Bad credit debt consolidation loans and the options that often beat them
With a low credit score, consolidation loans cost more and approvals are fewer. Here are the lenders whose ranges reach high-risk borrowers, and the options that often cost less.
Lenders we compare
| Lender | APR | Loan sizes | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
 PenFed | 6.39% to 17.99% | Up to $50,000 | No origination fee |
 LightStream | 9.99% to 23.94% with autopay | $5,000 to $100,000 | No origination fee |
 Discover | 6.99% to 24.99% | $2,500 to $40,000 | No origination fee |
 Wells Fargo | 6.74% to 26.74% | $3,000 to $100,000 | No origination fee |
 SoFi | 6.99% to 35.49% | $5,000 to $100,000 | Optional fee of 0% to 7% |
 LendingClub | 5.96% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 | Origination fee of 0% to 8% |
 Reach Financial | 5.99% to 35.99% | $3,500 to $40,000 | Origination fee of 0% to 8% |
 Achieve | 6.25% to 35.99% | $5,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1.99% to 9.99% |
 Upstart | 6.3% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $75,000 | Origination fee, 8.15% in Upstart’s own example loan |
 Best Egg | 6.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee up to 9.99% |
 Upgrade | 7.74% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1.85% to 9.99% |
 Happy Money | 8.95% to 35.99% | $5,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee set by amount, term and credit |
 Prosper | 8.99% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 1% to 9.99% |
 Avant | 9.95% to 35.99% | $2,000 to $35,000 | Administration fee up to 9.99% |
 Universal Credit | 11.69% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000 | Origination fee of 5.25% to 9.99% |
 OneMain Financial | 11.99% to 35.99% | $1,500 to $30,000 | Flat $25 to $500, or 1% to 10%, by state |
Bad credit debt consolidation loans help only when the offer costs less than your cards. Top online rates reach 35.99% APR, while the NCUA caps credit union loan rates at 18%.
The first thing to do is call a specialist. Here are the options they walk you through.
Bad credit debt consolidation loans: your odds by score
No lender publishes how often it says yes at each level. A high top APR does not prove a lender approves people below 600.
Late payments matter a lot. The FTC says four to six missed minimum payments can lead to a charge-off. Falling behind while you shop hurts your credit even more.
Pay at least the minimum on every card while you compare. On the call, the specialist checks each lender’s current rules against your situation.
Lenders that go under 600
Upstart offers loans from $1,000 to $75,000 at 6.3% to 35.99% APR (Upstart). It says it looks at your education and your job, not just your score.
SoFi’s page showed 6.99% to 35.49% APR. Neither lender promises to approve you below 600.
Linda owes $9,000 on cards at 24% and pays $270 a month. At that pace, her cards cost her about $5,980 in interest.
A three-year loan at the top of either range costs her about the same in interest. The monthly payment would also be higher than $270.
So a top-rate loan does not save Linda money. Call and the specialist compares the APR, the fee and the monthly payment with your cards before you apply.
Options that often work better
A nonprofit debt management plan is one choice. The specialist walks you through a plan with a counselor from the Department of Justice’s approved list.
The counselor asks your card companies for lower rates. You make one payment a month to the agency.
The FTC says a plan can take 48 months or more. Linda’s 24% card rates could come down a lot without a new loan.
Debt settlement makes sense only if you are already far behind. The CFPB says settlement companies ask you to stop paying while they bargain with your card companies.
That hurts your credit even more. You can also owe tax on any debt that gets forgiven.
If you serve in the military, the specialist checks whether the 6% rate cap under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act applies to your cards.
Offers to avoid
Walk away from anyone who asks for a fee before doing any work. Walk away if they promise approval with no credit check, or say a government program will erase your debt.
In March 2026, the FTC alert repeated that only scammers ask for payment before they settle any debt.
A payday or title loan to pay off cards trades a 24% rate for 400%. See who to trust and who to skip before you answer any offer.
Related topics
Before you borrow
Can I get a debt consolidation loan with bad credit?
Only the lender can say yes, after it checks its own rules. The specialist on our line compares the full cost of a real offer with what your cards cost now. They also walk you through choices that need no new loan.
What is the lowest credit score to get a consolidation loan?
No single minimum score applies across lenders. A lender’s APR range does not show its score cutoff.
Can you get a debt consolidation loan with a 500 credit score?
No one can promise you an offer at that score. The specialist walks you through repayment plans that need no new loan. Your card companies still have to agree to any plan.
What is the easiest debt consolidation loan to get with bad credit?
A loan from a credit union you belong to is one choice, and the NCUA caps those rates at 18%. A plan through a nonprofit counselor is another. Both cost less than the online lenders’ top rates.
Check your offer before you sign
Your score is low and a loan offer looks like a way out. A loan near 35.99% APR can cost about as much interest as your cards, so you end up no better off. Call now and a specialist compares every offer and plan with your cards for free.