Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as "Credible."
LendingTree helps borrowers find many different types of loans (such as personal loans and mortgages) through a lending marketplace.
Multiple lenders compete for your business on the LendingTree platform, but keep in mind that LendingTree is not a lender itself.
In this LendingTree review:
- People who have tried LendingTree vs. Credible
- LendingTree background
- Application process
- Lending terms
- Loan funding
- Consumer complaints and reviews
- Is LendingTree a good choice?
Consider Credible, a newer alternative to LendingTree. Credible makes it easy to compare loan options, fast and secure.
The personal loan companies in the table below compete for your business through Credible. You can compare rates from all of these partner lenders without affecting your credit score.
| Lender | Fixed rates | Loan amounts |
|---|---|---|
Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 35.99% APR | $7,500 to $50,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 9.95% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $35,000** |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 15.19% APR | $10,000 to $50,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $50,000 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 6.99% - 24.99% APR | $2,500 to $35,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 10.5% - 29.99% APR | $5,000 to $40,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.3% - 35.89% APR | $1,000 to $40,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.99% - 35.99% APR | $2,000 to $36,500 |
|
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.99% - 23.99% APR | $5,000 to $100,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 18.0% - 35.99% APR | $1,500 to $20,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 7.74% - 17.99% APR | $600 to $50,000 (depending on loan term) |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.99% - 35.99% APR | $3,500 to $40,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.99% - 23.43% APR10 | $5,000 to $100,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 11.69% - 35.93% APR7 | $1,000 to $20,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 8.49% - 35.97% APR | $1,000 to $50,000 |
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Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
| 5.4% - 35.99% APR4 | $1,000 to $50,0005 |
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People who have tried LendingTree vs. Credible
On the surface, LendingTree and Credible might seem similar. However, with Credible, you can compare actual prequalified rates in just two minutes. And you won’t have to worry about spam or hidden fees.
Here’s what a few borrowers had to say after trying LendingTree vs. Credible*:
Felt like a more modern LendingTree site. Process was easy. Was able to check multiple Credible lenders in one spot with a soft check. I had several offers, I picked the best deal, and got exactly what I was looking for.
Quick process, no annoying calls or emails like LendingTree, very happy overall!
The application was quick and easy. The reason I gave a 5-star review was because I have not received any spam emails or phone calls like you do from other websites. I would definitely recommend Credible over LendingTree.
* Reviews have been edited for spelling and grammar.
LendingTree background
LendingTree is one of the first and largest peer-to-peer online lending exchanges, first established in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1998.
Its purpose is to bring borrowers and multiple lenders together so that they can agree on arrangements for:
- Business and personal loans
- Auto loans
- Student loans
- New and refinanced mortgages
Its website also offers personal finance services and tools, such as providing information about credit cards and credit scores.
LendingTree is an alternative way to borrow because the loans originate from individual investors and small companies, as well as from traditional lenders like banks. It has handled millions of inquiries since its inception.
Borrowers benefit from the competition among different lenders that can result in lower interest rates and access to loans even when banks have declined your loan application.
Application process
The loan process is fairly standard, although the information you enter varies with the type of loan you request.
For example, here’s the information you’d need to start an application for a personal loan — that is, a loan that is not backed by collateral such as your home or car:
- Loan purpose: The purpose of the loan could be anything from debt consolidation to vacations, major purchases or wedding expenses.
- Loan amount: With LendingTree, you might be approved for a loan ranging from $1,000 to $35,000.
- Estimated credit rating: You can select excellent, good, fair, or poor.
You’ll also need to include your:
- Employment and pre-tax income
- Address and type of residence
- Personal identification information (including email address and the last four digits of your Social Security number)
LendingTree only offers to provide you with your actual credit score after you finish the application. It asks a series of questions to confirm your identity first. It then shows you all the offers available for the loan amount you requested, including the:
- Lenders’ name
- Amount
- APR
- Number of years to repay
- Monthly estimated payments
You’ll also be provided a phone number to call. You can ask for additional detail or immediately apply for one of the offers, in which case you will have to enter additional information.
All during the application process, LendingTree will send you emails telling you your status. You can easily complete the entire procedure in 15 to 30 minutes.
An excessive number of credit inquiries can lower your credit score.
LendingTree also has a LoanExplorer page that displays current quotes base on several parameters you can enter without identifying yourself. We found that LoanExplorer seems to be customized to mortgage loans only.
Lending terms
Lending terms vary considerably, depending on your credit score, income, type and amount of loan and other considerations. Typically, loans have a length of three years or longer.
