How we chose the best debt relief companies

We evaluated each debt relief company against six criteria.

• No upfront fees. Legitimate debt relief companies are prohibited by the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule from charging fees before a settlement is reached and approved by the client. Any company asking for money upfront is a red flag. Note: If you sign an agreement with a debt settlement company and need to set up an escrow/settlement account, the company may connect you with a bank that charges a setup fee and monthly fees.

• Accreditation. We looked for membership in the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR) and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) — the two main industry trade groups with ethical standards and oversight.

• Fee transparency. We prioritized companies that disclose their fee range (15–25% of enrolled debt) clearly and in writing, rather than burying it in fine print.

• Minimum debt requirements. Most legitimate programs require $5,000–$10,000 in unsecured debt. We noted minimums since they affect who can actually enroll.

• Customer satisfaction. We reviewed BBB ratings, Trustpilot scores and complaint volume on the CFPB complaint database.

• State availability. Debt settlement is regulated at the state level, and not all companies operate everywhere. We flagged where availability is limited.

The companies below represent a mix of options, because the right fit depends on your debt amount and financial situation.

Best debt relief companies at a glance

Note: AmOne is a financial matching service. After you take a free survey, AmOne can help match you with the debt relief service that may be most appropriate for your circumstance, including personal loans, debt management plans and debt settlement. Rates and fees vary, depending on the service provider you select.

Best debt relief companies of 2026 — our top picks

National Debt Relief — best overall

National Debt Relief holds a BBB A+ rating, ACDR accreditation and IAPDA Platinum membership, and it’s available in 46+ states plus D.C..

The program works like this: you stop paying enrolled creditors, make monthly deposits into an FDIC-insured escrow account you control, and National Debt Relief negotiates settlements once the account has enough funds to make a credible offer. You approve every settlement before a fee is charged.

Fees: 15–25% of enrolled debt, charged only after each settlement is approved. There’s also a one-time $9 account setup fee and a $9.85 monthly maintenance fee. On $20,000 in enrolled debt at a 25% rate, that works out to $5,000 in settlement fees before account fees. Verify your specific fee at enrollment.

Minimum debt: The minimum amount of debt to qualify is $10,000 in unsecured debt.

Best for: People with at least $10,000 in unsecured debt, serious financial hardship and a willingness to absorb the credit score impact of a 2-4 year program.

Downside: Fees at the high end of the range (25%) can reduce your savings significantly. Missing payments during the program’s negotiation phase will significantly hurt your credit score, and creditors can still sue during negotiations.

Read our National Debt Relief review for a full breakdown of the program, fees and customer experience.

Freedom Debt Relief — best for program cost guarantee

Freedom Debt Relief is one of the largest debt settlement companies in the U.S., having resolved more than $18 billion in debt for over 1 million clients since 2002. It holds a BBB A+ rating, is a founding member of ACDR and is a platinum member of IAPDA..

The program cost guarantee is a meaningful differentiator: if the total cost of settling your enrolled debts — including all fees — exceeds the original amount of debt enrolled, Freedom Debt Relief will refund the difference up to 100% of fees paid. That safeguard was put in place following a 2019 CFPB settlement and adds a layer of accountability. Another feature that sets Freedom Debt Relief apart: You get access to its legal partner network, which can be helpful if your creditors sue you during the debt negotiation process.

Fees: 15–25% of enrolled debt, charged after each settlement is approved. As part of the program, you set up a dedicated account with Crossroads Financial Technologies to save your settlement funds. There is an initial set-up fee of $9.95 and a monthly account maintenance fee of $9.95. On a $20,000 enrolled balance at 25%, fees total $5,000 before account fees. Rates may vary by state.

Minimum debt: $7,500 in unsecured debt.

Best for: People who want a cost-guarantee backstop and a well-established company with a long track record.

Downside: Freedom’s fee structure is comparable to National Debt Relief’s, so the guarantee’s value depends on your specific settlement outcomes. As with any settlement program, credit impact is significant.

Read our Freedom Debt Relief review for more on the program guarantee, eligibility and complaint history. 

