several persistent complaints. The company has ratings of 3.6 and 4.1 stars out of five on its Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau profiles, respectively, with just over 100 reviews posted on each. Many of those reviews are four or five stars, but over 20% of reviews on both platforms are just one star.

The largest volume of customer feedback is on Google, where Credit Saint averages 4.8 stars out of five based on over 9,000 reviews. While those reviews are attached to the listing for Credit Saint’s New Jersey office, they are submitted by users nationwide. The most common complaints against Credit Saint are a lack of results (which is a frequent complaint against all credit repair companies) and difficulty exercising the money back guarantee.

Unlike some of its competitors who have been sued by federal regulators for illegal billing practices and other infractions, Credit Saint has managed to stay out of legal trouble.

Credit Saint Plans

Credit Saint offers three service packages at different price points. The most basic (and least expensive) is the Credit Polish Package, which includes challenges to all three credit bureaus and a credit score tracker. The Credit Polish Package has a $79.99 monthly fee, as well as a one-time $99 setup fee, also called a first work fee.

The intermediate Credit Polish Package offers the same bureau challenges and score tracker that you get with the Credit Polish package, and adds credit score analysis. The Credit Remodel package has a $99.99 monthly fee, as well as the same $99 setup fee.

The top-tier Clean Slate Package adds creditor intervention letters and inquiry targeting to top of the benefits you get from the Credit Remodel package. Credit Saint recommends this package for customers with public records like repossessions, bankruptcies and foreclosures. The Clean Slate package has a $119.99 monthly fee, as well as a higher $195 initial working fee. 

Credit Saint Features

Services offered by Credit Saint have a lot in common with what you’ll get from other credit repair companies. Here are some of the highlights:

• Challenges to the three credit bureaus — Credit Saint can help you dispute inaccuracies like late payments, duplicate accounts, or typos that appear on your credit report. Credit Saint uses handwritten, customized disputes instead of generic online templates. While you can challenge this information yourself, consider enlisting the help of a credit repair agency if you’re not confident you can deal with it on your own.
• Score Tracker — At the end of each 45-day dispute cycle, Credit Saint will give you a snapshot of your credit score from all three major credit bureaus. Tracking your score gives you a sense of whether your credit repair efforts are bearing fruit, but you can check your credit score for free with or without a credit repair service.
• Score Analysis — In addition to your credit score, Credit Saint provides a breakdown of your credit utilization, payment history, and other factors that impact your credit. This more detailed information can similarly help you track progress and identify aspects of your credit report with potential for improvement. However, Credit Saint provides the information without suggesting what to do with it, and like your credit score, you can get this information elsewhere for free.
• Credit intervention letters — When a creditor reaffirms information you dispute with the credit bureau, Credit Saint can escalate the situation and engage with the creditor directly. Credit Saint may also intervene on your behalf to limit the impact of accurate derogatory marks on your credit report (by negotiating repayment, for example).
• Inquiry Targeting — Credit Saint can help you remove false or fraudulent credit inquiries from your credit report. However, legitimate inquiries can not be removed.
• Daily member support — Credit Saint offers customer support by phone (877-637-2673) seven days a week. Support hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 10:00 pm EST, Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
• Credit education — The Credit Saint website offers a blog with a handful of articles about credit repair and other personal finance topics. This content is available at no charge whether or not you enroll. However, the blog appears to be defunct, as no new content has been published in over two years.

While many credit repair companies package identity theft protection with their other services, Credit Saint does not. However, you can get quality that services elsewhere inexpensively or at no cost, so the omission from Credit Saint shouldn’t be a major factor when deciding whether to enroll.

How Much Does Credit Saint Cost?

Credit Saint offers three credit repair packages with monthly fees of $79.99, $99.99 and $119.99. Each package also incurs an initial working fee of either $99 for the first two packages or $195 for the third package. Credit Saint’s monthly fees are close to average for the credit repair industry, with some companies charging more and some charging less for comparable service. The initial working fees are on the high end; you can add a single family member living in your household without paying a second initial working fee, but you’ll both be on the hook for monthly fees.

