CommonBond Student Loans vs Earnest Student Loans

CommonBond is a community-focused lender with unique hybrid rate option. How does it compare to Earnest? Read our comparison chart below.

CommonBond is a student loan refinance provider focused on community. It has a strong community that hosts networking events and career assistance. In addition, it has a social mission to fund the education of global students in need. CommonBond offers both fixed and variable rate loans, as well as a hybrid loan. Minimum $5,000 in loans to be eligible.

While Earnest sets itself apart by taking a more personalized approach to lending. Instead of just looking at your credit score, Earnest also considers your job, savings habits, and how you handle finances. It offers flexibility in payments, with the option to switch between fixed and variable rates. You also can skip a payment every 12 months without penalty. Minimum $5,000 in loans to be eligible.

Compare CommonBond with Earnest, side-by-side. Read on for an in-depth look, including ratings, reviews, pros and cons.

	CommonBond Student Loans	Earnest Student Loans
	SPECIAL OFFER Refinance Student Loans - Learn More Read CommonBond Review	SPECIAL OFFER Refinance Student Loans - Learn More Read Earnest Review
	Benefits and Features
Variable APR	2.43% to 6.59% (with AutoPay)	1.99% - 6.89% (includes 0.25% autopay discount)
Fixed APR	3.49% to 8.07% (with AutoPay)	3.20% - 6.99% (includes 0.25% autopay discount)
Minimum Amount	$5,000	$5,000
Maximum Amount	Up to $500,000	$500,000
Loan Term	5 to 20 years; Hybrid loans are 5 years of fixed payments and 5 years of variable payments	Custom term from 5 to 20 years (180 term options)
State Residency	All states eligible	Most states with the exception of: DE, KY, and NV and no variable rate loans to residents of: AK, IL, MN, NH, OH, TN and TX
Degree Requirements	Associates or higher	Associates or higher
Income Requirements	None	None
Employment Requirements	Must be employed or have an offer	Must be employed or have an offer for a position to start within 6 months
Interest Only Payments	No	No
Origination Fees	None	None
Prepayment Penalty	None	None
Can Use a Cosigner	Yes	No
Can Release a Cosigner	Yes	Only on existing loans
Auto-Pay Interest Rate Reduction	Yes	Yes
Soft Credit Check	Yes	Yes
Unemployment Protection	Yes	Yes
	CreditDonkey® Reviews
Customer Service
Loan Term
Ease of Use
Interest Rates
Payment Flexibility
Pros & Cons	Pros: Hybrid program Payment protections Social mission Cons: Not available for all states Long process to approval	Pros: Looks beyond your credit score Custom term based on budget Option to skip one payment every 12 months Cons: Tougher requirements No co-signer option
Bottom Line	Community-focused lender with unique hybrid rate option... Read full review	Merit-based lender with custom terms... Read full review
	Refinance Student Loans	Refinance Student Loans
What Others View		SoFi
CommonBond: Pricing information from published website as of 6/19/2019 Earnest: Pricing information from published website as of 11/6/2019

Which is Better: CommonBond or Earnest?

Still need help deciding which student loans is better? Read the in-depth reviews below. You may also be interested in comparing CommonBond or ELFI.

In short: CommonBond's payment flexibility is excellent.

Articles on CommonBond Student Loans

CommonBond Reviews
CommonBond offers competitive rates for student loan refinance along with a strong social mission. Is it right for you? See the pros and cons.
• CommonBond vs SoFi

Articles on Earnest Student Loans

Earnest
Earnest offers low student loan refinance rates and customizes payments based on your budget. But approval may be harder. Read on for the pros and cons.
• Earnest vs Laurel Road

Which Do You Think is Best?

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	How Much Will My Student Loan Payments Be The average student loan debt in the U.S. is around $35,000. But the type of loan, interest rate, and other factors will determine how much they'll actually cost. See an estimate of how much you can expect to pay each month.

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