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Personal Finance Debt Relief Apprisen 2025 Review: Lower Monthly Payments and Top-Tier Financial Education Updated Jun 20, 2025 7-min read Reviewed by Marc Guberti, CFPC® Reviewed by Marc Guberti, CFPC® Expertise: investing, loans, credit cards, personal finance, banking, business financing Learn more about Marc Guberti, CFPC® Learn More Debt Management Program Get a more reasonable payment plan Apprisen negotiates on your behalf Financial education No debt settlement or relief Payments start right away Temporary drop in your credit score Solutions offeredDebt management program, IRIS, education, financial coaching, Propel, and counselingCounseling consultation fee$0Enrollment fee$45Maintenance fee$45 per monthTimeline3 – 5 years in most cases Table of Contents Apprisen services Debt management program IRIS Education Financial coaching Propel Counseling Cost and fees Pros and cons How it works Reputation Is it worth it? Customer service Alternatives vs. National Debt Relief vs. Freedom Debt Relief vs. Accredited Debt Relief Apprisen has been negotiating debt with creditors on behalf of its clients for more than 70 years. The nonprofit organization aims to help people with their financial well-being through financial education, financial coaching, community outreach, and counseling. You can request a personalized Debt Summary and receive it in as little as 24 hours. While Apprisen can help with making your debt more manageable, success isn’t guaranteed in this long process. Here’s what you should know before getting started. What services does Apprisen offer? Apprisen helps people get out of debt and get back on track with long-term financial goals. Unlike most debt service firms, Apprisen is a nonprofit and offers services that apply to debt-free consumers, such as housing counseling and first-time homebuyer workshops. It doesn’t help with debt settlement, but it can still lighten the load of high monthly debt payments. These are some of the company’s services. Debt management program Apprisen will work with your creditors and negotiate lower rates and better payment plans on your behalf. This form of debt relief can get you on the right track, but the company won’t help you reduce your balance on any debt. More reasonable payment plans will free up more space in your monthly budget. You will have complimentary access to a financial specialist throughout the program. The program has a $45 one-time setup fee and a $45 monthly fee, but consumers who can demonstrate financial hardship may have their fees reduced or eliminated. IRIS You can submit your financial information and receive a personalized financial action plan for achieving your goals. This service helps people get out of debt, but it’s also useful for debt-free people who have long-term objectives. This online financial assessment service is free. Education Apprisen offers Credit Health Education, which helps you understand your credit report and achieve your credit goals. The personal finance company also offers a First-Time Homebuyer Workshop, which is eligible for a HUD certificate. It helps students learn the intricacies of buying a house and the key factors involved. Apprisen also has a Student Loan Education Session that provides practical advice for people who need help with paying their student loans. You can choose from several financial workshops. Financial coaching Individuals and couples can get personalized financial advice from a professional. Employees can also take advantage of coaching through Apprisen’s Employer Financial Wellness Programs. Propel This annual subscription lets you access on-demand financial coaches to guide you on the path to long-term goals. These coaches can also help you save money and keep your expenses low. You don’t need to owe money to creditors to benefit from this service. Counseling Apprisen offers counseling services for navigating a potential bankruptcy, deciding whether you should rent or buy a house, and other areas. You can speak with a specialist to assess your options and chart a path forward. Apprisen cost and fees Apprisen charges a $45 setup fee for its debt management program and a $45 monthly fee after the setup fee. This is different from other debt relief programs that don’t charge until they get results. The company doesn’t offer debt settlement or relief services. The company also assesses an $89.99 annual subscription for on-demand access to financial coaches through Propel. You can get started with free services like one of Apprisen’s online financial assessments. Pros and Cons of Debt Relief Programs Pros and cons of Apprisen Pros Get a more reasonable payment plan You can end up with lower monthly debt payments and a lower interest rate. Apprisen negotiates on your behalf You don’t need to contact creditors and keep up with emails to get better deals; Apprisen’s specialists do it for you. Financial education Apprisen offers a wide range of financial education resources that can help you become debt-free and build toward long-term wealth. Cons No debt settlement or relief Apprisen doesn’t specialize in reducing any debt balances. If you want debt settlement, you should work with another personal finance