Compare the Avalanche and Snowball debt payoff strategies side by side. Enter your debts, set your extra monthly payment, and see which approach gets you debt-free faster and cheaper.
Amount above total minimums
| Metric | Avalanche | Snowball |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Debt-Free | 5 yr 9 mo | 5 yr 9 mo |
| Total Interest Paid | $6,983.01 | $7,365.89 |
| Total Paid | $46,983.01 | $47,365.89 |
Avalanche saves you $382.88 in interest. However, the snowball method offers quicker psychological wins that keep many people motivated.
Time to Debt-Free
Total Interest Paid
Highest interest rate first
Debt-Free In
5 yr 9 mo
Total Interest
$6,983.01
Total Paid
$46,983.01
Paid off in 1 yr 9 mo · $1,021.60 interest
Paid off in 2 yr 5 mo · $970.52 interest
Paid off in 3 yr 3 mo · $1,476.10 interest
Paid off in 5 yr 9 mo · $3,514.79 interest
Lowest balance first
Debt-Free In
5 yr 9 mo
Total Interest
$7,365.89
Total Paid
$47,365.89
Paid off in 1 yr 1 mo · $300.53 interest
Paid off in 2 yr 8 mo · $2,031.05 interest
Paid off in 3 yr 4 mo · $1,491.54 interest
Paid off in 5 yr 9 mo · $3,542.77 interest
Each bar shows when each debt is paid off
Highest rate first
Lowest balance first
Avalanche saves more money by targeting high-interest debt first, though snowball provides faster psychological wins.
December 2031
5 years and 9 months from today
Your journey starts now
You have 2 debts with rates of 15% or higher, totaling $8k. A debt consolidation loan or balance transfer card (many offer 0% APR for 12-21 months) could significantly reduce the interest you pay. If you own a home, a HELOC typically offers rates under 10%.
At your current pace, it will take 5 yr 9 mo to become debt-free. Over that time you'll pay $7k in interest alone. Even an extra $100/month could shave months or years off and save thousands in interest.
Your $100/mo payment on Credit Card A generates $92/mo in interest — 92% of your payment goes to interest. This debt will take a very long time to pay off at minimums. Prioritize extra payments here or explore refinancing.
Financial experts recommend maintaining at least $1,000-$2,000 in emergency savings even while aggressively paying down debt. Without a buffer, unexpected expenses can force you back into debt and undo your progress.
Emergency Fund Calculator →The two most popular debt repayment strategies are the avalanche method and the snowball method. The avalanche method targets the highest interest rate first, saving you the most money over time. The snowball method targets the smallest balance first, giving you quick wins that build momentum.
This calculator simulates both strategies month by month with your actual debts, so you can see exactly how much each one costs and how long each takes. Use the comparison to make an informed decision — or pick the one that matches your personality and financial goals.
The avalanche method prioritizes debts by interest rate, paying off the highest-rate debt first while making minimums on everything else. Once the highest-rate debt is gone, its payment rolls into the next highest-rate debt. This method minimizes total interest paid and is mathematically optimal.
The snowball method prioritizes debts by balance size, paying off the smallest balance first. When it is eliminated, its payment rolls into the next smallest. While it costs more in interest than the avalanche method, the quick wins provide psychological momentum that helps many people stay motivated.
The avalanche method always saves the most money on interest. However, research shows people using the snowball method are more likely to actually become debt-free, because eliminating small debts quickly keeps motivation high. The best strategy is the one you will stick with. This calculator lets you compare both so you can make an informed decision.
The extra payment is the amount you can pay each month above and beyond the combined minimum payments on all debts. This extra money goes entirely toward the target debt (highest rate for avalanche, lowest balance for snowball). When a debt is paid off, its minimum payment gets added to the extra pool, accelerating the payoff of the remaining debts.
If you set the extra payment to $0, the calculator will still show your payoff timeline based on minimum payments alone. However, adding even a small extra amount ($50–$100) can dramatically reduce your payoff time and total interest. Look for areas to cut in your budget to find extra payment money.
Debt Snowball Calculator
Enter your debts and extra monthly payment to create a step-by-step snowball payoff plan. See the order to tackle each debt and how quickly you can become debt-free.
Credit Card Payoff Calculator
See how long it will take to pay off your credit card and how much interest you'll pay. Compare minimum payments versus a fixed monthly payment to find the fastest path to debt freedom.