LightStream Personal Loans: 2025 Review

Name: LightStream
Item: LightStream
Rating: 4.5
Author: Heidi Rivera

Written by

Heidi Rivera

Edited by

Rhys Subitch

Updated on June 11, 2025

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At a glance

LightStream: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Best Home Improvement Loan

Find my rate

with Bankrate

4.5

Bankrate Score

Availability

4.7

Affordability

4.6

Customer Experience

4.2

Transparency

4.5

Full methodology

Bankrate’s take

LightStream’s loans are among the best for borrowers with strong credit, featuring generous amounts and repayment terms, low APRs and no fees.

Lender Details

Loan amount

$5,000-$100,000

APR from

6.49%-25.29% *with AutoPay

Term lengths

24-240 months

Min Credit Score

695

Funds available in

As soon as the same day

LightStream is best for excellent credit borrowers looking to consolidate debt or finance a home renovation

LightStream is a 2025 Bankrate Award winner for best home improvement personal loan (its fourth year in a row winning this award). It offers loans of up to $100,000 — among the highest in the personal loan industry. Repayment terms are capped at 84 months, which is higher than the standard 60-month limit offered by most lenders. The lender also offers a low starting personal loan rates, along with a no-fee policy and a rate beat program, making its loans relatively low cost.

Good-to-excellent credit is required for approval. But for qualified borrowers, LightStream is a prime choice for large purchases and costs, such as home improvement projects and debt consolidation.

LightStream personal loan purposes

LightStream offers generous loan amounts and a range of repayment terms. These features make its loans a great option to finance large purchases, home improvement projects, costly repairs and even tiny homes.

LightStream’s loans are also a good option for debt consolidation given their low starting APR, autopay discount and rate beat program, which can result in bigger savings.

That said, borrowers can’t use the loan proceeds to cover post-secondary education expenses or refinance student loans. Borrowers are also prohibited from using the funds to invest in the stock market, contribute to any retirement, life insurance or education savings plan or to refinance an existing LightStream loan.

Where LightStream personal loans stands out

Low rates: LightStream’s lowest APR is currently 6.49 percent, including a 0.50 percent autopay discount.
Rate beat program: If an approved borrower gets a better rate elsewhere, LightStream will beat the competing offer by 0.10 percent.
No fees: LightStream doesn’t charge any fees, not even an origination fee.
Fast approval and funding: Borrowers may receive funds as soon as the same day they apply with LightStream, which is great for time-sensitive needs.

Where LightStream personal loans falls short

Minimum loan amount is high: While many personal loan lenders let you borrow as little as $1,000, LightStream’s minimum is $5,000. This could be too much for some borrowers.
Requires a long credit history: LightStream borrowers should have several years of credit history with a variety of account types, so it’s not a good choice for borrowers just starting out on their credit journey.
No prequalification available: Borrowers must submit a formal application to get tailored rate information, which can temporarily lower their credit score.

LightStream customer resources

Customer support

LightStream offers customer support Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. ET. While LightStream’s website doesn’t provide a phone number, borrowers can get in touch via email at customerservice@lightstream.com.

Digital experience

LightStream offers a smooth application process that is completed 100 percent online, from start to finish. Online account management is also available and borrowers can contact customer support from their profile or via email.

How this lender compares

4.5

Bankrate Score

APR from

6.49%-25.29% *with AutoPay

Loan Amount

$5,000-$100,000

Term Length

24-240 months

Min Credit Score

695

Compare rates

on Bankrate

4.7

Bankrate Score

APR from

8.99%-35.49%* with autopay

Loan Amount

$5,000–$100,000

Term Length

24-84 months

Min Credit Score

300

Read our review

on Bankrate

4.6

Bankrate Score

APR from

6.99%-35.99%

Loan Amount

$2,000-$50,000

Term Length

36 to 60 months

Min Credit Score

600

Read our review

on Bankrate

LightStream vs. SoFi

LightStream and SoFi loan offers are quite similar. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000, with competitive APRs. Both lenders also accept joint applications and have no mandatory fees.

The main difference is that LightStream doesn’t offer prequalification, while SoFi does. This means borrowers can check their rate with SoFi without having to submit a formal application. SoFi also offers a variety of member-specific perks, like referral bonuses and rate discounts, that LightStream currently lacks.

