Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit Rates in June 2026
You can still qualify with bad credit — compare rates, monthly payments and lenders that work with low credit scores.
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- You can still qualify for a debt consolidation loan even with bad credit.
- Some lenders consider factors beyond credit score, including income, employment and credit history.
- Comparing multiple lenders helps you find lower rates or better repayment terms.
- Debt consolidation simplifies monthly payments and may help reduce interest costs over time.
Best debt consolidation for bad credit lenders with the lowest rates
| Lender | User rating | APR | Term | Amount | Min. credit score | See Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6.70% to 35.99% | 36 to 60 months |
$1k – $50k |
Not specified |
Read more about how we made our picks for the best bad credit debt consolidation loans.
Average bad credit debt consolidation loan APR: 30.02%
Borrowers with credit scores below 580 received average debt consolidation loan APRs of 30.02% in LendingTree marketplace data from Q4 2025. The best offers for bad credit averaged 28.80% APR, showing that comparing multiple lenders matters.
Concerned about the high rate?
Learn how to improve your approval odds, compare lenders more effectively and potentially qualify for lower rates over time.
What to know about debt consolidation loans for bad credit
It can be hard to know if a debt consolidation loan is right for you — or even if you’ll qualify for a loan that saves you money.
Debt consolidation loans help people like you combine multiple debts into one. The goal is to lower your monthly payments and the total amount of interest you pay.
If you have bad credit (FICO Score below 580), you might be wondering if you’ll even qualify. It’s possible, but you’ll need to compare the rates you’re currently paying with the ones in your offer to make sure consolidating is worth it.
Use the LendingTree debt consolidation calculator below to see how much you could save with lower rates. When you get an offer, use our calculator again to see if you’ll save on the total cost of your loan.
See how much you can save on your debt consolidation loan for bad credit with LendingTree
Save money and time by comparing real offers
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Shop your offers
LendingTree users with bad credit get four personal loan offers on average. Compare your offers side by side to get the best deal.
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Real-time debt consolidation loan rates for bad credit
See real-time debt consolidation loan offer rates for bad credit and how they change over time. The data in this chart is based on thousands of real LendingTree offers and updates daily.
Rates in this chart are based on real offers from lenders on the LendingTree platform, so they can change daily. Changes are driven by several factors, including individual borrower profiles (like credit scores and income) and broader economic conditions that cause rate dips and increases. Short-term changes are normal and don’t always indicate a long-term trend.
Your rate will depend on factors like your income, debt, loan size and loan term. Lenders typically give better rates to people with higher incomes and less debt. It’s often easier to qualify for smaller loans if you have bad credit.
If you have bad credit, you can use the rates in the chart as an estimate of what you might see if you get loan offers from lenders through LendingTree.
Best debt consolidation loans for bad credit
Best for: Overall debt consolidation loans for bad credit – Upstart
- APR
- 6.70% to 35.99%
- May be approved with bad or no credit
- Get money as soon as one business day after you’re approved
- Usually doesn’t require you to file paperwork
- Only two repayment terms to choose from (36 or 60 months)
- Although you may be approved with bad credit, your rate will probably be high
- Can’t take out a loan with a second person
I shopped for personal loans with Discover using my real personal information to better understand the application process. Here’s what I found:
- Application experience: Discover’s application is straightforward and clear. It has more questions than the average loan application, but these questions are tied to its AI algorithm designed to improve users’ chances of approval.
- Unusual questions to prepare for: Amounts in checking, savings and investment accounts; car payment; miles on car
If you have bad (or no) credit, the lending platform Discover is worth exploring. Discover uses an AI algorithm that looks at more than just credit score to approve or deny applications. It also considers factors like level of education and employment.
But if you have bad credit, you’ll likely have to pay a hefty origination fee (an upfront fee taken from your loan amount) and likely pay rates as high as 35.99%. You’ll also only have the option to choose between two repayment terms, whereas other lenders have multiple terms you can choose from.
Discover has transparent eligibility requirements, including:
- Age: Be 18 or older
- Administrative: Have a U.S. address, personal banking account, email address and Social Security number
- Income: Have a valid source of income, including a job, job offer or another regular income source
- Credit-related factors: No bankruptcies within the last three years, a reasonable number of recent credit checks on your credit report and no currently overdue debts
- Credit score: None
Expert insights on debt consolidation loans for bad credit in 2026
Prioritize offers lower than your current rates and ideally below 36% APR, a common max for personal loans. Prequalify to get an idea of offers you could receive without touching your credit.
Should you get a debt consolidation loan if you have bad credit? If you can honestly answer “yes” to the following three questions, it’s likely a good financial move.
- Will you save money? If you have serious credit problems, you’ll likely have trouble qualifying for a good rate. Use LendingTree’s debt consolidation loan calculator to compare the interest rates on your current debts with your debt consolidation loan offers. (You can check your rates by prequalifying for a debt consolidation loan — it won’t affect your credit.)
- Do you have a plan to pay off the debt? Consolidation alone usually isn’t enough to help you become debt-free. But if you’re willing to follow a plan to get out of debt, a consolidation loan can be the first step in the right direction.
- Can you avoid taking on new debt? Paying off your current debts with a consolidation loan and racking up more debt will land you in financial hot water. Make sure you’re committed to avoiding new debt, or consolidation could make your current finances even worse.
