Debt Payoff Calculator: Avalanche vs Snowball
Automatic uses browser region/time-zone hints, not your exact location. Your choice is remembered. Changing currency does not convert amounts.
Your debts
Add each balance with its APR and minimum payment — up to 8.
Debt 1
What you owe right now
Yearly rate, 0–50
Required monthly minimum
Debt 2
What you owe right now
Yearly rate, 0–50
Required monthly minimum
Extra payment
Extra amount paid every month on top of all minimums — plus every freed minimum rolls forward automatically.
Applied to the priority debt each month
Strategy
Lowest interest cost — pays the highest-rate debt first
Months to debt-free
21
- Total interest
- $1,244.41
- Total paid
- $9,244.41
Payoff order
- 1Debt 1 — 17 $5,000.00 @ 19.99%
- 2Debt 2 — 21 $3,000.00 @ 12.99%
Avalanche vs snowball
Avalanche
21 · $1,244.41
Snowball
21 · $1,427.39
Saves {x} in interest: $182.98 · {n} months sooner: 0
Debt Payoff Calculator — Avalanche vs Snowball, Time to Payoff
Compare payoff plans for two cards, three loans or other debts within one monthly budget. This free calculator uses each balance, APR and minimum payment, covers all minimums plus your extra payment from a fixed budget, and automatically reallocates payments from cleared debts to the priority debt — avalanche (highest rate first, lowest interest cost) or snowball (smallest balance first, earlier individual payoffs).
See months to debt-free, total interest, the payoff sequence with clearing months, and a side-by-side comparison showing what avalanche saves over snowball. Every calculation runs locally in your browser with no sign-up, and any scenario can be shared with a link.
The fixed-budget mechanics
One budget covers all minimum payments first, then applies the remainder to the priority debt. When a debt is cleared, its minimum payment is automatically reallocated to the priority debt, with no extra code or settings.
The remainder is paid toward the priority debt until it clears.
How it works
- List each debt with balance, APR and minimum — up to 8, add and remove freely.
- Pick avalanche for cheapest or snowball for momentum; the toggle re-runs instantly.
- Set an extra monthly payment to see how it and reallocated payments shorten the payoff period.
Compare interest costs and early payoffs
On 5000 at 19.99% plus 3000 at 12.99% with 200 extra, avalanche clears in 21 months at 1244.41 interest while snowball costs 1427.39 — avalanche saves 182.98. Snowball prioritizes early individual payoffs, while avalanche prioritizes lower interest costs.
What v1 leaves out
This simulates the debts as given: no consolidation or refinance modeling, no score simulation, no bankruptcy advice. These are planned follow-ups; Phase 20 covers refinancing.
Frequently asked questions
Avalanche or snowball — which wins?
Avalanche always costs less or equal in interest: it pays the highest-rate debt first. Snowball clears small balances sooner for momentum. The comparison card shows both with exact savings.
How does rollover work?
Your monthly budget never changes. When a debt clears, its minimum payment is automatically reallocated to the next priority debt each month.
Why does extra matter so much?
Extra goes straight to principal on the priority debt after minimums, and every cleared debt amplifies it. A single 10000 balance at 18% drops from 62 to 38 months with 100 extra a month.
What if minimums don't cover interest?
The balance keeps growing — 5000 at 24% with a 50 minimum accrues about 100 a month in interest. The tool reports that payoff is unreachable with these inputs: raise payments.
How accurate is this simulation?
Exact to the cent against the fixed-budget model: minimums in order, remainder to priority, monthly compounding. Real lenders may apply payments or round slightly differently.