CLEARBORROW · PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2026
Upstart review: APR, fees and who qualifies
Upstart is a lending platform whose bank partners make fixed-rate personal loans of $1,000 to $75,000 at 6.1% to 35.99% APR over 3 or 5 years. Its model looks at more than the credit score (for example education and employment). Many loans carry an origination fee taken from the money you receive: in its own example, a $10,000 loan with an $831 fee pays out $9,169 and costs 60 payments of $261.
Independent review. Upstart is not a ClearBorrow partner and we earn nothing from it. Facts come from Upstart’s own published pages, checked November 12, 2026; we did not apply for a loan. Terms differ by state.
On this page
Published terms
| Published terms | |
|---|---|
| Amounts | $1,000–$75,000; state minimums include GA $3,100, HI $1,500, MA $7,000 |
| APR | 6.1%–35.99% fixed (5-year rates offered September 2026) |
| Term | 3 or 5 years |
| Fees | Origination fee deducted from proceeds where charged; no prepayment penalty |
| Availability | 48 states + D.C.; not offered in West Virginia or Iowa |
| Smaller loans | “Short-term relief” loans of $200–$2,500 over 3–18 months, priced by an origination fee |
Sources: Upstart personal loans ↗, loan options ↗, home page ↗.
What it costs
| Upstart’s published example | Figure |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $10,000 over 60 months |
| Interest rate / origination fee | 19.12% / 8.31% ($831) |
| APR | 23.48% |
| Money received | $9,169 |
| Payments | 60 × $261 = $15,660 total (our arithmetic) |
Its short-term relief example: $1,000 for 12 months with no interest and a $205 origination fee, an APR of 35.95% (Upstart ↗). The fee is the whole cost, so read the APR, not just “no interest”.
Strengths and weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Wide amount range, up to $75,000 | Origination fee can be large — 8.31% in its own example |
| Fixed rate, no prepayment penalty | Only two terms: 3 or 5 years |
| Looks beyond the credit score | Top of the range is 35.99% APR |
| Checking your rate does not affect your score, per Upstart | Not available in West Virginia or Iowa |
Who it may fit
Borrowers with fair credit but steady income, or a thin credit file, who want a fixed monthly payment. If your offer includes a large origination fee, compare the APR against lenders that charge no fee.
Alternatives to compare
- Credit union loans and PALs — often the cheapest option if you are a member.
- Best Egg, SoFi and LendingClub for good credit.
- Upstart, Upgrade, Avant and OneMain for fair credit.
- Our loan calculator to compare total repayment.
Questions
Does Upstart charge an origination fee?
It may. Where charged it is deducted from the loan before the money is sent — its published example shows 8.31%.
What credit score do I need for Upstart?
Upstart does not publish a single minimum on the pages we checked; it says it weighs credit, income and other information.
Is Upstart a bank?
No. Upstart is a platform; loans are made by partner banks and credit unions.
Sources and limits
- Upstart: personal loans (APR, amounts, terms, representative example) ↗
- Upstart: home page (short-term relief loans, state minimums) ↗
- Upstart: loan options (state availability) ↗
Sources checked November 12, 2026. Lenders change rates, amounts and state coverage; confirm on the lender’s own rates page for your state before applying. Worked examples are our own arithmetic unless marked as the lender’s published example. How we use sources.