Best Debt Consolidation Loans of June 2024

A closer look at the best debt consolidation loans

NerdWallet has reviewed more than 35 financial institutions to find the best personal loans for consolidating debt. These are our top picks.

NerdWallet’s guide to debt consolidation loans

Learn how debt consolidation loans work, the pros and cons of consolidating your debt and how to get approved for a debt consolidation loan.

On this page

• What are debt consolidation loans and how do they work?

• Credit card refinancing vs. consolidation loans

• Are debt consolidation loans a good idea?

• Debt consolidation loan calculator

• Frequently asked questions about debt consolidation

• How to compare debt consolidation loans

• Do debt consolidation loans hurt your credit?

• How to qualify for a debt consolidation loan

• What to know about debt consolidation loans for bad credit

• How to get a debt consolidation loan

• Alternatives to debt consolidation loans

What are debt consolidation loans and how do they work?

Debt consolidation loans are a type of personal loan that combine multiple unsecured debts — such as credit cards, medical bills and payday loans — into one fixed monthly payment, making it easier to get out of debt.

As long as the interest rate on the debt consolidation loan is lower than the average rate of your existing debts, you’ll save money on interest and potentially pay off your debt faster.

Online lenders, banks and credit unions offer debt consolidation loans. Once you’re approved, the lender deposits the loan into your bank account, and you use that money to pay off your debts, so you’re left with only the new loan. Some lenders even pay off your creditors for you.

You then make monthly payments toward the debt consolidation loan until all your debt is paid off. Payments are fixed for the life of the loan, typically two to seven years.

» MORE: How do debt consolidation loans work?

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Credit card refinancing vs. consolidation loans

Refinancing credit card debt is similar to consolidation, but instead of getting a debt consolidation loan to pay off your credit cards, you get a low-interest credit card and transfer the balance from one or more of your existing credit cards onto the new card.

This is called a balance transfer, and many balance transfer credit cards offer a 0% introductory APR for a period of 15 to 21 months, which means you can pay off debt interest-free during that period. You'll likely need good or excellent credit to qualify (690 score or higher).

» COMPARE: Balance transfer card or debt consolidation loan

Are debt consolidation loans a good idea?

A debt consolidation loan is a good idea if you can get a lower annual percentage rate than what you're currently paying on your other debts. The best debt consolidation loan interest rates are reserved for borrowers with good or excellent credit (690 or higher credit score).

Like with all financial decisions, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of consolidating your debts before you apply for a loan. Here are the main benefits and drawbacks of debt consolidation loans to help you make an informed decision.

Pros of debt consolidation loans

• You pay less in interest: By getting a debt consolidation loan at a lower rate than your current debts, you’ll save money on interest, which can make your debt more manageable.

• You may get out of debt faster: Because you’re saving money on interest, you can use that savings to make larger payments on your loan and get out of debt even faster.

• You have only one payment: Unlike juggling multiple credit card bills, you’ll have only one monthly payment if you combine your debts under a consolidation loan.

• You have a clear finish line: A debt consolidation loan gives you an exact date you’ll be debt-free, which can help you stay motivated as you make the payments.

Cons of debt consolidation loans

• You may not qualify for a low enough rate: Not all consolidation loans come with low interest rates, and if you have bad credit (a score below 630), you may not get a rate that’s lower than your current debts.

• You still have debt you need to manage: Consolidating debt is a smart choice for many, but it’s important to remember the debt doesn’t disappear — it goes somewhere else. Most debt consolidation loans offer terms of two to seven years, so be prepared to stick to your monthly payments over that time period.

• Consolidation won’t fix core spending issues: If you’re in debt because you struggle to stick to your monthly budget, a debt consolidation loan won’t fix that. It may even make things worse if you use your newly freed credit cards to rack up additional debt.

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See your savings with a debt consolidation loan

Use this debt consolidation calculator to plug in your debts and get an idea of how much money you can save by consolidating under a debt consolidation loan.

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Frequently asked questions about debt consolidation

• Is debt consolidation a good reason to get a loan?

