Every tool on this page is 100% free. No email required. No upsells. No hidden agenda. Just practical resources to help you make better decisions about your debt.
This is the most comprehensive collection of free consumer debt tools available online. The 19 tools cover every major situation: AI-powered debt counseling available 24/7, legal tools for collectors and lawsuits, financial calculators that show the true cost of debt decisions, and investigator tools to vet debt relief companies before you sign anything. Every tool works instantly in your browser — no account, no email address, no credit card, and nothing to install.
Assessment Tools
💬 Ask Steve
Got a debt question — any debt question? Talk to a free AI advisor trained on 30 years of my experience. No judgment, no sales pitch, no email required. Available 24/7.
🆓 Benefits & Free Money Finder
Find every government program, creditor hardship option, veteran benefit, and nonprofit grant you may qualify for — personalized to your state and situation. SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, WIC, and more.
🧭 Find Your Path Quiz
Not sure where to start? Answer 5 quick questions to get personalized guidance based on your situation. Takes 2 minutes.
💰 Money Personality Quiz
Understand your spending habits and money mindset. Are you a saver, spender, or somewhere in between? Knowing yourself is the first step.
📏 Bankruptcy Means Test
Wondering if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy? Check your eligibility based on your state, household size, income, and debt level. Includes state exemptions.
🧠 Your Brain on Debt Quiz
Find out if fear, shame, panic, or depression is driving your financial decisions — before those emotions push you toward a choice you’ll regret. 20 questions. Free. No judgment.
🧪 Debt Stress Test
Is your debt causing more than financial damage? This free 2-minute screening interleaves financial questions with the PHQ-9 — the same clinical depression tool used by doctors worldwide. Based on Myvesta Foundation research showing 49% of debt clients have depression symptoms.
Protection Tools
🔎 Debt Relief Company Investigator
Before you hire any debt relief company, run them through this 5-step checklist. Covers licensing, lawsuits, reviews, contract red flags, and the questions they don’t want you to ask.
🔍 Scam-O-Meter
Thinking about hiring a debt relief company? Check your situation against official warning signs from the FTC, FBI, CFPB, and SEC before you hand over any money.
📋 Contract Decoder
Already have a contract from a debt relief company? Upload it and I will analyze it for red flags, hidden fees, and problematic terms.
⚖️ Debt Collector Rights Lookup
Being contacted by a debt collector? Look up your rights by state. Covers statute of limitations, wage garnishment limits, exemptions, and what collectors cannot legally do.
💵 Wage Garnishment Calculator
Worried about your paycheck being garnished? See how much creditors can legally take in your state based on your pay. Some states prohibit it entirely.
⏰ Statute of Limitations Checker
Got old debt? Check if the statute of limitations has expired in your state. If it has, creditors cannot sue you for it. Covers clock-restarting traps and zombie debt tactics.
Legal Tools
⚠️ I’m Being Sued for Debt
Being sued by a debt collector or creditor? Get a personalized action plan — response deadlines, possible defenses, and your options — based on your state and situation. Deadlines are short, so act quickly.
🛡️ Judgment Proof Checker
Think collectors can take your wages, bank account, or home? Many people in financial hardship are legally protected. Check whether creditors can actually collect anything from you in your state.
📝 Debt Validation Letter Generator
Being contacted by a debt collector? Under federal law (FDCPA Section 809(b)), you have the right to demand proof the debt exists. Generate your personalized validation letter in seconds — free, no email required.
Calculators
🔢 Get Out of Debt Calculator
See exactly how long it will take to pay off your debt and how much interest you will pay. Compare different payoff strategies side by side.
📉 Debt vs. Retirement Calculator
See what extended debt repayment really costs in lost retirement savings. Enter your age, monthly payment, and plan length to see the compound growth you are giving up.
⏳ Cost of Inaction Calculator
Thinking about waiting to deal with your debt? See exactly how much more you’ll owe in interest — and the retirement savings you’ll lose — for every month you delay taking action.
🧾 1099-C Tax Calculator
Received an IRS Form 1099-C for cancelled debt? Find out if the insolvency exclusion eliminates or reduces your tax bill — using the exact IRS Publication 4681 Worksheet 2 math. Covers all three scenarios: fully taxable, partially excluded, and fully excluded.
Why are these free? I have been helping people with debt since 1994. I do not sell products or services. I do not have affiliate deals. These tools exist because I believe everyone deserves access to honest information—not because I want your email address.
Not Sure Which Tool to Use?
