Enter all your debts and compare two proven payoff strategies side by side — see exactly which saves more money and which gets you debt-free fastest.
Add each debt below. Include all balances — credit cards, car loans, student loans, etc.
A debt consolidation loan could combine your balances into one lower rate. Compare options in minutes.
Snowball: Pay minimum on all debts, then throw everything extra at the smallest balance first. When it’s gone, roll that payment to the next smallest. Creates quick wins that build momentum and motivation.
Avalanche: Target the highest interest rate debt first, regardless of balance. Mathematically optimal — you’ll pay less total interest and get out of debt faster.
Bottom line: The best strategy is the one you’ll stick to. If you need motivational wins, snowball. If you’re disciplined and focused on math, avalanche.
Take three debts: a $1,200 store card at 29.99% ($40 min), a $4,800 car loan at 6.5% ($150 min), and a $9,000 personal loan at 14.99% ($200 min). With $100/month extra, the snowball method pays off in 38 months and costs $3,820 in interest (pays store card first). The avalanche method pays off in 37 months and costs $3,290 in interest (targets store card first anyway due to high rate). The avalanche saves $530 — a modest difference when debts align. Enter your real debts above to see your specific comparison.
A $6,000 credit card at 24.99% ($120 min), $3,500 medical debt at 0% ($100 min), and $11,000 student loan at 5.5% ($210 min). With $200 extra/month, avalanche attacks the 24.99% card first and saves over $2,100 in interest compared to snowball. When one debt has a dramatically higher rate than the others, the avalanche advantage grows significantly.
On $20,000 in combined debt paying only minimums, payoff might take 7–9 years with $8,000+ in interest. Adding $300/month extra can cut that to 3 years and save over $5,000. The key insight: extra payments are not wasted — they reduce the principal immediately, which reduces every future interest charge. Every dollar of extra payment saves more than a dollar over time.
Four credit cards averaging 22% APR with $15,000 total balance. A personal debt consolidation loan at 11% APR for 48 months gives you one payment of $388/month instead of juggling four cards. You save roughly $4,200 in interest compared to paying minimums on the cards. Consolidation works best when you qualify for a significantly lower rate and have the discipline not to run up the cards again.
DEBT PAYOFF
Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche: Which Strategy Actually Works?Real numbers comparing both methods — and how to pick the one you’ll actually stick to.Read the guide →