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Best debt consolidation loans in March 2025

Updated Mar 04, 2025

What to know first: In Bankrate's view, the best debt consolidation loans allow borrowers to combine several high-interest-rate debts into a new lower-rate loan with flexible terms and quick funding turn times. These loans typically have annual percentage rates (APRs) that range from around 7 percent to 36 percent, but the rate you qualify for depends on your credit history, annual income and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.

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LightStream: Best for high-dollar debt consolidation loans and long repayment terms

4.5
Est. APR
6.99- 25.29%
* with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs*
Loan amount
$5k- $100K
Min credit score
695

PERSONAL LOANS

Upstart: Best for small bad credit loans

4.7
Est. APR
6.70- 35.99%
Loan term
3-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
300

PERSONAL LOANS

Achieve: BEST FOR MULTIPLE DISCOUNTS

4.5
Est. APR
8.99- 29.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k- $50K
Min credit score
620

LendingClub: Best for small bad credit loans with a co-borrower

4.7
Est. APR
7.90- 35.99%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $40K
Min credit score
600

PERSONAL LOANS

Happy Money: Best for specialized credit card debt program

4.2
Est. APR
8.95- 17.48%
Loan term
2-5 yrs
Loan amount
$5k- $40K
Min credit score
640

PERSONAL LOANS

Best Egg: Best for lowest rates on small loans

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

Upgrade: Bankrate 2025 award winner for borrowers with bad credit

4.6
Est. APR
7.99- 35.99%
with AutoPay
Loan term
2-7 yrs
Loan amount
$1k- $50K
Min credit score
580

Discover: BEST FOR GOOD CREDIT AND NEXT-DAY FUNDING

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

PERSONAL LOANS

Avant: BEST FOR PEOPLE WITH BAD CREDIT

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

PERSONAL LOANS

Citi® Personal Loan: Best for quick payoff term

4.6
Est. APR
11.49- 20.49%
Loan term
1-5 yrs
Loan amount
$2k- $30K
Min credit score
Not disclosed
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Breaking interest rate news

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in January. The current target Fed rate is a full percentage point lower than its peak in 2023, but the drop hasn’t had much of an impact on average debt consolidation loan rates. However, some excellent credit personal loan rates have dropped below 7 percent, making them a great tool for consolidating higher interest rate debt if you qualify. We recommend working to improve your credit score since personal loan rates are heavily impacted by how high — or low — your credit scores are. To learn more, check out Bankrate’s latest news on what's happening with the Fed.

A closer look at our top debt consolidation loan lenders

The following is a closer look at each of our top picks, highlighting the most important aspects of each loan. This includes the lender's loan offerings and how they stand out against other lenders, who each loan is best for and why.

LightStream: Best for high-dollar loans and longer repayment terms

LightStream
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%–25.29%
Loan amount
$5k– $100k
Min credit score
695

Upstart: Best for small bad credit loans

Upstart
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: Upstart is Bankrate's 2024 award winner for best bad credit personal loan. It offers loans up to $50,000 and applicants can potentially qualify even without having enough credit history to generate a score. 

Est. APR
6.70%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $50k
Min credit score
300

Achieve: Best for multiple discounts

Achieve
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: Formerly known as Freedom Plus, Achieve's debt consolidation discount and co-borrower option sets this lender apart as the best consolidation loan.  It also has an impressive array of additional perks not offered by competitors like its co-borrower and retirement savings discounts. Its flexible debt consolidation solutions come in handy if you have at least $5,000 of debt that needs to be financed with a loan. 

Est. APR
8.99%–29.99%
Loan amount
$5k– $50k
Min credit score
620

LendingClub: Best for consolidating debt with a co-borrower

LendingClub
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
7.90%–35.99%
Loan amount
$1k– $40k
Min credit score
600

Happy Money: Best for specialized credit card debt program

Happy Money
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2

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
8.95%–17.48%
Loan amount
$5k– $40k
Min credit score
640

Best Egg: Best for low rates on smaller loan amounts

Best Egg
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

Citi personal loan: Best for quick payoff term 

Citi® Personal Loan
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: New York-based Citi is well known for its extensive banking products. Its personal loans come with zero application, origination, late payment or prepayment fees. This, along with its multiple discounts and a low maximum APR, makes for potentially low-cost loans. But you must have the credit to qualify.

Est. APR
11.49%–20.49%
Loan amount
$2k– $30k
Min credit score
Not specified

Upgrade: Best overall bad credit lender

Upgrade
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
580

Avant: Best for lower fee bad credit loans

Avant
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 accept 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

Discover: Best for low rates and no fees

Discover
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8

Overview: Discover tested its first credit card in 1985 and has come a long way since. Headquartered in Riverwoods, Illinois, Discover has grown into a company that offers digital banking services well beyond just credit cards — and that product suite includes personal loans. 

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

Calculate what you could save by consolidating

To use the debt consolidation calculator, enter your outstanding debts and current interest rates. After receiving your estimated terms and monthly payment structure, adjust the details to find the most ideal consolidation loan for your budget.

