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Key Takeaways

Money named Indeed as the best overall job posting site because its high web traffic will help employers get in front of a large pool of applicants, and it has budget-based pricing for paid posts, as well as relatively generous free job listing rules. Other top sites included LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter and Handshake.
Online job posting sites are the fastest way to find applicants and onboard qualified hires. While there are dozens of job posting sites to choose from, only a few are worth your time and money — particularly in today’s challenging hiring market.
Job posting sites are continually adding AI features to improve both sides of the job search. We’ve noted any valuable AI features in our reviews below.
Methodology: Our research included a review of job sites’ features, pricing, responses to a brief questionnaire and web traffic data. Read our full process here.

With over 7 million workers currently unemployed in the country, competition is pretty stiff for jobs right now.
For employers, it can mean an influx of applicants — but will those applicants be qualified for the job, or just more resumes to sort through?
That’s where choosing your job site carefully can help. With the right job ad and posting location, employers can reach the qualified audiences they intend to — even in a saturated market. Want to make sure your job listings see the right eyes this hiring season? Here are the best job posting sites for employers in 2026.
Are you an employee looking for the best job search sites? We have that covered in this guide.
Our Top Picks for the Best Job Posting Sites

Indeed: Best Overall
LinkedIn: Best for Professional Hiring
Craigslist: Best for Local Hiring
ZipRecruiter: Best for Small Businesses
Handshake: Best for College Recruiting
Levels.fyi: Best for Tech Jobs
Upwork: Best Freelance Marketplace

Pros

Some free job posts
Largest reach among all sites analyzed
AI assistance tools

Cons

Free job posts have reduced visibility
Only three free job posts per month

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Some posts free; sponsored jobs and premium tier pricing varies

Monthly visits
177.2 million

Aside from LinkedIn (which doubles as a social media site), Indeed gets more web traffic than any other job posting site in the U.S. To put it simply, Indeed is the best way to get a job listing in front of the maximum number of job seekers and it’s almost guaranteed to expand the pool of applications for your company to review, especially with its applicant matching tool. Tons of job seekers rely on Indeed to find work, and the site’s users are highly engaged compared with other job sites. Indeed had over 177 million monthly U.S. visits in January 2026, according to Similarweb, a digital intelligence platform.
Employers can post up to three jobs for free per month, with a 30-day limit for each post. The site tightened its limits around free job posts in December 2025, and yet Indeed’s free services still compare favorably against those of its competitors. “Standard” and “Premium” job posts, which draw more reach than the site’s free listings, both require payment. A “Premium Plus” tier is currently in beta testing. It will assign applicants with “Smart Fit Scores” to help you gauge how well-suited a candidate is for a position, as well as a summary of their strengths and weaknesses.
The site boasts 3.5 million-plus employers and 685 million job seeker profiles, with an average 31 hires per minute. You can also manage resumes, screen applicants, and schedule interviews through the platform.

Pros

Recruit top candidates, even passive ones
Professional networking
Offers AI hiring assistance
Company pages allow for branding and testimonials
Can repost jobs from your company’s site to LinkedIn

Cons

Free job posts are limited, only remaining active for 14 days and allowing 10 to 30 applicants
Expensive paid versions

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Employers get one free job post at a time. LinkedIn also has “promoted” posting options for employers, and there’s a premium tier for companies with high hiring volumes. Exact prices are not available online.

Monthly visits
565.3 million

More than a million companies use LinkedIn Talent Solutions for hiring. LinkedIn is the largest job posting site in the U.S. and an essential platform for employers of all sizes. You can only post one free job at a time on LinkedIn, but for small businesses, that may be all you need to hire your workforce. It also boasts a wide array of AI hiring features, including tools that assist with job post creation, candidate identification, outreach messaging and performance tracking.
LinkedIn is a social media and networking platform in addition to a job board, and with paid versions, employers can search profiles and message users to invite them to apply to open positions. LinkedIn’s more interactive style allows for quicker and easier connections with potential employees, as well as providing a broader look at who each candidate is. According to the platform, companies hiring through LinkedIn are 24% less likely to reopen the role within the next 12 months compared to other job sites. A whopping 83% of job posts get a qualified candidate within 24 hours, too.
You can also use company pages to share expertise, market your business, and build your brand. (They’re free, too.) And if you have a company hiring website, you can even pay for an add-on that automatically scans and posts your new job postings straight to LinkedIn.

