Best heloc rates or heloc lenders?

I’m starting to look into a HELOC and thought the main thing would be finding the best HELOC rates, but the more I read it seems like the lender matters almost as much as the rate. From what I’m seeing, a lot of the comparison sites focus on rates, but once you dig deeper there are a lot of other things that seem to matter too. Things like closing costs, annual fees, draw period, repayment terms, rate caps, and how smooth the application process is.

I’m trying to figure out how people are comparing lenders in real life. Some seem to go through their local bank or credit union, while others look at online lenders. I’ve been browsing a few options and even saw names like Achieve come up while researching, but it’s hard to tell from reviews how the process goes once you apply. Right now I’m mainly trying to balance finding the best HELOC rate with choosing a lender that’s easy to work with and transparent about fees and terms. Would be helpful to hear what ended up mattering most to others who went through this process.