Having bad credit can make you an easy target for predatory lenders that offer payday loans or car title loans. These types of loans don’t typically require a credit check, but they come with high APRs and short repayment terms that can trap you in a cycle of debt.
Pros and cons of a debt consolidation loan for bad credit
Pros
- Save money with lower interest rates than you’re currently paying
- Can reduce the size — and number — of monthly payments
- Could improve your credit score if you can keep up with your new payments
Cons
- Hard to get low rates with bad credit
- May not qualify for a large enough loan to pay off all debts
- New hard inquiry can hurt your credit
How to improve your odds of qualifying for a debt consolidation loan
If you’re struggling to qualify — or worried about high rates — the steps below may help improve your approval odds or lower your borrowing costs.
What to do if you don’t qualify for a loan
If you can’t qualify for a debt consolidation loan right now, you still have options for managing debt and improving your financial situation.
Debt management strategies
You can pay off your debt on your own with the right plan. Create a budget, limit your expenses and use extra money to pay off the debt. Consider different debt payoff techniques, and choose the one that works for you.
Improve your credit score
The best way to improve your chances of getting a new loan is to boost your credit score. Improving your score may take time, but using your credit responsibly can help bring your score back up. Start by making on-time payments and disputing possible errors.
Get a free credit report card with LendingTree Spring to see the factors affecting your credit score, including payment history and credit utilization. You’ll also get personalized recommendations that may help improve your score over time.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy may help eliminate certain debts and give you a financial reset, but it can seriously damage your credit and affect your ability to borrow in the future. In some cases, you may also need to give up certain assets.
Debt settlement
Debt settlement companies negotiate with creditors on your behalf, but the process often involves missed payments that can hurt your credit score. Before signing up, consider speaking with a credit counselor to understand the risks and alternatives.
Alternatives to consolidating debt with bad credit
If a debt consolidation loan isn’t the right fit, the options below may help you manage debt, lower interest costs or improve your approval odds over time.
| Option | Best for | Main benefit | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit counseling | Budget support and repayment planning | No new loan required | May take longer to pay off debt |
| Home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) | Homeowners with equity | Lower interest rates | Missing payments could eventually lead to foreclosure |
| Secured loan | Borrowers with collateral | Better approval odds | Could lose asset if you miss payments |
| 401(k) loan | Retirement savers | Interest goes back to you | Can affect retirement savings |
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How we chose the best debt consolidation loans for bad credit
LendingTree’s team of expert writers and editors reviewed more than 40 lenders and lending platforms — and shopped directly with 15 of them — to find the best debt consolidation loans for bad credit. To make our list, lenders must offer debt consolidation loans, advertise a minimum credit score of 580 or lower and cap their annual percentage rates (APRs) at 36% or lower.
From there, we assessed each lender or marketplace across four categories: eligibility and access; cost to borrow; loan terms and options; repayment support and tools.
According to our systematic rating and review process, the best personal loans for bad credit come from Discover, , and .
LendingTree reviews and fact-checks our top lender picks on a monthly basis.
Our categories
We assess how easy it is for people to qualify and apply. This includes state availability, soft-credit prequalification, membership requirements, funding speed and whether borrowers with less-than-excellent credit can get a loan.
We evaluate how affordable the loans are based on minimum and maximum APRs, loan fees and rate discounts. Lenders with unclear or potentially predatory costs receive lower scores.
We consider repayment term flexibility, loan amount ranges and whether options like secured loans, joint loans or direct-to-creditor payments are offered — plus whether the lender clearly communicates these options.
We evaluate borrower experience after funding: customer service access, hardship or forbearance programs, payment flexibility and digital tools like mobile apps or credit monitoring.
Our process
We gather data directly from lenders through their websites, disclosures and direct communication with company representatives. Our editorial team verifies and updates information regularly. We value transparency and award less favorable scores when lenders obscure or omit details.
Our editorial team applies the same scoring model and standards to every lender. Lenders cannot pay to influence our ratings. Read more about our editorial guidelines.
Why trust LendingTree’s methodology?
Our writers and editors dig through the facts, contact lenders directly and even go through the application process ourselves if it helps better explain what you can expect. As a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, I’m committed to breaking down complex financial details so people can make confident, informed decisions with their money.
Jessica’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to get a debt consolidation loan with bad credit with LendingTree. However, you’ll likely pay high rates, and you may need to take out a secured loan or apply with a co-borrower. If you’re stuck with high rates, you can always refinance your personal loan down the road.
Different lenders have different credit score requirements. Some will require that you have a good credit score, while others will accept fair credit. The lower your credit score, the higher your APR will likely be.
LendingTree understands that you’re more than just your credit score. That’s why we partner with lenders that work with bad credit, excellent credit and scores in between. The best way to see if you qualify is by checking rates (it won’t hurt your credit score).
If you’re able to keep up with your loan payments, debt consolidation loans may actually improve your credit score. As you pay off your debt, you’ll show creditors that you can make payments on time. Over time, this can boost your credit score.
If you want to apply for a debt consolidation loan but have a lot of debt, getting approved may be difficult, but not impossible. For starters, check your credit score to see where you stand and work on cutting down on your debt. You can do this by using methods like the debt snowball method or the debt avalanche method.