We saw advertised 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages starting at 2.97 percent APRs, but your APR could go as high as 29.9 percent.
LendingTree’s website points out that you can search for loans without first giving information (through its LoanExplorer), that there are no commitments and that the quotes are personalized.
Loan funding
We found a range of loan funding sources, from banks to mortgage lending companies to bids from unknown lenders that may be small companies, partnerships or even individuals.
When the lender is an unknown entity, you don’t know about its long-term viability. On the other hand, do you really care? You shouldn’t be affected if you secure a loan from a lender that subsequently goes bankrupt — the loan will transfer elsewhere, but your terms are not altered.
Profits were $1 million, compared to a $7.4 million loss during the same quarter a year ago and a $4.1 million loss in the second quarter of 2015.
See how much you can borrow
Before you borrow, estimate how much you’ll pay for a loan using our personal loan calculator below.
Enter your loan information to calculate how much you could pay
With a $ loan, you will pay $ monthly and a total of $ in interest over the life of your loan. You will pay a total of $ over the life of the loan.
Need a personal loan?
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Consumer complaints and reviews
LendingTree has had a Better Business Bureau file since 1998. As of January 2019, it was not BBB Accredited and had a rating of A-. Out of 315 BBB closed complaints in the previous three years, 180 stemmed from advertising/sales issues and 129 were attributed to service problems.
Of course, these numbers represent a very small percentage of LendingTree’s transactions. Out of 199 BBB customer reviews, LendingTree has a 3-star rating. Bear in mind that disgruntled consumers are the most likely to leave reviews.
Here are a couple of anecdotal complaints sourced from a number of forums:
- Unwanted spam and persistent phone calls from potential lenders: This seems to be the biggest concern from consumers. Note that the calls are not from LendingTree itself, but directly from its funding sources. Nevertheless, it could be held as a negative against LendingTree that it apparently does not police or restrict the marketing behavior of its lenders.
- Credit reports subjected to too many inquiries from the lenders: Some consumers feel that LendingTree should instead perform one set of inquiries and then disseminate this information to potential lenders.
Other reviews included satisfied consumers who said they were more or less happy with the services provided by LendingTree.
In general, LendingTree accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the lenders and advertisements on its websites — consumers are using the site “as is.”
Is LendingTree a good choice?
In all fairness, LendingTree has been able to survive for almost 20 years with a minimum of controversy. If you’re looking for one-stop shopping for loans or credit and have a decent or better credit score, LendingTree appears to be a convenient way to receive multiple bids from lenders.
It may be easier to get a personal loan or other types of credit from LendingTree than it is from a bank, but you’ll expect to pay a higher APR for this greater acceptance rate. LendingTree fees will cost you money one way or another, and you may feel harassed by lender spam.
In the end, LendingTree is a useful service that allows you to conveniently compare rates from competing lenders, thereby boosting your chances of finding the best possible deal for your situation.
With Credible, you can see your actual rates from our partner mortgage lenders in the table below in three minutes. And unlike LendingTree, once you choose the option you like most, Credible can take you all the way from origination to closing your loan.
About Rates and Terms: Rates for personal loans provided by lenders on the Credible platform range between 5.40%-35.99% APR with terms from 12 to 84 months. Rates presented include lender discounts for enrolling in autopay and loyalty programs, where applicable. Actual rates may be different from the rates advertised and/or shown and will be based on the lender’s eligibility criteria, which include factors such as credit score, loan amount, loan term, credit usage and history, and vary based on loan purpose. The lowest rates available typically require excellent credit, and for some lenders, may be reserved for specific loan purposes and/or shorter loan terms. The origination fee charged by the lenders on our platform ranges from 0% to 10%. Each lender has their own qualification criteria with respect to their autopay and loyalty discounts (e.g., some lenders require the borrower to elect autopay prior to loan funding in order to qualify for the autopay discount). All rates are determined by the lender and must be agreed upon between the borrower and the borrower’s chosen lender. For a loan of $10,000 with a three year repayment period, an interest rate of 7.99%, a $350 origination fee and an APR of 11.51%, the borrower will receive $9,650 at the time of loan funding and will make 36 monthly payments of $313.32. Assuming all on-time payments, and full performance of all terms and conditions of the loan contract and any discount programs enrolled in included in the APR/interest rate throughout the life of the loan, the borrower will pay a total of $11,279.43. As of March 12, 2019, none of the lenders on our platform require a down payment nor do they charge any prepayment penalties.