Freedom Debt Relief Overview
Debt types: Credit cards, most personal loans, medical debt, lines of credit, certain private student loans, certain payday loans, and other unsecured debt
Minimum debt required: $7,500
Settlement fees: 15% to 25% of debt
ACDR-accredited? Yes
Estimated program duration: 24 months to 48 months
Potential savings: Not disclosed, but may be up to 50% or more of enrolled debt
Best for: People with large or diverse unsecured debt situations
Freedom Debt Relief Full Review
Freedom Debt Relief has a long-standing reputation, streamlined user experience, and solid customer ratings. Its weakest performance is in the Cost category due to account fees that several competitors don’t charge.
Below, our Freedom Debt Relief review goes deeper into the company’s performance in each category.
Reputation
Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Freedom Debt Relief helps clients facing financial hardship settle unsecured debts through negotiations with creditors. Since 2002, it has helped more than a million customers resolve over $20 billion in debt. It’s one of the oldest and largest debt relief companies we reviewed.
Freedom Debt Relief is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating. Its average BBB review score is 4.41 out of 5, based on over 1,600 reviews. Freedom Debt Relief reviews are also generally positive on Trustpilot, where it has a score of 4.6 out of 5, based on nearly 49,000 reviews. Both scores are just below the respective industry averages of 4.55 and 4.76.
The company holds accreditations from the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR) and the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA), adding to its credibility.
Expert take: “Freedom Debt Relief is widely recognized as one of the most established providers in the industry, with a large client base and extensive experience in negotiating settlements, which contributes to more consistent results.” — Nina Abazyan, banking professional and personal lending specialist
Eligibility and Services
Eligibility
Freedom Debt Relief operates in 31 states — fewer than the average competitor, which serves around 41 states. However, its lower minimum debt requirement of $7,500 (versus the typical $10,000) makes it accessible to a broader range of customers. It supports unsecured debts, including:
Other requirements are standard, including a steady income and a qualifying hardship, such as job loss or a family emergency. If you choose a debt consolidation loan instead of settlement, you’ll also need to meet the partner lender’s credit and income requirements.
Services
The company offers a full-service debt settlement program where it evaluates your situation to determine what you can afford to pay. If you proceed, you'll open a dedicated account to which you’ll make payments instead of paying your creditors. Once that account reaches a sufficient balance, Freedom Debt Relief negotiates with creditors on your behalf, and you must approve any settlements. Like competitors, this program typically lasts 24 to 48 months.
Freedom Debt Relief doesn’t offer debt consolidation loans directly but may refer you to partner lenders, allowing you to roll multiple debts into a single payment. Loan terms, rates, fees, and other details vary by partner.
The company may offer some legal support if you face a creditor lawsuit, but it doesn’t provide court representation. It also doesn’t offer credit counseling, unlike nonprofit debt management agencies.
Expert take: “Freedom Debt Relief typically serves a broad range of clients, including those with moderate to high levels of unsecured debt, making it a strong option for borrowers seeking a well-established provider capable of managing larger and more diverse cases.” — Nina Abazyan, banking professional and personal lending specialist
Cost
Free consultation: Yes
Settlement fees: Yes, 15% to 25% of debt
Set-up fees: Yes, $9.95
Monthly maintenance fees: Yes, $9.95
Other charges: Yes, potential payment-related fees
Freedom Debt Relief doesn’t charge upfront settlement fees, in line with industry regulations. Instead, you start with a free consultation to discuss options.
If you let the company settle your debt, you’ll pay a fee of 15% to 25% of your enrolled debt — typical in the industry and due only after the first payment. You’ll know the cost in advance, and it comes out of your dedicated account. Unlike some competitors, Freedom Debt Relief guarantees your settlement cost won’t exceed your enrolled debt, providing some protection.
However, your dedicated account comes with additional fees, including a $9.95 setup fee and a $9.95 monthly maintenance fee, plus any payment-related fees. While these fees are common and industry-standard, some competitors don’t require them.
While Freedom Debt Relief doesn’t guarantee specific savings, its online estimator indicates you might reduce your debt by around 50%. Some customer reviews also support the 50% figure. However, a study of debt relief services put that figure closer to 30%, after fees were accounted for.
Expert take: “Freedom Debt Relief [...] demonstrates a high level of transparency by offering comprehensive disclosures and standardized information, although its fee structure can be more complex due to the scale of its operations.” — Nina Abazyan, banking professional and personal lending specialist
User Experience
The Freedom Debt Relief official website explains how the program works and lets you request a free evaluation without affecting your credit. It also has financial education articles and a facts page detailing benefits and outcomes. However, you must search FAQs for pricing.
We found the consultation process quick and easy. After we provided personal details and information about our income and debts in the online portal, Freedom Debt Relief performed a soft credit pull to find solutions.
Freedom Debt Relief indicated that we may qualify for a debt consolidation loan and instructed us to check for offers through its partners.
Afterward, we received several phone calls and emails from partners. While this is common in referral-based models, it may be frustrating when you’re only researching options.
