LendingTree Review: Comprehensive Overview for Personal Loans

Overview of LendingTree

LendingTree, Inc. is a leading American online lending marketplace founded in 1996 by Doug Lebda. Launched in 1998, the platform was created to simplify loan shopping by allowing borrowers to compare offers from multiple lenders with a single application. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, LendingTree connects consumers with banks and finance companies for a wide range of products – from mortgages and personal loans to credit cards and insurance.

The company doesn't itself lend money; instead, it matches borrowers to lenders who then compete to offer the best terms. Over the years, LendingTree grew rapidly and has become one of the nation's largest financial marketplaces, helping over 111 million users and facilitating millions of loans. In October 2025, founder Doug Lebda tragically passed away, and the company's COO Scott Peyree took over as CEO. Today, LendingTree is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: TREE) with annual revenues around $900 million (2024) and nearly 1,000 employees, solidifying its role as a pioneer in fintech and loan comparison shopping.

How LendingTree Works for Personal Loans

LendingTree is a marketplace, not a lender or broker. It does not originate or service loans itself. Instead, the platform partners with a large network of banks, lenders, and financial institutions. For personal loans specifically, here's how the process works:

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  Single Application Process: Users fill out one unified application on LendingTree's website or app with basic information including loan purpose, desired amount, credit profile, and financial details.
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  Multiple Lender Matching: LendingTree's system forwards your information to multiple lenders in their network that match your profile and needs. Within a short time, borrowers can receive up to five loan offers or rate quotes from different lenders, all based on a single LendingTree request.
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  Compare Offers Side-by-Side: This one-stop comparison model makes it easy to see competitive rates and terms side by side, helping users find optimal loan options without having to apply separately with each lender.
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  Free for Consumers: LendingTree's service is completely free for consumers – the company earns revenue from the lenders on its network (who pay for leads or closed loans).
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  Soft Credit Inquiry: Checking loan offers through LendingTree typically uses a soft credit inquiry, so your credit score isn't impacted just for shopping around. Only the lender you ultimately choose will do a hard pull when finalizing the loan.

LendingTree offers personal loans for various purposes including debt consolidation, home improvement, major purchases, medical expenses, and more. The platform matches borrowers with lenders that fit their credit profile, which means borrowers with less-than-perfect credit or unique situations may still find options through LendingTree's extensive network. If you're ready to compare personal loan offers, start your application here to see multiple quotes from top lenders.

Customer Experience and Satisfaction

User experience is generally a strong point for LendingTree, as reflected in its high customer ratings. The platform is designed to be quick and straightforward – borrowers fill out a single online form with basic info, and LendingTree's system matches them with lenders that fit their needs. Many customers appreciate that they can get multiple quotes at once, often within minutes, which saves considerable time and effort in the loan shopping process. Ready to get started? Apply for a personal loan now to see your options.

Customer satisfaction ratings for LendingTree are generally positive. The service holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and enjoys a high Trustpilot score (approximately 4.5–4.8 out of 5) based on tens of thousands of reviews. Many users report that they were able to secure loans with lower rates or better terms than expected by having lenders compete for their business.

Important Note About Follow-Up Communications:
The biggest complaint from LendingTree users is spam and aggressive follow-up from lenders. Because LendingTree sends a borrower's inquiry out to multiple partners, interested lenders will often immediately contact the consumer. It's not unusual for users to be "bombarded with calls, emails, and texts" shortly after submitting a request. LendingTree does allow users to opt out of further marketing, but users should be prepared for a surge in solicitations initially.

The customer service experience with LendingTree itself is generally positive – while most of the loan process is online, the company offers support via phone and email. Their customer service line has extended hours on weekdays (8am-9pm ET) and weekend availability. However, it's worth noting that once a borrower chooses a lender and begins a formal loan application, further customer service is handled by that lender (since LendingTree's role is essentially complete at the match-making stage).

Technology and Mobile Tools

As a fintech pioneer, LendingTree leverages technology to enhance user experience. The website interface is intuitive and user-friendly – it takes only a few clicks to navigate to personal loans, fill in some basic financial details, and get to your loan offers. The site guides users through questions step-by-step and provides a wealth of informational resources and tools online, such as loan calculators, rate trend trackers, and educational articles.