Pros

Cheap job posts
Simple interface
Localized reach

Cons

Declining users
Market-specific, so may not be best for nationwide or remote roles

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Fees from $10 to $75, depending on location

Monthly visits
107.8 million

Craigslist is the original online classifieds page, and to this day, it plays a major role in local hiring in cities across the U.S. Of all the sites Money analyzed, Craigslist had the third most monthly visitors, according to Similarweb.
While most of Craigslist is free, there actually is a fee to post jobs. The good news: At $10 to $75 (depending on the market), posting in the jobs section isn’t too expensive — at least compared to other sites that charge for job posts.
Craigslist sometimes gets a bad reputation for containing spam, but no matter what site you use, receiving some low quality applications is inevitable when posting jobs online. With Craigslist, you’ll have to learn how to filter through responses (just like any other platform), but it can be worth it to find local talent in industries like hospitality and construction. It’s also good for temporary and gig-based work.

Pros

Post to multiple job boards
24/7 customer service
AI smart matching and recruiter outreach to help connect with candidates
Searchable resume database
Live hiring strategists available to help

Cons

Free trial only lasts two days
Less control over how jobs posts appear

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Starts at $299 per month. A brief free trial is available.

Monthly visits
30.3 million

If free job posting services are not meeting your small business’s needs, ZipRecruiter’s hiring solutions can help put your listings in front of the right candidates.
The job site has broad reach with nearly 20 million monthly visitors, and jobs posted to the platform can be distributed to over 100 other job boards. Its one-click apply option makes it easy for job seekers to submit, too. The platform also recently added “Smart Outreach” recruiting, which uses AI to turn your job postings into personalized messages for suitable candidates. This can streamline the applicant-finding process and speed up hiring on the whole.
A two-day free trial offers employers a feel for the platform. With paid plans starting at $299 per month, ZipRecruiter’s pricing compares competitively with premium options from competitors. One way the plan stands out: Once you’ve paid, posts can attract an unlimited number of clicks and applications. You can also access a searchable resume database with over 56 million resumes.
Read Money’s full ZipRecruiter review.

Pros

Recruit college students and alumni
Specializes in AI-related roles
Free job posting options
Promoted job posting option

Cons

Premium tiers are more expensive
Limited applicants and applicant messaging on free postings

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Basic tier, which allows for up to 100 talent matches and 10 applicant messages per month, is free. Pricing for the Pro tier is $450/month, and Enterprise plan pricing is custom. There are also “promoted” jobs, which you pay for on a case-by-case basis.

Monthly visits
10.7 million

Do you want to find interns or hire college students and recent grads? Handshake has partnered with over 1,600 colleges and universities and is the most robust job posting site for college hiring. The company has also recently started focusing on careers in the AI industry and has more than 25 million job seekers on the site (4 million of them with either master’s or doctorate degrees).
Posting a job or an internship opportunity on Handshake is free, and this option is suitable for hiring one or two roles, the company said. Companies with more hiring needs will likely need to use a premium version, either Handshake’s “Pro” option for small and medium-sized businesses ($450/month) or the job site’s Enterprise tier. You can also promote individual job listings as needed for $34 (standard) to $59 per day (premium). With the standard option, job posts get priority placement over 95% of other jobs, increased visibility in search, inboxes, and emails, and applicant screening. The platform currently boasts 25 million job seekers.

Pros

Popular among tech professionals
Salary benchmarking
Handy mobile app available
Customized job offers

Cons

Fewer users than general job boards
“Talent pool” feature is designed for senior-level talent only

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Free to post jobs. Plus and Premium options start at $8,000.

Monthly visits
1.7 million

Companies hiring tech professionals like software engineers may want to use industry-specific sites to reach job seekers with the specialized skills and qualifications they need.
Levels.fyi, a tech-specific job board and compensation “benchmarking” site founded in 2017, has grown to become one of the most visited career sites for the industry. Compensation benchmarking is a tool that provides data about pay bands that are typical for a role and level at a given company, and it can help employers determine pay and retain employees. Once you find the right candidates, you can also create personalized job offers that show off your compensation packages, benefits and equity breakdowns, and you can include interactive elements that seal the deal.
The company says that posting a job is free with a basic account. The job site also offers Standard and Premium accounts that grant access to the site’s compensation data. The lowest-priced option is $800 per month (billed annually for $9,600). Higher-tier plans are $2,000 to $4,000 per month. Both require an annual commitment. The site boasts over 3 million professionals.

