Domain Due Diligence
Report for Upgrade.com
Why we think so
Upgrade.com is a well-trafficked personal loan provider based in San Francisco, offering fixed-rate loans up to $50,000 with no prepayment penalties. It ranks around #14,000 globally with about 3.3 million monthly visits primarily from the US. Its website employs reputable technologies including Akamai and Amazon hosting, and supports secure payment options such as Apple Pay and Stripe. Upgrade, Inc. has multiple verified contact emails and phone numbers on their site, demonstrating transparency. The domain is securely managed with Whois data showing it is registered through GoDaddy.com since the 1990s, and SSL certificates are valid through late 2026. It is not listed on crypto scam or phishing blacklists, enhancing trust. User reviews on Google Places average 4.8/5 from over 10,000 ratings, reflecting generally positive customer sentiment. Recent news highlights include significant funding rounds valuing the company above $3 billion and a series of loan acquisition agreements. However, the Better Business Bureau reports over 1,200 complaints in the last 3 years, primarily about refund delays, credit reporting inaccuracies, and customer service issues. There are no major lawsuits or regulatory sanctions found, but the complaints suggest some service challenges and disputed credit matters. Overall, upgrade.com is a legitimate fintech loan platform with broad adoption and strong infrastructure, but with noted customer service concerns to consider.
Risk Insights
Strong Technical Infrastructure
High Traffic and User Engagement
Customer Service Challenges
Contradictory Signals
Despite a robust technical setup, customer service problems and unresolved disputes reduce trust.
Signal A: High technical and domain legitimacy
Signal B: Significant customer complaints and credit reporting disputes
Category Scores
Red Flags & Warnings
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Over 1,200 complaints to the Better Business Bureau over 3 years highlight persistent customer service and credit reporting issues.
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Multiple complaints report unauthorized credit lines and unresolved fraud disputes impacting credit scores negatively.
🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis
Domain Technical Check
Domain Technical Check
"Upgrade.com uses top-tier hosting and security providers, indicating a legitimate setup."
Reason: Domain infrastructure is strong with Akamai CDN and Amazon hosting, and uses secure SSL certificates.
Traffic & Engagement Check
Traffic & Engagement Check
"Traffic metrics support active, legitimate user base."
Reason: High monthly visits (~3.3M) primarily from the US with reasonable bounce rate and engagement.
Contact Information Transparency
Contact Information Transparency
"Clear and accessible customer service contacts enhance trustworthiness."
Reason: Multiple valid emails and phone numbers listed on the official site, plus social media links.
Domain Ownership & Registration
Domain Ownership & Registration
"Long domain age and stable infrastructure suggest legitimacy."
Reason: Domain has long registration history with GoDaddy, and proper DNS and MX records.
Blacklist & Scam Reports
Blacklist & Scam Reports
"No major scam blacklists detected."
Reason: No presence on crypto scam blacklists or Google Safe Browsing phishing lists.
Reputation & Complaints
Reputation & Complaints
"Complaints highlight legitimate customer service and credit reporting concerns."
Reason: Significant number of BBB complaints focus on refund delays, credit dispute failures, and customer service.
Your Next Steps
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1Review BBB complaint details before applying for financial products with upgrade.com.
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2Check your credit report regularly if you have interacted with Upgrade for unauthorized activity.
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3Contact official Upgrade support emails or phone numbers for any disputes or account issues.
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4Consider comparing Upgrade's loan terms and customer feedback with other lenders for better options.
Evidence & Citations
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Upgrade.com Technology Profile
Evidence of reputable infrastructure and strong traffic.
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Upgrade.com Domain Ownership & SSL
Valid SSL certificates and stable Whois records.
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Upgrade Google Places Listing
Physical location and high customer ratings.
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News Articles About Upgrade.com
Recent funding and fintech industry coverage.
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Better Business Bureau Complaints
BBB shows many complaints about refund and credit reporting issues.
🕵🏻 Keep investigating
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