When used correctly, debt can be a useful financial resource. It can help you buy your dream home, cover unexpected expenses, and get a reliable mode of transportation. However, when things go out of control, debt may cause financial hardship that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and owing more than you can repay. 

The average American is struggling with high-interest debt and inflation. In 2023, 8% of credit card balances were delinquent. Fortunately, debt relief companies can help you take control of that debt.

A reputed debt relief company can provide you with a way out of debt through debt resolution programs that are designed to suit your unique needs and circumstances.

Thankfully, many great organizations can assist with debt relief today. 

How Do Debt Relief Companies Work?

Debt relief companies may be able to help you avoid bankruptcy, tackle debt, lower interest rates, and save money. These companies use a combination of strategies such as debt consolidation, debt settlement, debt management plans, and credit counseling to help get you back on track financially.

If you're facing insurmountable debt, working with one of these companies may be an effective way to regain control of your financial situation. However, each debt relief program works differently to help you reduce and eliminate debts. For example, in debt settlement, the company will negotiate with your debt collectors to lower the amount you owe. 

Once your settlement offer is finalized, a separate savings account will be set up where you can make monthly payments. After your savings account reaches a balance equal to the same amount as your settlement offer, a debt relief company will then use those funds to pay your lenders the settlement amount. Your accounts will be marked as paid and then closed.

One of the main benefits of working with a reputed company is that they can help you resolve debt faster and pay less overall. For instance, when you enroll in a debt settlement program, you may be able to save up to 50% on your debt before fees. 

It's also important to plan for managing your finances after debt relief. “Once you’ve gotten a fresh start on your financial situation after utilizing one of the debt relief techniques discussed in this article, it’s important to create a reasonable budget for you and your household and stick to it,” says Brad Reichert, a debt expert, and the founder and managing director of Reichert Asset Management LLC. “This can prevent you from overspending or getting stuck with more of the high-rate loans that got you into debt in the first place,” adds Reichert.  

The 5 Best Debt Relief Companies of 2024

Not all debt relief companies are the same. Some specialize in tax debts, while others may specialize in debt settlement. Here’s a list of the best debt relief companies in 2024 to help you find the best option for your unique situation.

TurboDebtNational Debt ReliefAccredited Debt ReliefFreedom Debt ReliefCommunity Tax
Minimum Debt$10,000$10,000$10,000$7,500NA
Fees15%-25%15%-25%15%-25%15%-25%$295 investigation fee, $3,000 to $5,000 resolution fee
Free ConsultationYesYesYesYesYes

1. TurboDebt

TurboDebt is a Florida-based debt relief company that offers a wide variety of solutions to help you pay off your debt, regain control of your finances, and set you up in a position to be able to build new wealth. With over 10,000 five-star TurboDebt reviews on Trustpilot and Google, they've proven themselves as a trustworthy partner for debt relief services.

The company offers strategic planning, advising, and consulting services to examine your financial situation. They'll help you find the best debt relief program to pay off your debt in as little as 24 to 48 months. If you have a minimum debt of $10,000, you can enroll in one of the programs offered by TurboDebt. Clients who stay with the program until completion can save an average of 54% of their total debt before fees. 

If you have any type of unsecured debt, such as credit card debt, personal loans, business debt, or medical bills, TurboDebt can negotiate with your lenders, help you pay off your debt, and start with a clean slate. This gives you the opportunity to start building wealth again. 

TurboDebt also has qualified debt counselors and offers a free consultation to help you get started.

Best For: Maximum potential savings upon settlement.

Pros 

  • Free consultation
  • Easy signup process
  • May help you avoid bankruptcy
  • Helps you save up to 50% on your debt before fees
  • Helps pay off debt in 24-48 months 

Cons 

  • Debt settlement can lower your credit score 
  • Doesn’t offer debt relief options for secured debt or tax debt

2. National Debt Relief

National Debt Relief has over 13 years of experience in the industry and many positive reviews from satisfied clients. It's one of the best-accredited debt settlement companies in the country, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. 

National Debt Relief offers a number of debt relief options for most unsecured consumer debts, such as medical bills, lines of credit, department store charge card debt, personal loans, and other types of credit cards. The company offers a free consultation to understand your financial situation and then creates an affordable plan that works for you. 

