Free Debt Payoff Calculator
Enter your debts and see how the avalanche method (highest interest first) compares to the snowball method (smallest balance first) — no signup, nothing sent to a server. Carrying a card balance? Check the Credit Card Interest Calculator too.
Your debts
| Name | Balance | Rate (% APR) | Min. payment |
|---|---|---|---|
Leave any row's balance at 0 to ignore it.
Avalanche method (highest rate first)
Debt-free in
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Total interest paid
—
Total amount paid
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Snowball method (smallest balance first)
Debt-free in
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Total interest paid
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Total amount paid
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How to plan debt payoff
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1
List your debts
Enter each debt's balance, interest rate, and minimum monthly payment.
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2
Enter your extra monthly budget
Any amount beyond the minimums that you can put toward payoff.
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3
Compare the two strategies
See months to debt-free and total interest for avalanche versus snowball.
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4
Pick a plan and stick with it
Redirect the extra payment to the next debt on the list once one is cleared.
Example use cases
Juggling multiple cards or loans
See a concrete order to pay debts off in, instead of spreading extra payments thin across all of them.
Deciding where a bonus or raise should go
Check how much faster debt-free day arrives with a bit more monthly budget.
Choosing motivation over math (or vice versa)
Weigh the interest saved by avalanche against the quicker wins of snowball.
Frequently asked questions
What is the debt avalanche method?
Pay the minimum on every debt, then put all extra money toward the debt with the highest interest rate first. This minimizes total interest paid over time.
What is the debt snowball method?
Pay the minimum on every debt, then put all extra money toward the debt with the smallest balance first, regardless of rate. It clears individual debts faster, which can help with motivation, even if it costs slightly more interest.
Which method should I use?
Avalanche saves more money mathematically. Snowball often works better behaviorally, since clearing a debt entirely feels like faster progress. Compare both totals above and pick what you'll actually stick with.
Is my financial information sent to a server?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser — nothing is transmitted or logged.