Credit Saint offers a 90-day money back guarantee, but it comes with several key stipulations. Foremost among them, you’re only eligible for a refund after participating in the program for the full 90 days; canceling or failing to pay before that mark voids the guarantee. Additionally, the guarantee only applies if you don’t see any questionable items deleted from your credit in the first 90 days, and can’t be exercised beyond the 120-day mark. Other terms apply, so don’t rely on the guarantee without reading them.

Aside from the 90-day guarantee, you can cancel your membership immediately at any time with no penalty or additional charge.

How to Sign Up For Credit Saint

Before you enlist the help of a credit repair service, get copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. While these reports are normally available at no cost once per year, you can request them weekly through the end of 2023.

With your credit reports in hand, you can check for inaccuracies that you want to dispute, such as misreported late payments, duplicate accounts, typos and more. You can address errors directly with the credit bureaus or pass them along to a credit repair service if you can’t (or don’t want to) do it yourself. However, keep in mind that you can only challenge information that’s inaccurate, unfair or unverified. Accurate data can’t be wiped out just because it hurts your credit score and you want it gone.

Should you choose to proceed with Credit Saint, you can sign up by clicking the “Get Started” link on their website. You’ll then need to provide personal and billing information, and agree to the terms of service. Credit Saint clearly indicates during the signup process when your setup fee and first recurring fee will be charged.

How Credit Saint Compares to Competitors

In many respects, Credit Saint is nearly on par with its competitors, including those ranked among our top credit repair companies.

Credit Saint’s monthly fees are comparable to other credit repair companies, but its initial working fees are relatively high, exceeding the monthly fee for two of Credit Saint’s three packages. That said, they aren’t Unless you’re signing up with a second family member in your home (for whom the initial working fee is waived), that additional cost may justify looking elsewhere.

The company’s positive reviews on Google indicate a high rate of customer satisfaction. However, the frequency of complaints about the money back guarantee combined with its restrictive terms are concerning. If that guarantee encourages you to sign up, make sure you read the fine print beforehand.

Credit Saint Credit Repair FAQ

• Germany pledged Ukraine almost $3 billion worth of military aid in May.
• However, many of the supplies are yet to arrive, German newspaper Die Welt reported.
• Only 10 of the 110 promised Leopard 1 tanks have been delivered so far, the report says.

Germany has delivered only around 10% of the Leopard 1 tanks that it promised to Ukraine as part of a package it announced in May, German newspaper Die Welt reported.

The country had agreed to a 2.7 billion-euro, which is around $3 billion, military aid package with Ukraine during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit earlier this year.

Die Welt tracked the progress of the deliveries and kept an account of the promised and delivered equipment, which is published online by the German government.

The outlet found that in the last two months Berlin has sent Kyiv just 10 of 110 promised Leopard 1 tanks and 12 of 18 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks.

Ukraine is also yet to receive any of the four promised IRIS-T missile defense systems or the 20 Marder armored vehicles, while roughly just 850 of the 26,350 155 mm artillery shells promised have been delivered.

The package also included several hundred drones, air surveillance radars, tankers, ambulances, and heavy-duty articulated lorries.

Die Welt noted that it was possible that the weapons commitment may be “withdrawn,” citing the example of 5,032 anti-tank handguns that had been listed as being prepared to be sent to Ukraine since the early months of the war, which have now disappeared off the site without any explanation.

It is not clear why Germany is dragging its feet over sending the weapons, although it was also slow to provide Ukraine with military aid at the beginning of the war. Despite that, it has since become one of Kyiv’s biggest arms suppliers. 

After months of pressure, Germany finally agreed to send 88 Leopard 1 tanks and around 80 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine earlier this year.

• Conservative organizations have released a proposed “battle plan” for the next Republican president.
• The plan calls for the president to end the Inflation Reduction Act, which has primarily benefited red states. 
• The 2022 bill funnels hundreds of billions to states home to major clean energy projects, like Oklahoma and Texas.

