LendKey Student Loans vs Earnest Student Loans

LendKey is a good option for customer service. How does it compare to Earnest? Read our comparison chart below.

LendKey connects borrowers with a network of community banks and credit unions to get the best rates. Lendkey's lenders offer both private student loans and refinancing & consolidation services. Many lenders offer the option to make interest-only payments during the first four years. Each lender has its own minimum loan and salary requirement.

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

		EarnestSoFi
	Learn More	Learn More
	LendKey Student Loans	Earnest Student Loans
	SPECIAL OFFER Refinance Student Loans - Learn More Read LendKey Review	OFFER Refinance Student Loans - Learn More Read Earnest Review
	Benefits and Features
Variable APR	2.51% to 7.51% (with AutoPay)	5.99% - 9.74% APR (includes 0.25% autopay discount)
Fixed APR	3.49% to 7.54% (with AutoPay)	5.19% - 9.74% APR (includes 0.25% autopay discount)
Minimum Amount	$7,500	$5,000
Maximum Amount	$300,000	$500,000
Loan Term	5 to 20 years	Custom term from 5 to 20 years (180 term options)
State Residency	Most states except: ME, ND, NV, RI, and WV	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	Bachelor's or higher	Associates or higher
Income Requirements	$24,000	None
Employment Requirements	Must be employed	Must be employed or have an offer for a position to start within 6 months
Interest Only Payments	Yes for the first 4 years	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
Loan Term
Customer Service
Ease of Use
Interest Rates
Payment Flexibility
Pros & Cons	Pros: Offer interest rate reduction beyond auto-debit reduction Excellent customer service Return policy within 30 days you can return your loan Cons: Cumbersome application process Lack of transparency regarding loan documents	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	Good option for customer service... Read full review	Merit-based lender with custom terms... Read full review
	Refinance Student Loans	Refinance Student Loans
LendKey: Pricing information from published website as of 11/15/2018 Earnest: Pricing information from published website as of 11/28/2023

Which is Better: LendKey or Earnest?

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

In short: Earnest's ease of use is outstanding.

Articles on LendKey Student Loans

LendKey Reviews

Saving thousands of dollars on your student loans sounds perfect, and that's just what LendKey promises. Is it the real deal, though?

• LendKey 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.

Which Do You Think is Best?

You Might Also Like

Best Student Loan Refinance

What is the best company to refinance student loans? Read this guide to compare interest rates and find out if it is still a good idea.