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Many people struggle with credit card debt at one point or another, and the higher your balances, the harder it can be to pay them off.
Consolidation is a way to move high-interest debt onto a lower-interest product, like a credit card consolidation loan or a balance transfer credit card. This makes the debt easier to pay off.
What’s the best way for me to consolidate credit card debt?
The best way to consolidate depends on how much debt you have, your credit score and other factors. Here are five effective and safe ways to pay off your credit card debt.
1. Apply for a credit card consolidation loan
Best for: Borrowers across the credit spectrum who have unsecured debt and may need a few years to pay it off.
Pros
Fixed interest rate means your monthly payment won’t change.
Low APRs for good to excellent credit.
Direct payment to creditors offered by some lenders.
Cons
Hard to get a low rate with bad credit.
Some loans carry an origination fee.
Credit card consolidation loans (also called debt consolidation loans) are fixed-rate loans that come in a lump-sum. These loans range from $1,000 to $50,000 and have terms up to seven years. You can apply for a consolidation loan at your local credit union, bank or through an online lender.
Online lenders in particular offer fast debt consolidation loans for borrowers, including those with imperfect credit. Most also let you pre-qualify without affecting your credit score, which is less common among banks and credit unions. Pre-qualifying gives you a preview of the rate, loan amount and term you may get once you formally apply.
Look for lenders that offer special features for debt consolidation. Some lenders, for example, will discount the rate on a debt consolidation loan or send the loan funds directly to your creditors, simplifying the process.
Use NerdWallet’s debt consolidation calculator to enter all of your debts in one place, see typical rates from lenders and calculate savings.
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2. Roll your debts onto a balance transfer credit card
Best for: Borrowers with good to excellent credit scores who can pay off their credit card debt in under two years.
Pros
0% introductory APR period.
A year or more to pay off debt without interest.
Cons
Requires good to excellent credit to qualify.
Usually carries a balance transfer fee.
Higher APR kicks in after the introductory period.
Also called credit card refinancing, this option transfers credit card debt to a balance transfer credit card that charges no interest for a promotional period, typically 15 to 21 months. You’ll need good to excellent credit (a score in the mid-600s or higher) to qualify.
A good balance transfer card will not charge an annual fee, but many issuers charge a one-time balance transfer fee of 3% to 5% of the amount transferred. Use NerdWallet’s balance transfer savings calculator to see whether the interest you save over time will wipe out the cost of the fee.
Aim to pay your balance down completely before the 0% intro APR period is over. Any remaining balance after that time will have a regular credit card interest rate.
3. Enter a debt management plan
Best for: Borrowers with credit card debt who have low credit scores and can commit to a payment plan up to five years.
Pros
Fixed monthly payments.
May cut your interest rate by half.
Doesn't hurt your credit score.
Cons
Startup fees and monthly fees are common.
It may take three to five years to repay your debt.
Debt management plans roll your credit card balances into one monthly payment at a reduced interest rate. You then pay off the balance over three to five years.
Since there’s no credit score requirement, these plans work best for those who are struggling to pay off credit card debt but don’t qualify for other options.
Nonprofit credit counseling agencies offer debt management plans. They typically charge a small fee, so verify the fee amounts and how they affect your overall payoff plan before making a commitment.
If your credit card debt is more than 40% of your income and can’t be repaid within five years, bankruptcy may be a better option than a debt management plan.
» NEXT STEPS: Compare the top debt management plan companies
4. Tap your home equity for a loan or line of credit
Best for: Borrowers with sufficient home equity who are comfortable using their home as collateral for a loan or line of credit.
Pros
Typically lower interest rates than personal loans.
May not require good credit to qualify.
Long repayment period keeps payments lower.
Cons
You need equity in your home to qualify, and a home appraisal is usually required.
Secured with your home, which you can lose if you default.
If you’re a homeowner, you may be able to take out a loan or line of credit on the equity in your home and use it to pay off your credit cards.
A home equity loan is a lump-sum loan that you pay back with a fixed interest rate, meaning you’ll have predictable monthly payments and a clear finish line.
A HELOC, or home equity line of credit, works like a credit card with a variable interest rate that is typically lower than credit card rates.
Since both of these types of credit are secured by your house, you’re likely to get a lower rate than what you would find on a personal loan or balance transfer credit card. But you can also lose your home if you don’t keep up with payments.
