Comparison
Avant and Upgrade both land on Depends.
Avant is a legitimate online lender worth checking if you have fair credit and have been declined elsewhere, but its FTC settlement history and unresolved-fraud complaints justify comparing credit unions and rivals first.
A reasonable fit if you're a fair-credit consumer wanting a fast unsecured loan up to $50,000 and you compare fees against credit unions first.
| Compare | Avant | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Depends | Depends |
| Best for | Fair-credit borrowers declined elsewhere | Fair-credit borrowers needing fast unsecured cash |
| Who it's not for | Good-credit borrowers hunting the lowest APR | Excellent-credit borrowers . Guess: prime lenders and credit unions undercut its rates |
| Privacy | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. |
| Support quality | Fraud complaint unresolved; BBB complaints listed | 46+ pages of BBB complaints logged. |
| Public sentiment | Reviews are split: WSJ rates Avant 4/5, but borrower forums and complaint boards flag trust and service problems.² | WalletHub reviewers call Upgrade legit with quick processing, but the BBB complaint log runs 46+ pages long.16 |
| Biggest gotcha | Cardholder says fraud claim stalled with no resolution for months⁷ | Rates and fees vary by credit profile; 2026 reviews focus on loan details . verify your full APR before signing. |