Leading conservative organizations are banding together to push a new project called Project 2025, a game plan for the next Republican president, and it includes cutting a Biden-era law that funnels hundreds of billions of dollars to red states.

The Inflation Reduction Act, which Congress passed in 2022 and which in part sets aside $370 billion for investment in clean energy, was hailed at the time as the most significant step Congress had taken to address the climate crisis.

With states like Oklahoma leading the country in wind power and Texas landing in the top three states for clean energy job growth, red states are the biggest beneficiaries of the bill. Yet the bill faced significant opposition from congressional Republicans during the legislative process.

Project 2025 and the elimination of the Inflation Reduction Act have been championed by several conservative organizations, all led by the Heritage Foundation, a major conservative think tank. Paul Dans, a director with the Heritage Foundation, called Project 2025 a “battle plan” for the next Republican president, The New York Times reported.

The Heritage Foundation has delivered the 920-page document to every Republican running for president, Dans told the Times.

However, some conservatives who work closely with state lawmakers on energy policy said any plan to cut the Inflation Reduction Act would likely go against constituents’ wishes.

“Obviously as conservatives, we’re concerned about fiscal responsibility, but if you look at what Republican voters think, a lot of Republicans in red states show strong support for provisions of the I.R.A.,” Sarah Hunt, president of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy, an organization that works with Republican lawmakers on state energy needs, told the Times.

The Heritage Foundation did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.

• South Korean scientists claim to have made a superconductor, LK-99, that works at room temperature.
• Experts are skeptical, but if such a material exists, it could boost energy production and storage. 
• It could also improve chips used in cars and consumer electronics like cell phones. 

Electricity is inefficient compared to what it could be. But electricity that travels along a superconductor barely loses energy along the way. 

Present-day superconductors, however, function under costly special environments — what if we could change that? 

That’s the premise behind LK-99, a possible superconductor material that scientists in South Korea say they have devised, which has been dominating headlines and social media posts in the past week or so. 

The LK-99 material is a compound comprised of lead, oxygen, and phosphorous, the scientists describe in two preprint papers that have yet to be peer-reviewed. They discuss how they doped the material with copper, which, they speculate, may have distorted the chain of lead atoms, creating channels along which the superconductivity occurs, per Science. 

However, many experts are skeptical that the material actually does what the scientists claim. Therefore, whether LK-99 is actually a breakthrough remains to be seen until others can replicate its results. 

To that end, some experts are trying, but this holy grail has eluded scientists for many years, so the prospects are still a long way off, experts told Insider.

Why room-temperature superconductors are so elusive

“The holy grail would be to get something that was superconducting at room temperature,” said Leonard Kahn, chair of the Department of Physics at the University of Rhode Island’s College.  

The problem is that scientists are playing a guessing game for now, swapping out materials to try and raise the critical temperature.

Elements like tantalum and mercury all have superconducting capabilities, for example, but they have to be chilled to about -450 degrees Fahrenheit. Some compounds become superconductive at higher temperatures and can be cooled with liquid nitrogen at around -320 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Yet other materials become superconducting at warmer temperatures, “but you need to have them under such high pressures that they’re impractical for any applications,” Kahn said.

LK-99 isn’t the first claim of its kind. There have been similar attempts in the past that don’t quite seem to have panned out. One piece on the subject, published in the science journal Nature in 2020, was later retracted.  

Ultimately, achieving a room-temperature superconductor would “require breakthroughs in understanding the fundamental principles behind superconductivity, inventing new materials, or discovering novel ways of increasing the critical temperature,” Edwin Fohtung, associate professor in materials science and engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, told Insider in an email. 

Where and how superconductors are used today

“It’s not that we do not have superconductors, but we can only make that work under extremely high pressures, and at very low temperatures,” said Elif Akçalı, an associate professor at the University of Florida who teaches industrial and systems engineering. 

“When that’s the case, you’re putting in so much energy to make that work,” Akçalı said. “For me, from a business perspective, it’s losing its value.” 