  Debt consolidation is a good reason to get a loan, as long as you use the loan to successfully pay off your debts at a lower rate, make on-time payments to your new loan and safely manage debt in the future. Use a debt consolidation calculator to see what you can save.

• How hard is it to get a debt consolidation loan?

  You can apply for most debt consolidation loans online, including loans from banks and credit unions. A loan application will ask for details about the loan you want, your personal and contact information, and information about your income and any debts. It may require additional documentation, like proof of identity and proof of income.

• What is the minimum credit score for a debt consolidation loan?

  The minimum credit score for a debt consolidation loan varies by lender. Bad-credit lenders may accept borrowers with credit scores of 629 or less.

• What qualifies you for debt consolidation?

  To qualify you for debt consolidation, a lender typically looks at your credit score, credit history, income and any existing debts. There are ways to boost your chances of getting approved for a loan, like building your credit and paying off small debts.

• Can I still use my credit card after debt consolidation?

  You can still use your credit cards after debt consolidation. Consolidating your debts doesn’t close your credit cards, it just pays them off, but be careful about increasing your overall credit utilization and ending up in more debt than before.

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How to compare debt consolidation loans

Look for an annual percentage rate lower than your existing debts: The loan's annual percentage rate, or APR, represents its true annual cost and includes interest and any fees. Rates vary based on your credit score, income and debt-to-income ratio. Use APRs to compare costs between multiple loans. Choose a low rate with monthly payments that fit your budget.

Avoid origination fees if you can: Some lenders charge origination fees to cover the cost of processing your loan. This one-time fee typically ranges from 1% to 10% of the loan amount and is deducted from your loan proceeds or added to the loan balance. If the fee is deducted from your loan proceeds, you’ll need to request more than the sum of your debts to cover the fee and still have enough to pay your creditors.

Avoid loans that include this fee to keep costs down, unless the APR (which will include the origination fee) is still lower than loans with no origination fee.

Check that the available loan amounts and terms match your debt: Debt consolidation loans come in a wide range of loan amounts ($1,000 to $50,000) and repayments terms (two to seven years). Look for a lender whose loan product meets your debt payoff needs. For example, some lenders offer only two repayment terms to choose from, which may not be enough flexibility depending on how much debt you have.

Look for special debt consolidation features: Some lenders offer consumer-friendly features like direct payment to creditors, which means the lender pays off your old debts once your loan closes, saving you that task.

Other features to shop for include free credit score monitoring and hardship programs that temporarily reduce or suspend monthly payments if you face a financial setback, such as a job loss.

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Do debt consolidation loans hurt your credit?

Debt consolidation loans can help — and hurt — your credit score. When you use the loan to pay off your credit cards, you lower your credit utilization, which measures how much of your credit limit is tied up. Lowering your credit utilization can help your credit.

On the other hand, applying for a loan requires a hard credit check, which can temporarily ding your credit score. And if you turn around and rack up new credit card debt, your credit score will suffer.

Making late payments on your new loan can also hurt your credit score, while on-time payments can help.

Ultimately, if you use the debt consolidation loan to pay off your debts and then pay off the new loan on time, the overall effect on your credit should be positive.

» MORE: Does debt consolidation hurt your credit?

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How to qualify for a debt consolidation loan

Build your credit: Loan approval is based mainly on your credit score and ability to repay. It may be possible to get a debt consolidation loan with bad credit, but borrowers with good to excellent credit have more loan options and may qualify for lower rates.

If you have fair or bad credit (689 credit score or lower), it can pay to build your credit before seeking a consolidation loan.

Apply for a joint, co-signed or secured loan: Adding a co-borrower or co-signer to your application can help you qualify for a debt consolidation loan that you wouldn’t be able to on your own because of poor credit or low income. In a joint loan, both borrowers have equal access to the funds, unlike a co-signed loan, in which only the main applicant does. Co-borrowers and co-signers are on the hook for missed payments.

