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Best debt consolidation loans in September 2025

Updated Sep. 12, 2025

What to know first: The best debt consolidation loans can help you pay off high-interest debt, simplify your bill-paying schedule, lower your payments and even boost your credit scores. By combining other balances into one loan with an interest rate as low as 5.99 percent, you may save hundreds of dollars in interest.

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Bankrate has helped thousands of borrowers secure funding to consolidate and manage debt
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Upgrade: Best overall

4.6
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$1k-$50K
Min credit score
600

PERSONAL LOANS

Happy Money: Best for credit card consolidation

4.5
Est. APR
7.95- 29.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k-$40K
Min credit score
640

LightStream: Best for large loan amounts

4.5
Est. APR
6.99- 24.89%
* with AutoPay
Loan term
2-20 yrs*
Loan amount
$5k-$100K
Min credit score
660

LendingClub: Best for wide range of repayment terms

4.7
Est. APR
7.04- 35.99%
Loan term
2-6 yrs
Loan amount
$1k–$60k
Min credit score
600

PERSONAL LOANS

Best Egg: Best for secured loan options

4.6
Est. APR
6.99- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k-$50K
Min credit score
600

Discover: Best for good credit borrowers

4.8
Est. APR
7.99- 24.99%
Loan term
3-7 yrs
Loan amount
$2.5k-$40K
Min credit score
660

PERSONAL LOANS

Reach Financial: Best for low rates

4.4
Est. APR
5.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$3.5k-$40K
Min credit score
Not disclosed

PERSONAL LOANS

Patelco Credit Union: Best for a credit union loan

4.5
Est. APR
9.30- 17.90%
Loan term
0.5-7 yrs
Loan amount
$300-$100K
Min credit score
Not disclosed

PERSONAL LOANS

Avant: Payday loan alternative

4.5
Est. APR
9.95- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k-$35K
Min credit score
550

PERSONAL LOANS

Citi: Shortest available loan term

4.6
Est. APR
7.99- 19.49%
Loan term
1-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k-$30K
Min credit score
680

PERSONAL LOANS

Achieve: Lower maximum fees

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 29.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k-$50K
Min credit score
640

PERSONAL LOANS

Upstart: Small bad credit loans

4.7
Est. APR
6.70- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k-$75K
Min credit score
300

How Bankrate works

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01

Compare rates

Our team researched the best debt consolidation loan options available so you can compare lenders in one place.

02

Tell us the basics

Fill out a quick form to be matched with lenders that meet your needs. The details you provide are for prequalification purposes and will not impact your credit score.

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Get matched and receive funding

Choose a loan from a Bankrate partner and receive your funds if you qualify.

A closer look at our top debt consolidation loan lenders

Check out our expert-vetted details highlighting how each lender stands out against competitors, who each is best for and why. 

Upgrade: Best overall

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Upgrade is one of the newer companies on our list, founded in 2016. It isn't the only lender that offers same-day funding, but it also extends this benefit to borrowers with fair credit. Along with these features, Upgrade offers a seamless online experience and customer support seven days a week.

Est. APR
7.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$50k
Min credit score
600

Happy Money: Best for credit card consolidation

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Happy Money's loan, the Payoff Loan, is made specifically for consolidating credit card debt and features one of the lowest APR maximums on the market. According to a 2022 Happy Money study, borrowers who consolidated at least $5,000 in credit card debt saw an average FICO increase of 49 points within four months of getting their loan.

Est. APR
7.95%–29.99%
Loan amount
$5k–$40k
Min credit score
640

LightStream: Best for large loan amount debt consolidations

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: LightStream, part of Truist Bank, is an online-only lender specializing in high loan amounts, long terms and low rates for those with good or excellent credit. Most Bankrate users who take out a loan with LightStream have an excellent credit score.

Est. APR
6.99%–24.89%
Loan amount
$5k–$100k
Min credit score
660

LendingClub: Best for wide range of repayment terms

Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: Headquartered in San Francisco, LendingClub started as a peer-to-peer lender in 2007, but has since transitioned to a loan marketplace. Its minimum loan amount is lower than many other lenders at just $1,000.