- Want a personalized conversation about your specific situation? Talk to Ask Steve — free, anonymous, any debt question, 24/7
- Just starting out? Take the Find Your Path Quiz
- Considering bankruptcy? Start with the Bankruptcy Means Test to check eligibility
- Worried about wage garnishment? Use the Wage Garnishment Calculator to see your state protections
- Considering a debt relief company? Use the Scam-O-Meter first, then the Contract Decoder if you get a contract
- Being contacted by debt collectors? Use the Debt Collector Rights Lookup to know your state protections
- Dealing with old debt? Use the Statute of Limitations Checker to see if creditors can still sue you
- Want to DIY your debt payoff? Start with the Get Out of Debt Calculator
- Considering a long repayment plan? Use the Debt vs. Retirement Calculator to see the hidden cost to your future
- Struggling with overspending? The Money Personality Quiz can help you understand why
- Wondering if fear or shame is driving your debt decisions? Take the Your Brain on Debt Quiz to see which emotional driver is in control
- Wondering if your debt is causing depression? Take the Debt Stress Test — a free 2-minute PHQ-9 clinical screening
- Being sued by a debt collector? Use the I’m Being Sued Guide immediately — response deadlines are short and missing them means losing by default
- Wondering if collectors can actually take anything from you? Use the Judgment Proof Checker — you may be more protected than you think
- Receiving calls or letters from a debt collector? Use the Debt Validation Letter Generator to demand proof the debt is real
- Thinking about waiting to address your debt? Use the Cost of Inaction Calculator to see what every month of delay actually costs you
Frequently Asked Questions About These Free Debt Tools
Are all of these debt tools really free?
Yes — completely free. None of the 17 tools on this page require your email address, phone number, or any personal contact information. There are no upsells, no free trials that convert to paid subscriptions, and no sales pitches. Steve Rhode has been providing free debt information and resources since 1994 and does not sell products, services, or affiliate referrals of any kind. These tools exist because the information you need to make a good decision about debt should be free and accessible to everyone.
Which free debt tool should I use first?
It depends on your situation. If you have a specific question about your debt, start with Ask Steve — a free AI debt advisor available 24/7. If you’re not sure where to start, the Find Your Path Quiz takes about 2 minutes and gives personalized guidance based on your income, debts, and goals. If you’re in crisis — being sued, receiving aggressive collector calls, or facing garnishment — go directly to the Legal Tools section and start with the I’m Being Sued Guide or the Judgment Proof Checker.
Is there a free AI debt counselor I can talk to anonymously?
Yes. Ask Steve is a free AI debt counselor — and free AI credit counselor — available 24/7 at GetOutOfDebt.org/ask-steve/. It is trained on Steve Rhode’s 30 years of consumer debt experience and can answer questions about bankruptcy, debt settlement, debt collectors, lawsuits, garnishment, student loans, medical debt, and virtually every other debt situation. No email address, no account, and no personal information is required. All conversations are anonymous.
What free tool should I use if I am being sued for a debt?
Use the I’m Being Sued for Debt Guide immediately. Debt lawsuits move on strict court deadlines — most states require a written response (called an Answer) within 20 to 30 days of being served. Missing that deadline results in a default judgment automatically, which can lead to wage garnishment, bank account levies, and liens on property. The guide explains your state-specific response deadline, your rights under the FDCPA, and your available options — all free, with no email required.
How do I know if I am judgment proof?
Use the free Judgment Proof Checker. Being judgment proof means that even if a creditor wins a lawsuit and gets a court judgment, they cannot legally collect it because your income and assets are protected under federal or state law. Common protected income sources include Social Security, SSDI, SSI, VA disability benefits, and certain pension income. The checker explains exactly which protections apply in your state and what judgment proof status means for your situation — including whether collectors can still legally contact you.
Can I generate a free debt validation letter without providing my email address?
Yes. The Debt Validation Letter Generator at GetOutOfDebt.org/debt-validation-letter-generator/ creates a personalized FDCPA debt validation letter in seconds — no email address, no account, and no personal information stored on our servers. The letter is built entirely in your browser. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a debt collector who receives a written validation request must verify the debt and cease collection activity until they do.
What does the Cost of Inaction Calculator show?
The Cost of Inaction Calculator shows the exact dollar cost of waiting to address high-interest debt. Enter your current balance, interest rate, and monthly payment, and it calculates how much additional interest you will pay — and how much retirement savings you will forgo — for every month you delay taking action. The results are often striking: waiting 12 months on $20,000 of credit card debt at 24% APR costs over $4,800 in additional interest alone, before factoring in the compounding retirement savings loss.
How are these free debt tools different from other financial websites?
Most financial websites that offer “free tools” require an email address so they can send marketing, or they use the tools to generate affiliate referrals to paid debt relief services. GetOutOfDebt.org’s free tools require no email, generate no affiliate revenue from the tools, and link to no paid services. Steve Rhode founded the nonprofit credit counseling organization Myvesta in 1994, went through personal bankruptcy in 1990, and has provided free debt information and resources ever since. The only goal is to give consumers the information they need to make an informed decision — not to sell them something.