Pros

Quickly hire freelancers
Create hiring contracts and pay workers
Post jobs for free
Built-in collaboration tools

Cons

Fees to hire freelancers
Fees for new contracts

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Basic plan has a 5% service fee for employers, and there’s also a contract initiation fee, which ranges from $0.99 to $14.99. The Business Plus version comes with a higher fee (10%), but it includes premium features like talent vetting and there is no initiation fee for contracts over $100. Custom pricing is available for large businesses.

Monthly visits
8.5 million

There are two main online sites for freelance work: Upwork and Fiverr. These sites serve slightly different types of freelance work, but between the two, we gave the nod to Upwork based on its lower fees and more engaged network of skilled freelancers. The platform boasts over 800,000 employers and has completed over 1 million jobs to date.
Upwork makes it easy to get tasks done. It’s simple to make an account with the site. From there, you can either post a job or search the profiles of freelancers who are advertising the type of work you need done. Upwork can be used for hiring contract workers for quick short-term jobs all the way up to year-long projects. There are also built-in collaboration tools on the platform that let you chat, make video calls and share files with those you hire. You’ll even pay through the platform.
According to a spokesperson for Upwork, the company does not report how many freelancers are on the platform, but the company says its freelancer network has skills in over 10,000 categories ranging from website and app development to creative and design niches.

Other job posting sites we considered
Employers may want to use multiple job posting sites for their hiring. Here are some others to consider:
Monster

Pros

Competitive pricing
Legacy brand

Cons

Declining users

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
$8 per day (Monster+ Standard) or $299 per month (Monster+ Pro)

Monthly visits
3.8 million

Monster is one of the longest standing job sites, recently celebrating 30 years since its launch. The job board remains active, but has lost monthly visits since its peak. Last year, the company was acquired by BOLD, which also owns CareerBuilder. Its $299 per monthly subscription for Monster+ Pro is designed for small businesses to post jobs to Monster, CareerBuilder and partners sites. The standard plan starts at $8 per day and is pay-as-you-go. It does not include resume searching (that’s only with the Pro plan), and your account will have a limited number of users.
Read Money’s full Monster.com review.
Fiverr

Pros

Good for individual projects
Expert vetting available

Handy mobile app available

Cons

High fees for sellers

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
The basic version is free. “Pro Essential,” which comes with talent vetting and hands-on hiring help, has no subscription fee but requires $1,000 of services ordered per year. “Advanced” is $129 per month and you must contact Fiverr to set up your account.

Monthly visits
10.4 million

Fiverr isn’t exactly a job board. It’s a freelance marketplace best-known for gig projects. For example, you could hire an artist to design your company’s logo.
You can either search the marketplace of freelancers or post a “project brief” with the option of using Fiverr’s AI assistant. When you’re posting a job, you can set a budget between $25 and $50,000. Keep in mind that sellers (aka the talent you’re hiring) on Fiverr pay a 20% fee, which may force freelancers to ask for higher prices than they would on other platforms. There’s also a 5.5% service fee for employers.
Built In

Pros

Reach tech job seekers
Analytics tools to help you better reach the right candidates

AI assistance tools

Free trial offered
High AI search visibility

Cons

No price transparency

HIGHLIGHTS

Cost
Pricing isn’t available online

Monthly visits
1.5 million

Built In is another industry-specific site that you can use if you need to hire for a tech role. It’s a well-designed online job board used by programmers and coders in Silicon Valley and beyond. Built In has over 111,000 tech companies and 500,000 jobs on its platform and claims that its job seekers are typically more qualified and experienced than applicants on general job sites.
If you’re looking to appeal to job seekers who use AI, Built In may be a good choice. According to the platform, it’s the No. 1 most-cited job search site in AI prompts, including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.
What you need to know about posting jobs online
Online job boards are immensely popular among job seekers, and the most time-efficient way for recruiters to reach a vast pool of them. Here’s what you need to know to use them to your advantage:
Choose the right job posting site
Our guide is designed to help you choose the best job posting sites for your business. Indeed is great for general hiring and free job posts. LinkedIn is best for professional hiring, while Craigslist excels as a local classifieds option. Other job posting sites serve specific needs: Handshake is optimized for college and AI recruiting, and Levels.fyi is our top pick for tech hiring. Depending on your industry, there are likely other niche platforms worth looking into.
Optimize the job description
Once you’ve chosen a recruitment platform, the next step is to craft a compelling job post. Keep the ideal candidate in the back of your mind as you write, and be sure to clearly — and truthfully — outline the following details:

