SEO Guide

Best Personal Loans in India

Ranked by lowest interest rate. Compare top personal loans from HDFC, SBI, ICICI, Axis and Bajaj Finserv.

Axis Bank
personal loan
Starting at
10.49%
Processing Fee
Up to 2%
Approval
30 sec - 48 hrs
Amount
₹50K - ₹40L
HDFC Bank
personal loan
Starting at
10.50%
Processing Fee
Up to 2.5%
Approval
10 sec - 24 hrs
Amount
₹50K - ₹40L
ICICI Bank
personal loan
Starting at
10.85%
Processing Fee
Up to 2.5%
Approval
3 sec - 3 days
Amount
₹50K - ₹50L
Bajaj Finserv
personal loan
Starting at
11.00%
Processing Fee
Up to 4%
Approval
24 hrs
Amount
₹1L - ₹40L
SBI
personal loan
Starting at
11.15%
Processing Fee
1.5%
Approval
2-4 days
Amount
₹25K - ₹20L

How we rank India's best personal loans

Our 2026 personal loan rankings weigh starting interest rate (35%), all-in APR including processing fee and GST (25%), turnaround time to disbursal (15%), prepayment flexibility (15%), and customer satisfaction signals from RBI's Banking Ombudsman reports (10%). Rates are refreshed monthly against each lender's published rate card.

Every loan on this list is from an RBI-regulated bank or NBFC. Personal loans are unsecured — no collateral or guarantor — which is why the rate band (10.49%–24%) is much wider than for secured loans like home or car finance.

What drives your personal loan interest rate

CIBIL score
750+ qualifies for best rate; <650 may be rejected
Net monthly income
Higher income unlocks lower pricing tiers
Employer category
Cat-A (PSU, MNC, listed firms) gets 50–150 bps discount
Existing EMI load (FOIR)
Keep all EMIs under 50% of net income
Loan tenure
Shorter tenure = lower rate but higher EMI
Relationship with lender
Pre-approved offers usually beat market by 25–100 bps

Personal loan vs credit card vs gold loan

Personal loan — fixed EMI, tenure 12–60 months, rate 10.49%–24%. Best for planned expenses above ₹1 lakh.

Credit card EMI — easier to access, but flat interest of 14–18% (effective APR 26–32%). Use only for short-tenure (3–6 month) needs where you'll repay aggressively.

Gold loan — secured against gold, rate 9%–14%, disbursal in hours. Best when you own jewellery and need money for under 12 months. No CIBIL impact for missed EMIs (gold gets auctioned instead).

Hidden costs to check before signing

  • Processing fee: 1%–3% of loan amount, charged upfront and non-refundable on cancellation after disbursal.
  • GST (18%) applies on processing fee, prepayment charges and any documentation fee.
  • Prepayment penalty: 2%–5% on outstanding principal for fixed-rate personal loans. The RBI guidelines allow free prepayment only on floating-rate retail loans, which most personal loans are not.
  • Late payment fee: ₹500–₹1,500 per missed EMI plus penal interest of 2%–3% per month on overdue amount.
  • Loan insurance: often bundled but optional under RBI guidelines — you can decline it.

Frequently asked questions

Axis Bank starts at 10.49%, followed by HDFC (10.50%) and ICICI (10.85%) as of 2026. Final rate depends on your credit profile, employer and income.

Check your eligibility & EMI before applying

Each loan application triggers a CIBIL enquiry. Compare and shortlist first.