Interactive tool

Debt Payoff Calculator

Compare avalanche and snowball side by side, see what each really costs, and when you could be free. Estimates on your plan, never a promise.

Your debts

Balance, APR, and minimum payment for each. A $0 balance counts as already paid off.

Monthly budget

Total you can put toward debt each month. Leave it blank to see your minimum-payment plan.

Try paying extra

Drag to see how much sooner an extra payment could get you free.

+$0

Add a debt and your monthly budget to see your payoff plan.

Math vs motivation

Avalanche pays the highest-APR debt first, so it costs the least interest. Snowball pays the smallest balance first, so you clear a whole debt sooner, and that momentum is what keeps a lot of people going. When the difference is small, the best plan is the one you will actually stick with.

How avalanche works: Pay the minimum on every debt, then put every extra dollar toward the debt with the highest APR until it is gone. Roll that whole payment onto the next highest-APR debt, and so on. This is the order that costs the least interest.
How snowball works: Pay the minimum on every debt, then put every extra dollar toward the smallest balance until it is gone. Roll that payment onto the next smallest, and so on. This clears whole debts the soonest, which is what keeps a lot of people going.