Jam Bader

July 19, 2025

Best Personal Loan Rates for Bad Credit 2025

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Finding the best personal loan rates for bad credit can feel overwhelming when traditional banks keep turning you down. If you’re struggling with a credit score below 650, you’re not alone – millions of Americans face similar challenges when seeking affordable financing options. The good news is that numerous lenders specialize in helping borrowers with less-than-perfect credit histories secure competitive rates and favorable terms.

Despite having bad credit, you can still access personal loans with reasonable interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and quick approval processes. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about securing affordable personal loans, from understanding what constitutes bad credit to comparing top lenders and improving your chances of approval. Whether you need funds for debt consolidation, home improvements, or unexpected expenses, we’ll help you navigate the lending landscape and find the most suitable financing solution.

What Qualifies as Bad Credit for Personal Loans?

Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, with different scoring models categorizing credit health differently. Generally, a credit score below 580 is considered poor, while scores between 580-669 fall into the fair category. Most traditional lenders view scores below 650 as risky, making it challenging to secure favorable loan terms.

However, bad credit doesn’t automatically disqualify you from obtaining a personal loan. Many lenders have adapted their underwriting processes to consider factors beyond credit scores, including income stability, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio. Understanding these alternative qualification criteria can significantly improve your borrowing prospects.

Best Personal Loan Rates for Bad Credit: Top Lenders in 2025

Online Lending Platforms

Online lenders have revolutionized the personal loan industry by offering competitive rates to borrowers with bad credit. These platforms use advanced algorithms to assess risk more comprehensively than traditional credit scoring methods.

Key advantages of online lenders include:

Faster application and approval processes
More flexible qualification requirements
Competitive interest rates despite bad credit
Transparent fee structures
24/7 online account management

Credit Unions and Community Banks

Local financial institutions often provide more personalized service and flexible lending criteria for members with bad credit. Credit unions, in particular, are known for offering lower interest rates and more favorable terms compared to traditional banks.

Benefits of credit unions:

Lower interest rates and fees
Personalized customer service
More willing to work with bad credit borrowers
Member-focused approach to lending
Potential for relationship building

Peer-to-Peer Lending Networks

P2P lending platforms connect borrowers directly with individual investors, often resulting in more competitive rates for those with bad credit. These platforms consider various factors beyond credit scores when making lending decisions.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Approved

Demonstrate Stable Income

Lenders want assurance that you can repay the loan regardless of your credit history. Providing proof of steady employment and consistent income significantly improves your approval odds and may help secure better rates.

Consider a Co-Signer

Adding a co-signer with good credit to your application can dramatically improve your loan terms and interest rates. The co-signer agrees to take responsibility for the debt if you default, reducing the lender’s risk.

Offer Collateral

Secured personal loans, where you pledge assets as collateral, typically offer lower interest rates even for bad credit borrowers. Common collateral includes vehicles, savings accounts, or other valuable assets.

Comparing Interest Rates and Terms

When searching for the best personal loan rates for bad credit, it’s crucial to compare multiple offers. Interest rates for bad credit personal loans typically range from 18% to 36%, depending on various factors including credit score, income, loan amount, and repayment term.

Factors Affecting Your Interest Rate

Credit Score Impact: Even within the bad credit range, higher scores generally qualify for better rates. A score of 620 might secure a 22% rate, while a 580 score could result in a 28% rate from the same lender.

Loan Amount and Term: Smaller loan amounts and shorter repayment terms often come with lower interest rates. However, shorter terms mean higher monthly payments, so balance affordability with total interest costs.

Income and Employment Stability: Higher income and longer employment history can help offset bad credit and potentially secure lower rates.

Red Flags to Avoid When Seeking Bad Credit Loans

Predatory Lending Practices

Be wary of lenders who guarantee approval regardless of credit score, charge excessive upfront fees, or pressure you to make immediate decisions. Legitimate lenders never guarantee approval or require payment before loan disbursement.

Unrealistic Terms

If an offer seems too good to be true for your credit situation, investigate thoroughly. Extremely low rates for bad credit borrowers often come with hidden fees or unfavorable terms buried in the fine print.