Est. APR
7.04%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k–$60k
Min credit score
600

Best Egg: Best for secured loan options

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Best Egg's loans are ideal for consolidation of many types of unsecured debt, from credit cards to medical debt. It has funded over 1.1 million loans since its inception in 2014. 

Est. APR
6.99%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k–$50k
Min credit score
600

Discover: Best for customer experience

Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8

Overview: Borrowers with good credit scores may snag a rate below 8 percent.. Even if your score isn’t in tip-top shape, your rate will be capped at 24.99 percent at Discover — ten percentage points below what you’ll pay at most debt consolidation lenders. You don't pay any fees, which means all of your funds go toward clearing out other debt.

Est. APR
7.99%–24.99%
Loan amount
$2.5k–$40k
Min credit score
660

Avant: Best as a payday loan alternative

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Chicago, Avant is one of the few lenders that accepts borrowers with a credit score under 600. It's a competitive option for those who have bad credit. 

Est. APR
9.95%–35.99%
Loan amount
$2k–$35k
Min credit score
550

Reach Financial: Best for low rates

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4

Overview: Reach Financial has been in business since 2015 with a home base in New York City. Its website claims that on average, its debt consolidation loan customers save $15,528 in interest and see a 36-point credit score improvement.

Est. APR
5.99%
Loan amount
$3.5k–$40k
Min credit score
Not specified

Patelco Credit Union: Best for a credit union loan

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Patelco started as a small credit union in 1936 in California's Bay Area. It has since grown into a full-service non-profit financial cooperative with 500,000 members nationwide. In addition to personal loans, Patelco offers a wide array of standard deposit, investment and insurance products for its members. 

Est. APR
9.30%–17.90%
Loan amount
$300–$100k
Min credit score
Not specified

Calculate what you could save by consolidating

This calculator shows you your potential debt consolidation savings based on rate data from real, approved loans. Here are the five steps you need to take to find out how much you could be on the verge of saving. 

  1. Current total balance: Add up all the balances you want to consolidate.
  2. Average interest rate: Calculate the average rate you're paying for all of your current debt by adding the rates you are paying on all the debt you're consolidating and dividing by the number of cards you're paying off.
  3. Current total monthly payment: Add up your current monthly payments
  4. Pick your credit score bracket: The higher your score, the lower your rate should be!
  5. Click the blue “Calculate” button: You'll see your estimated new monthly payment and total interest savings. 

How to get the best debt consolidation loan with Bankrate

Although you may get several loan offers by hitting the “Get Started” button, it's worth it to take a few extra steps to get the best debt consolidation for your financial situation.

  1. Know which debt is costing you the most.

    Debt consolidation is not always about getting a lower interest rate. You might need to spread out the payment on a short-term car loan payment you can't afford anymore. Or pay off all those buy now, pay later plans so you only have one payment to keep up with.

  2. Nail down your credit score.

    The rate on your debt consolidation loan depends primarily on your credit score. If you over-estimate your score, you may not end up with the best debt consolidation loan rate. 

  3. Learn about lenders' requirements so you can focus your application efforts.

    Want to spread your payment out over seven years instead of five? Need more than $50,000? Don't want to pay fees? Use Bankrate's rate table to start narrowing your lender choices. 

  4. Have your income and banking information ready.

    The loan amount and term your lender offers you depends mostly on how much — or little — you earn. Your lender may verify your income by checking direct deposits in your bank account. If you want your funds the same day, you'll typically need to give the lender permission to link to your bank account. 

  5. Watch for fees and perks.

    Fees will eat into the amount you borrow for debt consolidation. See if you qualify for debt consolidation lenders with no-fee loans. You might get extra discounts for autopay or loyalty to a particular bank or credit union. 

Bankrate's marketplace lending platform makes it easy to get all the information you need to get the best debt consolidation loan. If you have no idea what you qualify for, click on the “Get Started” button at the top of the page to get prequalified without damaging your credit. 

Is now a good time to consolidate debt?

The right time for debt consolidation all depends on your current rate, financial goals, creditworthiness and how stable your income is. These four scenarios cover most people's needs, but you will need to review your financial goals to be sure debt consolidation is the right choice.