An overview of the position and its responsibilities
Qualifications and requirements
The company’s mission, culture and values
Salary information

A well-written job post can make all the difference in the success of the hiring process. Write in simple language, and avoid using jargon. Proofread it for spelling and grammar errors, too. If a post seems thoughtless and done without care, people will perceive your company as unprofessional, or even fraudulent.
More states are passing pay transparency laws, but the practice of posting a job listing with clear salary information still isn’t universal. If you want the best applicants to apply, your job post should include the expected salary or salary range for every position you list.
Use multiple job posting sites
Most companies should use more than one job posting site, says Kyle Patrick Smith, a talent acquisition expert. While you could use a paid applicant tracking system or a service like ZipRecruiter to target multiple job boards, it’s not always necessary. Even if you have a limited budget, you can still reach potential candidates on individual job boards. “Some opportunities will play very well on some of the low cost or no cost options,” Smith says, mentioning Indeed as his top choice for non-managerial roles.
While there are many different companies that can blast your job post to dozens of job boards, Smith says he prefers posting directly. “You begin to lose control over your employment message,” he says. “When you aggregate it out to those sites, you have no idea how that job posting is going to appear.” Also, many of the job posting sites that these listings get cross-posted to are lower quality and lack the web traffic of the major companies featured in this guide.
Message candidates you want to apply
Some job posts will quickly attract dozens (or even hundreds) of qualified applicants, but other roles are harder to fill, potentially because of the skills required, the location or other factors. When hiring for key roles or harder-to-fill roles, employers often build their applicant pool by reaching out to employees at other companies or job seekers who’ve indicated they are on the market.
The paid tool LinkedIn Recruiter is one of the main ways for employers to message job seekers. LinkedIn Recruiter matches employers to possible candidates based on filters and enables access to AI messaging features. Indeed and ZipRecruiter also offer employers similar tools for browsing resume databases and engaging candidates.

Best Job Posting Sites FAQs
What is the best job posting site?
Indeed is the best overall job posting site, based on Money’s review of pricing, candidate pools and web traffic. It draws more than 177 million monthly U.S. visits — more than any dedicated job board — and allows three free posts per month. LinkedIn is the better choice for professional and executive roles, and Handshake for college recruiting. Ultimately, the best site for your business is the one that best fits your hiring needs and budget.
How much does it cost to post a job online?
Posting jobs online costs anywhere from $0 to a few thousand dollars a month. Indeed and LinkedIn offer some free posts, though larger companies will likely need to pay for premium tiers that can cost several thousand dollars. Craigslist charges $10 to $75 per post depending on the market, while paid plans from ZipRecruiter and Monster start at $299 per month.
What are the best free job posting sites?
Indeed is the best free job posting site, according to Money’s analysis. It offers three free posts per month with a 30-day limit on each. LinkedIn and Handshake are other good options for free job posts. Any free service will have limitations, though. For one, free posts typically get less visibility than paid ones.
What is the 70-30 rule in hiring?
The 70-30 rule says that employers should hire candidates who meet at least 70% of a job’s key requirements and assume the remaining 30% can be trained on the job. This approach helps employers reach a broader pool of candidates.

