Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche Payoff Planner
Compare payoff time and interest saved between two strategies.
Open the Interactive CalculatorHow It's Calculated
Snowball directs extra payments to the smallest balance first, regardless of rate. Avalanche directs extra payments to the highest-interest-rate debt first. Both pay minimums on all other debts.
Example
Example: three debts of $5,000 (22%), $8,000 (18%), and $3,000 (25%) with $300 extra/month — the avalanche method typically saves several hundred dollars in interest versus snowball, though snowball often wins psychologically by closing accounts faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which method is mathematically better?
Avalanche always saves equal or more total interest since it targets the highest rate first.
Why would anyone use snowball then?
Snowball builds momentum by eliminating small debts quickly, which research shows improves follow-through for many people.