company. Payments start right away You’ll pay an initial setup fee and a monthly fee to use Apprisen’s debt management program. Temporary drop in your credit score Creditors may close your accounts upon negotiating new terms, which can cause a short-term dip in your credit score. This disadvantage isn’t exclusive to Apprisen. All companies that offer this service may result in a temporary decrease in your FICO score. How Apprisen’s services work Apprisen specializes in negotiating debt payment plans to secure lower monthly payments via longer terms or lower interest rates. The company contacts creditors and negotiates on your behalf. Apprisen can also make your accounts current by working with creditors. Before Apprisen starts working on your behalf, you’ll complete a free and secure financial analysis. You can complete this step online or via phone, and then Apprisen will review your information and help you after you cover the initial setup fee. While its team of professionals negotiates with creditors, you can enjoy financial coaching and educational resources that get you on the right track with your finances. Is Apprisen legit? Apprisen is a BBB-accredited nonprofit with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Founded in 1955 as the Economy Budget Service Company, it changed its name in 2009. Apprisen has helped more than one million people achieve financial wellness. The company is a legitimate option for people who want to reduce their monthly payments. However, Apprisen is not guaranteed to secure lower monthly debt payments; that depends on the flexibility of your creditors. Is Apprisen worth it? Apprisen may be worth it if you prefer to have a reliable professional negotiate your debt to secure a lower interest rate and lower monthly payments. The team has decades of experience and can streamline the process. Apprisen is one of the few companies that offers debt services and branches out beyond those fundamental services. The company’s financial coaching calls, online workshops, and other resources offer plenty of value. Apprisen can connect you with financial specialists who can help you map out your path to long-term goals. I you are debt-free and are OK with taking the DIY route with your finances, you may not need Apprisen. However, it’s still good to review the company’s educational offerings. How to contact Apprisen You can contact Apprisen online, through the company’s live chat, or via phone. Its phone number is 1-888-461-2927. Its hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Thursday. The company is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and is closed on weekends. Apprisen is based in Gahanna, Ohio. Alternatives to Apprisen If you want to make lower monthly payments on your debt through a longer term or a lower interest rate, Apprisen can help. However, if you aim to lower your overall debt, it’s good to consider the highest-rated for-profit debt relief companies too. These are three for-profit alternatives to Apprisen. Best Overall 4.9 Learn More Possible Savings Up to 50% Min. Balance $10K Settlement Fee 15% – 25% 4.9 Learn More Best for Transparency 4.6 Learn More Possible Savings Up to 50% Min. Balance $7.5K Settlement Fee 15% – 25% 4.6 Learn More Best for Customer Experience 4.4 Learn More Possible Savings Up to 50% Min. Balance $10K Settlement Fee 25% 4.4 Learn More Apprisen vs. National Debt Relief National Debt Relief starts you off with a free, no-obligation debt relief consultation to establish the next steps. The company can lower your monthly payments, but debt relief and settlement are also on the table. The company’s specialists negotiate with creditors on your behalf and can get you back to financial stability within 24 to 48 months. More than 550,000 people have relied on National Debt Relief to improve their finances since it was founded in 2009. Apprisen vs. Freedom Debt Relief Freedom Debt Relief can negotiate lower payments, debt relief, or debt settlement, depending on the flexibility of your creditors. You won’t pay Freedom Debt Relief until its team finishes the job. Each client gets a dashboard that allows them to monitor their progress 24/7. The personal finance company has settled more than $20 billion in debt for more than a million Americans. Freedom Debt Relief was founded in 2002 and continues to be a valuable resource for people who want to get out of debt and advance toward long-term financial goals. Apprisen vs. Accredited Debt Relief Accredited Debt Relief focuses on debt consolidation, which can make your debt more manageable. Instead of several monthly payments, all our financial obligations are centralized into a single monthly payment. Its experts can lower your monthly debt payments and reduce your balances. They negotiate with creditors after getting to know you and your situation through a free consultation. You can be debt-free in as little as 24 to 48 months with Accredited Debt Relief. Accredited has helped clients pay off $2 billion in debt over the past 12 years. It specializes in credit card debt, personal loans, department store credit debt, and medical debt. The company also has educational resources that can teach you more about money management and improve your financial future.