Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Simulator
Compare behavioral and mathematical debt payoff strategies with a monthly browser-based simulation.
Enter Your Debts
Add each balance with its APR and minimum payment. The simulator rolls freed payments into the next debt each month.
Strategy Winner
Tie
Both strategies produce the same payoff time and total interest with this debt mix.
snowball
Pays off the smallest balance first to create momentum.
| Debt | Starting balance | Paid off in | Interest paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store Card | $900.00 | 4 months | $56.63 |
| Credit Card A | $3,200.00 | 1 year 3 months | $637.96 |
| Personal Loan | $7,500.00 | 2 years 1 month | $1,197.70 |
avalanche
Targets the highest APR first to minimize interest cost.
| Debt | Starting balance | Paid off in | Interest paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store Card | $900.00 | 4 months | $56.63 |
| Credit Card A | $3,200.00 | 1 year 3 months | $637.96 |
| Personal Loan | $7,500.00 | 2 years 1 month | $1,197.70 |
About This Tool
This simulator compares the two most common debt payoff methods using a monthly loop where each debt follows the rule Remaining Debt(t+1) = Debt - Payment + Interest. It first adds monthly interest, then applies minimum payments, and finally sends all remaining budget to the current target debt.
Debt snowball is useful when quick wins keep you engaged. Debt avalanche is usually the lower-cost option because high-interest balances shrink first. If you are still setting your monthly debt budget, review the Monthly Survival Budget Calculator and the 50/30/20 Rule Calculator to estimate how much cash flow you can safely redirect toward payoff.
If most of your debt is revolving credit, the Debt-to-Limit Ratio Calculator can help you understand how those balances affect credit utilization while you work through your payoff plan. All calculations stay in your browser for privacy.