Debt Payoff Calculator
Compare snowball and avalanche payoff time and see how much interest each approach can save.
Your Payoff Plan
Two paths to debt-free, modeled month by month with your extra payment included.
Snowball vs Avalanche, in Plain English
Both methods start the same way: you make every minimum payment, every month, no exceptions. The difference is where your extra money goes.
The avalanche method throws the extra at your highest-APR debt first. Mathematically, it costs the least interest and usually clears the debt soonest. The snowball method throws the extra at your smallest balance first, so you knock out whole debts faster. It can cost a bit more in interest, but a lot of people stick with it because those early wins feel good and keep them going.
This calculator runs the real numbers month by month, accruing interest and applying payments the same way your lenders do. It does not fake or round the result. If your minimum payments are too low to outpace the interest, it will tell you, because that's a sign the balance will keep growing until something changes.
The content and tools on this site are for general educational purposes only and are not financial, legal, or tax advice. Estimates from our calculators are illustrations, not offers. Results are estimates only and assume rates and payments stay constant.
