Facing mountains of debt can be paralyzing; for some, it may feel impossible to ever escape the feeling of dread when it’s time to make monthly debt payments. But you don’t have to let your debt define your life. If you’re struggling with massive debt from credit cards, personal loans, student loans, back taxes, or medical bills, you have options.
You can get a debt consolidation loan, try a debt payoff strategy like the debt avalanche or debt snowball, or file for bankruptcy. You may also be able to get debt relief by negotiating your debt with multiple creditors, especially with the help of debt settlement companies. Below, we’ll review the best debt relief companies to help you get on better financial footing.
We analyzed several well-known debt relief companies nationwide to find the absolute best settlement options available. We prioritized companies with fair pricing (no upfront fees), transparent practices, and solid reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau.
The companies below represent the best of the best. They have a proven track record of negotiating payments and helping people reduce their overall debt burden. They offer clear pricing, customer satisfaction guarantees, and expert advice—even if that advice means they steer you away from debt settlement toward another option from which they won’t profit.
Best Overall
National Debt Relief is the best debt relief company in the United States, based on our thorough analysis of multiple debt settlement companies. The best feature of National Debt Relief is its satisfaction guarantee.
You won’t pay a cent on a fee associated with a specific debt until you have approved the settlement for that debt and made your first payment toward it. If you don’t like the settlement the company gets you, you don’t have to accept.
National Debt Relief offers more than just debt settlement. The company can also set you up with experts in its network for services such as debt consolidation loans, credit counseling, bankruptcy, and more. The company currently has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
| Min. required debt | $10,000 |
| Settlement fee | 15% – 25% of total debt enrolled in the program |
| Membership fees | $9 one-time setup fee, $9.85 monthly membership fee |
| How much can you save? | Up to 50% of debt before debt relief fees and 30% of debt after fees |
Best for Transparency
We selected Freedom Debt Relief as the best debt relief company for transparency, due to the Freedom Debt Relief Promise, which ensures any potential customer gets a true opportunity to learn about all their options for tackling debt, even if that means they choose a path the company doesn’t offer. Freedom Debt Relief will also develop a personalized plan for each potential customer.
Like National Debt Relief, Freedom Debt Relief only charges fees for successfully negotiated debts. A hallmark of the company is its lower minimum debt requirement ($7,500), which makes it easier for people with lower but still unmanageable debts to get help.
| Min. required debt | $7,500 |
| Settlement fee | 15% – 25% of total debt enrolled in the program |
| Membership fees | $9.95 one-time setup fee, $9.95 monthly membership fee |
| How much can you save? | Up to 50%, minus fees; if your total debt settlement cost is higher than the original debt when you entered the program, refunds the difference |
Best for Customer Experience
Accredited Debt Relief is the best debt settlement company for customer experience. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, based on nearly 7,500 reviews at press time.
Accredited Debt Relief also notably does not charge monthly membership fees. Like other debt settlement companies we rated, it will assemble a personalized plan for your needs, with a focus on lowering monthly payments (by up to 40%) and paying off debt within 24 to 48 months.
| Min. required debt | $10,000 |
| Settlement fee | Typically 25% of total debt enrolled in the program |
| Membership fees | None |
| How much can you save? | Reduce monthly payments by up to 40% |
Note: Debt consolidation programs through Accredited Debt Relief may vary by state.
Our analysis found National Debt Relief, Freedom Debt Relief, and Accredited Debt Relief to be the best credit card debt relief companies and the best student loan debt relief companies—for private loans. None of these companies offer help with federal student loans.
Beyond student loan debt and credit card debt, debt relief companies such as these typically help with debt related to:
Because these options don’t help with the IRS, you’ll want to reference our roundup of the best tax debt relief companies if you’re drowning in tax debt.
| Type of debt | National Debt Relief | Freedom Debt Relief | Accredited Debt Relief |
| Credit cards | |||
| Federal student loans | |||
| Private student loans | * | ||
| Taxes | |||
| Business | ** | ||
| Medical | |||
| Divorce | |||
| Personal loans | |||
| Unemployment |
Remember: The amount of personal debt forgiven through debt relief will be considered taxable income in the year it is forgiven.
I typically recommend working with a debt relief company if you are facing bankruptcy and have no other options. After we discuss the pros and cons of choosing debt relief, I refer my clients to a debt counselor so they can make the best decision.
Erin Kinkade, CFP®
Debt relief companies work with creditors and debt collectors on your behalf to renegotiate or settle your debt. These companies, also called debt settlement companies, cannot guarantee success, but they have a thorough understanding of how to navigate the complexities of debt negotiations with creditors, thus improving your chances.
Keep in mind, debt settlement companies charge expensive fees for their services. There are several other risks as well, including a negative impact on your credit score and potential lawsuits from debt collectors.
If you want to learn more about whether debt relief is a good option for you, consider our guide here.
Debt relief companies charge fees for their services. This will vary by company and by debt, but expect to pay anywhere from 15% to 25% of the debt the company is negotiating on your behalf, if it’s successfully settled.
Debt settlement companies also sometimes charge set-up fees and monthly membership fees, which can vary.
Debt relief companies are legit and can successfully reduce your overall debt. However, they’re not your only option. Alternatives include debt consolidation loans, negotiating your debt on your own, or even filing for bankruptcy.
Also note that debt relief scams are rampant. A common sign of a debt relief scam is requiring payment upfront; you should only pay a debt relief company that has successfully negotiated the debt. Another common trademark of a debt relief scam is if the company reaches out to you first, unsolicited. This is a red flag; avoid working with any debt relief company employing this tactic.
Using a debt relief company to settle your debt does hurt your credit score. In fact, expect your credit score to drop between 100 and 125 points. Why such a big impact? Payment history makes up 35% of your credit score—more than a third of your overall score—and that’s where debt settlement is reflected on your report.
Debt relief companies typically charge between 15% and 25% of the total debt being settled. They will charge this amount if they are successful at negotiating your debt, even if the success is minimal.
For instance, if you owe $20,000 in credit card debt, the debt relief company might charge between $3,000 and $5,000 for their services, regardless of how much or how little they reduce your debt by.
The best IRS debt relief companies offer a number of options for settling your tax debt. They’ll work with the IRS on your behalf to lower your debt or set up a more manageable payment plan. Some of their tax debt forgiveness strategies include:
Merchant cash advance (MCA) debt relief companies help businesses negotiate debt from their merchant cash advance—something some companies take to help finance the start of their business (or keep their existing business afloat) in exchange for a percentage of their sales.
Such debt can become difficult for companies to manage. MCA debt relief companies work to develop a realistic settlement with the lender that will keep your company from going out of business.
The worst debt relief companies in the US are those that require upfront fees, initiate first contact, or make huge promises about how they can wipe out your debt almost entirely. These are generally signs of a scam, and you should avoid them at all costs.
The Federal Trade Commission keeps a list of companies that are banned from providing debt relief. Review this list to ensure a company you’re considering is not on it.
The important factors to consider when working with a debt relief company are making sure the company does its due diligence, compares and contrasts the pros and cons, and has the expertise to review and understand the terms on the documents.
Erin Kinkade, CFP®
Since 2020, LendEDU has evaluated debt relief companies to help readers find the best debt relief services. Our latest analysis reviewed 115 data points from 5 companies, with 23 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.
These data points are organized into broader categories, which our editorial team weights and scores based on their relative importance to readers. These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.
Higher star ratings are ultimately awarded to companies that create an excellent experience and have a track record of settling and consolidating debts for clients. This includes offering a free consultation, cost transparency, and employing a team of experienced debt settlement professionals with varying licenses and certifications.
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