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Debt Snowball vs Avalanche

Stack multiple debts and compare snowball (smallest first) against avalanche (highest APR first).

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When you're juggling more than one debt, the order you attack them in changes how fast you're done and how much interest you pay. Avalanche (highest interest rate first) is the cheapest and fastest path on paper; snowball (smallest balance first) clears a whole debt sooner, which keeps some people more motivated. Type in your real balances, rates, and minimum payments to compare both.
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Debt-free sooner with avalanche
Tied
Interest saved with avalanche
$0
Mathematically optimal order
Avalanche
Snowball can still win on motivation — see below.
Avalanche and snowball cost about the same here — pick whichever plan you'll actually stick to.
Avalanche (highest APR first)Snowball (smallest first)
$0$10k$20kyr 0.0yr 0.7yr 1.3yr 1.9yr 2.6yr 3.3
Avalanche always pays off at least as fast and for at least as little interest as any other order, including snowball — it attacks the balance costing you the most per month first. Snowball trades some of that efficiency for quicker psychological wins by clearing the smallest balance first. Both use the same extra-payment budget above.
View as table
DebtAvalanche payoffSnowball payoff
Card A1 yr1 yr
Card B2 yr 1 mo2 yr 1 mo
Loan C3 yr 3 mo3 yr 3 mo

Methodology & assumptions

  • Every debt earns interest monthly on its remaining balance, then receives its own minimum payment.
  • The extra monthly payment, plus the minimum payments freed up by any debt you've already paid off, all go toward one target debt per month.
  • Avalanche targets the highest-APR debt first; snowball targets the smallest balance first — both use the same total budget.
  • Avalanche is the mathematically optimal order: it minimizes total interest and reaches $0 total balance at least as fast as any other order.

Educational only

This simulator is for education. It uses simplified assumptions, is not financial, tax, or investment advice, and no result here is a prediction or a recommendation. Talk to a licensed professional before acting.

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