Freedom Debt Relief also offers highly rated mobile apps for existing customers, with scores of 4.7 out of 5 on Android and 4.9 out of 5 on iOS. This puts it ahead of many competitors that don’t offer apps at all, though its functionality is similar to those that do.
Customer Service and Support
Contacting Freedom Debt Relief
Freedom Debt Relief offers more flexible phone support hours than the industry standard. New customers can call 1-800-910-0065 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Existing customers can call 1-800-655-6303 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
Like some competitors, the company’s website lacks a chat function, though it offers email support via info@freedomdebtrelief.com, support@freedomdebtrelief.com, or an online message form.
After calling the Freedom Debt Relief phone number for new clients, we connected with a live representative in under a minute. We received helpful answers to our questions, with the option to proceed to a full consultation.
Emailing the company was also a positive experience. We received a helpful reply the next business day.
Customer Testimonials
Freedom Debt Relief has over 55,000 reviews across BBB, Google, and Trustpilot. Good reviews often mention helpful staff, a straightforward settlement process with frequent updates, and satisfactory outcomes (including help with legal issues and creditor communication).
One Trustpilot review said, “In one year, our debt was reduced to about $15,000 and was paid off! It’s a big relief to not have the creditors constantly calling, emailing, etc. We are beyond grateful for the support from the team, their awesome customer service, and dedication to getting us debt-free in such a short time frame.”
Negative reviews often cite expensive, unclear fees, major drops in credit score, growing balances, and creditor lawsuits. The company regularly responds to bad reviews on all three platforms.
Methodology: How We Review Debt Relief Services
When evaluating debt relief companies, BestMoney considers 38 criteria across the following categories:
Reputation: Years in business, BBB accreditation and grade, Trustpilot and BBB review scores, and relevant debt relief accreditations
Eligibility and services: State availability, supported debt types and minimums, financial criteria, and available debt relief solutions
Costs: Free consultation availability, settlement costs, setup and maintenance fees, and potential savings
User experience: Online quote process, program duration, advertised guarantees, ease of finding details on the website, and availability of an online portal and mobile apps
Customer support and service: Available support channels, hours of operation, customer reviews, and expert recommendations
Final Take: Who Is Freedom Debt Relief Best for?
Freedom Debt Relief serves people with substantial or complex debt who prefer to work with a long-standing company. Its full-service debt settlement program, with potential legal support and referrals for debt consolidation loans, makes it suitable for a range of financial situations. While its fees can be pricey, the savings potential might be high, and its refund policy offers peace of mind.
However, if you have secured debt or owe the IRS, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Also, it won’t be an option if you live outside the 31 states it serves, or need a debt relief solution that won’t further damage your credit.
FAQs: Freedom Debt Relief
Is Freedom Debt Relief legit?
Operating since 2002, Freedom Debt Relief holds BBB accreditation and a strong A+ rating, positive Trustpilot and BBB review scores, and debt relief accreditations from the ACDR and the IAPDA.
How much does Freedom Debt Relief charge?
While the initial consultation is free, Freedom Debt Relief charges a settlement fee of 15% to 25% of the total enrolled debt. You’ll also pay a $9.95 setup fee and a $9.95 monthly fee for the dedicated account.
Will Freedom Debt Relief hurt your credit?
Using Freedom Debt Relief usually hurts your credit in the short term, as you’ll stop regular payments to creditors as part of the settlement process. Your current credit score and accounts settled affect the impact.
Address
Freedom Debt Relief, PO Box 2330, Phoenix, AZ 85002-2330
Disclaimer
Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) enrolls only unsecured debts, such as unsecured loans and credit cards. Any claims including “debt-free” statements are only referring to enrolled debt. FDR is not a loan and does not provide relief for federally backed student loans or secured debt, such as auto loans or mortgages. All estimates for FDR’s services are based on prior results, which will vary depending on your specific enrolled creditors and your individual program terms, including your ability to maintain your program deposits. FDR’s services are estimated to resolve your debt faster and for a lower amount than your current monthly minimum payments. Not all FDR clients are able to complete their program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. FDR does not guarantee that your debts will be resolved for a specific amount or percentage or within a specific period of time. FDR is not a lender, creditor, or debt collector and is not a credit repair organization and does not provide or offer services or advice to repair, modify, or improve your credit. FDR does not assume your debts, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice. FDR’s services are not available in all states and some programs may be offered through a law firm for legal services. FDR’s fees may vary from state to state. Please contact a tax professional to discuss potential tax consequences of less than full balance debt resolution. The use of FDR services will likely adversely affect your creditworthiness, may result in you being subject to collections or being sued by creditors or collectors and may increase the outstanding balances of your enrolled accounts due to the accrual of fees and interest. However, negotiated settlements FDR obtains on your behalf resolve the entire account, including all accrued fees and interest. It is expected that you read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment. C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S.12-03825.
*Statistics reflect the results of the members we and our affiliates have served since 2002 (as of January 2026).
