Debt Payoff Calculator - Snowball vs Avalanche Planner
Plan debt payoff. Compare snowball vs avalanche strategies side by side.
Tool Interface
Your Debts
Snowball vs Avalanche
Snowball
Avalanche
Total Balance Over Time
Payoff Order
Snowball order
Avalanche order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the debt snowball method? +−
The snowball method pays the minimum on every debt while putting all extra money toward the smallest balance first. When that debt is cleared, its whole payment rolls into the next-smallest balance. The quick early wins keep motivation high.
What is the debt avalanche method? +−
The avalanche method targets the highest interest rate first instead of the smallest balance. It costs less in total interest and usually finishes the payoff sooner, though the first debt cleared can take longer to reach.
Snowball vs avalanche: which should I choose? +−
Avalanche wins on math: less interest paid and a faster finish. Snowball wins on psychology: faster first victories that keep you going. Choose avalanche if you trust yourself to stay the course, or snowball if you need momentum. This calculator shows both strategies side by side so you can compare the exact cost and timeline.
How many debts can I compare at once? +−
Up to six debts, each with its own balance, APR, and minimum payment. Add an extra monthly amount to see how it accelerates both the snowball and avalanche plans, including the payoff order and total interest for each.
Is my financial data private? +−
Yes. Every calculation runs locally in your browser. Your debts, balances, and interest rates are never uploaded, stored, or sent to any server.
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About This Tool
About This Tool
The Debt Payoff Calculator compares the two most popular debt repayment strategies side by side. Enter your debts with their balances, interest rates and minimum payments, then see which plan gets you debt free sooner and cheaper: the snowball method (smallest balance first) or the avalanche method (highest interest rate first). Everything runs instantly in your browser.
Key Features
- Snowball vs avalanche comparison with debt-free date, total interest and total paid
- Support for up to 6 debts with names, balances, APRs and minimum payments
- Optional extra monthly payment applied to the current target debt
- Balance-over-time chart for both strategies
- Payoff order tables showing when each debt clears
- Negative amortization guard: warns if a minimum payment cannot cover monthly interest
- 100 percent client-side: no signup, no data sent anywhere
How to Use
- Review the sample debts or enter your own: name, balance, APR and minimum payment.
- Add more debts with the Add debt button (up to 6) or remove any row.
- Enter any extra amount you can pay each month beyond the minimums.
- Click Compare Strategies to see both plans, the chart and each payoff order.
Note: results are estimates. Interest accrues monthly on the remaining balance; actual lender terms may differ.