Superconductors expel magnetic fields and are diamagnetic, a phenomenon known as the Meissner effect. “If you put a magnet near it, they oppose the magnet, and so magnets actually float on top of them,” Kahn said.

Currently, MRI machines, quantum computers, and magnetic levitation trains all use superconductivity. Cooling an MRI magnet requires about 2,000 liters of liquid helium, which is both expensive and in short supply.

But if researchers could find a room-temperature superconductor, it would be huge for energy, transportation, and many other industries. Take power stations, for example: 

 “If you had superconducting wires instead of the regular wires that they’re using, it would be the equivalent of having 5% to 10% more power stations, and you wouldn’t be putting any more carbon into the atmosphere,” Kahn said. “The opportunities for that would be tremendous, but we’re not there yet.”

Any revolutionary use of superconductors will still take time

We’re a while away from making a radical shift in superconductor use, experts said. At minimum, multiple labs will first need to repeat and verify the experiment to make sure LK-99, or something like it, really works. 

And even a workable material will mean companies will have to change how they make things.  

Take the case of chips, for instance. There’s still a question as to whether this type of superconductor material can be successfully incorporated into the chip manufacturing process in a way that is economically viable and not too burdensome, said Siddharth Joshi, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Notre Dame. 

“Currently, we don’t design chips assuming you can have superconductors on there,” Joshi said. 

“Using superconductors in the design of the chips could lead to interesting designs, but the technology would first need to be mature enough to use it in chips,” he said. 

But again, if it does work, that could mean we can produce chips that require less energy to function, which means they can do more and take up less space. Your phones and laptops, for one, could get even more compact, said Navid Asadi, an electrical and computer engineering professor at the University of Florida. 

Low-energy chips could also help machines do a lot more. For newer technologies, like electric and autonomous vehicles, it can mean helping them better navigate the kinds of questions the machines encounter on drives, Asadi said.

“Should I keep the car between the lines? Am I going to pass this car? Should I brake? Should I adjust my speed? These are all decisions constantly made in the chips, and they need energy,” he said. “So low power energy chips is one major area in chip design.” 

The potential that chips could be faster and more efficient thanks to superconductors also means they could support the large amounts of computing power and energy required to sustain other artificial intelligence efforts including generative AI, said Dale Rogers, a supply chain expert and professor at the Arizona State University business school. 

“This kind of superconductor breakthrough, if it’s real, can really enable huge advancements and processing abilities in artificial intelligence,” he said. 

• Ukrainian and Russian forces have dug sprawling trenches along the front lines of the war. 
• The trenches echo scenes from bloody combat of World War 1 and World War 2.
• Take a look at photos comparing trench warfare in Ukraine today and the historic World Wars. 

As Ukraine’s troops go head-to-head with the Russian army, they face plenty of modern weapons, such as drones that can drop bombs on soldiers, Ka-52 attack helicopters armed to the teeth with anti-tank guided missiles, and precision munitions that can hit with accuracy not seen in past conflicts.

Both sides are also navigating threats and challenges that have long been a part of land warfare, like overwhelming artillery and minefields full of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, threats hidden in the mud that erupt with a violent explosion when triggered and make any sort of advance tricky and time-consuming. 

There are also sprawling trenches. They run deep along the front lines and have been seen in photos from the war, such as around Bakhmut, which saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. The trenches are, as a French photographer described them years earlier, “endless bowels of Earth.”

These winding trenches hinder advances by enemy troops and protect defenders, zig-zagging and crossing the battlefield, and in some respects, they’re strikingly reminiscent of scenes of trench warfare from World War I and World War II, showing the enduring presence of this type of fighting. 

The following photos show the front-line trenches in Ukraine today, where the most devastating land war in decades is being fought, and those of two of the 20th century’s worst conflicts. 

Our experts answer readers’ personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess personal loans). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.

An online loan works like this: You apply to borrow a certain amount of money. The lender will show which offers you qualify for based on factors such as your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and ability to repay the loan. The best personal loans will offer a variety of term lengths and low interest rates.

