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DDebtBloom

Snowball vs. Avalanche

Two proven payoff orders, one clear trade-off: avalanche saves the most money, snowball builds the most momentum. Toggle the strategy above to see the difference for your own debts.

Your debts

Add each balance, its APR, and the monthly minimum (or let us estimate it). Everything is calculated in your browser — your numbers never leave your device.

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Plan by

The single biggest lever on your payoff date.

Payoff strategy

Avalanche: highest APR first — least interest paid.

One-time extra payments

Throwing a tax refund or bonus at your debt? Add it here to see how much faster it gets you to $0.

Your payoff plan

Debt-free in
2 years, 6 months
Debt-free date
2028-12
Total interest paid
$4,094
Interest saved vs. minimums
$8,466
That's about 4 years, 9 months sooner and $8,466 less interest than paying only the minimums.

Snowball vs. avalanche, side by side

Same debts, same budget. Pick the one you'll actually stick with — tap a card to see its full schedule below.

Payoff order

  1. 1Store card— paid off in 6 months (2026-12)
  2. 2Visa— paid off in 1 year, 8 months (2028-02)
  3. 3Personal loan— paid off in 2 years, 6 months (2028-12)

What if you paid a little more?

+$50/mo

Save $361 and finish 2 months sooner.

+$100/mo

Save $659 and finish 4 months sooner.

+$250/mo

Save $1,312 and finish 9 months sooner.

Month-by-month schedule

Month-by-month payoff schedule: amount paid, interest, and remaining balance.
MonthPaidInterestRemaining balance
1$729.00$277.98$17,049
2$729.00$268.89$16,589
3$729.00$259.60$16,119
4$729.00$250.12$15,641
5$729.00$240.43$15,152
6$729.00$230.53$14,654
7$729.00$220.88$14,145
8$729.00$211.46$13,628
9$729.00$201.85$13,101
10$729.00$192.06$12,564
11$729.00$182.08$12,017
12$729.00$171.90$11,460

Totals: you'll pay $21,594 over the life of the plan, including $4,094 in interest. Estimates only — actual minimums and interest vary by lender. See our methodology.

The core difference

Both methods say the same first thing: pay the minimum on every debt, every month. They differ only in where your extra money goes.

  • Avalanche — extra goes to the highest APR. Least interest, cheapest payoff.
  • Snowball — extra goes to the smallest balance. Fast wins, more motivation.

Which should you choose?

If the dollar difference between them (shown in "total interest paid" above) is small, choose snowball for the psychological boost. If it's large — usually because one card has a much higher rate — avalanche is worth the discipline. There's no wrong answer if you finish the plan.

A hybrid that works

Knock out one tiny balance first for the quick win (snowball), then switch to attacking your highest APR (avalanche). You get momentum and most of the savings.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, snowball or avalanche?
Avalanche is always cheaper in interest. Snowball is often more motivating. The best method is the one you will actually stick with — for most people the cost difference is modest.
How much more does the snowball method cost?
It depends on how spread out your APRs are. With similar rates the difference is tiny; with one very high-rate card and several low-rate debts, avalanche can save significantly more.
Can I switch methods partway through?
Yes. Many people start with snowball for an early win, then switch to avalanche once they have momentum. The calculator lets you compare either order at any time.