Compare both methods side by side — find the fastest way to become debt-free
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1 Enter Debts→2 Choose Strategy→3 See Results
📋 Your Debts
Enter your debts below. We'll pre-filled some examples to get you started — edit or delete them.
#
Debt Name
Balance
APR (%)
Min. Payment
1
2
3
⚡ Your Payoff Plan at a Glance
⚠️ Minimum Payments Only
Total Paid
$23,131
Total Interest
$8,242
Time to Pay Off
7.5 years
✅ Your Snowball Plan
Total Paid
$16,609
Total Interest
$1,620
Time to Pay Off
1.4 years
🎉 You save $6,622 · 6 years sooner!
📊 Snowball vs Avalanche — Compare Both
❄️ Snowball
Pays off May 2028
Total interest: $1,620
🏔️ Avalanche
Pays off March 2028
Total interest: $1,430
💡 Avalanche saves $190 more, but Snowball gives you psychological wins sooner. Choose what keeps you motivated.
📈 Your Debt-Free Journey
🚀 35% complete — you've paid off $8,700 so far🎯 Debt-free by May 2028
📉 Debt Balance Over Time
Total Debt Credit Card A Car Loan Student Loan
⭐ Milestone Reached!
💪 Credit Card A paid off in Month 4! That's $4,500 eliminated. Rolling that $150 min payment to the next debt now.
📅 Monthly Payment Schedule
Month
Credit Card A
Car Loan
Student Loan
Total Remaining
1
$300
$350
$200
$23,950
2
$300
$350
$200
$23,100
3
$300
$350
$200
$22,250
4
$4,500 ✅
$350
$200
$17,750
Showing first 4 of 18 months — full table will render when logic is implemented
🔍 Snowball vs Avalanche — Which Is Right for You?
❄️ Debt Snowball
Pay off debts from smallest balance to largest. You get quick wins that keep you motivated. Best if you need psychological momentum.
🏔️ Debt Avalanche
Pay off debts from highest interest rate to lowest. You save the most money on interest. Best if you're mathematically driven.
Either method beats making minimum payments. The average American with $21,000 in revolving debt pays over $1,200/year in interest alone. A structured payoff plan can cut that by 70-80%.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Avalanche saves more money mathematically — you pay less total interest. Snowball keeps you motivated with faster wins — you're more likely to stick with it. Studies show the snowball method has a higher completion rate because the psychological boost outweighs the math for most people. Use our calculator to compare both for your specific debts.
List all your debts from smallest balance to largest. Make minimum payments on everything, then put any extra money toward the smallest debt. Once that's paid off, roll its minimum payment plus your extra cash to the next smallest debt. The payments grow like a snowball rolling downhill.
Yes! Increase your monthly payment budget, use windfalls (tax refunds, bonuses) as lump sum payments, or consider a balance transfer to a 0% APR card. The calculator shows you exactly how extra payments shorten your payoff timeline.
Include all non-mortgage consumer debts: credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, student loans, medical bills, and payday loans. Generally exclude your mortgage (it's a different class of debt), though some people include it if they're aggressively paying down everything.
A common rule of thumb: if your debt APR is above 4-5%, pay it down first (guaranteed return). If it's below 3-4%, you may come out ahead investing in the market instead. High-interest credit card debt (15-25%+) should almost always be paid off before investing beyond your employer's 401(k) match.