How to compare debt consolidation loans

Compare debt consolidation loan offers to find the best product for the accounts you want to combine. The information Bankrate gathered in the previous sections may help you fine tune your decisions. Keep the following factors in mind as you compare your options.

  • Learn the approval requirements: Some lenders specialize in excellent credit borrowers, while others focus on helping bad credit borrowers. Check lenders' eligibility criteria to make sure they're a good fit.
  • Review interest rates and fees: Personal loan APRs vary widely based on your credit score and the lender. Keep an eye on origination fees, which can be as high as 12 percent of your loan amount and are deducted from the amount disbursed. 
  • Run the numbers on different repayment options: Most debt consolidation loan terms range between one and seven years. A longer term gives you a lower monthly payment but costs you more in total interest charges. A short term reduces your interest costs.
  • Find out how your debts will be paid off. Some debt consolidation lenders will pay off your creditors for you, while others let you pay off the debts on your own. 
  • Look for special perks and read lender reviews: Lenders may offer rate discounts for automatic payments and free credit score monitoring. Check out lender reviews for information about customer service hours, contact information and what other customers' experiences have been with the lender’s debt consolidation loans.

Is now a good time to consolidate debt?

The right time for debt consolidation depends on your financial goals, creditworthiness and how stable your income is. Fed rate cuts have been in the news a lot lately, but they don't generally have a direct effect on personal loan rates. 

There are generally four scenarios when debt consolidation makes the most sense:

  1. You're having trouble managing multiple monthly payments. Juggling too many different due dates may be a recipe for a credit-damaging late payment. Debt consolidation gives you one payment to manage every month.
  2. You want a set payoff date for your debts. A debt consolidation loan gives you a fixed payment with a definite “debt-free” date of one to seven years.
  3. You want a lower interest rate. Average credit card rates run above 20 percent, compared to debt consolidation loans that average just below 12.5 percent.
  4. You want to stop using revolving credit card debt. If you're tired of seeing credit card balances that barely budge with each minimum payment, a debt consolidation loan can give you a fixed payment with a schedule that has a definite impact on your overall balance. 

What are debt consolidation loans?

A debt consolidation loan is a type of installment loan that allows you to pay off several other debts — usually high-interest rate credit cards — with one new loan that has a fixed payment. Debt consolidation loans work by replacing variable-rate debts with a single fixed-rate loan, saving you thousands of dollars in interest.

The fixed payment schedule of one to seven years gives you a definite payoff date. It also eliminates the temptation to keep paying the minimum credit card payments, which can keep you in debt for decades. Paying off revolving debt like credit cards with a debt consolidation loan can also boost your credit scores, since it reduces your credit utilization ratio.

The consolidation loan process starts with deciding which debts you want to pay off. Next, you’ll need to qualify based on the lender’s requirements. A high credit score is necessary to get the best rates. 

The lender will deposit your funds into your bank account or will send the money directly to your creditors. Once the loan is paid out, you'll make payments based on your chosen terms.

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The author's expert insights: When is the best time to get a debt consolidation loan?

There are three times when a debt consolidation typically makes the most sense. The first is when you want to pay off credit card debts to reduce how much interest you pay and improve your credit scores. The second is if you want to simplify your bill-paying strategy by combining credit cards, medical bills and other debt into one payment with a set payoff date. Finally, a debt consolidation loan could help you pay your debt off faster if you can afford the high payment that comes with a one or two year term.

- Denny Ceizyk | Bankrate Senior Loans Writer

Pros and cons of debt consolidation

Weighing the pros and cons of debt consolidation will help you decide if it’s the best move for your finances.

Green circle with a checkmark inside

Pros

  • Interest rates are fixed and usually lower than credit cards and payday loans.
  • You’ll only have one monthly payment to track instead of several.
  • No collateral is typically required — your car and home are safe.
  • Funding may be available in as little as one business day.
  • Credit scores could improve after credit cards are paid off.
Red circle with an X inside

Cons

  • No minimum payment flexibility like you have with credit cards.
  • Rates may be higher for borrowers with bad credit.
  • Funds can’t be reused as they’re paid off like credit cards.
  • Origination fees may be as high as 12 percent.
  • May become a stopgap for poor spending habits if you keep reusing credit cards.

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.

How to get a debt consolidation loan 

Whether you have bad credit or excellent credit, the steps for getting a debt consolidation loan are the same. However, you will have an easier time qualifying for a debt consolidation loan with a higher credit score.

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BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

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


Nationally recognized student financial aid expert

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

The main debt consolidation advantage of a personal loan versus a balance transfer credit card is that it replaces revolving debt with installment debt with a definite payoff date. Consumer credit card use hit an all time high in 2023, and personal loans offer a way to combine those debts into one payment. And the Fed’s second rate cut of the year this past November may make personal loans even more affordable in 2025. Balance transfer cards are a good choice for borrowers who are very disciplined with their credit use, and can take advantage of teaser rates as low as 0 percent. However, once the introductory period is over, the transfer credit card rate can rise.

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 40 lenders. Each lender was ranked using a meticulous 20-point system, focusing on four categories: