Which debt should you pay first?
Compare the debt snowball and debt avalanche methods side by side so you can see which one gets you out of debt faster, which one saves more interest, and which one may feel easier to stick with.
- No signup required
- Works with credit cards, loans & other debts
- Shows payoff order and debt-free date
- Compares interest cost & motivation tradeoffs
- Plain-English guidance included
When every balance feels urgent, this helps you choose what matters first. Better to know your order now than keep guessing every month.
Above your minimums. Rolls into the next debt as each is paid off.
We'll factor this into the final recommendation.
Used only to estimate your debt-free month.
We'll tell you the extra/mo needed to hit this date.
Your debts
Enter the balance you currently owe, the APR, and the required minimum. Use your real numbers for the most accurate comparison.
Debt Snowball
Smallest balance first — quicker wins.
- First debt
- Card A
- Debt-free in
- 1 yr 10 mo
- Debt-free by
- Mar 2028
- Total interest
- $1,155
- Total paid
- $7,155
- First payoff
- Month 7
- Debts cleared in 6 mo
- 0
Debt Avalanche
Highest APR first — saves more interest.
- First debt
- Card A
- Debt-free in
- 1 yr 10 mo
- Debt-free by
- Mar 2028
- Total interest
- $1,155
- Total paid
- $7,155
- First payoff
- Month 7
- Interest saved vs snowball
- $0
Both methods are close — pick the one you will actually stick with.
The interest savings difference is small. Either method works — the best one is the one you'll actually follow every month.
Per-debt breakdown
Each debt's first-month interest, how much your minimum covers, and what raising it would change. Numbers shown are for paying that debt alone (no rollover).
| Debt | Balance | Monthly interest | Min vs interest | At min | If you paid $0 more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card A | $1,500 | $31 | Covers + $14 | 4 yr 10 mo $1,087 interest | Try $70/mo 2 yr 5 mo Saves $579 |
| Card B | $4,500 | $71 | Covers + $24 | 7 yr 5 mo $3,878 interest | Try $143/mo 3 yr 8 mo Saves $2,102 |
Payoff timeline
When each debt clears under each method. Bars end on the month that debt is paid off.
Email me my plan
Send your snowball vs avalanche summary, recommendation, and a link back to these exact inputs straight to your inbox.
Opens your email app with your plan pre-filled and addressed to you. If your email app can't be reached, we'll copy your plan to the clipboard as a fallback.
Snowball clears your first debt in 7 mo; avalanche in 7 mo.
First year: snowball 1 cleared · avalanche 1 cleared.
Snowball interest: $1,155
Avalanche interest: $1,155
Difference: $0 (small).
Every time a debt is paid off, its old minimum rolls into the next target. That snowball effect is what makes both methods speed up over time.
Snowball milestones
- Month 7 · Dec 2026Card A paid off
- Month 22 · Mar 2028Debt-free 🎉 — Card B paid off
Avalanche milestones
- Month 7 · Dec 2026Card A paid off
- Month 22 · Mar 2028Debt-free 🎉 — Card B paid off
Remaining debt over time
- Snowball
- Avalanche
Cumulative interest paid
- Snowball interest
- Avalanche interest
Payoff schedule
| Month | Target | Payment | Interest | Principal | Remaining | Paid off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Card A | $340 | $102 | $238 | $5,762 | |
| 2 | Card A | $340 | $98 | $242 | $5,520 | |
| 3 | Card A | $340 | $93 | $247 | $5,273 | |
| 4 | Card A | $340 | $88 | $252 | $5,020 | |
| 5 | Card A | $340 | $83 | $257 | $4,763 | |
| 6 | Card A | $340 | $77 | $263 | $4,500 | |
| 7 | Card A | $247 | $72 | $175 | $4,325 | Card A |
| 8 | Card B | $340 | $68 | $272 | $4,054 | |
| 9 | Card B | $340 | $64 | $276 | $3,778 | |
| 10 | Card B | $340 | $60 | $280 | $3,498 | |
| 11 | Card B | $340 | $55 | $285 | $3,213 | |
| 12 | Card B | $340 | $51 | $289 | $2,924 | |
| 13 | Card B | $340 | $46 | $294 | $2,630 | |
| 14 | Card B | $340 | $42 | $298 | $2,332 | |
| 15 | Card B | $340 | $37 | $303 | $2,029 | |
| 16 | Card B | $340 | $32 | $308 | $1,721 | |
| 17 | Card B | $340 | $27 | $313 | $1,408 | |
| 18 | Card B | $340 | $22 | $318 | $1,090 | |
| 19 | Card B | $340 | $17 | $323 | $768 | |
| 20 | Card B | $340 | $12 | $328 | $440 | |
| 21 | Card B | $340 | $7 | $333 | $107 | |
| 22 | Card B | $108 | $2 | $107 | $0 | Card B |
- You make every payment on time and don't add new debt.
- Interest accrues monthly at the APR you entered; rates assumed constant.
- Late fees, annual fees, and promo-rate changes are not modeled.
- When a debt is paid off, its minimum rolls into the next target.
This is an estimate for education only — not financial, legal, or tax advice. Your actual payments, interest, fees, and payoff dates depend on your issuer's terms, new charges, and any late or returned payments.
Calculations use simplified assumptions (for example, fixed APRs and no new spending). Real-world results may differ.
Use these numbers as guidance — not as a promise of approval, a specific score change, or a guaranteed payoff date. Always confirm the details with your card agreement or a qualified professional before acting.
This is a planning tool, not a lender statement. If you keep adding new charges, payoff will take longer.
This does not guarantee emotional follow-through — it shows the tradeoffs so you can choose more clearly.
How this calculator works
Enter each balance, APR, and minimum payment. The more accurate your numbers, the more useful the comparison.
Whatever you can pay above the minimums each month gets aimed at one debt at a time — and rolls forward as debts get cleared.
See both payoff orders, both debt-free dates, both total interest costs, and one plain-English recommendation.
Avalanche usually saves more interest because it targets the most expensive debt first. Snowball can still work well because finishing a debt early gives you momentum to keep going — and the best method is often the one you can follow consistently.