The right solution for you depends on your situation. Debt management has a lower success rate than debt settlement, but that’s because many people can’t afford the monthly payment. If you can safely afford to make your debt management plan payment, it’s a good solution because it costs very little and doesn’t hurt your credit much. But if you can’t afford your debt, debt settlement may be a better way to go. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that debt settlement is more affordable than debt management.