Compare Debt Relief Companies
Select any companies you're considering and see the key facts side by side — fees, ratings, minimums, and more.
How to Compare Debt Relief Companies
Picking a debt relief company is hard to get right on gut feeling alone. Fees, program length, and state availability vary more than most people expect — and the company that's the right fit for someone with $30,000 in debt might not be the right fit for someone with $8,000. Use the tool below to compare up to three companies side by side, and read on for what each field actually means and how to use this comparison well.
Choose up to 3 companies to compare
| Criteria | Freedom Debt Relief#1 Pick | National Debt Relief | New Era Debt Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Index | Trust Index 98Elite | Trust Index 96Elite | Trust Index 81Recommended |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | A+ |
| Min. Debt | $7,500 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Timeframe | 24–48 months | 24–48 months | 24–42 months |
| Fee | 15–25% | 15–25% | 14–23% |
| Availability | 40 states | 46 states | 47 states |
| No Upfront Fee | |||
⭐ #1 Editor's Choice
Freedom Debt Relief
Trust Index 98EliteBBB Rating
A+
Min. Debt
$7,500
Timeframe
24–48 months
Fee
15–25%
States
40 states
National Debt Relief
Trust Index 96EliteBBB Rating
A+
Min. Debt
$7,500
Timeframe
24–48 months
Fee
15–25%
States
46 states
New Era Debt Solutions
Trust Index 81RecommendedBBB Rating
A+
Min. Debt
$10,000
Timeframe
24–42 months
Fee
14–23%
States
47 states
How We Selected These Companies
Every company on this list has been independently reviewed using the same process: verifying accreditation (BBB rating, industry association membership like ACDR or IAPDA), checking publicly available fee and program information directly on the company's own site, and looking at review volume and patterns across third-party platforms like Trustpilot and the BBB.
Being included here isn't an endorsement that a company is right for you specifically — it means the company met our baseline standards for legitimacy and transparency. We don't accept payment for inclusion, and no company can pay for a better score.
What Each Comparison Field Means
Trust Index
Our internal score reflecting accreditation status, review volume and pattern, years in business, and transparency of publicly disclosed terms. It's a research shortcut, not a substitute for reading the full review.
BBB Rating
The company's current Better Business Bureau grade. A or A+ is generally considered a strong signal, but check the complaint history underneath the letter grade too — a rating alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Min. Debt
The minimum amount of qualifying unsecured debt a company requires to enroll you. If your debt is below this threshold, that company likely isn't an option regardless of anything else.
Timeframe
The typical program length, usually 24-48 months. Your actual timeline depends on your total debt, monthly deposit amount, and how negotiations go.
Fee
The percentage of enrolled debt the company charges, typically deducted from your program only after a settlement is reached — not an upfront cost. Where a company doesn't publicly disclose its fee range, we say so rather than guessing.
Availability
Which states a company can serve directly. Some companies serve additional states through referral partnerships rather than directly — where that distinction applies, we note it separately rather than combining direct and referral numbers into one figure.
No Upfront Fee
Whether the company charges anything before a settlement is reached. Federal law prohibits debt settlement companies from charging fees before settling at least one debt, so this should be true for any legitimate provider.
Why the Cheapest Company Isn't Automatically the Best
It's tempting to sort by fee percentage and stop there, but the lowest fee doesn't always mean the lowest total cost — or the best outcome. A company with a slightly higher fee but a stronger track record of successful settlements, better creditor relationships, or more responsive case management can end up saving you more overall than one that's cheaper on paper but slower or less experienced at actually getting settlements done.
Fee percentage is one input, not the whole answer. Weigh it alongside accreditation, review patterns, and how well a company's specific approach (dedicated case manager vs. team-based service, online-only vs. phone support, etc.) fits how you actually want to work through this.
Questions to Ask Before Enrolling
Whichever companies you're comparing, it's worth asking each one directly:
- What is your exact fee structure, and when is it charged?
- Is your company directly licensed in my state, or would I be referred to a partner?
- What's a realistic timeline for my specific debt level — not just your general average?
- Can you confirm your current accreditation and BBB rating in writing?
- Who holds my dedicated savings account, and can I access it directly?
- What happens if a creditor sues me while I'm enrolled?
A company that answers these clearly and without pressure is generally a better sign than one that rushes past them.
How Affiliate Relationships Work
ReliefGuardian may earn compensation when you click through to a partner company from this site. That relationship never affects a company's Trust Index score, BBB rating, or any other factual data shown here — those come from our independent research, not from who pays for placement. Compensation can affect which companies appear in some places on the site (like featured placement), but it never changes the underlying facts we report about any company, including ones we don't have a partnership with.
Why a Company Might Not Appear on This List
Not every debt relief company operating in the US is included in this comparison tool. A company might be missing because it's newer and hasn't built enough of a track record to evaluate yet, because it didn't meet our baseline accreditation or transparency standards, or simply because our review coverage is still expanding. Absence from this list isn't itself a red flag — but if you're considering a company that isn't here, it's worth doing the same accreditation and transparency checks yourself before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is debt settlement risky?
Yes, to some degree — your credit score will typically drop during the program since you stop making payments to creditors while saving toward a settlement, and there's a chance a creditor could sue before a settlement is reached. That risk is why comparing companies on transparency and track record matters, not just price.
Can I negotiate with creditors myself instead of using a company?
Yes, some people do this successfully, particularly with a smaller number of creditors or more free time to manage the process. A debt relief company brings negotiation experience and creditor relationships you won't have on your own, which is part of what you're paying for.
How is this different from credit counseling or a debt management plan?
Credit counseling and DMPs generally don't reduce what you owe — they restructure repayment, often at a lower interest rate, while you keep paying your creditors in full. Debt settlement can meaningfully reduce your balance but usually requires falling behind on payments first. See our Credit Counseling vs. Debt Settlement comparison for the full breakdown.
Do I have to enroll all my debt with one company?
No — you choose which debts to enroll, and you're not required to settle every account even after enrolling it, unless you and the creditor agree on specific terms.