LendingTree has invested heavily in its mobile app (branded "LendingTree Spring"), which goes beyond just loan shopping to offer a holistic personal finance experience. The app provides:

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  Free Credit Score Tracking: Frequent updates and alerts so users can monitor their credit health in real time
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  Personalized Savings Insights: Analyzes your finances and credit profile to suggest ways to save money or improve your credit
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  Loan Shopping: Users can shop for personal loans within the app, seeing offers from LendingTree's network of lenders
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  Budgeting and Spending Insights: Helps users track their money habits and provides fraud protection alerts

The app has received strong user feedback – on the Apple App Store it has a 4.8 out of 5 star rating from tens of thousands of users, indicating a positive reception. Overall, LendingTree's technology allows consumers to harness financial data and multiple lender connections quickly, securely, and intelligently. Whether you use LendingTree or prefer to apply directly through our platform, comparing multiple offers is key to finding the best personal loan rates.

Pros and Cons of Using LendingTree

Pros:

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  One-Stop Shop for Loans: LendingTree offers access to multiple lenders with one application, sparing you the hassle of filling out numerous loan applications. You can get several competing offers at once, which increases the chances of finding a low rate or better terms.
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  Free and No Impact on Credit to Compare: Using LendingTree is free for consumers – there are no fees to get quotes. Additionally, checking loan offers through LendingTree typically uses a soft credit inquiry, so your credit score isn't dinged just for shopping around.
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  Fast and Easy Process: The online process is streamlined and user-friendly, often providing matches within minutes. The website and app guide you through simple questions; you enter your information once and quickly get multiple offers.
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  Educational Resources and Tools: LendingTree arms users with information. The site offers calculators, rate comparisons, credit score tools, and educational content so you can make informed decisions.
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  Accommodates Various Credit Profiles: Because LendingTree's network includes many lenders, including some specializing in subprime or specific loan types, borrowers with less-than-perfect credit or unique situations may still find options.

Cons:

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  Potential for Spam/Excessive Contact: The biggest complaint by far is that after using LendingTree, you may get inundated with calls, emails, and texts from lenders. Since multiple lenders receive your info and want your business, expect a barrage of solicitations, especially in the first days after your inquiry.
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  Not All Lenders or Terms Are Equal: LendingTree provides quotes, but the quality of offers can vary widely. Some partner lenders may charge high origination fees or offer higher rates depending on your profile. It's up to the borrower to carefully compare the fine print of each offer.
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  Limited Direct Support After Matching: Because LendingTree is just a middleman, once you choose a loan offer the ongoing process is out of their hands. If paperwork snags or issues arise with the lender, you must work them out with that lender.
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  Personal Information Shared Widely: Using the service means sharing your sensitive financial details with LendingTree and, subsequently, multiple lenders. While this is done securely, it does spread your data to several companies.

Is LendingTree Right for You?

LendingTree is an excellent choice for personal loan shoppers who want to compare multiple offers quickly without impacting their credit score. It's particularly beneficial if you want to see multiple offers, but you can also apply for personal loans directly through our platform to compare rates from top lenders. LendingTree is particularly beneficial if:

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  You want to see multiple loan offers with a single application
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  You prefer to shop online and compare rates from the comfort of your home
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  You want to avoid multiple hard credit inquiries while rate shopping
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  You're comfortable with receiving multiple follow-up communications from lenders
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  You want access to educational resources and tools to make informed decisions

However, LendingTree may not be the best fit if you prefer working directly with a single lender, want in-person guidance, or are sensitive to marketing communications. As with any financial decision, it's important to carefully review all loan offers, compare terms and fees, and choose the option that best fits your financial situation and goals.

Overall, LendingTree's transparency about offers and its success in quickly connecting consumers to loan options have earned it a largely favorable reputation in the marketplace. For many borrowers, the convenience of comparing multiple personal loan offers in one place outweighs the potential drawbacks of increased lender communications. Whether you choose LendingTree or apply through our platform, the key is to compare multiple offers to find the best rates and terms for your financial situation.