✦ Snowball vs avalanche

Get out of debt, on a plan.

List your debts, set what you can pay each month, and see which order clears them fastest and cheapest. Compare the two proven strategies side by side.

Your debts
DebtBalanceAPRMin / mo
$
Debt-free in
-
Paying $0/mo total. First debt gone in -.
Total interest
$0
Total paid
$0
First debt gone
-
🏔️ Avalanche
Highest interest rate first. Least interest paid.
Debt-free in-
Total interest-
⛄ Snowball
Smallest balance first. Fastest wins for motivation.
Debt-free in-
Total interest-

Payoff order

for the selected strategy

Balances over time

Common questions

Is the snowball or the avalanche method better?

Avalanche always costs less interest, because it targets the highest rate first. Snowball clears individual debts sooner, which many people find easier to stick with. This calculator shows the exact cost of choosing motivation over math.

What is a rolling payment?

When a debt is paid off, its minimum payment is added to the amount attacking the next debt. Your total monthly outlay stays flat while payoff accelerates, which is why the final debts fall so quickly.

What if I can only afford the minimum payments?

On high rate debt, minimum payments can barely cover the interest, and the balance may never fall. If no payoff date can be found, the calculator warns you that the payment is too small to amortize the debt.

Should I pay off debt or invest?

Compare the interest rate against the return you expect from investing. Clearing debt at 20 percent is a guaranteed 20 percent return, which is very hard to beat. Low rate debt is a much closer call.

Related tools

Budget Calculator find the extra payment Paycheck Calculator start from take-home pay Net Worth Calculator watch the balance improve

How this works: each month interest accrues on every balance, minimum payments are made, and everything left in your budget attacks one target debt: the highest-rate debt (avalanche) or the smallest balance (snowball). As each debt clears, its payment rolls into the next. Estimates for education only; this is not financial advice.