Some lenders may also offer a secured loan, which means you can back it with collateral, like your car or an investment account, to boost your chances of approval or get a better loan offer. But you risk losing the asset if you fail to repay the loan.

Consider different types of lenders: Compare offers from banks, credit unions and online lenders before choosing the best debt consolidation loan. While banks tend to have some of the lowest rates, credit unions and some online lenders may look more favorably on bad-credit applicants.

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What to know about debt consolidation loans for bad credit

You can still get a debt consolidation loan if you have bad credit (a 629 credit score or lower).

Look specifically for lenders that let you pre-qualify with a soft credit check — that way you can check if you meet the lender’s requirements without taking a hit to your credit score. This will also help you check if the rate you qualify for is lower than your existing debts.

Some online lenders specifically offer debt consolidation loans for borrowers with bad credit. If you’re not sure where to begin, your local credit union is also a good first stop.

» MORE: How to get a debt consolidation loan with bad credit

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How to get a debt consolidation loan

1. Add up current debts and calculate the combined interest rate

The first step in getting a debt consolidation loan is having a clear picture of your current debt. You can use NerdWallet’s debt consolidation calculator to see your total balance, total monthly payment and combined interest rate across all debts.

You’ll want to keep two numbers in mind moving forward: Your total debt, because this is the loan amount you need to apply for, and your combined interest rate, because you’ll want a lower interest rate on your consolidation loan.

» MORE: What interest rate to expect on a debt consolidation loan

2. Pre-qualify and compare loan options

One of the best ways to compare loan offers is to pre-qualify with multiple lenders, which lets you see your potential loan terms, including APR, without any effect on your credit score. Though not all banks or credit unions offer pre-qualification, most online lenders do.

» MORE: Pre-qualify for free on NerdWallet

3. Apply for a debt consolidation loan

Once you’ve decided on a lender, it’s time to apply for the loan.

Most loan applications are online and ask you to supply personal information like your Social Security number, address and other contact details. You also may be asked to provide proof of identity, employment and income.

Once you’ve submitted your application, the lender will make an approval decision. If you’re approved, you’ll sign the loan agreement and receive the funds. Funding time varies among lenders, but some lenders can fund the same day you’re approved.

4. Pay off creditors

Here’s the most important step: Use the loan proceeds to pay off your existing debts. Some lenders send the funds to your creditors for you, so you’ll need to provide account information about your existing debts — and check the accounts to make sure they’re paid off.

If a lender doesn’t offer direct payment, they’ll deposit the funds in an account of your choosing or mail a check, if you prefer. It’ll be up to you to make sure the right amount goes to each debt.

5. Begin making payments on your new loan

Once your existing debts are paid, you’re left with your new loan. Personal loan payments are monthly, though there’s usually no fee for paying off a loan early. Make a plan now to manage your personal loan payments.

As you make progress on paying off your loan, try to keep your credit card balances at or near zero until you’re debt-free. But avoid closing the accounts, which can lower your credit score.

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Alternatives to debt consolidation loans

A debt consolidation loan isn’t your only option for paying off debt.

0% balance transfer credit card: For borrowers with good to excellent credit, transferring debts to a 0% balance transfer card may be a good option — as long as you can pay it off during the introductory period, which can last up to 21 months.

» MORE: Best balance transfer credit cards

Credit counseling: Nonprofit organizations offer credit counseling, which includes helping you create a debt management plan. Similar to other consolidation products, these plans roll your debts into one manageable payment at a reduced interest rate.

» MORE: Find the right debt management plan

Debt payoff strategies: If you’re not sure how to tackle debt, you may not need to consolidate. The debt snowball and debt avalanche methods are two common strategies for paying off debt. The snowball method focuses on paying off your smallest debt first, building momentum as you go. The avalanche focuses on paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first, then applying the savings elsewhere. Both can boost your payoff speed.

Debt relief: If you have significant debt (40% or more of your income) and no plan to pay it off, you may want to explore other strategies, like debt settlement or bankruptcy. Both of these options help eliminate unsecured debts, but they hurt your credit and are typically a last resort.