Debt relief programs from the National Debt Relief can help you save approximately 38% on your debts. The company has experience in the debt settlement process, so it can help negotiate with most leading banks and credit card issuers.

Best For: Large unsecured debts

Pros 

  • Free consultation
  • Helps you save money and pay off debt faster
  • Monthly payments can be lower than what you’re currently paying

Cons 

  • Debt settlement can lower your credit score 
  • Not all debts are eligible

3. Accredited Debt Relief

Accredited Debt Relief is a debt settlement company based in San Diego. The company has been offering debt solutions since 2011 and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

The company offers a variety of solutions, such as debt consolidation loans, balance transfer credit cards, and debt settlement. While it can help you reduce unsecured debt, its debt settlement service does not cover mortgages, student loans, or tax debts.

If you have at least $10,000 in total debt, Accredited Debt Relief may be able to help you reduce your overall debt and become debt-free in 12 to 24 months. After a free consultation, you can enroll in a program. Clients who complete the program pay approximately 55% of their original debt, and fees are collected only after the program achieves 100% success.  

Best For: Large credit card debt

Pros 

  • Free consultation
  • No upfront fees

Cons 

  • Not available in all states
  • Not all debts are eligible

4. Freedom Debt Relief

Freedom Debt Relief is based in California and has been in the industry since 2002. With hundreds of positive reviews, the company has a good track record for helping you settle unsecured debts.  

The company offers debt settlement plans for unsecured debts such as medical debts, payday loans, and credit card debts. It also offers services for settling business debts and private student loans.

An important point to note is that the amount of debt you will need to qualify for their program is $7,500, one of the lowest among these debt relief companies. Freedom Debt Relief offers a free debt evaluation and personalized assessment. The company also offers a program guarantee.

Like Accredited Debt Relief, Freedom Debt Relief does not offer solutions for mortgages, federal student loans, or auto loans.

Best For: Smaller debts

Pros 

  • Simplifies repayment with a single payment each month
  • Negotiates with lenders and credit card companies on your behalf
  • Resolves debts in 24 to 48 months

Cons 

  • No guarantee of any specific results
  • Debt settlement can damage your credit score

5. Community Tax

If you're specifically looking for tax debt relief services, you may want to consider Community Tax. The company was established in 2010, but while relatively new, it has good reviews and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Community Tax offers a variety of tax services and can represent you in IRS negotiations, as per the company’s website. The tax professionals at Community Tax offer a free tax analysis to gather detailed financial information. Their programs are designed to not only resolve your current tax issues but to keep you debt-free in the future.

Community Tax can also help you submit an Offer in Compromise application to increase your likelihood of getting approved if you're facing financial hardship. The company can also help you declare financial hardship with the IRS and assist you with tax assurance programs, payroll tax negotiations, and penalty abatements.

Best For: Back taxes

Pros 

  • Free consultation
  • Flexible refund policy
  • Dedicated case analyst

Cons 

  • Charges fees for initial investigation as well as resolution
  • Offers limited services for state tax debt

Choosing the Best Debt Relief Company To Work With 

All of the debt relief companies listed above are reputed, have excellent reviews, and provide a number of debt relief services to help reduce and manage your debt. We also recommend consulting a credit counselor to learn money management, budgeting, and healthy financial behaviors. A nonprofit credit counseling agency can also help you create a repayment plan if you want to manage debts on your own. 

When comparing the best debt settlement companies, it is important to ensure the company has good reviews, no major complaints against it at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or Better Business Bureau, offers debt relief options that work for you, and has a track record of helping people in a similar situation. We also recommend taking advantage of free consultations to ask questions about an organization's programs and fee structure. 

Methodology

To pick the five best debt relief companies, we analyzed 15 companies in the U.S. To rank these companies and narrow down the list, we focused on the criteria listed below:

Free Consultation

We gave preference to debt relief providers that offer a free initial consultation or a no-obligation counseling session with a consultant.

Customer Ratings

We considered the number of reviews and the ratings each company received from its customers on sites like Trustpilot.

Service Availability

To appear on this list, the services offered by the companies had to be widely available. We prioritized companies that offered services in a majority of states.

Proven Track Record

We compared each company based on their track record of helping clients settle their debts for less than they owe.

Digital Experience

We also evaluated the digital experience offered by each company based on their website.

After reviewing all of these features, we selected our recommendations for the top five debt relief companies with a proven track record of success and high customer ratings.