Figure out what to do about your debt before you commit to anything
In the US you can pay it down yourself, join a free counseling plan, consolidate, settle, or in some cases file for bankruptcy — and the free routes are covered here alongside the paid ones. This site lays out what each one actually does to your money, your credit and your taxes.
What's going on right now?
Six ways into the same decision
Pick whichever matches what you're actually trying to figure out.
See every option, including the free ones
Nonprofit counseling, DIY methods and paid routes, explained honestly.
Read your options →Understand what happens to your credit
Every option affects your score differently — see how.
Compare the credit impact →Check the tax surprise
Forgiven debt can be taxed as income, and most people don't expect it.
See the tax rules →Know your rights with collectors
What a collector legally can and can't do, across any type of debt.
Read your rights →Deal with medical or student debt specifically
Both work differently from credit card debt — and both have free routes.
See the specific guides →When bankruptcy is the honest answer
Sometimes it's the most sensible option, not the last resort.
Read it straight →See the real numbers before you decide
Three calculators covering payoff timing, consolidation cost and debt-to-income, all showing total cost, not just monthly payments.
Snowball vs avalanche
See whether paying your smallest balance or your highest-rate balance first actually gets you out of debt sooner, and for less total interest.
Assumptions this uses
- Interest accrues monthly on the remaining balance at the rate you enter.
- Minimum payments stay fixed at the amounts you enter for each debt.
- Your extra monthly amount is applied in full to whichever debt the chosen method prioritizes.
- Once a debt is paid off, its full former payment rolls into the next targeted debt.
- Figures are estimates based on the numbers you provide, not your actual statements.
Limitations: This does not account for changing interest rates, late fees, new charges added to any balance, or months where you can't make the full extra payment.
Runs entirely in your browser.
Write down every balance first
Before you call a creditor, a counselor, or a relief company, list every debt with its balance, rate and minimum payment on one page. It takes about ten minutes and means you won't be caught off guard, whoever the call is with.
Ask about your specific situation
A plain-English assistant that explains options and consequences. It doesn't replace a counselor or a lawyer.
Ask about your situation
If you'd like a second read on your situation, you're welcome to reach out. This isn't a promise of a specific outcome, just an invitation to ask.
There's no wrong way to describe what's going on, and you don't need exact numbers to reach out.
Partner link — we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. How we make money.
Compare debt relief and consolidation options
If a lower-rate loan or a settlement program genuinely fits your situation, this is where to see real options side by side.
Compare options →A few things worth owning, not selling
These are plain, useful items for getting a handle on debt — not products we're pushing, and removing them changes nothing about the site.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
The Debt Options Decision Worksheet
List every debt in one place, compare consolidation, settlement, a DMP, DIY payoff and bankruptcy side by side, and walk into any conversation, free or paid, already prepared.
Where to look next, if you want a paid option
These are paid providers, shown after the free options, not instead of them. None of them promises a specific outcome.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
LendingTree — Debt Consolidation Loans
Compare consolidation loan offers from multiple lenders in one place, based on the numbers you enter.
Compare loan offers →Debt Options FAQ — US
No hedging, no upsell. Where the honest answer is 'it depends,' we say what it depends on.
What should I do first if I'm behind on debt?
Write down every balance, rate and minimum payment on one page, then call an NFCC-affiliated nonprofit credit counselor for a free session. That single call often clarifies more than any single product decision, and it costs nothing.
Is debt consolidation the same as debt settlement?
No. Consolidation combines what you owe into one loan or plan, usually at a lower rate, and you still repay the full balance. Settlement means negotiating to pay less than you owe, which usually damages your credit more and can create a tax bill on the forgiven amount.
Does medical debt work differently from credit card debt?
Yes. Hospitals are generally required to offer financial assistance policies, medical bills are often negotiable directly with the provider's billing office, and unpaid medical debt under $500 is now excluded from most credit reports. Credit card debt has none of those specific protections.
Are student loans handled the same way as other debt?
No. Federal student loans have their own income-driven repayment, deferment and forgiveness programs managed through your loan servicer, and they generally can't be discharged through the same debt relief companies that handle credit card debt.
Will dealing with my debt hurt my credit score?
It depends on the route. A DIY payoff plan or a debt management plan tends to cause little to no damage if you keep making payments. Settlement usually causes the most damage, since accounts go delinquent while you save toward a settlement.
Is credit counseling really free?
The initial session with an NFCC-affiliated nonprofit agency is free in almost every case. If they recommend a debt management plan, that carries a small monthly fee, but the counseling and advice itself don't cost anything.