Steps to Apply for a Personal Loan with Bad Credit

Gather Required Documentation

Before applying, collect necessary documents, including proof of income, employment verification, bank statements, and identification. Having these ready speeds up the application process and demonstrates preparedness to lenders.

Shop Around and Compare Offers

Don’t settle for the first offer you receive. Multiple applications within a 14-45 day window typically count as a single credit inquiry, minimizing impact on your credit score while allowing you to compare terms.

Read the Fine Print

Carefully review all loan terms, including interest rates, fees, repayment schedule, and any prepayment penalties. Understanding these details prevents surprises and helps you make informed decisions.

Conclusion

Securing the best personal loan rates for bad credit requires patience, research, and strategic planning. While your credit history may limit your options, numerous lenders specialize in helping borrowers with poor credit access affordable financing. By comparing multiple offers, demonstrating financial stability, and understanding your options, you can find a loan that meets your needs without breaking your budget.

Don’t let bad credit prevent you from achieving your financial goals. Start by checking your credit report for errors, gathering necessary documentation, and researching reputable lenders who work with bad credit borrowers. Take action today to explore your personal loan options and take the first step toward improved financial stability.

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Muhammad Kashif

7:14 am

10 Crypto Exchanges with the Lowest Fees (Oct 2025)

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If you trade often, fees can quietly erode your returns. A difference of just 0.10% per trade adds up fast for active spot and futures fees traders, market makers, and arbitrageurs. That’s why a clear, monthly-updated comparison of the crypto exchanges with the lowest fees is essential. In this October 2025 guide, we break down base spot trading fees, maker–taker fees, VIP tier discounts, token-based fee cuts, and limited-time promotions that can push your effective rate toward zero. Where a platform publishes updated changes—like region-specific pricing in the EEA or seasonal discounts—we call those out and link to official schedules so you can verify the numbers yourself.

A quick refresher: most exchanges use maker–taker fees. Makers add liquidity with resting limit orders and usually pay lower or even negative fees at high tiers; takers remove liquidity by crossing the spread with marketable orders and usually pay a bit more. Your “real” cost is your posted rate minus any VIP tier reductions, “pay-fees-with-our-token” discounts, and maker rebates. Many platforms further differentiate spot trading fees from derivatives: perpetuals and options often have separate ladders with tighter maker rates and higher taker rates.

Below you’ll find the 10 most cost-efficient, mainstream exchanges right now—picked for their globally competitive pricing, liquidity, and transparent fee pages. For each, we summarize the entry (base) rates, popular discounts, and what it actually means for your pocket in October 2025.

How do we compare “lowest fees” fairly

We focus on three things. First, the published base maker–taker rates at the entry tier (what you’ll see before hitting VIP volume). Second, widely available discounts, such as paying in the native token (BNB, OKB, BGB, MX, etc.) or buying “points.” Third, current promos and region-specific adjustments that meaningfully change effective rates. Because fee tables change, we link to the latest official schedules or credible, recent breakdowns so you can double-check live numbers on the day you trade. For example, Binance maintains an always-on trading-fee schedule and highlights VIP tiers; OKX recently updated its fee structure for EEA users effective October 1, 2025; and MEXC is running limited 0% futures fees on specific contracts this month—these details can shift your effective cost this week, not just “on average.”

Binance: deep liquidity and easy discounts

Binance’s base spot trading fees typically start at 0.10% maker / 0.10% taker, with a widely used 25% discount when you pay fees in BNB. That drops the effective spot fee to roughly 0.075% at the entry level, and further reductions apply as you climb VIP tiers by 30-day volume. Binance’s live fee schedule lays out spot, margin, and convert, and the VIP ladder updates automatically with your rolling volume. For a frequent trader, that BNB discount alone is often the difference between average and best-in-class effective rates.

Why it’s among the crypto exchanges with the lowest fees: entry-level 0.10% is already competitive, but the BNB reduction and VIP scaling push costs down further without complicated hoops. If you mostly execute taker orders, factor the BNB discount into your calculations—it meaningfully narrows the gap to maker pricing.

