LightStream Personal Loans Review, September 2025

What is LightStream best for?

Best for low rates, flexible terms, high loan amounts

LightStream is the best personal loan lender in our reckoning by a wide margin — it stands out for large available loan amounts, extra-long repayment terms, and industry-leading low interest rates. LightStream's lowest available APR is the lowest of all 32 lenders we reviewed. And while that particular rate (6.49%) is available only to borrowers with excellent credit, LightStream still came through with the lowest interest rates of all Credible partner lenders for borrowers across the “good credit” spectrum (FICO credit scores of 670 and higher). Findings were based on 12 months of Credible personal loan marketplace data.

If you can qualify for a LightStream loan, you could potentially save the most money on interest with this lender. Plus, it offers loans for just about anything. And if you need to get a large personal loan, LightStream not only offers loans up to $100,000 but also gives you many more years to repay the amount you borrow, which can keep monthly payments low. Most lenders limit repayment terms to seven years. LightStream offers repayment terms up to 20 years for some loan types.

Best for home improvement loans

Home improvement is the third most popular reason Credible borrowers take out a personal loan. LightStream offers unsecured personal loans for home improvement up to $100,000 with repayment terms available for 10 or more years. The combination of large available loan amounts, long repayment terms, and industry-leading rates makes it a top choice for financing home improvements and renovations. 

When compared to alternatives like home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), a LightStream home improvement loan may have a higher APR, but has a quick approval process, and allows you to skip the risk that comes with a second mortgage.

Note that you'll need to use a personal loan marketplace to prequalify with LightStream — the lender does not have a prequalification process on its website.

Methodology

Credible evaluated 32 lenders across 1,216 data points based on customer experience, minimum fixed interest rates, maximum loan amounts, funding times, loan terms, fees, discounts, third-party reviews, and more. Credible's team of experts gathered information from each lender's website and from our partners directly. We also considered each of our partner lenders' statistics over a 12-month period — including average funding times, average credit scores for approved applicants, and average rates.

Learn more about how Credible rates lenders by exploring our personal loans lender rating methodology.

Pros and cons of LightStream personal loans

How to qualify for a LightStream personal loan

Credit score and financial history

LightStream is upfront about the fact that it only approves borrowers with good to excellent credit profiles. For your application to be reviewed, you’ll need to have:

• Good to excellent credit: You must have a FICO credit score of 670 or higher — the higher the better.

In addition to the above, LightStream considers your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), payment history, and credit history. The lender states that people with good credit tend to have several years of a diverse credit history, a demonstrated ability to save, a stable income that can cover their debts, and a solid payment history with few to no missed payments.

Income and employment

To qualify for a LightStream loan, you must have income and assets that enable you to comfortably repay your existing debts along with the loan you’re requesting. That said, you should earn at least $45,000 annually to prequalify for a LightStream loan if using the Credible marketplace. Keep in mind that prequalification isn't a guarantee that you'll ultimately qualify for a loan, and your final rate could differ. Also note that you can't prequalify with LightStream directly.

What can I use a LightStream personal loan for?

You can use a LightStream personal loan for almost anything that isn't illegal. Common loan purposes include credit card and debt consolidation, home improvement financing, paying for medical procedures, and purchasing a boat, RV, or used car. Less common loan purposes that are also allowed include solar financing, tiny home financing, adoption fees, and financing a preK-12 education.

LightStream loans can’t be used for student loans (original or refinanced) or to purchase stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies. You also can’t use one LightStream loan to refinance another LightStream loan, and you must use the loan for the purpose stated in your application.

Related: How To Get Approved for a Personal Loan 

LightStream personal loan fees and penalties

LightStream is a true no-fee lender.

• Loan origination fees: None
• Early repayment penalties: None
• Other fees: None

How LightStream compares to other lenders

How to contact LightStream

One area where LightStream drops the ball is customer service options. It currently only lists an email support channel and mailing address on its website. You won’t find a customer service phone line, an email form, or an online chat service.

If you have questions or comments, you can: 

• Email: [email protected]. The lender has a support team in place Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
• Phone number: (866) 635-1330 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Alternatively, you can reach LightStream by mail at PO Box 117320 Atlanta, GA 30368-7320, or find answers to frequently asked questions on its FAQ page.

What to consider before applying for a LightStream personal loan

While many personal loan lenders allow you to prequalify on their websites without impacting your credit, LightStream doesn’t. However, you can prequalify through a loan marketplace. Prequalifying can show you the rates and terms you might qualify for before you apply, but isn't an offer of credit. While prequalification won’t impact your score, applying for the loan will. 

LightStream also has more stringent credit requirements than many other lenders. As a result, consider boosting your score to better your rate or improve your chance of qualifying. You can do so by paying down debts, especially credit card debt, or fixing errors on your credit report.