Results
Snowball debt-free
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Avalanche debt-free
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Snowball interest
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Avalanche interest
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Interest saved by avalanche vs snowball
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Remaining balances over time
Snowball payoff order
| Order | Debt | Paid off | Interest |
|---|
Avalanche payoff order
| Order | Debt | Paid off | Interest |
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This is an educational calculator only. It is not financial, credit, tax, or debt-counselling advice, and it is not a recommendation of either method, of a payment amount, or of paying any particular creditor. Real loans can have fees, variable rates, due-date rules, and penalties this page does not model. If you need advice, speak with a qualified adviser who can look at your own situation. Numbers stay in your browser.
How the two methods compare
Snowball. After minimums are paid, any extra goes to the smallest remaining balance. When that debt is cleared, its payment rolls onto the next-smallest. The first accounts often disappear sooner, which some people find easier to keep up. Interest is usually higher than with avalanche when rates differ.
Avalanche. After minimums are paid, any extra goes to the highest APR, then the next-highest. On the same monthly total, this usually costs less interest, because the most expensive balances shrink first. It can take longer to clear the first account if a high-rate debt is also a large one.
Both methods on this page keep the same monthly budget: the original minimums plus the extra you type. Fees, promotional rates, and changes in payment are left out. For a longer walkthrough, see debt snowball vs avalanche.
Questions
What is the debt snowball method?
You pay the minimum on every debt and put any extra toward the smallest balance first. When that debt is gone, you roll its payment into the next-smallest balance. The idea is to clear accounts sooner, which some people find easier to stick with. It is a way of ordering payments, not a promise about interest or a recommendation.
What is the debt avalanche method?
You pay the minimum on every debt and put any extra toward the debt with the highest interest rate first, then the next-highest, and so on. On the same monthly payment, this usually costs less interest than a snowball, because high-rate balances shrink sooner. It is still only a comparison, not advice.
Which method saves more interest?
If the monthly payment is the same, avalanche usually costs less interest because it reduces the most expensive balances first. Snowball can still finish around the same time when a large, cheaper loan dominates the calendar. When every rate is the same, the two methods cost the same interest. The calculator shows the difference on the numbers you type.
What if a minimum payment is lower than the monthly interest?
That balance will grow until extra payment is applied to it. If all minimums plus extra still do not cover the first month’s interest, the debts may never be paid off on those numbers, and the calculator shows a warning.
Are my numbers saved or sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is stored or sent to a server.
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