Best Online Personal Loans

• LightStream Personal Loan: Best for large loan amounts
• SoFi Personal Loan: Best for good credit
• Avant Personal Loan: Best for lower credit scores
• Happy Money Personal Loan: Best for credit card consolidation
• Upstart Personal Loan: Best for small loan amounts

Next Step: See if you’re prequalified for a loan without impacting your credit score.

Some lenders have minimum credit score requirements that might make you ineligible for one of their loans. Others may allow you to get a loan with a poor credit score, but could saddle you with high interest rates as a result. If you’re going to borrow money with an online loan, make sure you understand how much it will cost you each month, and that you have a plan to pay it back.

Be sure you’ve exhausted other options before you apply for a loan online, such as borrowing money from  friends or family, taking out a home equity loan, or in some cases, using a credit card. These options may offer better interest rates than an online loan.

If you want to turn to an online loan provider, here are a few of the best places to start your search.

Compare the Best Online Personal Loans

Online Loans Frequently Asked Questions

Best Online Personal Loan Company Reviews

LightStream Personal Loan

LightStream’s online loans are best for those with good credit. While you can qualify for a loan with a minimum score of 660, you won’t be able to take advantage of LightStream’s lower rates without a score of around 800. The lender also has slightly more stringent eligibility requirements than some of our other top picks, including several years of credit history, stable income, and few or no payment delinquencies on your credit report.

If you’re looking to borrow a large sum of money, LightStream’s maximum loan amount of $100,000 is significantly higher than most of the other lenders on our list. Its minimum APR is one of the lower on our list of top picks, reducing the overall cost of your loan.

LightStream Personal Loan Review

SoFi Personal Loan

SoFi has the highest minimum credit score requirement of any lender on our list. You’ll need at least a credit score of 680 to get one of its personal loans online. But if you do qualify, you may like the lender’s low rates, high range in loan amounts, and unique perks.

Even if your credit history isn’t immaculate and you aren’t eligible for SoFi’s lowest rate, the company’s maximum APR is the lowest on our list. SoFi offers a higher maximum online loan amount than most other lenders, allowing you to take out up to $100,000.

Additionally, the company has no origination fees required and has no late payment penalty, lowering the overall cost of your loan. If you lose your job through no fault of your own, SoFi also has an unemployment protection program. If approved for the program, SoFi will put your loans into forbearance, suspending your monthly payments. It’s worth noting that interest will continue to accrue on your loan when it is in forbearance. 

SoFi Personal Loan Review 

Avant Personal Loan

Avant is one of the easier lenders to qualify for on our list. Its minimum credit is just a guideline, not a requirement, but most borrowers who get Avant’s personal loans online have a credit score between 600 and 700. However, you can likely get a lower rate elsewhere if you have a high credit score. The best 0% APR credit cards may also offer a lower APR, provided you’re eligible. 

If you are looking for a smaller loan, Avant’s $2,000 minimum is lower than most comparable lenders. Avant funds online loans quickly — if the company approves your loan by 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, funds are often put into your account by the next business day.

Avant also has excellent customer service hours, with its phone line open at least 13 hours every day of the week. The lender also has a strong mobile app, which is something not all lenders offer. 

Avant Personal Loan Review

Payoff Personal Loan

Happy Money could be another good option for an online loan if you have a lower credit score, as its minimum requirement of 640 is relatively low. If you have a good credit score, the company also offers one of the lowest APRs of lenders on the list. 

Happy Money’s Payoff online loans are specifically designed to help borrowers eliminate high-interest credit card debt. This means you are limited in what you can use your loan for — you should choose a different lender if you aren’t aiming to consolidate credit card debt. 

The company doesn’t charge any prepayment fees or late fees, but may charge an origination fee between 0% to 5%. Happy Money also has one of the slowest money transfer times of any online loan company, as it takes between two to five business days to have money deposited in your account. 

Happy Money Personal Loan Review

Upstart Personal Loan

You may qualify for an online loan more easily with Upstart than with some of the other lenders on our list — the minimum credit requirement for Upstart is 600. As a result, if your credit score is low, you might end up paying a high APR and could potentially get a better deal elsewhere. 

