Lenders we cover
We aim to cover the lenders most relevant to U.S. consumer and small-business borrowers, which generally means lenders that meet several criteria:
- Active U.S. operations. The lender currently originates loans to U.S. borrowers and is licensed in some or all states where it operates.
- Regulatory compliance. The lender operates within applicable federal and state lending laws. We do not cover lenders operating from sovereign tribal lands to evade state usury caps.
- Public information availability. The lender publishes enough information about its products (APR ranges, loan amounts, fees, eligibility) that we can research and compare it meaningfully.
- Reader interest. The lender is one that borrowers in the relevant category commonly consider, based on search demand, brand recognition, and our editorial judgment about which lenders are worth comparing.
Inclusion in our comparison pages is not paid placement. We may earn affiliate compensation when readers apply through links to lenders that have public affiliate programs, but we cover lenders without such programs as well when relevant.
How we rank lenders within a category
Our "Best of" pages rank lenders by editorial fit for the page's specific category and reader profile. Rankings are based on:
- APR competitiveness at the published rate range relevant to the page's target borrower (e.g., 740+ FICO for "Best Personal Loans for Excellent Credit").
- Fee structure. Origination fees, late fees, prepayment penalties, and any other fees that affect the all-in cost of borrowing.
- Loan amount range. Whether the lender's products fit the typical borrowing need for the category.
- Funding speed. How quickly funds are typically delivered after approval.
- Eligibility breadth. Minimum credit score, income, and other underwriting requirements.
- Borrower experience. Soft-pull pre-qualification, customer service reputation in independent reviews, and the friction of the application process.
We do not assign numeric ratings or stars to lenders. Our rankings are categorical — "best for" labels combined with editorial commentary explaining where each lender wins and where it loses. Reasonable readers may weight these factors differently and prefer different lenders for their specific situation.
How we research APRs and product details
For each lender, we collect product information from the lender's own published terms and disclosures. The fields we standardize across all lenders are:
- APR range (lowest to highest published)
- Loan amount range
- Loan term options
- Origination fee range
- Other fees (late, prepayment, returned-payment)
- Minimum credit score (where disclosed; otherwise "effective minimum" based on independent reporting)
- Funding timeline
- Soft-pull pre-qualification availability
- Geographic availability
The APRs we show are the lender's published ranges, which include the rate plus most fees but exclude any rate discounts that require specific account setup (e.g., autopay or direct deposit discounts). We note these discounts in the lender review where applicable.
What our APRs are not
The APRs and product details on our pages are illustrative, drawn from publicly available information. They are not personalized rate offers, and they are not guarantees of approval or specific rates.
Your actual loan rate depends on:
- Your specific credit score and credit history
- Your verified income and employment
- Your debt-to-income ratio (existing debts plus the new loan)
- The loan amount and term you request
- The state you live in (rate caps and regulations vary by state)
- The lender's underwriting model and current credit standards
- Other underwriting factors specific to that lender
To see your actual rate, you must apply (or pre-qualify, where available) directly with the lender. We strongly encourage readers to pre-qualify with multiple lenders using soft-pull pre-qualification before formally applying anywhere. The variance among lenders for the same borrower is routinely 100–300 basis points, and shopping carefully produces real rate improvement.
How often we update
We aim to review featured lenders regularly. Each comparison page shows the date of last review near the top. Lenders' published rates change frequently — sometimes daily, depending on capital market conditions — so the figures on our pages may not reflect the lender's current published range at any given moment. Always verify rates directly with the lender before applying.
If you find that a rate or product detail on iLoans.ai differs materially from the lender's current published terms, please write to team@iloans.ai so we can correct it. We publish corrections per our correction policy.
What we do not provide
iLoans.ai does not provide personalized financial advice, legal advice, or tax advice. Our content is general educational information for borrowers researching loan options. Decisions about which loan to take, whether to take a loan at all, and how to manage debt should be made in consultation with qualified professionals where appropriate, and based on your specific financial situation.
iLoans.ai is not a lender, broker, or loan servicer. We do not collect loan applications, run credit checks, or make credit decisions.
Contact
Methodology questions and corrections: team@iloans.ai.