Compare Debt Snowball and Avalanche
Enter several debts and compare two payoff plans using the same monthly budget: smallest starting balance first or highest interest rate first.
Calculations run on this device. Your balances, debt names and results are not sent to our servers or included in analytics.
How it works
- Enter each eligible debt balance, annual rate and fixed monthly minimum payment.
- Set the extra monthly budget and start date after covering essential obligations.
- Compare both plans and download their schedules, including payments and balances for each debt.
How the two strategies work
Snowball targets debts in order of smallest starting balance. Avalanche targets the highest entered annual rate first. Ties follow your input order. Both pay every fixed minimum, direct the remaining budget to the target debt and roll freed payments into the next debt. The monthly budget stays equal to your original minimums plus your extra amount, until the final payment.
What the payment model assumes
Interest is added once per month at annual rate divided by 12, before payments. Minimums are fixed amounts you enter; real credit-card minimums can change. Payments must exceed each debt’s opening monthly interest. The calculator rejects a plan below that threshold, even if extra payments could rescue it. Rates do not change, no new borrowing is added, and fees, promotional rates, penalties and daily interest are excluded. Calculations use unrounded balances; CSV and display values are rounded to two decimals.
Protect essential obligations first
Cover housing, utilities, essential expenses and required payments before directing extra money to secondary or unsecured debts. The comparison does not determine which debts are legally or personally urgent. If payments are unaffordable, contact your lender or a qualified debt adviser. Up to ten positive balances are supported, with a 100-year calculation limit. Individual balances, minimums and extra budget are limited to one billion; rates are limited to 100%. Currency selection changes display only.
Worked examples
| Initial debts | Extra monthly budget | Snowball months | Snowball interest | Avalanche months | Avalanche interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9,000 | 0 | 39 | 2,650.49 | 39 | 2,650.49 |
| 9,000 | 100 | 28 | 1,808.24 | 27 | 1,727.04 |
| 9,000 | 200 | 21 | 1,376.68 | 21 | 1,297.36 |
| 9,000 | 500 | 13 | 818.88 | 13 | 763.42 |
Frequently asked questions
Which strategy will save more interest?
Under these fixed-rate assumptions, avalanche generally prioritizes expensive interest. Read the calculated comparison for your inputs; the planner does not recommend a personalized strategy or account for changing rates and charges.
Can I enter percentage-based card minimums?
Enter a fixed monthly amount instead. The calculator does not automatically reduce minimum payments as balances fall.
What happens when one debt is cleared?
Its minimum and any unused payment roll into the next debt in the same month. The total monthly budget stays the same until all modeled debts are cleared.
Why is my minimum payment rejected?
Each entered minimum must exceed that debt’s first month of modeled interest. This conservative check prevents the model from silently growing a balance. It also does not allow zero or negative balances.
Sources
Last reviewed: October 11, 2026
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