Upstart offers the smallest loan amount of all the lenders on our top picks, so if you just need a little cash to tide you over, this could be the lender for you. Additionally, the company usually funds loans within one business day, which is useful if you need your money fast. 

Upstart Personal Loan Review

Other Online Loans We Considered

• OneMain Financial Personal Loan: OneMain is a solid option for borrowers with low credit scores, but you can only borrow up to $20,000. The company also doesn’t lend to residents of Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Vermont. Read Insider’s full review of OneMain Financial.
• Upgrade Personal Loan: Upgrade has relatively low credit score requirements and offers next-day funding to most borrowers, but charges hefty origination fees and doesn’t allow co-signers. Read Insider’s full review of Upgrade.
• PenFed Credit Union Personal Loan: While PenFed offers relatively low rates and a range of loan terms, you’ll need to become a member to get your loan funded. 
• Rocket Loans Personal Loan: Rocket Loans offers same day funding for some loans. But borrowers can only choose from two repayment term lengths and you’re not able to take out a joint or co-signed loan. 
• Best Egg Personal Loan. Best Egg offers low rates to borrowers with good credit, but if your credit score is lower than 640 you won’t be eligible for a loan with the lender. Read Insider’s full review of Best Egg.
• LendingClub Personal Loan: LendingClub has a relatively high maximum APR, and you may get your funding more slowly than with another lender. Read Insider’s full review of LendingClub.
• Discover Personal Loans: Discover’s maximum limit for personal loans is $35,000, which is lower than most other lenders on our list. Read Insider’s full review of Discover. 

Online Loan Lender Trustworthiness

Whether you’re interested in taking out a $5,000 loan or a $20,000 loan, finding the right lender can help improve your experience and increase the likelihood of success with your online personal loan application. We’ve only selected providers of online loans with no public controversies in the last three years. We’ve also compared each institution’s Better Business Bureau score.

The BBB, a non-profit organization focused on consumer protection and trust, measures businesses based on factors like their responsiveness to consumer complaints, truthfulness in advertising, and clarity about business practices. Here is each company’s score:

All of our top picks for online loans are rated A or higher by the BBB. Keep in mind that a high BBB score does not guarantee a positive relationship with a lender, and that you should continue to do research and talk to others who have used the company to get the most comprehensive information possible. 

How to Choose the Best Online Loan

To find the best choice for your individual situation, take stock of the factors that are most important to you before you apply for a personal loan online. Many borrowers prioritize the lowest loan interest rate, but also consider any fees, the minimum credit score needed, and the accessibility of the lender’s customer service. You’ll also want to make sure you’re able to select a term length that works for you and that your loan’s purpose is allowed by the lender you choose.

Guides like this one will help you compare multiple lenders in the same place to weigh their pros and cons. Make sure to also read individual reviews of any lenders you’re considering. 

How To Get an Online Loan With Bad Credit

Getting a loan with bad credit can be challenging. If you don’t qualify for a loan with your preferred lender or are receiving a higher APR than you can afford with another online loan company, here are some tips you may consider to improve your credit score and increase the chances that your online loan application will be approved: 

• Ask for and review a copy of your credit report. Look for any errors on your report that may be tanking your score. If so, reach out the credit bureau to talk about rectifying the mistake.
• Maintain low credit card balances. Keeping a credit utilization rate — the percentage of your total credit you’re using — of 30% or less will prove to lenders that you can manage your credit appropriately.
• Devise a system for paying bills on time. Your payment history makes up a significant percentage of your credit score, and lenders like to see consistent and reliable payments in the past. Set up calendar reminders or automatic payments so you don’t fall behind.