Read a full comparison of LightStream vs. Sofi

LightStream vs. Best Egg

LightStream and Best Egg couldn’t be more different. Though they’re both online lenders, Best Egg has APR ranges that are higher and loan amounts that are lower than what LightStream offers. Best Egg also charges an origination fee, in addition to other lender fees, making its loans more expensive across the board.

However, borrowers with imperfect credit may have a harder time qualifying for LightStream’s loans. Best Egg, on the other hand, has a minimum credit score requirement of 600, which is low compared to many personal loan lenders.

Read a full comparison of LightStream vs. Best Egg

Do you qualify for a LightStream personal loan?

Like other lenders, LightStream requires borrowers to provide their contact information, date of birth, physical address and Social Security number to apply. The lender doesn’t list specific credit requirements on its website, but according to a representative, borrowers need a minimum credit score of 695 to qualify.

LightStream also considers the requested loan amount, purpose and repayment term in addition to their credit history and financial situation for approval.

How to apply for a personal loan with LightStream

LightStream’s application process is quick and straightforward. It’s done completely online and should take less than 15 minutes to complete.

Get a quote: Because LightStream doesn’t offer prequalification, it’s best to check your score before applying. If you have a strong credit score and income, decide how much you need to borrow and apply.
Add information and finalize your application: Have all the required paperwork on hand, including copies of pay stubs and proof of identification.
Review the loan details: Once you’re approved, read your loan agreement carefully. If everything is in order and you want to go forward with the loan, sign it. You will also need to provide your funding preferences and banking information to get the funds. LightStream states that borrowers can get same-day funding if they complete these steps before 2:30 p.m. ET.

How Bankrate rates this lender

Overall Score	4.5	Explanation
Availability	4.7	Same-day approval and funding, but no income requirements listed.
Affordability	4.6	Competitive APRs, rate beat program and no fees.
Customer Experience	4.2	Range of customer support hours, but limited to email.
Transparency	4.5	Rates are listed but credit requirements are vague.

Methodology

Bankrate's trusted personal loans industry expertise

Read our full methodology

years in business

lenders reviewed

loan features weighed

900

data points collected

Bankrate considers 20 factors when reviewing lenders. Credit requirements, APR ranges, fees, loan amounts and flexibility are all taken into account so that ratings are representative of how competitive lenders are for a wide range of credit profiles and budgets. The Bankrate Score for personal loans consists of four categories:

Availability: What the minimum loan amounts are, its eligibility requirements and loan turnaround are considered in this category.
Affordability: The interest rates, penalties and fees are measured in this section of the score. Lower rates and fees and fewer potential penalties result in a higher score.
Customer experience: This category covers customer service hours, if online applications are available, online account access and mobile apps.
Transparency: This category is measured by how accessible credit requirements, rates and fees are on the lender's page. We also considered whether prequalification was available, as all these factors are key for consumers to make an informed decision.

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.

What customers think

What people across the web are saying about LightStream personal loans

The lender’s website features over 29,000 5-star reviews as of June 2025. Most consumers cite ease of application, fast funding and competitive rates as the main reasons for their positive experience.

However, comments on third-party review site Trustpilot tell a different story. With 96 reviews on its page (which LightStream hasn’t officially claimed), the lender averages 1.3 of 5 stars. Reviewers mentioned being offered high rates despite clean credit histories. One reviewer said, in part:

"I have excellent credit and never been late on any of my payments. That didn't matter and you offered me credit card interest on a personal loan. Just because everyone is offering high rates right now doesn't mean you should take advantage of your loyal customers."
— Trustpilot User

But other reviewers state they don’t understand the bad LightStream personal loan reviews. One customer said:

"I got approved for a personal loan and funded in two days. I have decent credit with a good amount of student loan debt. Funds were sent directly to my bank and got the autopay discount to my rate.

This is a great option for borrowers with good to excellent credit scores without a ton of debt. Online account is easy to use and they have an amortization tool so you can see how increasing your monthly payment will help you pay off your loan faster. Also no prepayment penalties."
— Trustpilot User

Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate. Please see the issuer’s website for updated terms and conditions.

Community LightStream personal loans scores

PERSONAL LOAN

LightStream

Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about LightStream.

