Tools · Calculator
Snowball vs avalanche calculator
Run both payoff methods side-by-side on your real debts. See which one is debt-free faster, and exactly how much interest each one costs.
Your debts
Applied on top of minimums to whichever debt is the current target.
★ WINNER
Snowball
Smallest balance first
DEBT-FREE IN
4y 8m
TOTAL INTEREST
$4,780
Avalanche
Highest APR first
DEBT-FREE IN
4y 8m
TOTAL INTEREST
$4,780
THE VERDICT
Your two methods come out roughly the same — pick whichever you'll stick with.
Total balance: $9,500. Consolidating to a single fixed-rate loan often beats both methods — see the consolidation calculator to compare.
Check consolidation rateSoft inquiry · no impact to your credit.
Estimates only. Assumes fixed APRs and on-time payments. Real card APRs are variable and may change with the prime rate.
Which method should you actually use?
Avalanche almost always saves more money — that's just the math. The reason snowball exists is psychological: paying off a small debt entirely in the first month or two creates momentum, and momentum is what keeps people on a multi-year plan.
If your debts have similar APRs, the difference between the two methods is small — pick snowball for the morale boost. If one debt is at a meaningfully higher APR than the others (e.g. a 28.99% card sitting next to a 16.99% one), avalanche pulls ahead enough that the math wins.
And if you can qualify for a personal loan in the high single digits, consolidating usually beats both — one fixed payment, one APR, one payoff date.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the snowball and avalanche methods?
Snowball pays off your smallest balance first, regardless of APR — wins on motivation. Avalanche pays off your highest-APR debt first — wins on math (less total interest).
Which method is actually better?
Avalanche saves more money mathematically — usually a few hundred to a few thousand dollars over the payoff period. But snowball's quick wins help many people stick with the plan. The best method is the one you'll actually follow.
How does the 'extra payment' work?
You make minimum payments on every debt, plus the extra amount on whichever debt is the current target (smallest balance for snowball, highest APR for avalanche). When that debt is paid off, the entire payment rolls onto the next target.
Should I consolidate instead?
If your weighted average APR is above ~12% and you'd qualify for a consolidation loan in the high single digits, consolidation usually beats both snowball and avalanche on total interest paid. Run our debt consolidation calculator to compare.
