Best Debt Settlement Companies in 2024

Accredited Debt Relief is a unique addition to our list in that it’s not a direct debt settlement company, but more of a broker that connects you with world-class agencies that can help you pay off your debt.

With years of experience and well-earned customer trust, it’s a great choice for anyone looking for professional guidance. But what makes an outsider like this deserving of such a high position on our list?

Quality of the product

Accredited Debt Relief is one of the rare firms that provides both debt settlement and debt consolidation services, and it works across 32 states. Service fees vary from state to state, but all remain in the 15%-25% range, which is the current industry standard.

There are also no additional consultation and operational fees in case your debt does not get settled, and settlement negotiations themselves take between 24 and 48 months.

Accredited Debt Relief partners with some of the leading companies in the US, which is why it holds a perfect A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

This confidence in Accredited’s business practices is only strengthened by the fact that the firm is also a member of the AFCC, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the IAPDA. 

User experience

The company’s website is pretty straightforward and has all the necessary information laid out in such a way that it’s incredibly easy to find the most important details right from the get-go. It lacks some advanced features like a debt calculator, but the company’s advisors will give you a free professional consultation once you contact them about the settlement process. 

If you decide to find a company through Accredited Debt Relief, you won’t have to pay any upfront or monthly fees. Even if you have a change of heart and decide to cancel the service, you are free to take your money out without any costs attached.

There is also a great customer support service that works seven days a week, although hours are slightly different on Saturdays and Sundays.     

Customer reviews

The company has only 70 complaints registered by the BBB at the time of writing this review. It also has an excellent 4.9 trust score from more than 7,000 reviews on Trustpilot, as well as a perfect 5/5 rating from over 2000 ratings submitted on Consumer Affairs.   

Final words

One could argue that it’s more difficult for brokers like Accredited Debt Relief to attain the same level of respect as other reputable debt settlement companies. To the company’s credit, it has done just that.

With many industry-leading partners and a track record that speaks for itself, Accredited is, without doubt, a great option for successfully settling your debt. 

Reasons to consider

• High success rates
• Many leading debt settlement partners
• Amazing customer support

National Debt Relief LLC was founded in 2009 in New York. In the 10 years since, it has already become synonymous with the industry. With a wide range of services, high savings rates, and exceptional national coverage, it’s one of the most reputable companies on the market

Quality of the product

The company has a minimum requirement of at least $7,500 in unsecured debts, including credit card debt, medical bills, and private student loans. This list does not include mortgages, federal student debt, and other types of secured debt. 

There are no upfront fees and the company boasts average savings of 30% once the settlement process is complete. The service fee at National Debt Relief ranges from 18-25% of your total enrolled debt, and you can cancel it without penalties or cancelation fees. The average time until most settlement loans are resolved is between 24 and 48 months. 

One of the greatest strengths of National Debt Relief is the fact that it operates in 41 states. Only residents of Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia are ineligible.

The company also has the highest possible BBB rating of A+, with just 163 registered customer complaints at the time of writing this review. It’s also accredited by both the AFCC and IAPDA.

User experience

The National Debt Relief website is full of useful and educational information, and you can access this information straight from the main page. It does feel a bit cluttered, especially compared to how some competitors have designed their websites, but it does its job well and is easy enough to navigate.

The best way to contact the company is over the phone; corporate debt advisors will ask you questions about your financial situation before creating a tailor-made solution that best suits your current goal.

Once you open up your account with National, you can easily access it either through the website or a mobile app. This allows you to keep track of your payments as you save enough funds to start settling your debt.

You’ll also get access to a ton of useful content to help you manage your money better and grow your credit rating once your current debt is settled and paid off.

For any additional information, National Debt Relief has a customer service program that you can reach via telephone during work hours. 

Customer reviews

While National lacks the 24/7 live customer support that some other firms provide, it still boasts incredible user ratings across multiple websites.

On Trustpilot, the company has a near-perfect 4.7/5 star rating from over 40,000 customers, and it has a 4.9 rating from more than 55,00 customers on Consumer Affairs. This is an incredible feat for a debt settlement company and it speaks volumes about how successful National Debt Relief has become in a short time.

Final words

National Debt Relief proves that the debt settlement business can be extremely successful if done correctly and built around consumer-friendly practices. 

Reasons to consider

• High savings rates
• Best user satisfaction levels
• Stellar BBB reviews

Launched in 2000, CuraDebt is a Florida-based debt settlement company. The company has counseled more than 200,000 individuals and small business owners, helping them find the best way to handle their unsecured debt and tax issues. 

CuraDebt operates nationwide, though the full range of its services is available in only 33 states. The company is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce, the Online Business Bureau, the AFCC, and IAPDA.

