❄️
Debt & Housing

Avalanche vs Snowball

Model two real debts and see which payoff order, highest APR first or smallest balance first, clears your debt for less interest.
Interest Saved With Avalanche
$0
Versus the snowball order on these two debts
Avalanche Total Interest
$0
Highest APR first
Snowball Total Interest
$0
Smallest balance first
Total Interest By Method
💡 The Math
A two-debt illustration. Minimums are modeled as interest plus one percent of each balance. Real results depend on your card terms and payment timing.
🏛 Predictable Income

Avalanche vs Snowball Calculator

The Avalanche vs Snowball calculator models two real debts side by side so the payoff order matters. The avalanche method attacks the highest interest rate first, which mathematically minimizes the interest you pay. The snowball method attacks the smallest balance first, which clears individual accounts faster for an early sense of progress. By simulating both paths to zero, this tool shows you the dollar gap between the two approaches on your exact numbers.

To use it, enter each debt's balance and annual percentage rate, then set the total monthly payment you can commit across both. The tool funnels minimum payments to each debt, then sends the rest to the priority account for that method. Read the hero number as the interest the avalanche saves, and compare the two stat cards to see the total interest each method costs. The chart puts both totals next to each other.

Understanding this gap helps you choose a payoff strategy on purpose rather than by habit. The avalanche almost always costs less interest, sometimes by a wide margin, but the snowball can be worth the small premium if quick wins keep you motivated. Seeing the real numbers lets you decide how much that motivation is worth and keep more of your money working for you.