OKX: aggressive base pricing and region-specific updates

OKX has long been a low-fee favorite thanks to slim base maker/taker rates and OKB-based discounts. This month, OKX also rolled out an updated fee structure for EEA users effective October 1, 2025, which is worth reviewing if you reside in that region. Several current guides show base spot tiers starting around 0.06% for both maker and taker, with volume and OKB holdings reducing costs as you scale up. Always confirm the exact rate for your region and tier on the official page before you trade.

Why it’s among the lowest: low entry-level spot trading fees, transparent VIP tiers, and additional OKB discounts mean OKX regularly competes for the absolute cheapest fills—especially for active traders who can unlock higher tiers.

Bybit: lean spot fees and competitive derivatives

Bybit keeps spot trading fees tight, and its derivatives ladder is especially attractive if you primarily trade perpetuals. The exchange’s official fee structure and recent explainers outline maker/taker for spot, perpetuals, futures, and USDC options, plus VIP-based reductions and promotional discounts that come and go. If you’re comfortable with Bybit’s product set, the combination of low spot fees, liquid perps, and occasional promos makes it easy to keep effective costs low across a multi-market workflow.

Why it’s among the lowest: lean base maker–taker fees on spot, very competitive futures fees, and regular fee events that cut taker costs when you need to cross the spread.

KuCoin: broad markets with familiar 0.10% spot and token cuts

KuCoin’s fee framework mirrors the industry’s best-known pattern: a base spot trading fee around 0.10% for both maker and taker, with VIP tiers and KCS-based discounts to lower costs. Its support docs reiterate the maker–taker model and set expectations on how lower “maker” pricing rewards you for adding liquidity. For traders who value a large altcoin roster, KuCoin’s mix of markets and predictable fee ladder keeps it firmly in the “low-cost” camp.

Why it’s among the lowest: a simple, familiar 0.10% starting point, plus KCS/VIP reductions, makes KuCoin a strong value, especially if you’re placing resting limit orders to clip maker rates.

MEXC: low base, token perks—and 0% futures promos this month

MEXC’s public fee page highlights the ways holdings of MX token can trim both spot trading fees and futures fees. More importantly for October 2025, MEXC is running a limited-time 0% futures promotion on selected contracts (regional scope specified in the announcement) from October 16–31, 2025. If you’re eligible, that can bring your effective taker cost to zero on those pairs for the rest of the month, which is as low as it gets. Outside promos, MEXC’s base maker–taker is already competitive, and VIP tiers add leverage for active accounts.

Why it’s among the lowest: aggressive promotions and MX-linked discounts can make MEXC a top pick for cost-minimizing derivatives traders right now.

Bitget: straightforward 0.10% spot and discounted with BGB

Bitget’s support material lays out clear figures: spot maker–taker at 0.10% with a discount to 0.08% when paying in BGB, and competitive futures fees that start at 0.02% maker / 0.06% taker—then shrink with VIP volume. If your strategy is taker-heavy in perps, 0.06% is already decent at entry; if you can post liquidity on the maker side, 0.02% can meaningfully increase your edge, especially for high-frequency or grid-style approaches.

Why it’s among the lowest: the combination of token-based spot discounts and a tight derivatives ladder makes Bitget one of the cheapest “all-rounders” for mixed spot and futures fees.

Gate.io: points can drop effective taker fees sharply

While some reviews quote Gate.io’s legacy 0.20% spot number, today’s fee page shows that buying “points” meaningfully reduces your effective rate. With points, the base taker rate starts at 0.075%, and the platform explains how maker rebates and point costs can push the effective taker fee down even further, depending on your activity and VIP level. If you’re optimizing for taker-dominant execution, Gate’s points system deserves a look instead of judging solely by the older 0.20% headline.

Why it’s among the lowest: after accounting for points and maker rebates, effective spot trading fees can undercut many rivals—particularly for high-activity accounts that can amortize point costs.

