We analysed our database of over 300 loans, and filtered out loans that were members-only or secured in niche ways (such as by term deposits). This left us with a pool of accessible loans, which we further filtered based on interest rates, fees, and availability through Finder. In the case of a tie or a close call, we factored in features such as redraw facilities.
While we are confident that our top picks are competitive personal loans, keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all loan or lender. Your personal situation and preferences will determine what the best personal loan for you will be.
There’s no one size fits all best personal loan. Your interest rate will be personalised to you based on your credit score.
That doesn't mean you should give up and pick a loan at random. There'll still be personal loans which are better suited to you.
Here's what you should look for when comparing personal loans:
Lenders advertise a minimum interest rate and a maximum interest rate. They’ll decide your rate based on your financial situation and while this depends on a couple of things, you can check your credit score to give yourself a rough idea of where you'll sit in their interest rate range.
You should also look at the comparison rate to see how the rate changes when you incorporate fees. However it is usually based on a $30,000 loan over 5 years. If your plans are different, use a personal loan calculator to get a sense of how much a loan will cost you.
Securing your loan could get you a lower rate or increase the odds that you'll be approved for a personal loan. However, you will need to put up an asset (like your vehicle) as collateral, so ensure you can comfortably repay the loan to avoid the risk of repossession.
Quite simply, can you borrow the amount you need? In general, higher borrowing amounts have stricter eligibility criteria.
Not a must, but repaying your personal loan early means you pay less in interest. So, that’s pretty nice. Some loans that allow early repayment have fees attached, so make sure you're saving more than you're spending or opt for a loan with free early/extra repayments.
Personal loans can offer special deals which range from waived fees to a discounted interest rate or cashback. These could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars depending on the loan.
"Finding a loan that's even 1% cheaper can save you hundreds of dollars. You can save even more if you can afford some extra repayments early on, just watch out for any early repayment fees."
To see how the interest rate can affect your repayments, we looked at 2 loans with the same loan amount and loan term.
Loan amount: $30,000
Loan term: 5 years
| Loan A | Loan B | |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rate | 8.00% | 9.00% |
| Monthly repayment | $609 | $623 |
| Total repayment | $36,498 | $37,366 |
| Interest paid | $6,498 | $7,366 |
By paying 1% more on this loan, you’d pay $868 more in interest.
New to personal loans? We get that personal loans can get a bit complicated, so we've done our best to simplify things on our personal loans hub.
We asked hundreds of Australians to rate their personal loan lenders on factors like customer service, features and benefits, ease of application, fees and interest rate, and trustworthiness. Here are the results.
| Bank | Overall satisfaction | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
 | ★★★★★ 4.4/5 | 99% |
 | ★★★★★ 4.2/5 | 88% |
 | ★★★★★ 4.1/5 | 85% |
 | ★★★★★ 4.1/5 | 81% |
 | ★★★★★ 4.1/5 | 88% |
Find a better personal loan
Take our easy quiz to find a better deal for you.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Interest rates, fees and features across 300+ personal loan products and 120+ lenders are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the loan - simple.
For a fair comparison, unsecured loans and secured loans are scored separately. Assumptions are made on the interest rates charged for both excellent credit and average credit customers in each segment.
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Is it possible to get a personal loan to payout 6 credit cards. 2 cards are now charging interest all the rest are interest free for a bit longer. I’m keeping up with all the payments but it’s getting too much to have so many to deal with. I want a loan that I can pay off early with no penalty fees. I also want one that I can pay as much as I can afford each fortnight.
Hi Kerry,
This is possible with an unsecured personal loan, as the way you use your loan amount is generally up to you. You may want to consider opting for a variable rate personal loan as these generally have more flexibility when it comes to repaying early without penalty or to make additional ongoing repayments. Comparing lenders will help you find the right one for your needs and situation, and once you’ve found a lender you can click “Go to Site” to submit your application.
Hope this has helped.
Elizabeth
Will I be able to get the loan
Hi Leslie,
Your eligibility depends on the loan you’re applying for. It would be best to check the eligibility criteria set by the lender before applying, which you can find by clicking through to the review pages. and to determine your ability to afford the loan.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
I am trying to get a small unsecured loan.I have bad credit a ex bankrupt from years ago.I just need a second chance to get on with life.I know personally i can afford a loan just need that someone so i can prove myself
Hi Troy,
Thanks for your question.
There are some lenders who would consider applicants that are currently bankrupt or are discharged from their bankruptcy. The lenders that are available are more limited and the fees and rates will also be considerably higher on bankrupt loans. The attachment of an asset as security or an application made with a guarantor could also be required. To check on which lenders are able to approve loans for discharged bankrupts, you may visit our guide. This page should discuss the kind of loans available, the risks when applying for loans, how approval works, etc.
You can click the name of the lender or the “More info” link to be redirected to our review page and learn more about the lender’s loan offer, rates, and requirements as well as the pros and cons of using their loan service. When you are ready, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the lender’s website where you can proceed with the application or get in touch with their representatives for further inquiries you may have.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.
I hope this will help.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
I would like to and need to borrow $8000_$10000. I am not employed on a pension. I get child support. My monthly income is $2800…
My expenses including $100 towards the credit card are $2300.
I want to clear my debt from a credit card $5000 and a personal overdraft of $1000 each from the ANZ.
I would like $1500 as an emergency fund for a flight to the UK for my mother who is 83.
I also need major dental work.I also want to start my budget with 0 overheads.
I have 1 dependent my 17 y/o daughter.
I have recently taken an advance from centrelink of $600 to cover some expenses that all needed to be covered immediately.
I have worked out a comprehensive budget using an app on the computer. This was worked out after closely tracking my expenses and working on a monthly cycle. It can also be viewed.
I will manage my finances from a level playing field or no debt.
My question is will anybody loan me money as I am not employed and have a poor credit history (I think). I can explain how the situation arose if needed.
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your question.
You might want to have a read our guide to pensioner loans and also some no-interest loan options that you might want to consider.
We also have a guide on bad credit debt consolidation that can show you some options for consolidating your debt when you have bad credit. As you aren’t sure what state your credit is in, it would be useful to order a copy of your credit file.
There is a free financial counselling hotline number which you can also call and might be able to help you go over the budget you have organised – their number is 1800 007 007.
I hope this information will be of use.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Hi, I have a question regarding a load for a container home.
These homes cost around $40,000 approximately $300,000 less than a standard home. With out the land so to lease land is the option.
To get a loan for this who would be best to contact?
Regards MC
Hi M,
Thanks for your question.
If you are looking at taking out a personal loan for this type of purchase, some lenders may be willing to let you use the container home as a guarantee for a secured personal loan. You could also secure the loan to an asset you already hold, such as equity in your home or a vehicle. If you are unable to find a lender willing to use your container home as an asset, you can also consider an unsecured loan.Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this information has helped.
Thanks,
Elizabeth