AmOne — best for fast enrollment and free consultation

AmOne launched in 1999 and has earned a BBB A+ rating.

One important distinction: AmOne is a financial matching service, not a direct settlement company. After your free consultation, AmOne connects you with a partner firm — which can include loan providers, debt management plans and debt settlement companies. If you’re matched with a debt settlement company, it will handle the actual negotiations, escrow account and fee collection. Before enrolling, ask AmOne specifically which partner company will be managing your case and verify that partner’s BBB rating and CFPB complaint history independently.

Fees: Fees vary based on the matched partner company after settlement. Verify the exact fee with the specific partner you’re matched with before signing anything.

Minimum debt: AmOne’s minimum amount is $1,000, although partner debt settlement companies may have higher limits.

Best for: People who want a fast, no-pressure consultation to map out their options — including settlement, credit counseling and consolidation — before committing to a specific company.

Downside: The matching model adds a layer of complexity. Your primary relationship is with AmOne, but your debt resolution is handled by a third party. Some customers have reported confusion about who is actually negotiating on their behalf.

Accredited Debt Relief — best for customer service

Accredited Debt Relief has helped more than 1.3 million people with debt. It holds an A+ BBB rating and an Excellent rating on Trustpilot. Its lower minimum debt requirement ($5,000 versus $7,500 or more at the other settlement companies) means it may be easier to qualify for. 

Fees: 15–25% of enrolled debt, charged after each successful settlement. No upfront fees.

Minimum debt: $5,000 in unsecured debt 

Best for: People who prioritize customer service quality and communication throughout a 24–48 month program.

Downside: The company offers both debt relief programs and consolidation options through its partners, which can get confusing.

What to look for in a debt relief company

Debt relief is a heavily marketed industry with a documented history of predatory operators. Before you call any company, run through this checklist.

• No upfront fees. The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits settlement companies from charging fees before a debt is settled and you approve it. This is a legal requirement, not a courtesy.

• ACDR or IAPDA accreditation. Both require member companies to follow ethical standards and maintain certified staff. Membership isn’t a guarantee of results, but it’s a baseline for legitimacy.

• Written fee disclosure. A legitimate company will give you a fee schedule in writing before you sign anything. If the rep is vague about what you’ll pay, walk away.

• No guaranteed-outcome language. Phrases like “we’ll eliminate your debt” or “guaranteed results” are red flags. Outcomes depend on creditor negotiations, and no company can guarantee a settlement.

• FDIC-insured escrow account. Your monthly deposits should go into an account you control — not a company account — and that account should be held at an FDIC-insured institution.

• Verifiable track record. Check the CFPB complaint database and your state Attorney General’s office, not just the company’s website. Volume of complaints matters, but so does how they’re resolved.

How debt relief programs work

If you want a deeper explanation, read our guide to how debt settlement works. Here’s the step-by-step process.

1. Free consultation. You share your debt details, income and financial hardship with the company. This costs nothing and involves no commitment.

2. Enrollment. You decide which debts to enroll (typically unsecured debts — credit cards, personal loans, medical bills). Not all debt types are eligible. You’ll pay a setup fee for your escrow account and pay monthly maintenance fees for this account.

3. Stop paying enrolled creditors. This is required because creditors are more likely to negotiate once accounts are significantly delinquent. Warning: This step will damage your credit score.

4. Monthly deposits into escrow. Instead of paying creditors, you make monthly payments into an FDIC-insured savings account you control. The company draws from this account to fund settlements and cover fees.

5. Negotiation begins. Once your account has enough funds, the company contacts your creditors and negotiates a lump-sum settlement — typically for less than the full balance owed, although there’s no guarantee creditors will accept any offers.

6. You approve or reject each offer. No settlement is finalized without your consent. If you approve, the fee is charged at that time.

7. Debt resolved. The creditor marks the account as settled. The resolved balance is removed from your enrolled debt, and the process repeats for remaining accounts.

Timeline: Most programs run 24–48 months. Credit score recovery typically begins after the settlement is complete, as your debt-to-income ratio improves and delinquent accounts age off. The damage from missed payments stays on your credit report for up to seven years.