Latest news

The unemployment rate is 4.2%, slightly above the 4% level that typically indicates “full employment.” However, the hiring market is relatively slow. According to the latest Challenger report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employer hiring plans dropped 23% between September 2025 and September 2026. Fortunately, job cuts are also down, dropping 18% between August and September alone.
Pay transparency laws are becoming the norm in many states, and even where it’s not required, job seekers have come to expect salary information in job listings. Studies show including pay data can also improve your job ads’ efficacy and speed up hiring.
AI is becoming a bigger part of many job platforms. Indeed, ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn have all added AI features this year. AI is also leading to more hiring opportunities. According to ZipRecruiter research, 35% of employers say AI is going to increase their company’s headcount moving forward. Another 74% say AI skills are a strong advantage in an employee and or even an outright job requirement. In fact, job postings that call for AI skills have increased 159% over the last year.
AI is becoming a bigger part of many job platforms. Indeed, ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn have all added AI features this year. AI is also leading to more hiring opportunities. According to ZipRecruiter research, 35% of employers say AI is going to increase their company’s headcount moving forward. Another 74% say AI skills are a strong advantage in an employee and or even an outright job requirement.
Trade worker openings are on the rise. Job openings in construction, manufacturing and transportation have jumped 34% in the last year, according to ZipRecruiter research. The typical trade worker now earns a salary of $65,000.
Nearly half of U.S. workers say they plan to look for a job in the second half of 2026. Gen Z workers and those in healthcare and technology are the most likely to be looking for new jobs this year, according to a survey from Robert Half.
The gender wage gap is narrowing. In 2025, women earned $0.84 for every $1 earned by mean. That’s up from $0.81 the year before and the first statistically significant jump since 2016. For black women specifically, the wage gap has fallen. Black women earn just $0.64 per dollar compared to men.

How we chose the best job posting sites
Money assessed the best job posting sites for employers by comparing companies’ pricing, candidate pools, job board design and special features.
We compiled an initial list of over three dozen job sites. Using web analytics data provided by Similarweb to identify the most active job boards in the U.S., we narrowed this down to a shortlist of 12 sites. Two industry-specific job boards for tech recruiting were also considered. We conducted additional research on the pricing and features of these companies, reaching out to each one with the opportunity to respond to a brief questionnaire that included questions about pricing tiers and free trials/demos. Finally, seven companies were selected based on their excellence in individual categories.
To be considered for this article, a job posting service must have its own online job board, even if submitted job posts are also distributed to other platforms. This requirement excluded many popular applicant tracking systems. If you’re interested in that kind of service, we’ve covered them in a separate report on the best recruiting software.
In March 2026, Money reviewed and updated our picks of the best job posting sites for features and pricing. We will continue to monitor this industry and update our selections when appropriate.
Summary of our top picks for job search sites of November 2026

Indeed — Best Overall
LinkedIn — Best for Professional Hiring
Craigslist — Best for Local Hiring
ZipRecruiter — Best for Small Businesses
Handshake — Best for College Recruiting
Levels.fyi — Best for Tech Jobs
Upwork — Best Freelance Marketplace

Key Takeaways

More than 40% of Americans feel credit card debt is making it harder to focus on long-term financial goals, according to a 2026 Achieve survey.
Choosing a payoff strategy you can stick with is a critical step. The debt avalanche can save more on interest, while the debt snowball can provide quicker motivational wins.
If DIY repayment isn’t enough, consider other options. Debt consolidation, credit counseling or debt relief may help, depending on your balances, credit and ability to make payments.

Debt is getting harder to ignore in 2026. Credit card balances alone hit $1.26 trillion in the second quarter, up $54 billion from a year earlier, according to the Federal Reserve.
With borrowing costs still high, carrying a balance can get expensive fast and eat into the money you’d like to use for other priorities. In fact, 43% of Americans feel credit cards and other short-term debts are getting in the way of their long-term financial goals, according to a recent survey from Achieve and Money.com.
There’s no magic trick for wiping out debt, but choosing the right payoff strategy can help you spend less on interest and get debt-free quicker.
Here are six steps to help you pay off your balances fast.