4.3

75 ratings

Score breakdown

5 stars

48%

4 stars

40%

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Score by category

Overall rating 4.3 / 5

Fees & closing costs 4.2 / 5

Funding time 4.4 / 5

Customer service 4.2 / 5

Application process 4.3 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 4.2 / 5

In July 2024, Bankrate collaborated with a third-party vendor to survey 1.3K loan borrowers nationwide. Bankrate and our vendor collected and summarized borrower responses to five questions on a 5-point scale, three yes/no questions, as well as open-ended reviews of their loan experience. Responses are based on individual borrower’s product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. User ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by the associated lenders, nor do these ratings reflect Bankrate’s own expert review of these loan products.

Community Reviews

See what users like you are saying about LightStream.

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Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe why you selected this lender

I applied for a LightStream Personal Loan because their low interest rates caught my attention.

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

One reason I chose LightStream was their competitive rates combined with flexible borrowing options, so I could borrow the amount I needed to achieve my goal without sacrificing too much.

Loan purpose

Debt consolidation

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 4 / 5

Funding time 5 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 4 / 5

Customer service 3 / 5

Application process 4 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe your experience with the application process

The application process is easy and customer support is great.

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

This was the only thing I needed

Loan purpose

Home project loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 4 / 5

Funding time 5 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 5 / 5

Customer service 3 / 5

Application process 4 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe your experience with the application process

Customer service has been great but it's often hard to get to them.

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

No I have not used anything more than this loan to achieve my goal

Loan purpose

Home project loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 4 / 5

Funding time 5 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 4 / 5

Customer service 5 / 5

Application process 5 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe why you selected this lender

I went forward with them because of the recommendations I had from my family and friends.

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

My goal was met without the need for other financial tools

Loan purpose

Emergency loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 4 / 5

Funding time 5 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 4 / 5

Customer service 5 / 5

Application process 4 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe your experience with the application process

the entire experiences was smooth from start to finish

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

this options provided full coverage for my needs

Loan purpose

Home project loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 4 / 5

Funding time 5 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 5 / 5

Customer service 4 / 5

Application process 4 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe why you selected this lender

Good interest rate and APR of the loan amount terms and low fees.

Describe your experience with the application process

did everything online somewhat smooth process

Loan purpose

Debt consolidation

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 3 / 5

Funding time 3 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 3 / 5

Customer service 3 / 5

Application process 3 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe why you selected this lender

Good customer service and very easy to navigate

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

No , I don't use any other financial products

Loan purpose

Home project loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 5 / 5

Funding time 4 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 4 / 5

Customer service 5 / 5

Application process 5 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe why you selected this lender

They had loan option that fit my personal needs.

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

No additional financial tools were necessary---this covered it all.

Loan purpose

Home project loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 5 / 5

Funding time 4 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 5 / 5

Customer service 5 / 5

Application process 4 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe why you selected this lender

I got a better loan than I expected.

Describe your experience with the application process

I appreciated the fast response time.

Loan purpose

Home project loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 4 / 5

Funding time 3 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 5 / 5

Customer service 4 / 5

Application process 3 / 5

Anonymous Borrower

August 20, 2024

Describe why you selected this lender

I trusted their experience in personal loans.

Did you use any other financial products or services along with to achieve your goal?

No other financial support was necessary for me.

Loan purpose

Emergency loan

Score by category

Fees & closing costs 4 / 5

Funding time 5 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 3 / 5

Customer service 4 / 5

Application process 5 / 5

We wanna know what you think about LightStream

Have experience with LightStream? Let us know your thoughts

LightStream Personal Loans: 2025 Review

The Bankrate promise

At a glance

LightStream: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For Best Home Improvement Loan

Bankrate’s take

Lender Details

Loan amount

APR from

Term lengths

Min Credit Score

Funds available in

LightStream is best for excellent credit borrowers looking to consolidate debt or finance a home renovation

LightStream personal loan purposes

Where LightStream personal loans stands out

Where LightStream personal loans falls short

LightStream customer resources

Customer support

Digital experience

How this lender compares

LightStream vs. SoFi

LightStream vs. Best Egg

Do you qualify for a LightStream personal loan?

How to apply for a personal loan with LightStream

How Bankrate rates this lender

Methodology

Bankrate's trusted personal loans industry expertise

What customers think

What people across the web are saying about LightStream personal loans

Community LightStream personal loans scores

LightStream

Community Reviews

We wanna know what you think about LightStream

Up next