Key takeaways
- Upgrade is a fintech company that offers a range of financial products, including personal loans and a rewards checking account.
- Their personal loans have competitive interest rates and can be used for debt consolidation, home improvements, or other major expenses.
- The Upgrade Rewards Checking account stands out for its lack of fees and cash-back rewards on everyday purchases.
Want a no-fee rewards checking account? Looking for an affordable personal loan but have bad credit? Upgrade may be the answer.
Upgrade is a fintech company that is best known for offering loans. Their personal loans have competitive interest rates and low credit requirements. Today, they offer a full range of banking products, including a Rewards Checking account. You can earn cash-back to the tune of 2% on debit card purchases, pay no monthly fee, and no overdraft fee. True, you’ll have to meet certain requirements to get the best rewards, but that’s the story with any bank.
Want to see if Upgrade is right for you? Check out our review below and find out if Upgrade’s products suit your needs.
What is Upgrade?
Upgrade is a financial technology company founded by Adelina Grozdanova and Renaud Laplanche in 2017. It started off with personal loans aimed at consumers looking to consolidate debt, make home improvements, or pay for a major expenses. The company now offers lines of credit, rewards checking accounts, high-yield savings accounts, and credit monitoring tools. If you’re comfortable with online and mobile banking, then its products can be a good low-cost choice.
Upgrade personal loan review
Upgrade is best known for its personal loans, and for good reason. Here’s a quick overview:
- Loan amounts: $1,000 to $50,000
- APR (Annual Percentage Rate): 8.49% to 35.99%, depending on your creditworthiness.
- Loan terms: 24 to 84 months. Can go up to 7 years on home improvement loans of at least $30,000.
- Fees: Origination fee: 1.85% to 9.99% (It is deducted from the loan proceeds.) Late Payment or Failed Payment Fee: $10. There are no prepayment penalties.
- Time to funding: As fast as one business day after all verifications are completed.
- Loan availability: Loans are available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Upgrade offers joint, secured, and unsecured loans. Secured personal loans require you to put up your car as collateral but offer lower interest rates. Joint loans require another applicant who is responsible for repaying the money. If you have poor credit, a secured loan or a joint loan can increase your chances of being approved. You are more likely to receive a larger amount, a lower interest rate, and better terms.
Best Fintech Loans
“Upgrade is a great financial company. The loan process is straightforward, secure and fast. The interest rates are reasonable depending on credit score and other factors. I highly recommend Upgrade.”
Upgrade loan advantages
Multiple rate discounts
Upgrade offers various discounts on interest rates, which can make a considerable difference over the life of a loan. You can qualify for a discount in a number of different ways. Set up automatic payments. Use all or the majority of your loan to pay off an existing debt. Use your car as collateral for a secured loan. Open a Rewards Checking Account with Upgrade.
Fixed interest rates
Upgrade personal loans come with fixed interest rates, meaning your interest rate will remain the same throughout the life of your loan. Fixed rates make it easier to budget as your monthly payments remain the same.
Secured loans
You can get a secured loan with Upgrade. Adding collateral can help you qualify for a bigger loan and/or a better rate. The asset you put up reduces the risk for the lender. That is because if you default, the lender can seize your collateral, as in your car.
Joint loans
Applying with someone who has good to excellent credit can help you qualify for a bigger loan and/or a better rate. Both credit profiles are taken into account when you apply for a joint loan. Both applicants are responsible for repaying the money.
Do you ever need a quick cash fix?
Adjust the monthly payment date
It’s not always feasible to pay on the assigned due date. That’s why Upgrade lets you adjust when your payment is due within 15 days before or after your given date. Thanks to this feature, you can pay your loans when they’re due and avoid late fees.
Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans
For individuals looking to consolidate debt, Upgrade is the way to go. The company streamlines the process by offering direct payment to creditors. This not only simplifies your finances but can also expedite the debt payoff process.
Great Online Loans!
“Easy to get a loan with Upgrade .I Like the rates! Installment plans! You can’t beat it!! It’s as Easy as 1,2,3! No hassle , just apply and boom! That easy ! Stress free! Thank you Upgrade for making my life easier and being there when I needed you the most!”
Check if you’re eligible & apply for a loan
What factors does Upgrade consider?
Eligibility for an Upgrade loan is based on several factors, including:
Credit score: The minimum credit score is 560, lower than for most lenders. A higher credit score generally means a lower interest rate.
Income: Upgrade considers your income to ensure you can afford the loan, but they do not have a set minimum. Besides a full-time job, you can put down alternative forms of income. These can include income from a partner, alimony, retirement, child support, and Social Security payments.
Credit history: You must have at least one credit account and a minimum of two years of credit history to qualify.
Debt-to-income ratio: The maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is 75%. That includes your mortgage and the loan you’re applying for.
To check your eligibility, you can visit Upgrade’s website and apply. The process only takes a few minutes. You’ll be able to see if you’re approved and check your rate, all without impacting your credit score.