Quality of the Product

CuraDebt works with businesses and individual customers with at least $5,000 in total debt. Its core services include debt relief, tax debt relief, debt settlement, and debt negotiation. 

Debtors can expect this company to offer assistance with debt from personal loans and lines of credit, credit cards, collections and repossessions, medical bills, certain private student loans, and back taxes.

CuraDebt doesn’t address lawsuits, utility bills, auto loans, government-guaranteed student loans, government loans, mortgages, and other types of secured debt. 

Unlike most of its competitors, the company offers solutions for tax-related issues such as unpaid business and personal taxes, trust fund penalties, tax penalties, tax liens, wage garnishments, audits, rollover IRA issues, foreign corporation problems, FBAR issues, and more complex problematic tax situations. 

The average debt settling time is two to four years. CuraDebt usually charges about 20% of the total debt amount. There are no upfront fees or monthly administration charges for those who sign up for the company’s debt relief programs. 

Another great thing about CuraDebt is that it offers free consultations to all of its prospective clients.

User Experience

While CuraDebt’s website is hardly among the most neatly designed platforms we’ve seen, it’s very informative and fully transparent. Accessing information about debt settlement programs, issues the company can help you with, and pricing is quick and easy.

In the results section, CuraDebt displays a long list of debt settlement letters, many of which reveal that its clients managed to save up 80% of what they owed.

CuraDebt also offers excellent customer service. To start the process or inquire about a feature, you can get in touch with the company by calling (877) 850-3328 or emailing their debt counselors at [email protected].

Working hours are from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Residents of Florida can also come for an in-office consultation. 

Customer Reviews

CuraDebt holds a score of 4.4 stars on Trustpilot and 4.2 stars on Consumer Affairs. It has received five stars from customers at BBB, where it holds an A+ rating. With such high customer satisfaction rates, it’s clear that not only is CuraDebt safe to use, but it’s also a consumer favorite.

Final Words

Unlike most providers which rarely offer solutions for tax debts, CuraDebt assists individuals who owe back taxes. The company also doesn’t shy away from comprehensive traditional services designed to help consumers get out of debt by paying only a portion of what they owe.

Considering that its minimum debt requirement is just $5,000, CuraDebt is an excellent solution if you have only a few small debts you want to settle.

Reasons to Consider

• Assistance with federal and state taxes
• Free consultation
• High consumer satisfaction ratings

Founded in 2002, Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) is the largest debt settlement company in the US. It has long fought for more consumer-friendly practices and regulations within the industry, becoming a true market leader.

Quality of the product

Freedom offers an excellent debt settlement program, which has led over 600,000 clients to sign up for the company’s services. The company works with customers with at least $7,500 in total debt balance and deals strictly with debt from credit cards, personal payday loans, private student loans, and other unsecured debt.

Freedom does not work with mortgages, car loans, or any other type of secured debt. The average time for settling debt is between 24 and 48 months, and fees upon successful debt settlement range from 18% to 25%. 

Freedom holds a B rating with the BBB and operates in 37 states across the US. It is a founding member of the American Fair Credit Council and is also accredited by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). All the company’s consultants are also certified by the IADPA.

True to its name, Freedom offers free consultations to all potential customers. This means you can get expert advice whether you choose to become a client or not.  

User experience

The Freedom Debt Relief website is easily one of the best we’ve seen, with a crisp design built around great functionality. The initial process begins over the phone. After talking to a consultant to set up a settlement account, you’ll get access to the incredibly useful client dashboard.

This nifty feature is what makes Freedom stand out from competing services, as it makes tracking your progress both easy and transparent. The dashboard also offers you plenty of content to help you manage your finances better in the future, making it a great source of useful financial information. 

This dedication to quality service extends to customer support; you can reach Freedom’s staff any day of the week to get your questions and concerns resolved. The customer service agents are knowledgeable, friendly, and show the same level of professionalism as the company’s qualified advisors.  

Customer reviews

These companies, more so than many other finance-based businesses, rely heavily on customer satisfaction, which is why it’s so impressive to see the overwhelmingly positive reviews for Freedom Debt Relief.

The company holds a 4.6 star Trustpilot, and the same goes for user scores on Consumer Affairs and BBB. With thousands upon thousands of votes and almost perfect scores across the board, it is no surprise that Freedom is considered the best that the industry has to offer.

Final words

The quality of service at Freedom Debt Relief remains unmatched, 17 years since the company arrived on the scene. During that time, Freedom has settled over $10 billion in unsecured credit debt and has attracted hundreds of thousands of clients, with an incredible rate of 50,000 settled accounts each month.

If you have at least $7,500 in unsecured debt that you wish to settle, there’s no better place to turn to for help.

Reasons to consider

• Very useful Freedom Debt Relief dashboard
• Certified debt consultants
• Fantastic customer service

One of the pioneers of the industry, New Era Debt Solutions has been serving customers since 1999. Over the past two decades, this California-based company has settled more than $250 million in debt for its clients and maintained a strict policy of transparency and personalized assistance.

