When researching personal loans, you may see the terms APR (Annual Percentage Rate) and interest rate used interchangeably. However, they are not the same thing. The interest rate refers to the cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, but it doesn’t include any other fees or charges.
APR, on the other hand, includes not only the interest rate but also other fees and charges you may incur when borrowing money. This makes the APR a more important number to look at that interest rate.
Read on for a closer look at APR vs interest rate, what it means when these two numbers are different, and what it means when they are the same.
What Is Interest?
Interest is the cost you pay for the privilege of taking out a loan — the money you’ll owe along with the principal, or the amount of money you’re borrowing.
Interest is expressed in a rate: a percentage that indicates what proportion of the principal you’ll pay on top of the principal itself. Interest may be simple — charged only against the principal balance — or compound — charged against both the principal balance and accrued interest itself. Typically, personal loan rates are an expression of simple interest.
💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. SoFi personal loans come with no-fee options, and no surprises.
Loan APR vs Interest Rate
So what’s the difference between an APR vs. an interest rate?
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and specifically designates how much you’ll spend, as a proportion of the principal, over the course of one year. Furthermore, the APR includes any additional charges on top of interest, such as origination or processing fees, which a straight interest rate does not.
In other words, APR is a specific type of interest rate expression — one that’s more inclusive of additional costs.
| Interest Rate | APR |
|---|---|
| Expression of how much will be paid back to the lender in addition to repaying the principal balance | Expression of how much will be paid back to the lender in addition to repaying the principal balance |
| Includes interest only | Expresses cost of the loan over one year including any additional costs, such as origination fees |
Why Is My Personal Loan APR Different Than the Interest Rate?
If your personal loan’s APR differs from its interest rate, that indicates that there are additional fees, such as origination fees, included in the total amount you’re being charged. If there were no fees, the APR and interest rate would be identical.
How Important Is APR vs Interest Rate?
A loan’s APR is generally more important than its interest rate because APR reflects the true cost of the loan — it accounts for interest as well as any fees tacked on by the lender. Looking at APR also allows you to compare two loan offers apples to apples. One loan may have a lower interest rate than another loan but if the lender tacks on high fees, then it may not actually be the better deal.
APR vs Interest Rate on Revolving Credit Accounts
Personal loans aren’t the only financial product that involve APR and interest rate. Revolving credit accounts — including credit cards — also have interest rates expressed as APR. However, with credit cards, these two rates are one and the same: APR is just the interest rate, and the terms can be used interchangeably.
Credit card issuers may charge other fees, e.g., cash advance fees, late fees, or balance transfer fees as applicable to individual usage. But it’s impossible to predict the type or amount of fees that might be charged to any one card holder.
Although these two expressions are the same, it’s important to understand that the interest rate on credit cards and other revolving credit accounts is usually compound interest, which is precisely why it can be so easy to spiral into credit card debt. When interest is charged on the interest you’ve already accrued, the total goes up quickly.
A single credit card account can have multiple APRs, depending on how the credit is used.
• Purchase APR: the standard APR for general purchases.
• Cash advance APR: the rate charged for cash advances made to the card holder.
• Balance transfer APR: may begin as a low or zero promotional rate, but increase after the introductory period ends.
• Penalty APR: may be charged if a payment is late by a predetermined number of days.
💡 Quick Tip: With average interest rates lower than credit cards, a personal loan for credit card debt can substantially decrease your monthly bills.
What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Personal Loan?
The interest rate on your personal loan — or any financial product — will vary based on a wide variety of factors, including your personal financial history (such as your credit score and income) as well as which lender you choose, how big the loan is, and whether or not it’s secured with collateral.
The average personal loan rate is currently about 12% APR. However, the rate you receive could be higher or lower, depending on your financial situation and the lender you choose.
Getting a Good APR on a Personal Loan
To get the best rate on your personal loan, there are some financial factors you can influence over time. Here are some action items to consider.
Improving Your Credit
It’s been said before, but it’s true: the higher your credit score, generally the better your chances are of achieving favorable loan terms and lower interest rates — not to mention qualifying for the loan at all. While there are loans out there for borrowers with bad credit and fair credit, improving your credit profile can make borrowing money more affordable.
Paying Down Your Debts
One way you may be able to improve your credit is to pay down your debts. And along with the opportunity to bolster your credit, paying down debt can also improve your chances of being approved for a loan because your debt-to-income ratio is one factor lenders look at when qualifying you for a loan. What’s more, paying down debt can make keeping up with your monthly loan payments a lot easier, since you’ll have more leeway in your budget.
Be Careful When Applying for Credit
Applying for too much credit at once can be a red flag for lenders and ding your credit score, so if you’re getting ready to apply for a personal loan, auto loan, or mortgage, try to limit how many times you’re having your credit score pulled. Typically, prequalifying for a loan involves a soft credit pull, which won’t impact your credit.
While credit scoring models do allow for rate shopping, it’s still a good idea to compare multiple lenders over a limited amount of time — a 14-day period is recommended — to find the lender that works best for your financial needs. If done in a short window of time, multiple hard credit pulls for the same type of loan will count as just one.
Recommended: Soft vs Hard Credit Inquiry
The Takeaway
Personal loans and other financial lending products come at a cost: interest. That’s the amount you’ll pay on top of repaying the principal balance itself. Interest is expressed in a percentage rate, most commonly APR, which includes both the interest and any other fees that can increase the cost of the loan.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.
FAQ
Why is my personal loan APR different than the interest rate?
If the annual percentage rate (APR) on your personal loan is different from the interest rate, it means the lender is charging additional fees, such as origination fees or others.
How important is APR vs interest rate?
The annual percentage rate (APR) is generally the more important figure to look at, since it includes additional costs incurred in getting the loan, such as fees. The APR will give you a more holistic picture of the price of the loan product.
What is a good APR and interest rate for a personal loan?
Personal loan interest rates vary widely but currently average around 12% APR. Depending on your personal financial history, the type and amount of the loan you’re borrowing, and your lender, the rate you receive could be higher or lower.
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