Updated September 30, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Alt Lending vs LendKey
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Alt Lending |  LendKey |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 3% | 2.09% to 15.54%Lower |
| Arrangement fee | 0 | 0 USD |
| Credit check | Soft prequal | Hard |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Marketplace |
| Loan types | Student | Student, Debt consolidationCovers more |
| Credit needed | Poor | Fair |
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | from $1,000 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 60 to 180 months |
| Funding time | Not confirmed | Funds sent directly to the school after certification, generally under 30 days |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | Enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible school; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; at least the age of majority; credit-based so a cosigner may be needed |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Same on both: Rate type (Fixed), Free early repayment (Yes).
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Key differences
- Alt Lending scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- APR is lower at LendKey: 2.09% to 15.54% vs 3%.
- Loan types: only LendKey offers Debt consolidation.
Our verdict on each
Alt Lending
Alt Lending suits students with low credit who want a fixed rate student loan from a direct lender in the United States. The rate is listed as APR of 3% with origination fees of 0 and early repayment is yes, while prequalification uses a soft check that leaves scores untouched for initial review.
LendKey
LendKey is a US private student loan marketplace for students and families covering a gap in study costs, and it suits borrowers whose own credit can carry a fixed rate. Offers are priced at 2.09% to 15.54% with terms of 60 to 180 months, and rates stay fixed for the life of the loan.
Score breakdown
| Area | Alt Lending | LendKey |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5Cost reflects APR of 3% with origination fees of 0 | 9.5Rates of 2.09% to 15.54% on fixed rate lending, with an origination fee of 0 USD and a percentage charge of 0%. |
| Offer | 9.3Offer reflects student focus shown by student with fixed rate | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.3HigherTrust reflects direct lender status shown by direct lender | 8.4 |
If neither fits
Prestamiau ES has apr at 0% to 36%, against 3% for Alt Lending and 2.09% to 15.54% for LendKey.
Prestamiau ES reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Alt Lending | LendKey |
|---|---|---|
| Loans for bad credit | 47 of 275 | 54 of 275 |
| Private student loans | 8 of 167 | 9 of 167 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Alt Lending | LendKey |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Fixed rate |
| Legal entity | Alt Lending, LLC | LendKey Technologies, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2009 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Alt Lending | LendKey | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 3%lowest quarter | 2.09% to 15.54%lowest quarter | 8.99% |
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | from $1,000lowest quarter | $35,000 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 60 to 180 monthshighest quarter | 60 |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 0%below the median | 0.25% |
Median across 1005 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Alt Lending
Pros
- APR of 3% keeps yearly cost visible against peers such as Ibancar Prestamos with APR of 12.74% to 13.01%
- Origination fees of 0 keep setup costs down compared with lenders that deduct arrangement charges
- Prequalification uses soft prequal which allows rate review without harm to credit at the early stage
Cons
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre only, which limits contact for borrowers who prefer chat with live agents
- Choice is tied to student only, which limits use for borrowers who need personal or car cover available elsewhere
- Rate structure is tied to fixed only, which limits flexibility for borrowers who prefer a variable option
LendKey
Pros
- A marketplace model puts partner lenders in competition for a single application.
- Both origination charges are 0 USD and 0%, so nothing is added upfront.
- Early repayment is free, so the balance can be cleared sooner than the term allows.
Cons
- A hard credit search runs at application, and a decline can leave a mark on the file.
- The minimum loan is from $1,000 and the term runs 60 to 180 months, so smaller needs still mean a long repayment stretch.
- Pricing is fixed rate only, so there is no variable-rate option for a cheaper start.
Who each suits
Alt Lending
Who it suits
- Students seeking student cover with fixed pricing who accept APR of 3% and origination fees of 0
- Borrowers with low credit profiles shown by poor who value soft prequal review and direct handling shown by direct lender
- Families comparing student specialists against Ibancar Prestamos who prefer a defined student lender over general credit providers
Who should look elsewhere
- Borrowers who need general personal cover should consider Ibancar Prestamos because Alt Lending offers student only
- Borrowers who want card style revolving credit should consider AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito because Alt Lending offers fixed rate loans only
LendKey
Who it suits
- Students at eligible schools who can support a fixed rate with their own credit or a cosigner's.
- Parents and relatives acting as a cosigner when a student's own file is thin.
- Borrowers folding student debt into one balance, since student and debt consolidation covers consolidation.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for euro borrowers: Creduma ES sets a floor of from €12,000, a separate currency and market.
- Not for Spanish borrowers: Sofkredit prices at 10.74% to 18.06% and lends outside the US system.
Current offers
LendKey
Current offer
Discount code
0.25% autopay interest rate reduction on private student loans: 0.25% APR reduction
Enrol in automatic monthly payments from a checking or savings account with the lender; the reduction is removed and the rate raised by 0.25% on cancellation or failed collection
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Alt Lending | LendKey |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Alt Lending
What APR does Alt Lending charge on private student loans+
Alt Lending lists APR of 3% for its private student loans. The figure shows the yearly cost of borrowing before fees and it allows direct comparison with other lenders on BorrowCue. Borrowers should read the loan terms alongside the APR to grasp total repayment.
Does Alt Lending charge an origination fee+
Alt Lending lists origination fees of 0. That means borrowers face no upfront deduction for arranging the loan and the advance reflects the approved amount. This keeps initial costs clear when comparing student offers across states.
LendKey
What rate will I pay on a LendKey private student loan?+
Prices depend on your own credit, though published offers run at 2.09% to 15.54%. The rate type is fixed, so once a partner lender takes your application the figure holds across the term of 60 to 180 months rather than resetting as market rates move.
What fees are charged for taking out the loan?+
The origination fee is 0 USD and the percentage origination charge is 0%, so arranging the loan adds little. The cost to plan around is the interest on the balance you keep, which runs across a term of 60 to 180 months.