Phemex: simple 0.10% spot, 0.01% maker on contracts

Phemex publishes a clean breakdown: spot trading fees of 0.10% for maker and taker, while contracts start at 0.01% maker / 0.06% taker. There’s also a Market Maker Incentive Program that can pay a maker rebate up to 0.005% if you qualify, plus VIP tiers that reduce both spot and derivatives costs. For traders who can reliably post liquidity, the 0.01% contract maker rate is attractively low at entry.

Why it’s among the lowest: low contract maker–taker fees right out of the gate, with a rebate path for participants who can provide liquidity at scale.

BingX: flat 0.10% spot, tight 0.02%/0.05% futures at base

BingX’s current overviews make it easy to price your strategy: spot sits at 0.10% maker/taker, and base futures fees are often quoted around 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker. That’s a lean ladder for contract traders, and, combined with a straightforward spot rate, puts BingX in the value tier for active users who don’t want to decode complex fee tables. Always verify the pair-level fee when you open a new market, as some symbols can vary.

Why it’s among the lowest: consistent, low base pricing across spot and contracts with minimal friction to unlock those numbers.

CoinEx: competitive tiers and market-maker rebates

CoinEx has been tightening its schedule for both spot and perps. Recent announcements show tiered improvements, including maker rebates for high-ranking market makers on spot and futures, while VIP 0 derivatives rates often start around 0.03% maker / 0.05% taker. Spot fees can be reduced via volume and CET-based discounts, and market makers can achieve 0% or even negative maker fees on certain tiers. If you’re an algorithmic trader providing liquidity, that rebate structure can flip fees from a cost to a revenue line.

Why it’s among the lowest: meaningful market maker rebate potential and competitive base futures fees give CoinEx one of the more attractive cost profiles if you trade programmatically.

Kraken, Coinbase, and why they’re not in this month’s “lowest” list

Kraken and Coinbase Advanced are robust, regulated options with excellent security and fiat ramps, but their entry-tier maker–taker fees are generally higher than the ten platforms above. If your priority is absolute lowest cost at low volumes, the exchanges listed earlier typically beat them on base pricing; if regulation, fiat on/off ramps, or specific jurisdictions matter more, Kraken and Coinbase Advanced remain strong choices—just know you might pay more at the start. Always check each platform’s live fee table to see whether your current monthly volume qualifies you for better tiers.

Regional pricing, token discounts, and promotions: the fine print that changes everything

A universal rule in 2025: always read the regional footnotes. OKX, for instance, updated maker–taker fees for EEA users effective October 1, 2025—terms like these matter if you travel or relocate. Similarly, token-based reductions (BNB on Binance, OKB on OKX, BGB on Bitget, MX on MEXC) materially change your effective spot trading fees—often by 20–25% at entry—so run the math on whether holding that token fits your risk tolerance. Finally, promotions can compress your cost to zero or near zero for short windows; MEXC’s 0% futures fees on selected contracts this month is a live example worth checking if you’re eligible.

How to actually pay less in October 2025 (without over-optimization)

If you mostly take liquidity, prioritize platforms with taker discounts you can realistically unlock—BNB/OKB/BGB or points. If you can post liquidity, seek exchanges with low or rebated maker rates. On derivatives, base ladders of 0.02%/0.05% or 0.02%/0.06% are already good; combining maker posting with VIP volume can push effective futures fees toward zero. And remember the “hidden” line item: withdrawals. While this article focuses on trading fees, withdrawal fees, and network costs can dwarf small differences in spot trading fees if you move funds often. Always check each market’s coin- and network-specific withdrawal table before you size up positions.

See More: Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platform 2025 Top 10 Exchanges Reviewed

Exchange-by-exchange fee snapshots (October 2025)

Binance

Base spot trading fees of roughly 0.10% maker / 0.10% taker, with a 25% BNB discount bringing the effective rate down to ~0.075% at entry; additional VIP tiers reduce costs further as your 30-day volume rises.

OKX

Low base pricing (often around 0.06%) with volume- and OKB-linked discounts. Note the EEA fee update in force from October 1, 2025—check your local schedule.

