Debt Solutions Comparison Calculator
Minimum payments, settlement, a consolidation loan, a debt management plan — and the bankruptcy facts nobody explains calmly. One honest table, computed from your numbers, with the trade-offs of every path including the recommended one.
- All five paths, one table
- Goal-based, never sales-based
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Fill in your debt, income, credit range, status, and goal — all five paths compare live.
How to compare debt options honestly
Every debt solution trades the same four currencies: monthly payment, time, total cost, and credit. Marketing hides whichever currency its product spends. Settlement ads skip the credit column; loan ads skip the eligibility column; "just pay minimums" advice skips the decade of interest. A fair comparison puts all four on the table at once — which is exactly what the calculator above does with your numbers.
The four structured paths in one paragraph each
Minimum payments cost nothing to start and nothing in credit — and the most of anything in interest and years; at 2026's ~22% average APR, a five-figure balance routinely takes a decade-plus. A consolidation loan swaps many payments for one fixed one at a lower rate; it protects (often improves) credit, but it requires qualifying and it restructures debt rather than reducing it. A debt management plan keeps the full balance but cuts interest to roughly 8% inside a nonprofit plan over 3–5 years — the gentlest structured option on credit, with the least flexibility. Debt settlement is the only path that reduces principal — typically to 40–60% of balances — at the price of real credit damage, possible taxes on forgiven amounts, and creditors who may still pursue collection mid-program.
Key Takeaway
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 — the education nobody sells
| Criteria | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Liquidation — qualifying unsecured debt discharged | Court-supervised 3–5 year repayment plan |
| Typical duration | About 3–6 months to discharge | 3–5 years of plan payments |
| Who it typically fits | Income below the means test, little non-exempt property | Steady income, assets to protect, arrears to cure |
| Credit report | Up to 10 years | Up to 7 years |
| Long-term impact | Deep initial drop; rebuilding can begin immediately after discharge | Similar drop; on-time plan payments build history during the case |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Choosing settlement while every account is still current
Settlement generally requires delinquency before creditors negotiate — starting from clean accounts means volunteering for the largest possible credit drop. Current + steady income usually points to a loan or DMP first.
Taking a consolidation loan and keeping the cards active
The loan clears the balances; the habits refill them. A year later, many people carry the loan and new card debt. Freeze or close the cards, or the math resets against you.
Judging options only by the monthly payment
The lowest payment is often the most expensive path in total. Compare total paid and time-to-zero alongside the payment — the table above shows all three on purpose.
Treating bankruptcy as either unthinkable or a quick fix
It's neither — it's a legal tool with means tests, asset rules, and the longest credit mark of any option. If it's on your mind, the productive move is one consultation with a bankruptcy attorney, not months of dread.
Know the rules that protect you
Three references are worth ten minutes before choosing anything. The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule makes advance fees for debt settlement illegal — any company charging before it settles is your signal to leave. The CFPB's debt collection resources explain what collectors can and can't do while you're deciding. And the federal courts' own Bankruptcy Basics is the calm, sales-free explanation of Chapters 7 and 13 that this page's education is aligned with.
Comparing debt options, answered
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