What are Upgrade’s loan qualifications?
Upgrade has standard loan requirements. To qualify, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or living in the U.S. on a valid visa
- Be at least 18 years old (19 in Alabama)
- Have a verifiable bank account
- Have a valid email address
How to apply for an Upgrade personal loan
Applying for a loan with Upgrade is straightforward:
1. Prequalify to check your rate: Fill out the form on Upgrade’s website. You’ll see the loan amount and rate you’re eligible for at no cost to you. The process does not impact your credit score since Upgrade only does a soft credit check. At this point you are under no obligation to take a loan if you don’t like the ones offered.
2. Choose your loan: Review your personal loan offers and choose the one that best suits your needs.
3. Complete the application: Provide additional details and documents to complete the application. You’ll need W-2s or pay stubs to verify your information. Upgrade now does a hard credit check, so your credit score may dip temporarily.
4. Await approval: Upgrade will review your application and may request additional documents. It typically takes one to three days to approve applications.
5. Receive funds: Once approved, the funds will be in your bank account within one business day.
Fast and Easy
“Always have an amazing experience using upgrade – got a loan to pay my daughter’s car and also to consolidate credit . Fast and easy! Will continue to use upgrade in the future.”
Get Upgrade’s rewards checking account
Upgrade partnered with FDIC-insured Cross River Bank to offer a Rewards Checking account. The Rewards Checking account lets you earn cash-back with your debit card, has no monthly fees, and no minimum balance requirement. It is an excellent complement to Upgrade’s personal loan services. You can manage your finances on one site and easily earn cash-back rewards. Earn rewards when you use your debit card anywhere Visa is accepted.
To access its top-tier benefits, you must have an active account, meaning you add at least $1,000 in monthly direct deposits. If you qualify, you can get up to 2% cash-back on purchases, open a Performance Savings account with a 4.02% APY, and get up to 20% lower rate on your Upgrade personal loan.
Cash-back rewards
Earn up to 2% cash-back on everyday expenses from convenience and drug stores, gas stations, monthly subscriptions, restaurants, and utilities. You must have an active account to earn 2% cash-back. The maximum you can get is $500 per calendar year. If you have direct deposit, you can earn an unlimited 1% cash-back on everything. Even if you’re account isn’t considered active.
No fees
Online banks generally offer checking accounts with lower fees, and Upgrade is no exception. Upgrade’s Rewards Checking account comes with no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no minimum balance. The lack of fees can add up to significant savings.
Allpoint ATM Network
Upgrade is part of the Allpoint ATM network. You can access fee-free ATMs at over 55,000 locations.
Rate discounts
You can get a rate discount of up to 20% on a personal loan with Upgrade when you have a Rewards Checking account.
Early direct deposits
No matter how much money you deposit into your account monthly, you can get your direct deposit up to two days early with Upgrade. It’s easy to set up your direct deposit. Simply contact your payroll department to get started.
The Best Rewards Checking
“So far nothing but great things to say about upgrade. It is a simply to the point checking account with awesome cash back rewards that can’t be beat. Early direct deposit is a great feature! They offer other products too and the customer service is hands down the best and in today’s world that’s something you don’t find with most companies anymore! Great company!”
Pair with Performance Savings
Besides a Rewards Checking account, Upgrade offers a high-yield savings account called Performance Savings. If you have an active account and a monthly direct deposit of $1,000, you can get a 4.02% APY. For comparison, the national average for savings accounts has a 0.46% APY.
Save My Paycheck
Save My Paycheck puts savings on autopilot. When you turn this feature on, Upgrade automatically sends a portion of your paycheck into your Performance Savings account. Since the money is out of sight, out of mind, you are easily able to build up savings.
Bill Pay Guard
Never miss an important bill again. This feature monitors your linked accounts and automatically pulls money from savings to cover an upcoming bill. It prioritizes essential payments, gives you peace of mind, and helps you avoid late fees.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is Upgrade personal loans legit?
Upgrade’s personal loans are legitimate. Upgrade is a well-known financial technology company that has provided credit to millions of borrowers since its launch in 2017. It is has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and earned the Best-of Awards 2024 and 2025 from NerdWallet.
2. Is Upgrade a good loan company?
Upgrade is considered a good loan company, especially for borrowers with fair to good credit. It offers fixed-rate personal loans with predictable monthly payments, and no prepayment penalties. Upgrade also provides credit-building tools and free credit monitoring.
3. How long does Upgrade take to approve a loan?
Upgrade typically provides loan approval decisions within minutes after submitting an application. Accept the offer and you will receive your money within one business day of clearing verifications.The exact timeline can vary.
Bottom line
Upgrade is a good choice if you want a personal loan with competitive interest rates, fast funding, and pre-approval. Or if you’re looking for a fee-free checking account that also offers cash-back rewards and early direct deposit. Take a look at what it has to offer, compare products, and choose the best option for you.