Every route out of debt, compared
There is no universally best debt solution. There is only the one that costs you least given your balance, your income and how much time you have. Here is each of them, with the trade-offs stated.
Debt Settlement
Debt settlement negotiates your unsecured balances down to an agreed lump sum. It is the fastest route out for people who are already behind — and the wrong route for people who are not.
Read the detailDebt Consolidation Loans
A consolidation loan pays off your existing balances and leaves you with a single fixed payment at a single rate — usually a substantially lower one.
Read the detailDebt Management
A debt management plan consolidates your payments without a loan. Concessions from creditors reduce your interest rates, and one monthly payment is distributed to all of them.
Read the detailTax Debt Relief
The IRS has collection powers no other creditor has — wage garnishment, bank levies and liens — but it also has more formal resolution routes than most people realize.
Read the detailMortgage Refinance
Refinancing replaces your existing mortgage with a new one — at a lower rate, over a different term, or with cash drawn from the equity you have built.
Read the detailPersonal Loans
An unsecured personal loan gives you a fixed amount at a fixed rate over a fixed term — no collateral, no revolving balance, no moving target.
Read the detailBankruptcy & Alternatives
Bankruptcy is a legitimate legal remedy and sometimes the right one. It is also permanent, public and frequently avoidable — so it is worth knowing what sits between you and it.
Read the detailA rough guide to which route fits
This is a simplification — your actual recommendation comes from a full assessment, not a table.
| If this is you | Usually the right route | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Behind on payments, cannot cover minimums | Debt settlement | 24–48 months |
| Current, fair-to-good credit, high rates | Consolidation loan | 24–60 months |
| Can repay principal, rates make it impossible | Debt management plan | 36–60 months |
| Owe back taxes or facing garnishment | Tax debt relief | 1–12 months |
| Homeowner with meaningful equity | Mortgage refinance | 30–45 days |
| Need a fixed sum with a fixed end date | Personal loan | 2–7 days to fund |
| Considering filing for bankruptcy | Alternatives review first | One conversation |
Not sure which one is yours?
That is the normal starting point. Tell us roughly what you owe and we will come back with every route that applies, ranked by what it actually costs you.
You cannot out-earn compound interest. You can outmanoeuvre it.
One free conversation tells you which route is genuinely cheapest for your situation — including the routes we earn nothing from.