LendingTree review

LendingTree is the ideal one-stop-shop for all your lending needs. Regardless of whether you want to access the best refinance mortgage companies to compare quotes, arrange a personal loan, or take out a home equity loan, LendingTree can provide a rundown of the best rates off the back of completing just one application.

Auto loans, business loans, student refinances and credit cards are all available through LendingTree too, and as an impartial broker, you can feel secure that the products made available to you will be the best that the loan marketplace can offer. As providers will be competing for your business, the cost to you of borrowing should be driven down.

A straightforward and stripped back app makes shopping around with LendingTree quick and easy, or alternatively, you might just want to get an idea how much you can borrow and at what price. Free credit card checks are a plus, while numerous calculators are on hand to help you work out what you can afford.

LendingTree review: Application process

• One application only
• Soft pull

The application process is what makes LendingTree so appealing - you only need to input your details once in order to be presented with a whole host of different loan options that are available to you. 

In the first instance, you fill out an application that pre-qualifies you for a range of loans - this requires financial specifics, such as income level and housing status, rather than personal details. Sharing this information allows a soft pull to be carried out; not using a hard pull means your credit score won't be affected. Approval takes a few minutes, after which you'll be presented with at least five loan options matching your credit level and the loan amount required.

It is only when you pick an option that you'll need to continue the application directly with the lender. This is where more detailed information is likely to be required and a hard credit check could take place.

LendingTree review: Credit score requirements

• No minimum credit score
• No hard credit pull

One of the main advantages of LendingTree is that no minimum credit score is required - this makes the marketplace broker service an ideal platform if you have bad credit. LendingTree sources loans from so many lenders that there is a good chance you'll get a loan here, even if you have been rejected in the past.

Admittedly, that might mean you're paying a higher rate, but getting a loan at all may simply be your goal. It is also possible that by securing a loan through LendingTree, paying it back regularly and on time could actually help you to improve your credit score. 

Another great feature for those with poor credit is the initial soft check on credit. By avoiding a hard credit check when you sign up with LendingTree, you don't need to worry about it impacting on your credit score.  

LendingTree review: Other requirements

• Over 18
• US citizen

To use LendingTree, you must be a US citizen who is at least 18 years of age. You also need to have a regular income - it doesn't specifically say that you need a job, but money needs to be coming in regularly from somewhere. You also need a verifiable bank account which shows that steady income.

When applying you'll obviously also be required to fill out some details, so be sure to have ready a recent pay stub, proof of residence and a government issued photo ID, such as a passport or driver's license.

LendingTree review: Interest rates and initial charges

• Minimum APR: 3.99%
• Maximum APR: 35.99%

As a broker, LendingTree itself won't directly charge you anything. It makes its money just from selling the loan for third-parties. So whatever price you see from the lender is what you get, no charges on top.  

Loan rates vary widely since there are so many types on offer, and the rate you pay will depend on the option you choose, your credit score, and maybe your income and expenditure if it's relevant to your application. The loan types also vary from secured and unsecured, so keep that in mind as a sort of charge, in case you are leveraging the value of your house, for instance, as part of the deal.

LendingTree review: Other potential fees

• Vary depending on loan
• Some have no fees

Since the loans available from LendingTree vary, so too do the fees that are charged. Some loans have no fees at all, but for those that do, there are a few things to look out for. 

Some have obligation fees, where you pay a percentage of the loan value upfront, which can reach as high as 6%, meaning you'll pay $600 upfront on a $10,000 loan. That's a top-end, extreme case though, as most charge nothing or 1%.

Late fees for missed payments are also charged on some loans. Many have grace periods, so you still have a chance to pay, while others add the payment to the end, or will allow you to miss one payment a year. This varies widely, so be sure to find out how your lender treats missed payments. Also be aware that some lenders charge an additional fee if a payment bounces from an account with no funds - this is usually on top of the late fee.

If you’re thinking of paying off your loan early, you should also check whether early repayment fees apply. These are rare for personal loans, but will usually be found on a mortgage.

 LendingTree Review: Service

• App based comparisons
• Instant figures

LendingTree is all about speed, getting you access to a wide variety of loan options right away from within the app. Since you fill out all your details on sign-up, you won't have to enter them again. Instead, you can simply flick through loan options and see the results that could be available to you. 

That said, this speed can occasionally come at a price, with errors occurring at times. It might simply be the case that you think you can get a loan, but when it comes to the application process proper, it turns out that it's not available in your state. It's rare but it can happen.

Something else to watch out for are changes in the advertised rate once the more detailed application is completed - if there is something that wasn't taken into consideration at the start, the rate could end up higher than was advertised. You will, of course, be shown this before you commit to anything, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for. 

LendingTree review: Calculators

• Wide range
• Slider system

One of the great features of LendingTree are its calculators, which can provide you with a snapshot of what you can afford.

This can range from buying a house using the mortgage calculator, to getting a credit card using the credit card calculator. They usually work with simple slider systems that let you initially enter what you think you require and your situation, but can then also be easily changed, perhaps if you want to check out different scenarios. Some of the calculators available include:

• Personal loan calculator
• Mortgage calculator
• Auto loan calculator
• Debt consolidation calculator
• Short term loan calculator
• Business loan calculator
• Boat loan calculator
• SBA loan calculator
• Home equity loan calculator
• VA loan calculator
• FHA loan calculator
• ATV loan calculator

LendingTree review: What users say

• Trustpilot score of 4.5 stars
• ConsumerAffairs rating of 3.6 stars

LendingTree receives an impressive average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on the verdict delivered by over 9,000 reviewers. The online marketplace caters to the broadest possible range of customers, but the vast majority are more than happy with the service they receive, with praise commonly observed for its knowledgeable agents, the company's professionalism, and the wide choice products available. Most grievances relate to overzealous follow up calls from agents.

Should you use LendingTree?

LendingTree is a great way to find a wide variety of loans quickly and easily while only filling out the one soft check pre-qualification application. The range of loans is wide, as are the rates and loan periods. All come with useful loan calculators to give you an idea of what you can afford.

The competitive nature of the LendingTree loan marketplace means you may get some of the best rates available. It also means that even if you have a bad credit rating, there is a chance you will find a loan here that is available to you.

The high end of the rates is very high and since these are third-party loans it is important to check if any fees apply, like late payment charges.

If you want to save time and potentially money, then LendingTree is an option that could certainly help you when it comes to getting a loan.