Compare unsecured loans and secured loans

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Looking for a loan? Look no further. Our loans centre has all the information you need to compare the best unsecured loans and secured loans. You can use our search tool to find the exact loan you’re looking for, or choose from our top personal loans.

There are two main types of loan, the unsecured loan – which is also often referred to as a personal loan, and the secured loan which is commonly also known as a homeowner loan. Such loans are available through many different sources including banks, building societies and even supermarkets.

The personal loan is probably the most popular choice in the loans business, whereby the borrower initially receives an amount of money from the lender which is usually paid back in regular installments over a pre-defined period of time. Typically the installments are paid on a monthly basis. This service is generally provided at a cost in the form of interest which is calculated on the initially amount that is loaned/borrowed. The interest rate can be calculated in a variety of ways but APR is generally the most common. APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, and is the percentage that your loan will cost you every year. APR can be fixed or variable depending on the loan provider and the specific loan product applied for.

The secured loan is very similar to the personal loan, but the amount offered by the lender is subject to the borrower offering some form of collateral or asset as a form of security, generally speaking this will be in the form of a car or else property. Secured loans are more commonly offered in instances where the borrower has a poor credit history or else is after a large sum of money, in excess of £20,000 – £25,000.

At a glance: Fool.co.uk’s top loans

 
 
Provider & product Representative APR? Amount & term? Total amount repayable /
Monthly repayment 		Apply now

Tesco Bank
Personal Loan

Tesco Bank
 Representative 6.10% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,582 /
£193		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 6.1% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £193.03, total amount repayable is £11,581.80. Tesco Personal Finance plc, PO Box 5747, Southend on Sea, SS1 9AJ.

Sainsbury's Finance
Standard Nectar Cardholder Loan

Sainsbury's Finance
 Representative 6.10% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,582 /
£193		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 6.1% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £193.03, total amount repayable is £11,581.80.

HSBC
Existing Customer Personal Loan

HSBC
 Representative 6.20% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,608 /
£193		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 6.2% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £193.47, total amount repayable is £11,608.20.

Alliance & Leicester
Personal Loan

Alliance & Leicester
 Representative 6.30% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,635 /
£194		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 6.3% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £193.91, total amount repayable is £11,634.60. Santander UK plc, 2 Triton Square, Regent’s Place, London, NW1 3AN.

Nationwide BS
New Customer Personal Loan

Nationwide BS
 Representative 6.40% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,661 /
£194		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 6.4% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £194.35, total amount repayable is £11,661.00. Nationwide Building Society, Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon, SN38 1NW.

Sainsbury's Finance
Shopper Reward (Medium)

Sainsbury's Finance
 Representative 6.90% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,794 /
£197		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 6.9% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £196.56, total amount repayable is £11,793.60.

Santander
Personal Loan

Santander
 Representative 6.90% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,794 /
£197		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 6.9% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £196.56, total amount repayable is £11,793.60. Santander UK plc, 2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3AN.

Zopa
Personal Loan A*

Zopa
 Representative 6.69% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,738 /
£196		Apply
Representative example: based on borrowing {amount} over {termInMonths} months, with a £130 one off fee, monthly repayments of {monthlyRepayment}, total amount repayable is {totalPayment}. Representative APR {apr}%. Zopa Ltd, 2nd Floor, 40-44 Newman Street, London, W1T 1QD

The Co-operative Bank
Personal Loan

The Co-operative Bank
 Representative 7.90% APR £10,000
60 months 		£12,059 /
£201		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of {amount} over {termInMonths} months, representative {apr}% APR, monthly repayments of {monthlyRepayment}, total amount repayable is {totalPayment}. The Co-operative Bank p.l.c., P.O. Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester, M60 4EP

AA
Personal Loan

AA
 Representative 7.90% APR £10,000
60 months 		£12,059 /
£201		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 7.9% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £200.99, total amount repayable is £12,059.40. AA Financial Services, Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, RG21 4EA.

Zopa
Personal Loan A

Zopa
 Representative 7.66% APR £10,000
60 months 		£11,995 /
£200		Apply
Representative example: based on borrowing {amount} over {termInMonths} months, with a £130 one off fee, monthly repayments of {monthlyRepayment}, total amount repayable is {totalPayment}. Representative APR {apr}%. Zopa Ltd, 2nd Floor, 40-44 Newman Street, London, W1T 1QD

NatWest
Existing Customer Online Personal Loan

NatWest
 Representative 8.90% APR £10,000
60 months 		£12,326 /
£205		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 8.9% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £205.44, total amount repayable is £12,326.40.

Royal Bank of Scotland
Existing Customer Online Personal Loan

Royal Bank of Scotland
 Representative 8.90% APR £10,000
60 months 		£12,326 /
£205		Apply
Representative example: assumed borrowing of £10,000.00 over 60 months, representative 8.9% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £205.44, total amount repayable is £12,326.40.

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