What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
As of October 2026, the federal income-driven repayment (IDR) choices are RAP, IBR, ICR, and PAYE. SAVE ended after a court order in March 2026. The right plan depends on each loan’s type, first-disbursement date, consolidation and parent-loan history, income, and family circumstances—not simply on which plan advertises the lowest payment.
Compare eligibility, the estimated monthly bill, total interest, the plan’s discharge timeline, any scheduled end date, and whether payments support a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) strategy. Use the current Federal Student Aid information and calculator, then treat the processed application and your servicer’s notice as the final terms.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The four IDR plans available in 2026
IDR payments are tied to income and family size or the number of dependents. Each plan uses a different formula and has different loan, date, and borrower-history rules.
| Plan | Payment calculation | Repayment period | Main eligibility and timing notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | 1% to 10% of adjusted gross income (AGI), divided by 12, minus $50 for each dependent claimed on the federal tax return; minimum payment $10 | 30 years | Most Direct Loans disbursed before or after July 1, 2026. Parent loans are excluded, including specified consolidated parent debt. |
| IBR | Generally 15% of discretionary income, or 10% for qualifying new borrowers; payment capped at the 10-year Standard amount | 25 years, or 20 years for qualifying new borrowers | Most eligible Direct Loans disbursed before July 1, 2026, and FFEL loans, subject to parent-loan, consolidation, and borrower rules. |
| ICR | The lesser of 20% of discretionary income or an income-adjusted payment calculated on a 12-year fixed plan | 25 years | Most eligible Direct Loans disbursed before July 1, 2026. FFEL loans generally must be consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Scheduled to end no later than July 1, 2028. |
| PAYE | 10% of discretionary income; the result must be lower than the 10-year Standard payment for eligibility | 20 years | Most eligible Direct Loans disbursed before July 1, 2026, with borrower-history and disbursement restrictions. Scheduled to end no later than July 1, 2028. |
The percentages in the table are not enough to calculate an individual bill. Your income, family size or dependents, eligible balance, loan type, and plan-specific tests all affect the result.
#1 Best Overall
Why the July 1, 2026 date matters
Federal Student Aid says borrowers with loans first disbursed before July 1, 2026 may retain access to IBR, ICR, or PAYE when they otherwise satisfy the plan’s conditions. A first disbursement on a new loan on or after July 1, 2026 can remove access to those legacy plans. RAP remains available for most Direct Loans across that date boundary.
This is a loan-by-loan question. Someone with loans on both sides of the date may find that one loan qualifies for a legacy plan while another does not. Do not assume that adding a new loan preserves the same menu for every existing loan.
Loan features that can change the answer
- Direct versus FFEL: IBR can cover eligible FFEL loans; ICR generally requires an FFEL loan to be consolidated into the Direct Loan program.
- Parent PLUS: Parent loans are not automatically eligible for IDR. RAP excludes parent loans, and only specific pre-July 1, 2026 consolidation circumstances can affect other options.
- Consolidation history: The date and type of consolidation can determine whether a loan meets a plan’s rules.
- Default: A defaulted loan is not eligible for IDR while it remains in default.
- Borrower history: PAYE and the “qualifying new borrower” IBR rate have additional history and timing tests.
Sign in to your StudentAid.gov dashboard and record every loan’s type, first-disbursement date, and consolidation or parent-loan history before comparing plans. A plan name shown in a general article is not proof that your account qualifies.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
How each plan sets the payment
RAP
RAP starts with AGI rather than the discretionary-income percentage used by the legacy plans. The annual amount is 1% to 10% of AGI, divided by 12 for a monthly bill. You then subtract $50 for every dependent claimed on your federal tax return. The monthly payment cannot be less than $10. Its 30-year period is the longest listed here, so a lower bill can come with a longer period for interest to accrue.
IBR
IBR generally uses 15% of discretionary income. A qualifying new borrower receives the 10% rate instead. The payment is capped at what the borrower would pay on a 10-year Standard schedule, so an IBR calculation cannot exceed that cap. The discharge period is 25 years for the general rule and 20 years for qualifying new borrowers.
ICR
ICR calculates two amounts and uses the lower one: 20% of discretionary income, or an income-adjusted payment based on a 12-year fixed schedule. Its listed period is 25 years. Because ICR is scheduled to end no later than July 1, 2028, check current implementation and enrollment instructions before relying on it for a long-term plan.
PAYE
PAYE uses 10% of discretionary income and requires that the resulting amount be lower than the 10-year Standard payment. Its listed period is 20 years. PAYE is also scheduled to end no later than July 1, 2028, and its borrower-history and disbursement requirements can exclude someone who otherwise has an eligible Direct Loan.
What changed when SAVE ended
A court order ended SAVE in March 2026. Borrowers enrolled in SAVE, or with a pending SAVE application, are directed to choose another plan for which they qualify.