If you're able to consolidate debt at a lower interest rate and get it paid off sooner, that is an opportunity not to be passed up. Even with the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates on hold, you may score a much lower rate if your credit has improved or you've paid off some other debt.
Bankrate logo Greg McBride, CFA

Personal loans have one of the widest APR ranges of any available loan product — currently between 6.5 percent and 35.99 percent. The difference between a bad credit rate and an excellent credit rate can be more than 25 percent. However, you could save 5 to 10 percent if your score improved from bad to fair credit. The point: You may want to replace your bad credit consolidation loan with a new fair, good or excellent credit loan if your scores improve significantly after you consolidate a bunch of credit card debt. 

Financial wellness health check

A debt consolidation loan can help get you on track to a healthier wallet. One way they can do so is by helping repair low credit scores caused by taking on too much credit card debt. The key to keeping your score high after a debt consolidation loan is to plan your spending ahead of time. Budgeting is money meal planning, and the more you do it, the sooner you’ll build a financially well future.

Pros and cons of debt consolidation loans

Green circle with a checkmark inside

Pros

  • Possibly the biggest pro of a debt consolidation loan is that your rate should be lower than the average rates of the credit cards you're paying off.
  • You won't have as many due dates and monthly payments to keep track of — just one from your new debt consolidation loan.
  • No collateral is required. You could even pay off a small car loan balance to get a free and clear vehicle as part of your consolidation.
  • Funding is available in as little as one business day — much faster than any type of home equity or mortgage consolidation loan.
  • Paying off multiple credit card balances reduces your credit utilization ratio — which could give a big boost to your credit scores if you don't reuse your cards.
Red circle with an X inside

Cons

  • No minimum payment flexibility like you have with credit cards.
  • Funds can't be reused as you pay them off like revolving credit card accounts.
  • Origination fees may be as high as 12 percent of the amount you borrow.
  • Choosing a shorter term may strain your budget if you have a variable income or a sudden loss of income.
  • Rates may be higher than credit cards for bad credit borrowers.
  • Won't solve poor spending habits or the overuse of credit cards.
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BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Ask the experts: Is a personal loan better than a balance transfer credit card for debt consolidation?


Bankrate Expert Contributor, Student Loans

The interest rate on a personal loan may be lower than on a balance transfer credit card. However, balance transfer credit cards may offer a teaser rate, even a 0% interest rate, that is good for a few months. When the introductory interest rate expires, you have to pay a much higher interest rate. Balance transfer credit cards may offer more flexible payments, so long as you pay at least the minimum payment, which may be higher than on a personal loan. But, check whether the personal loan allows prepayment without penalty.

Senior writer, Loans

Nearly half (48%) of credit card holders carry a balance, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Credit Card Debt Report, and 71 percent think they’ll pay off their balance within five years. The main advantage of consolidating debt with a personal loan is that it gives you a definite payoff date — you don’t have to guess. If you can't pay off a balance transfer credit card within the short introductory period, you'll be left with another revolving credit card balance and no clear end date.

Frequently asked questions about debt consolidation loans

How we chose the best debt consolidation loan lenders

Bankrate's trusted debt consolidation loans industry expertise

48

years in business

45

lenders reviewed

20

loan features weighed

900

data points collected

To select the best personal loans, Bankrate’s team of experts evaluated over 50 lenders. To earn a spot on our best debt consolidation loan list, a lender must have a debt consolidation loan-specific perk, an origination fee under 10 percent, availability in at least 80 percent of states, and at least one of the following: a 670 or lower minimum credit score, a joint borrowing option or a minimum APR below 8 percent. The best overall lender meets additional criteria, including nationwide availability, a Bankrate score of 4.5 or higher and at least two of the following: a 670 or lower minimum credit score, a joint borrowing option or a minimum APR below 8 percent.

We also assign each lender a Bankrate score based on a meticulous 20-point system, focusing on four main categories:

Denny Ceizyk
Written by
Senior writer, Loans
Read more from Denny

Denny Ceizyk joined the Bankrate Loans team as a Senior Writer in 2023, providing 30 years of insight from his experience in loan sales and as a personal finance writer to help consumers navigate the lending landscape on their financial journeys.
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Credentials
  • Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO)
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Expertise
  • Personal loans
  • Debt management

Mark Kantrowitz
Reviewed by
Mark Kantrowitz
Bankrate Expert Contributor, Student Loans