1. Pay more than the minimum payment every month
One of the best ways to pay off credit card debt (and other debts) faster is to pay more than you have to each month — even if you can only afford a small amount more.
Minimum payments on revolving debt, such as credit cards, typically cover only a tiny fraction of the principal amount, allowing interest to accumulate rapidly. Making larger payments, which puts more toward the principal, means less interest will be tacked onto your loan balance each month.
For example, say you have a $6,500 credit card balance with a 23.99% annual percentage rate (APR) and a $146 minimum payment. It’ll take you more than nine years to pay off that card making only the minimum payments. However, if you can put an extra $100 each month toward your balance, you’ll have it paid off in just over three years. You’ll also save nearly $7,000 in interest.
You can pay more than the minimum on all loan types, but be sure you understand how those extra payments are applied, particularly with installment loans like your mortgage, auto or student loans. With these, you may have to ask your lender to use the extra money to reduce the principal balance instead of counting it as a credit toward your next payment. Know that some loans, including mortgages and auto loans, can have prepayment penalties. While most lenders don’t penalize you for extra payments or early payoff, it’s always smart to review your loan terms before prepaying so you’re not hit with a surprise fee.
2. Set up a payment plan
Rather than throwing extra money at your debts randomly, you’ll be more effective if you take the time to map out a payment plan. You’ll save more money — and potentially pay off your debts faster — using what’s called the debt avalanche method. (More on that below.) But it’s most important for you to design a payment plan you’ll stick with. If you need some quick wins to stay motivated, then you should focus on your smaller debts first.
Regardless of which method you pick, the general process looks the same:

List your loans and credit cards, including their balances, APRs and minimum payments, in a spreadsheet.
Prioritize your debts, ordering them from either high to low interest or from lowest balance to highest.
Total up all your minimum payments to see how much you have to dedicate to debt each month.
Check your budget to see how much money you have left over after covering all your necessities (including your minimum debt payments). This will help you determine how much extra you can reallocate to the loan you’re targeting first.
Create a debt payoff plan outlining how much you expect to pay every month. You can also search online for a debt avalanche or debt snowball calculator that calculates your payoff plan. Some calculators can help you create a spreadsheet that will make it easier to track your progress.