» LEARN MORE: Should you use home equity to pay off debt?
5. Borrow from your 401(k)
Best for: Borrowers with an employer-sponsored retirement account who can’t qualify for credit elsewhere and have ruled out all other options.
Pros
Lower interest rates than unsecured loans.
No impact on your credit score.
Cons
Reduces your retirement fund.
Heavy penalty and fees if you can't repay.
If you lose or leave your job, you may have to quickly pay back your loan.
If you have an employer-sponsored retirement account like a 401(k) plan, you can typically borrow up to half the amount (with a $50,000 maximum), for a term up to five years, to help pay off your debts.
These loans usually come with single-digit interest rates, so they’re much cheaper than credit cards, and any interest you pay goes back into your account. Another benefit is this loan won’t show up on your credit report, so there’s no impact on your score.
But taking out a 401(k) loan is very risky. It can significantly impact your retirement savings. And if you can’t repay, you’ll owe a hefty penalty plus taxes on the unpaid balance, so you may be left struggling with more debt.
Plus, if you lose your job or quit, the loan is automatically due on tax day of the next year.
» LEARN MORE: Risks and benefits of a 401(k) loan
What is credit card consolidation?
Credit card consolidation is when you use another credit product to pay off your credit card balances in one fell swoop. You’re then left with only one payment on your new debt.
For consolidation to make sense, the new debt should have a lower annual percentage rate than your credit cards, so you save money on interest. You can even apply that savings back to your debt, which will shorten the payoff period and get you out of debt faster.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
You may see “debt settlement” and “debt consolidation” used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Debt settlement is the process of negotiating down a debt for less than you owe, usually with the help of a third party, like a debt settlement company. Debt settlement is much riskier than debt consolidation and can seriously damage your credit. How does credit card consolidation work?
Credit card consolidation works by using a different credit product to pay off your credit card balances at a lower interest rate. The logistics depend on which product you choose.
For example, if you go with a credit card consolidation loan, you’ll need to apply for the loan with a bank, credit union or online lender. Once approved, you’ll receive the money in your account, which you can use to pay off all your credit cards. You’re then left with one fixed payment on the consolidation loan, which you make monthly, until the loan is paid off in full.
Is it a good idea to consolidate credit card debt?
Consolidating credit card debt is a good idea if you can qualify for a low enough interest rate and pay off the debt during the allotted time period, which will vary based on the consolidation product you choose.
You’ll also want to be certain you can keep your credit card balances at or near zero while you pay off the new debt. For example, if you take out a consolidation loan to pay off your credit cards, but then accumulate a balance on your credit cards again, you’ll be in a worse position than when you started.
Can I still use my credit card after debt consolidation?
If you consolidate your credit cards, you can still use them. Consolidating just means you’re paying them off, so your balances will be at zero, but the cards themselves will remain open unless you take the step of closing them.
Closing a credit card can hurt your credit score. Financial experts often suggest tying a small recurring expense, like your monthly phone bill, to the card to keep it active. Avoid paying for nonessential expenses with your credit card, since this could delay getting out of debt.
Consolidating credit card debt will affect your credit in a few ways. Your credit score may dip when a lender or card issuer does a hard credit inquiry after you apply for a consolidation product. This is usually a small dip (just a few points) and temporary.
Late payments, though, can more seriously hurt your credit, so it’s important to pay attention to due dates and make all payments on-time. Many lenders offer automatic payments.
If you make payments on time and keep debt manageable in the future, the overall effect of consolidating credit card debt could be positive.
How much does credit card debt consolidation save?
How much money you save with credit card debt consolidation will depend on the amount of debt you have and the consolidation option you choose. Here’s an example of how you can save with a credit card consolidation loan.
Let’s say you have $10,000 in credit card debt spread out across four different credit cards, each with an annual percentage rate of about 23%. If you’re making a minimum payment of $75 on each card, it will take you four and a half years to be debt-free, and it will cost you an extra $6,200 in interest, on top of the original debt.
But if you take out a credit card consolidation loan for $10,000 at 15% APR, and use it to pay off all your credit cards at once, you’ll save over $2,800 on interest and get out of debt six months sooner.
Plug in your own credit card balances below to see your overall debt picture, plus learn which consolidation option may be the best fit based on your credit score.
