Is Best Egg Good for Personal Loans? An Honest Review

Updated July 9, 2026

Best Egg says about half of its customers receive their loan money by the next business day. Speed like that is a big reason people ask: is Best Egg good for personal loans, or is there a catch hiding in the fine print?

The honest answer is both. Best Egg is a legitimate, fast lender with solid customer satisfaction, but its origination fee and wide APR range mean it is not the cheapest option for everyone. Here is the full picture.

Best Egg Personal Loans: Key Facts at a Glance

FeatureDetails (as of July 2026)
Loan amounts$2,000 to $50,000
APR range6.99% to 35.99%, per Best Egg's website
Origination fee0.99% to 9.99%, deducted from your loan
TermsTypically 36 to 60 months
Credit score neededAround 600 or higher, based on our research
Funding speedAbout 1 to 3 business days; roughly half fund next day
Loan originatorsCross River Bank and Column N.A.
Secured optionYes, backed by fixtures in your home

APRs and fees vary by creditworthiness, loan amount, and term. Terms and conditions apply.

What Is Best Egg?

Best Egg is an online lending platform that launched in 2013 under the name Marlette Funding and rebranded to Best Egg. It does not hold a bank charter itself. Loans are originated by partner banks, primarily Cross River Bank, a New Jersey state-chartered bank and Member FDIC, along with Column N.A.

The platform focuses on personal loans for debt consolidation, credit card refinancing, home improvement, and major expenses. Everything happens online, from application to funding.

Best Egg Rates and Fees, Explained

As of July 2026, Best Egg APRs run from 6.99% to 35.99%, per Best Egg's website. Your rate is fixed for the life of the loan, so payments never change.

The bigger cost to watch is the origination fee of 0.99% to 9.99%. Best Egg deducts this fee from your loan before the money hits your account, and on terms of four years or longer the fee is at least 4.99%. Borrow $10,000 with a 5% fee and you receive $9,500, but you repay the full $10,000 plus interest. If you need an exact amount in hand, you have to borrow more to cover the fee.

Getting Best Egg's lowest rates is a high bar. Based on our research, the best APRs typically go to borrowers with credit scores around 700 or higher and six-figure incomes. Most approved borrowers land somewhere in the middle of the range.

Who Qualifies for a Best Egg Loan?

Best Egg does not publish an official minimum credit score, but based on our research, applicants typically need a score around 600 or higher, plus several years of credit history and at least one open account. That makes Best Egg reachable for fair-credit borrowers, not just excellent-credit ones.

You can check your rate through a soft pull that does not hurt your credit score. A hard inquiry only happens if you accept an offer and move forward.

Best Egg also offers a secured loan option that uses permanent fixtures in your home as collateral. Pledging collateral may unlock a lower APR or a larger loan, though it adds risk if you fall behind on payments.

Where Best Egg Shines

Fast funding is the standout. Most loans fund within one to three business days, and Best Egg reports that about half of customers get money the next business day. For an urgent car repair or a time-sensitive debt payoff, that speed matters.

Other strengths: the fully online application takes minutes, the rate check is a soft pull, fixed payments make budgeting simple, and the $2,000 to $50,000 range covers everything from small emergencies to major consolidation.

Where Best Egg Falls Short

The origination fee is the biggest drawback. At the top end, 9.99% of a $20,000 loan is nearly $2,000 gone before you see a dime. Several competitors charge no origination fee at all.

The 35.99% APR ceiling is also steep. If you are quoted a rate near the top of the range, a consolidation loan may barely beat the credit card debt it replaces. Always compare the total repayment cost, not just the monthly payment.

Finally, Best Egg loan terms typically run 36 to 60 months, per Best Egg's website. Borrowers who want a longer personal loan term and smaller payments may need to look elsewhere.

What Users Commonly Report

Users frequently praise how fast and simple the process is, with many saying the application took minutes and the money arrived the next day. Reviewers also often mention patient, helpful customer service, and people consolidating credit card debt commonly report meaningful relief from high interest rates.

A common complaint is that the final offer does not match the mailer or advertisement that drew them in, with some borrowers approved for a smaller amount or a higher APR than expected. Others mention persistent marketing emails and calls after applying. As always, treat a pre-approval as a starting point, not a promise.

How Best Egg Compares to Alternatives

Before you accept any offer, compare it. Upstart is a strong alternative if your credit file is thin: it partners with banks to offer loans from $1,000 to $75,000 and weighs factors like education and work experience alongside your score. Its $1,000 minimum also beats Best Egg's $2,000 floor for smaller needs. You can see how its rates and fees stack up in our Upstart personal loans review.

Best for: people with fair or limited credit who want a fast personal loan

Upstart

Upstart
4.8Firstcard rating

Upstart is an online lending marketplace that partners with banks to provide personal loans from $1,000-$75,000. Upstart goes beyond traditional lending metrics to help you find financing that considers many factors including your education and experience

Standout feature

AI-driven underwriting that goes beyond your credit score — checking your rate is a soft pull with no score impact, most applicants are approved instantly, and funds can arrive as soon as the next business day.

Fees

Origination fee 0%–12% of the loan amount

Pros

No minimum credit score required (AI-based approval)

Cons

Origination fee: up to 12%

For fast side-by-side shopping, MoneyLion lets you compare personal loan offers from multiple providers in minutes with no credit score impact for browsing. If Best Egg's quote wins there, take it with confidence. If it loses, you just saved real money. Our MoneyLion personal loan review explains how the marketplace works and who it fits best.

Best for: people who want to compare prequalified offers from multiple lenders in one place

MoneyLion

MoneyLion
4.6Firstcard rating

Compare personal loan offers from top providers in minutes with no credit score impact with the MoneyLion Marketplace.

Standout feature

Soft-pull marketplace that surfaces prequalified personal loan offers from a network of lenders, with options up to $100,000 and partners that work with fair and bad credit

Fees

Free to use the marketplace

Pros

Compare multiple lender offers in minutes; soft credit pull to prequalify — no impact on your score

Cons

Final approval requires a hard pull from the chosen lender

So, Is Best Egg Good for Personal Loans?

Best Egg is a good personal loan choice if you have fair-to-good credit, want money fast, and confirm your APR and origination fee against at least two competing offers. It is a weaker choice if you qualify for a no-fee lender, need less than $2,000, or get quoted an APR near the top of the range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do you need for Best Egg?

Best Egg does not publish a strict minimum, but based on our research, borrowers typically need a score around 600 or higher. The lowest advertised APRs generally require scores around 700 or above plus strong income.

Does checking your rate with Best Egg hurt your credit?

No. Best Egg uses a soft credit pull to show your potential rate, which, like checking your own credit, does not affect your score. A hard inquiry only occurs if you accept an offer and complete the full application.

How fast does Best Egg fund a loan?

Most Best Egg loans fund within one to three business days after approval. The company reports that about half of its customers receive their money the next business day, though bank processing times vary.

Is Best Egg a legitimate lender?

Yes. Best Egg has operated since 2013, and its loans are originated by FDIC-member partner banks, primarily Cross River Bank. It is a real lender with millions of funded loans, though you should still compare its fees and rates against other offers.


Firstcard Educational Content Team

Firstcard Educational Content Team - Updated July 9, 2026

Credit building
for all

Build credit early, earn cashback, grow your savings all in one place.
Credit building for all