3. Tackle high-interest debts first
Two popular (and frequently debated) debt repayment strategies are the debt snowball and the debt avalanche. The latter method prioritizes eliminating more expensive debt first.
Specifically, you pay off debts in order of interest rate, starting with the debt with the highest rate. You’ll pay the minimum on every other debt and direct any extra money to the loan you’re targeting. Once that loan is paid off, you move your focus to the next-highest rate.
With this strategy, you’ll always pay the least interest.
In contrast, the debt snowball method focuses on paying off debts from the smallest to largest balance. This may be the best strategy if you need to see faster progress to get motivated, since you’ll knock off smaller balances first and leave the bigger ones that will take longer until later. But because your other debts are sometimes accruing expensive interest, it isn’t the cheapest way to get debt free.
4. Adjust your budget and limit unnecessary spending
The more money you can put toward your highest-interest debt each month, the quicker you’ll get out of debt. The hard part, of course, is finding that extra money.
Begin by reviewing your budget and current expenses. Cutting back on discretionary spending should be your first focus. Most of these items are obvious — think: eating out, concert tickets, video games or nail appointments — even if they are painful to eliminate.
If you’ve already cut as much as you can from this bucket, you should also review your necessary spending. While most of these items do not have much flexibility, you may be able to find areas to trim. For example, adjusting your thermostat by a few degrees, planning meals around grocery sales or shopping for more affordable auto insurance. Even a 5% to 10% reduction in essential bills frees up extra cash to pay down debt.
The key here is to be strict enough with yourself that you can identify some real areas to cut back, but not to be so austere that you can’t maintain your budget for the duration of your debt payoff. And be careful not to drain your emergency savings entirely to accelerate debt repayment, since an unexpected expense could send you right back into debt.
Finally, plan on any additional money you may receive going toward debt. Whether it’s an annual tax refund or a bonus at work, earmark it to use for debt repayment.
5. Consider consolidating your debts
It may sound counterintuitive, but sometimes taking out a new loan can help you pay off debts faster. This is the philosophy behind debt consolidation.
When you take out a debt consolidation loan, the idea is to swap high-interest debt with lower-interest debt. There are a few ways you can do this, but the most common ones are taking out a personal loan or using a home equity loan or home equity line of credit. Because the latter uses your home as collateral, interest rates tend to be lower than those offered on personal loans. But both products offer starting APRs that are far below credit card rates, meaning there’s a lot of potential to pay back your debt for less.
Another similar approach is opening a balance transfer credit card. These are cards that offer 0% interest for a limited period, giving you some temporary relief from expensive interest changes. But you will have to pay a transfer fee.
Note that you’ll usually need a decent credit score and history of on-time payments to get a good rate on the new loan or qualify for a balance transfer card. If you don’t, you’ll need to spend some time paying down your debts (using the other steps in this guide) and improving your credit before you can take this step.
6. Keep your debt out of collections
If you fall several months behind on loan payments, your account will be delinquent and your debt may go to collections. If you think your debt is unaffordable now, it only gets worse when it goes to debt collectors.
Late fees and interest charges will be added to your debts. You could get hit with collection agency fees and legal costs if your creditor passes your debt on to a collection agency or decides to pursue legal action against you. You could also face wage garnishment, where your creditor takes your payment directly from your paycheck. Finally, your credit score will also take a significant hit, making it harder to obtain another line of credit for several years.
If you’re struggling with your debts but still current, contact your lenders immediately. Although many don’t broadcast the specifics of these programs, banks and other lenders will sometimes offer short-term payment pauses or reduced payments to help you get back on track.
If you’re already behind, it may be time to consider outside help. You could look into credit counseling for help building a budget and making payment plans. Your counselor is usually able to get your creditors to cut your interest rate, making it easier for you to pay down your balances. Another option is to hire a company to negotiate your debts, with the goal of getting creditors to settle for less than you owe. Be sure you understand this process fully: The best debt relief companies will clearly state their fees and give you a thorough explanation of what to expect, including possible savings.
The benefits of paying off debt fast
Sticking to a tight budget for an extended time isn’t easy. Keeping your eye on the prize — a debt-free future — can help you stay motivated and working toward your payoff goal.
When you feel like extending your debt payoff date or indulging in discretionary expenses rather than putting the money toward your debt, remind yourself of these benefits.
You’ll pay less in interest
If there is a secret to how to get credit card debt relief faster, it’s putting as much money as you can toward your debt principal. On an accelerated debt repayment schedule, you put a much bigger dent in your loan principal each month and accrue far less interest. That translates to significant savings.
Again, consider that $6,500 credit card balance with the 23.99% APR and $146 monthly minimum payment. If you make only the minimum payment each month, you’ll pay more than $9,800 in interest to pay off the card. By putting about $250 per month toward that principal balance, you’ll pay just over $2,800 in interest.
It can help you gain access to more credit opportunities
The faster you pay down your debt, the quicker your debt-to-income ratio will improve, and your credit score could increase. Your debt-to-income ratio compares how much money you owe for debt bills each month to how much you earn.
The healthier your debt-to-income ratio, the more credit opportunities you may have available to you. Not only will you possibly qualify for better interest rates in the future, but you also may qualify for a wider variety of loans and larger loans, making it easier to reach financial goals like buying a home or a car.
It can improve your quality of life
Worrying about money can manifest in emotional and physical ways. For example, half of respondents in the Achieve survey said thinking about money made them feel anxious and 49% said money issues led to sleeplessness. Being debt-free won’t eliminate all your financial stressors, but it can certainly help when you have some breathing room.
Here’s a bonus tip to fundamentally shift your stress levels around money: As you work on your debt payoff plan, try to put a little extra money aside each month to build up an emergency savings fund so that you don’t have to borrow for unexpected expenses down the road.
Once you finally pay off your loans, you can stop wasting your hard-earned cash on paying interest to creditors and instead spend your money in ways that earn you interest. You can start by putting said cash in a high-yield savings account or investing for your retirement.

Paying off debt FAQs
Should I pay off debt or build savings first?
Prioritize building a small, starter emergency fund first. Think: enough to cover a major car repair or other unexpected bill without borrowing. Then attack expensive debt, like revolving credit card balances, before continuing to build up your savings. Your eventual goal is building up an emergency fund equal to at least three months’ worth of expenses to protect you if you lose your job.
Is a 0% balance transfer card better than a debt consolidation loan?
A balance transfer card can be a better approach if you have a small amount of debt that you can comfortably pay off before the 0% promo ends, which is typically 12 to 18 months. After the promo ends, any remaining balance will accrue interest at a rate that’s likely above 20%. For consumers with larger balances, a consolidation loan that combines a better interest rate than you’re currently paying with a predictable repayment term will likely be a better fit.
How much of your income should go toward paying off debt?
Financial planners often recommend following the 50/30/20 rule, which calls for using 50% of your take home pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for debt payments and savings. But despite its name, that is just a rough guideline. If you’re trying to pay off debt quickly, you’ll likely want to reduce the amount you’re spending on wants and redirect that toward debt payoff.