Why You Should Trust Us: Our Methodology

Personal Finance Insider’s mission is to assist smart people in making the best decisions possible with their money. With that in mind, we compared many different online loans, digging into the fine print so you don’t have to. We evaluated several factors to determine the best lenders, including:

• Annual percentage rates: The lower the interest rate you have to pay on your online loan, the better. So we focused on lenders who have solid rates for people with fair or better credit histories.  
• Loan term length: We looked for online loans with a variety of repayment lengths. 
• Loan amount range: We know some people are looking for a small amount of cash, while others are looking to take out a substantial amount. We found lenders with a variety of minimum and maximum loan amounts to best fit your needs.  
• Minimum credit score: Depending on your credit score, you may be eligible to take out an online loan from some lenders and may not qualify with others. We picked lenders with a range of minimum credit scores so you have options no matter your credit history.
• Trustworthiness: Borrowing from an honest lender is often a top priority for many people. We made sure each lender had an A or above grade from the Better Business Bureau to provide the most transparent lenders possible.

See our full ratings methodology for online loans and personal loans » 

OneMain Financial Personal Loan disclosure: Not all applicants will be approved. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on your ability to meet our credit standards (including a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and availability of collateral) and your state of residence. If approved, not all applicants will qualify for larger loan amounts or most favorable loan terms. Larger loan amounts require a first lien on a motor vehicle no more than ten years old, that meets our value requirements, titled in your name with valid insurance. APRs are generally higher on loans not secured by a vehicle. Highly-qualified applicants may be offered higher loan amounts and/or lower APRs than those shown above. OneMain charges origination fees where allowed by law. Depending on the state where you open your loan, the origination fee may be either a flat amount or a percentage of your loan amount. Flat fee amounts vary by state, ranging from $25 to $500. Percentage-based fees vary by state ranging from 1% to 10% of your loan amount subject to certain state limits on the fee amount. Visit omf.com/loanfees for more information. Loan proceeds cannot be used for postsecondary educational expenses as defined by the CFPB’s Regulation Z such as college, university or vocational expense; for any business or commercial purpose; to purchase cryptocurrency assets, securities, derivatives or other speculative investments; or for gambling or illegal purposes. Borrowers in these states are subject to these minimum loan sizes: Alabama: $2,100. California: $3,000. Georgia: $3,100. North Dakota: $2,000. Ohio: $2,000. Virginia: $2,600. Borrowers in these states are subject to these maximum loan sizes: North Carolina: $9,000 for unsecured loans to all customers, $9,000 for secured loans to present customers. Maine: $7,000. Mississippi: $15,000. West Virginia: $14,000. Loans to purchase a motor vehicle or powersports equipment from select Maine, Mississippi, and North Carolina dealerships are not subject to these maximum loan sizes. Example Loan: A $6,000 loan with a 24.99% APR that is repayable in 60 monthly installments would have monthly payments of $176.07. Time to Fund Loans: Funding within one hour after closing through SpeedFunds must be disbursed to a bank-issued debit card. Disbursement by check or ACH may take up to 1-2 business days after loan closing.

Our experts answer readers’ student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess student loans). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.

Student loans can help bridge the gap between the total cost of going to college and the amount of financial aid your school offers. There are two main types of student loans: federal loans with benefits and fixed rates that apply to all borrowers, and private ones with rates and terms that vary.

You’re almost always better off going with federal student loans because you’re likely to get a lower interest rate, and they come with special benefits and protections. However, you can only refinance student loans through private lenders.

See Insider’s picks for the best student loan refinance lenders >>

Student Loan Refinance Rates

While rates have held in a relatively tight range in recent weeks, the cost of refinancing student loans has been rising over the past year as Federal Reserve policy makers increased the federal funds rate to try to slow inflation. Although not directly linked to student loans, higher Fed rates ultimately influence borrowing costs for everything from college to real estate, credit cards, and automobiles.

The current average interest rates on most refinanced student loans rose from two weeks ago, according to data compiled by Credible. 

Private Student Loan Interest Rates

5-Year Fixed Student Loan Rates

This past week, five-year fixed refinance rates for undergraduate loans increased 13 basis points, while rates for graduate loans climbed 25 basis points from the prior week. Rates for both categories of loan are each up more than half a percentage point from six months ago.