Whether or not Debt Consolidation is better depends on your situation – and on the consolidation company. Frequently, debt consolidation plans are phony deals that enrich the company at your expense. The typical reason they don't work is because the company pays itself first with the money you give them and, once they have collected, then they send money to the creditors. The problem is that most creditors don't want to wait and commence litigation. In the end your credit will be just as bad as or worse than if you had filed bankruptcy and you will still be in debt.
If you use Debt Consolidation, make sure you use one that is non-profit and does not charge for its services.