Bybit

Lean maker–taker fees across spot trading fees and perps, plus periodic promotions and VIP tiers that narrow taker costs for active accounts.

KuCoin

Familiar 0.10% based on spot for maker and taker, with reductions via VIP ladders and KCS benefits, making it cost-friendly for altcoin specialists.

MEXC

Competitive base rates, MX-token discounts, and this month’s regional 0% futures fees promo for selected contracts through October 31, 2025.

Bitget

0.10% spot at base, dropping to 0.08% when paying in BGB; futures fees typically 0.02% maker / 0.06% taker with VIP-driven reductions for high-volume traders.

Gate.io

Don’t stop at the legacy 0.20% headline; with “points,” the base taker rate lists at 0.075% and may be driven even lower when combined with maker rebates and VIP levels.

Phemex

Straightforward 0.10% spot trading fees and contract maker–taker of 0.01% / 0.06%, with a market-maker program offering up to a 0.005% maker rebate for qualified users.

BingX

Simple 0.10% spot and base futures fees around 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker, making it easy to model your cost without a maze of conditions.

CoinEx

VIP 0 derivatives around 0.03% maker / 0.05% taker, with tiered cuts and market-maker levels enabling 0% to negative maker fees on some schedules—compelling for liquidity providers.

Conclusion

In October 2025, the crypto exchanges with the lowest fees share the same DNA: tight maker–taker fees on spot, sub-0.06% futures fees for makers, transparent VIP ladders, and tangible token or points discounts. The biggest wins come from three habits. First, always check the live, region-specific fee page before you trade; base tables change and promos are time-boxed.

Second, align your execution style with the right discount—BNB/OKB/BGB for takers, or market maker rebate programs and maker-friendly ladders if you can post size. Third, re-run the math monthly: a small bump in 30-day volume, an extra token balance, or a short-term promo can shave basis points you’ll actually feel over hundreds of fills. With the ten platforms above, you can build a fee-efficient stack whether you do a few swings a week or thousands of micro-fills a day.

FAQs

Q: What are maker–taker fees, and why do they matter?

Maker–taker fees are how exchanges price trades. Makers add liquidity with resting limit orders and generally get lower (even negative) fees; takers remove liquidity with marketable orders and pay slightly more. Over time, selecting an exchange with lower taker rates (if you cross the spread) or a strong market maker rebate (if you post) can materially improve performance. For current examples and tables, see the official fee pages from Binance, OKX, and others linked in this guide.

Q: How do VIP tiers and token discounts actually reduce my cost?

Most platforms tie your fee tier to 30-day trading volume. Hitting higher tiers reduces your posted maker–taker fees. Separately, paying in the exchange’s token (BNB, OKB, BGB, MX) often grants a percentage discount on top of your tier. The combination can drop an entry-level 0.10% spot trading fee into the 0.06–0.08% range or lower, depending on the venue. Always confirm the live discount language on the fee page before you assume savings.

Q: Are there any genuine 0% trading fee opportunities right now?

Yes—temporarily. In October 2025, MEXC is advertising 0% futures fees on selected contracts through October 31 for certain regions. These windows are short, pair-specific, and geo-scoped, so read the announcement details to ensure you qualify.

Q: Which exchange is “cheapest overall” for a new trader?

There isn’t a single winner because it depends on your style. If you take liquidity on spot, look at Binance, Bitget, or Bybit with token discounts applied. Ouuu provides liquidity on Perps, Phemex, and CoinEx have attractive futures fees and market maker rebate pathways. If you’re in the EEA or SEA, check OKX and MEXC’s current region-specific updates and promos.

Q: Why aren’t Kraken or Coinbase Advanced in the “lowest fee” top 10?

They tend to have higher entry-tier maker–taker fees than the venues above. That said, both are excellent, regulated platforms with strong fiat ramps and liquidity—many traders happily pay slightly more for those strengths. If you scale into higher VIP tiers on either platform, your effective cost can still fall into a competitive zone. Review each platform’s live fee page for your current tier before deciding