Quality of the product

New Era doesn’t simply follow the standards of the debt settlement industry. No, this veteran company is guided by principles that truly set it apart. New Era is very clearly committed to providing the most customer-friendly solutions possible.

This is evident in every aspect of its operations, from its lack of minimum debt requirements to the fact that New Era Debt Solutions fees of 16-20% are the lowest out there, and is accentuated by the fact that both active military personnel and veterans can get a discount of up to 4% depending on the size of their debt. 

New Era boasts average customer savings of 56.27% on its enrolled debt balance after the debt is settled (service fee excluded) and has a low 18.28% drop-out rate. It is also available in 47 states and has major hubs in metropolitan areas like New York City and San Diego.

Last but not least, New Era is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau and holds a perfect A+ rating.

User experience

New Era Debt Solutions doesn’t only focus on customer-friendly practices when it comes to pricing and discounts. The company’s approach is also quite evident in the overall user experience, starting with a modern website that is full of useful and educational information, along with a handy free debt calculator.

There is also a huge focus on transparency, as New Era openly and prominently displays its debt settlement data on the site. But the real stand-out is that the company provides personalized service, meaning each customer gets their own advisor.

This means you’ll have a dedicated representative to guide you and work on your case until debt resolution is reached, which carries with it plenty of benefits. For starters, you can review your plan at any time with a handler who is well-informed about your case, while also having the option to keep track of your account online.

This personalized approach means you may have to wait for a little longer when contacting customer service to speak with your individual manager, but it’s well worth the trouble.  

Customer reviews

With a long history of success in the business and a dedication to providing the best quality of service to its customers, New Era unsurprisingly finds itself among the top companies on our list.

It currently has no complaints registered on the BBB, holds a 4.8 score on Trustpilot, and has an equally impressive rating on Consumer Affairs. Customer reviews mostly praise New Era’s friendly advisors and their clear communication, confirming that people value a service that is both personal and highly professional.

Final words

Any questions we may have had about New Era Debt Solutions have been thoroughly answered by the high standards the company consistently sets across all levels of its service.

This is probably the most customer-friendly company on the market, with a huge area of coverage, the lowest fees, and discounts for active and former military personnel.  

Reasons to consider

• Lowest service fees
• Personal advisor
• Military personnel discounts

Guardian Debt Relief is a New York-based company that’s been operating since 2012. It focuses on an individualized approach to debt settlement and even offers services like credit counseling, financial education, and debt management.

Quality of the product

The minimum debt requirement to apply for a settlement account at Guardian Debt Relief is $10,000, which is a bit higher than most of the competition. There are no upfront fees, and the service fee after the debt is settled is a flat 20%.

This is somewhere in the lower midrange as market goes, with many competitors’ fees moving well past 25%. Guardian can generally reduce debt to about 50% before fees, meaning you’re likely to save around 30% of your original debt.

Guardian Debt Relief is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holds the maximum A+ rating. The company is also a member of both the IAPDA and the AFCC, so you can rest assured the advisors you will be in contact with are some of the most professional and knowledgeable experts in the field.

The only major downside to Guardian’s great offer is the fact that the company currently services only 18 states.. 

User experience

While the Guardian Debt Relief website is certainly not the most feature-heavy on our list, it still includes some nifty tools like a live chat option and a debt calculator. The platform is also very easy to navigate; everything you need to know about the service, costs, and requirements is just a click away.

Your initial contact with Guardian will take place over the phone. Once your advisor gets a full picture of your financial situation, you can set up an account to start saving money for your debt settlement agreement. 

After that, you’ll be able to manage your account via mobile or desktop and keep track of payments at any time using the very useful client portal. There’s plenty of educational content here to help you manage your finances better once your debt is settled. If you do have any issues, feel free to contact an advisor about anything related to your account. 

Customer reviews

Guardian Debt Relief doesn’t have nearly as many reviews as you can find with the longer-established industry giants. Still, the company has a 1.4 trust rating from 45 reviews on Trustpilot and holds a 2.25 rating with just one complaint on the BBB website.

Final words

With below-average fees and high success rates, Guardian Debt Relief is a good choice for those with a higher amount of unsecured debt. The company provides a great number of features and employs professional staff who will create the settlement plan that’s best-suited for you.

The only major downside is that this quality service is currently not available in many states.

Reasons to consider

• Low service fees
• Accredited debt advisors
• Useful tools and educational content

DMB Financial, a member of the American Fair Credit Council, was founded in 2003 in Beverly, Massachusetts. Since then, it has quickly become one of the leading settlement firms in the US.

