D DebtFree PlannerSnowball vs avalanche debt payoff planner.
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Debt Payoff Planner

Add your credit cards and loans, choose snowball or avalanche, and see the exact month you will be debt-free and how much interest you save.

🔒 Everything is calculated in your browser. Your numbers never leave your device.

Your debts

DebtBalanceAPR %Min. paymentPaid off
Jul 2028
May 2029
Aug 2028
Oct 2028
Total$22,400$625
Debt-free inMay 202930 months
Total interest$3,796paid until the last debt is gone
Interest saved$6,645vs paying only minimums (78 months)
vs Snowball$667less interest with this strategy

Total balance over time

$0$6k$11k$17k$22kNov 2026May 2027Nov 2027Jun 2028Dec 2028Jun 2029
AvalancheSnowballMinimums only

Payoff order

  1. 1Visa card27.9% APRJul 2028
  2. 2Store card14.9% APRAug 2028
  3. 3Personal loan11.5% APROct 2028
  4. 4Car loan7.4% APRMay 2029

Avalanche pays the highest interest rate first. It always costs the least in interest.

How it works

  1. List each debt with its balance, interest rate (APR) and minimum payment. Sample debts are filled in to start.
  2. Add how much extra you can pay every month on top of the minimums.
  3. Switch between Avalanche (highest rate first) and Snowball (smallest balance first).
  4. Follow the payoff order. When a debt is gone, its payment rolls into the next one.

Snowball vs avalanche

Both methods pay the minimum on every debt and put all extra money on one target. Avalanche targets the highest interest rate and always minimizes total interest. Snowball targets the smallest balance, so you close accounts sooner. Research on household debt suggests quick wins help many people stick to the plan, so the "best" method is the one you will finish.

Why paying only the minimum is so expensive

Minimum payments are designed to cover the interest plus a small slice of principal. On a 25% APR credit card, most of every minimum payment goes to interest, which is why the dashed "minimums only" line in the chart falls so slowly.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, debt snowball or avalanche?

Avalanche always costs less in interest. Snowball often costs only slightly more and gives faster wins. Use the comparison card to see the exact difference for your debts.

Is my data saved?

Your debts are stored only in your browser so they are there next time. Nothing is sent to a server.

Does it include balance transfers or new purchases?

No. It assumes fixed rates, no new charges and on-time payments. Consider a 0% balance transfer separately and enter the new rate here.

Can I print my plan?

Yes. Use the Print / PDF button to save a clean copy of your table, results and payoff order.