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Snowball vs. avalanche

Compare both strategies using the same debts and monthly budget. See the difference in interest, your first payoff, and your final debt-free date. These are monthly estimates, based on the information you enter. No account is needed, and your financial inputs stay in your browser.

Start with your debts

Example balances are loaded. Replace them with your latest statements. All amounts are in US dollars.

First payment is one month after the starting month. Fixed APRs and fixed minimums; no new borrowing.

No sign-up. Your inputs stay in this page and are cleared when you reload.

Your plan starts here

What could your next chapter look like?

Replace the example balances, then calculate to see your timeline, interest, and payoff order.

How this calculator works

Both plans use the same monthly budget. Snowball targets the smallest balance; Avalanche targets the highest APR. Minimum payments are made first. The remaining budget goes to the priority debt and moves to the next debt if the first is paid off.

The baseline holds each entered minimum fixed and stops that payment when its debt is paid off. Your plan keeps the full monthly budget in use.

A worked example

Hypothetical debts: $2,400 at 19.9% with a $75 minimum; $8,900 at 26.2% with a $225 minimum; and $14,600 at 8.4% with a $310 minimum. With $300 extra, the steady monthly budget is $910.

Generated by this calculator’s engine
StrategyMonthsInterestFirst payoff
Snowball35$5,756.64Month 7
Avalanche35$5,494.94Month 22

The first payment is November 2026. All APRs and minimum payments stay fixed. This comparison illustrates the trade-off; it is not a recommendation for your finances.

What the estimate assumes

  • USD balances, payments at monthly intervals, and constant APRs.
  • Monthly interest rounded to the nearest cent before payments.
  • No fees, promotional APR expiry, new purchases, or missed payments.
  • A first payment one month after your chosen starting month.
  • Up to 30 debts and 600 months. Incomplete forecasts are labeled, with no invented lifetime savings.

See the complete calculation methodology, including tie-breaks, rollover, and negative amortization.

Common questions

Will this match my lender’s statement?

Not exactly. This model applies APR divided by 12 to each opening monthly balance, then applies payments. Daily accrual, fees, changing rates, and payment timing can change your lender’s figures.

What if a payment is smaller than the interest?

The unpaid interest increases the balance. Extra payments or later rollover may cover the gap. If no remaining debt is shrinking, the calculator stops and explains why it cannot give a payoff date.

What happens when a debt is paid off?

Your planned monthly budget stays the same. An unused final payment and the payments from paid-off debts go to the next priority. The fixed-minimum-only baseline does not recycle those payments.

Do you store my balances?

No. The calculator uses page memory only. Your inputs are not saved to a server, browser storage, analytics, or the page URL. Reloading clears them.

Sources and further reading

Educational information only, not personalized financial, legal, or tax advice. If minimum payments are out of reach, consider contacting your lender or a reputable nonprofit credit counselor.