Servicers send individualized notices explaining the available options and the switching deadline. That deadline is based on the notice for your account, not on a generic date published in an article. Missing the final deadline can result in automatic placement into a fixed-payment plan. Keep the notice, check your account, and apply by the date stated there.
Rank #4
During the transition, do not assume that a payment amount or processing status shown before the change remains the amount due afterward. Confirm the replacement plan, effective date, and first payment with the servicer.
How forgiveness works—and what it does not promise
IDR discharge
The repayment periods in the comparison table are the plan periods before a possible remaining-balance discharge under that plan’s conditions. They are not a guarantee that every borrower receives forgiveness on an identical calendar date. Annual income reviews, payment history, qualifying loan balances, plan changes, and administrative processing can affect the result.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The listed periods are 30 years for RAP, 25 years for ICR, 20 years for PAYE, and either 20 or 25 years for IBR depending on the qualifying-new-borrower rule. PAYE and ICR also have scheduled end dates no later than July 1, 2028, which is a separate issue from the length of an individual borrower’s forgiveness period.
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
PSLF is a separate route
PSLF requires qualifying public-service employment, eligible Direct Loans, and qualifying payments under the PSLF rules. It is not the same as waiting for IDR discharge. Federal Student Aid identifies IBR, ICR, PAYE, and RAP as qualifying repayment plans for PSLF when the borrower satisfies the other requirements. Full, on-time payments can count, but employment certification, loan type, payment conditions, and the account’s qualifying-payment count still matter. Payments under a Tiered Standard schedule do not count under the SAVE-transition guidance.
If PSLF is your objective, compare plans by whether the payment is qualifying and by the number of qualifying payments remaining—not only by the projected IDR discharge date.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare your actual options
- Inventory the loans. Sign in to StudentAid.gov and record each loan’s federal program, first-disbursement date, current balance, Direct or FFEL status, and any parent-loan or consolidation history. Note whether any account is in default.
- Filter the plan list. Use the current eligibility information to remove plans that your specific loans cannot use. Treat loans separately when their dates or types differ.
- Run the Repayment Calculator. Enter current income, family size or dependents, balances, and other requested information. Compare the monthly estimate, projected total repaid, interest, and expected discharge horizon. Estimates are not approval decisions.
- Check time-sensitive plans. If PAYE or ICR appears in the comparison, account for the scheduled no-later-than-July-1, 2028 end date and verify current instructions before applying.
- Test the PSLF fit. If you work toward PSLF, confirm that the plan and payment conditions are qualifying and that your employment and loan type satisfy PSLF requirements.
- Apply through the official IDR process. Federal loan-servicer assistance with the application is free; you do not need to pay a company to submit or manage a federal IDR application.
- Confirm processing. Ask the servicer for the approved payment, effective date, repayment plan name, and next due date. Use that processed information—not the calculator alone—for budgeting.
Compare long-run cost, not just this month’s bill
A lower IDR payment can be valuable when income is limited, but extending repayment may increase total interest and delay an IDR discharge. Put these figures side by side for every plan you can actually use:
- Estimated monthly payment now and after a foreseeable income change
- Estimated total amount repaid and total interest
- Projected date for any remaining-balance discharge under the plan
- Whether the plan is scheduled to end or change before you reach that date
- Eligibility for each loan, including date, Direct/FFEL status, consolidation, parent-loan, and default rules
- Whether the payment supports your PSLF strategy
Do not treat a projected forgiveness amount as guaranteed savings. It depends on continued eligibility, annual recertification, qualifying payments, and the rules in effect when discharge is processed. Conversely, choosing a higher payment solely to minimize interest can conflict with a valid PSLF strategy or an affordable-payment need.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Using a generic plan chart as an eligibility decision: Check each loan’s first-disbursement date and program status.
- Assuming a new loan leaves old choices unchanged: A new first disbursement on or after July 1, 2026 can affect access to IBR, ICR, and PAYE.
- Assuming Parent PLUS is automatically IDR-eligible: Parent loans have separate exclusions and consolidation rules.
- Applying while in default without resolving the status: Defaulted loans are not eligible for IDR until the default issue is addressed.
- Missing a SAVE-transition notice: The servicer’s individualized deadline controls, and missing it can trigger automatic placement into a fixed-payment plan.
- Confusing IDR discharge with PSLF: PSLF requires qualifying employment and payments in addition to being on a qualifying plan.
- Budgeting from an estimate: Wait for the servicer’s processed payment and effective date.
What to keep for your records
Save the eligibility information used, calculator assumptions, application confirmation, servicer notices, annual income-certification submissions, and every approved-plan letter. These records help resolve disagreements about a payment date, a SAVE-transition deadline, or a PSLF qualifying-payment count.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
