Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator
Compare both debt-payoff strategies side by side. See exactly how much interest and how many months you save by attacking debts in the right order.
Your debts
On top of minimum payments. This is the dollar amount you direct at one debt per the chosen strategy.
Results
Snowball method
Pay smallest balance first.
Avalanche method
Pay highest APR first.
Total balance over time
How the two strategies compare
Both the debt snowball and debt avalanche methods have you pay the minimum on every debt and direct any extra money to one target debt. The difference is which debt gets attacked first.
Snowball
Attack the smallest balance first. You pay debts off quickly in sequence, which creates visible wins and keeps motivation high. Popularized by Dave Ramsey.
Avalanche
Attack the highest APR first. This mathematically minimizes interest and usually pays off debt faster — though the first "win" may take longer if your high-APR debt also has a high balance.
If the math shows a big gap, pick avalanche. If the math is close and you need motivation to stick with a plan, snowball is the better behavioral choice. The best strategy is the one you'll actually finish.
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