Over the past 16 years, DMB has served more than 30,000 clients and saved them over $1 billion in unsecured debts. With such success and a wealth of experience, it’s no surprise that the company is regularly being named among the most trusted names in the industry.

Quality of the product

DMB Financial differs from other companies in that it doesn’t specify its minimum debt requirements. This is a strange choice - we consider it a flaw - but generally, the company accepts customers with at least two credit cards and $10,000 in debt to settle.

The company also fails to disclose information about service fees, which we consider an even bigger problem, but our research shows that DMB follows industry standards with fees in the 18-25% range. There is also a $35.95 monthly fee that you should be aware of, making it a pricier option than the other firms.

DMB Financial offers much more insight into the amount of written-off debt its clients can expect. The numbers show an average of 50% in savings, excluding the service fee, which is why it’s not surprising that DMB has a perfect A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The company is also accredited by both the AFCC and the IAPDA, ensuring that the advisors you’ll be working with are among the most professional in the country. The only thing lacking here is wide coverage; DMB currently covers only 26 states, which is below industry standards.

User experience

The company’s website is a bit lackluster, mostly because it doesn’t provide customers with any useful tools or educational content to help familiarize them with the debt settlement process.

If DMB Financial were to make its approach a bit more transparent and its business plan clearer, the whole experience would feel more complete. For now, however, you’ll start getting all the necessary information once you create an application or call the company to talk to a financial debt advisor.

This is where the quality of service starts to shine, and where DMB proves its world-class quality.

Once your advisor creates a settlement plan that suits your needs, you can open an account and start preparing for the settlement process. You can follow and manage your account via either desktop or mobile, or call your advisor about any questions you may have regarding your case. 

Customer reviews

DMB Financial has a very high rating of almost 5 stars on the BBB from 2,240 customers. And while this number of reviews is a great indicator of how successfully the company manages to settle credit card debt, it is not featured on other sites like Trustpilot or Consumer Affairs.

Nevertheless, it’s quite clear that DMB has amassed a great level of trust among the majority of customers it serves.

Final words

While it doesn’t quite compete with the service of some other names on our list, especially concerning transparency and innovation, DMB Financial not far. The company’s depth of experience and proven track record of fast settlements speaks for itself, so if you live in any of the states DMB works in, it’s worth considering.

Reasons to consider

• Highly experienced advisors
• A+ rating with the BBB
• Fast settlement times

Unlike most of the companies on our list, DebtBye does not offer debt settlement services directly. Instead, it operates as a marketplace for debt relief specialists, online lenders, and other companies that provide financial services.

Owned and operated by LMB Associates, DebtBye collects users’ personal information and service requests online, using the data to find the best third-party debt negotiation specialist for each user’s needs.

Quality of the Product

Given that DebtBye is a financial services aggregator, the complete list of available options offered to you may vary widely depending on the provider you opt for. One of the best things about this platform is that it lets you request a quote and speak to a qualified debt advisor for free - no upfront fees or similar strings are attached. 

DebtBye’s partners offer assistance with declaring bankruptcy; consolidating, managing, and satisfying debts; improving credit; erasing extreme fees; reducing interest rates; and streamlining payment procedures. As far as negotiating debt settlement goes, there are solutions for credit card debts, taxes, and other types of unsecured debt. 

Depending on your needs and qualifications, DebtBye may help you lower your monthly payments, reduce interest rates, repay your credit card debt faster, or settle your credit card debt for less than you owe. 

The minimum debt requirement is usually between $5,000 and $10,000, while service fees range from 15% to 25% of the debt amount. Debt settlements can take from 24 to 48 months.

User Experience

Aside from the overview of lending and debt settlement services provided by its partners, DebtBye doesn’t offer much additional information. 

Regardless of whether you are on the hunt for debt consolidation or debt negotiation, you’ll be prompted to fill out an application form that’s available on DebtBye’s homepage.

Filling out the questionnaire won’t take you more than 10 minutes. As soon as you complete the form, you’ll be presented with a list of companies willing to help you. Since DebtBye operates as a matchmaker, once you choose the service provider whose offer best fits your needs, you’ll start communicating directly with that company. 

DebtBye’s website doesn’t offer any type of customer support. Remember, this is nothing more than a marketplace platform. The financial service provider you decide upon will be responsible for handling any questions or issues you may stumble upon. 

Consumer Reviews

As a recently established online marketplace, DebtBye has yet to establish its online reputation. At the time of writing this review, we were not able to find any information about the company on Trustpilot, Consumer Affairs, or Better Business Bureau websites. 

Final Words

DebtBye is a good choice if you want to save some time on applying for debt settlement with several companies. Instead of shopping around for days, you can just answer a few simple questions and you’ll be presented with multiple offers in minutes. 

Reasons to Consider:

• Quick and easy application process
• No upfront fees
• Multiple debt settlement partners