Enter up to two debts and an extra monthly payment to compare the snowball and avalanche payoff strategies.
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Snowball payoff time
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Enter your debts to compare strategies.
Snowball interest
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Avalanche time
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Avalanche interest
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Methods: snowball attacks the smallest balance first for quick wins; avalanche attacks the highest rate first to minimize interest. Freed minimums roll into the next debt.
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Snowball vs avalanche
The snowball pays the smallest balance first, scoring quick wins that keep motivation high. The avalanche pays the highest interest rate first, which always costs less in total interest. Both roll each cleared debt's minimum into the next.
Why the difference is usually small
With two or three debts the interest gap is often tens of dollars, not thousands. If the avalanche saves little, pick the snowball: the method you actually stick with beats the mathematically perfect one you abandon.
List debts smallest to largest, pay minimums on all, and throw every extra dollar at the smallest. When it clears, its payment rolls into the next smallest, building momentum like a snowball.
What is the debt avalanche method?
Same idea but ordered by interest rate, highest first. It minimizes total interest paid, so it is mathematically optimal, though the first win can take longer.
Which is better, snowball or avalanche?
Avalanche always costs less interest. Snowball wins on psychology with faster first payoffs. This calculator shows both, so you can see the exact dollar tradeoff.
What if minimums do not cover interest?
The tool reports never: the balance grows forever. You must raise payments above the monthly interest charge on every debt before any strategy works.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. Every calculation happens in your browser with JavaScript. Nothing you enter leaves your device.