Marcus by Goldman Sachs vs SoFi
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top personal loans picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory
No-fee personal loans from Goldman Sachs with on-time payment rewards
SoFi
Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory
Top-rated personal loans with no fees and unemployment protection
Our pick: SoFi. Our editors rank SoFi higher overall in Personal Loans — but Marcus by Goldman Sachs can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | SoFi | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Debt Consolidation | Debt Consolidation |
| Editorial rank | #3 of 15 | #1 of 15 |
Strengths
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
- ✓Absolutely no fees — origination, prepayment, late, or otherwise
- ✓On-time payment reward lets you skip a payment after 12 consecutive payments
- ✓Backed by the credibility and financial strength of Goldman Sachs
- ✓Direct payment to creditors available for debt consolidation loans
- ✓Clean, simple digital experience with fast pre-qualification
SoFi
- ✓Zero fees — no origination, prepayment, or late fees
- ✓Unemployment protection pauses payments if you lose your job
- ✓Loan amounts up to $100,000 for well-qualified borrowers
- ✓Same-day funding available for approved applicants
- ✓Rate discount for autopay enrollment and SoFi membership
Watch out for
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
- !Maximum loan amount of $40,000 is lower than competitors
- !No co-signer or joint application option
- !Funding takes 3-4 business days — slower than same-day competitors
- !Not available for education-related expenses
SoFi
- !Requires good to excellent credit for the best rates
- !No co-signer option available to strengthen applications
- !Minimum loan amount of $5,000 may exceed what some borrowers need
- !Joint applications are not available
Best use cases
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
- →Debt consolidator wanting a no-fee loan with direct creditor payments
- →Responsible borrower who values the on-time payment skip reward
- →Conservative borrower preferring the backing of a major bank like Goldman Sachs
SoFi
- →High-credit borrower consolidating credit card debt at a lower rate
- →Professional financing a major home renovation with no-fee funding
- →Borrower wanting unemployment protection as a safety net
About each tool
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers unsecured personal loans from $3,500 to $40,000 with no fees of any kind — no sign-up fee, no origination fee, no prepayment fee, and no late fee. The standout feature is the on-time payment reward that lets borrowers who make 12 consecutive on-time payments defer one payment without interest accruing. Marcus is backed by the trusted Goldman Sachs brand and provides a clean, straightforward digital experience for debt consolidation and other personal loan needs.
SoFi
SoFi offers personal loans from $5,000 to $100,000 with competitive fixed rates, no origination fees, no prepayment penalties, and no late fees. What sets SoFi apart is its unemployment protection program that pauses your payments and helps you find a new job if you lose yours. The company also offers rate discounts for autopay and for existing SoFi members. SoFi personal loans can be used for debt consolidation, home improvement, relocation, and virtually any other purpose, with same-day funding available for qualifying borrowers.
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