What is the difference between the debt snowball and debt avalanche?

The avalanche method pays extra toward the debt with the highest interest rate (APR) first, which minimises the total interest you pay. The snowball method pays extra toward the smallest balance first, so you clear individual debts quickly for motivation. Both roll each cleared payment into the next debt; this planner runs both at once so you can see the exact cost and time difference for your numbers.

Which method clears my debt faster?

Mathematically the avalanche method is never slower and usually cheaper, because it kills high-interest balances first. The snowball can feel faster because you tick off small debts early, which keeps many people motivated. The difference in total interest is often small, so the best method is the one you will actually stick to — switch the toggle to compare both on your own figures.

How is my debt-free date calculated?

The planner simulates month by month. Each month it adds interest (APR divided by 12) to every open balance, pays at least the minimum on each, then throws all remaining money — your extra payment plus any freed-up minimums — at the priority debt. It repeats until every balance reaches zero, and that month is your debt-free date.

What does "extra per month" mean?

It is the amount you can pay above the combined minimum payments of all your debts. If your minimums total 525 a month and you can afford 675, your extra is 150. That extra is the single biggest lever you have: even a small increase can knock months or years off the payoff and save a large amount of interest.

Why does it say a debt never gets paid off?

If a debt warns it will never clear, the payments are not keeping up with the interest charged each month — the balance grows or stays flat. This happens with very high APRs and very low minimums. Increase the minimum payment or the extra monthly amount until a payoff date appears. It is a sign that debt needs urgent attention or a lower-rate option.

Is my financial data private?

Yes. Every calculation happens in your browser and your debts are saved only in this browser using local storage. Nothing is ever sent to a server, and you can clear it any time with the Clear button. You can also export a full CSV plan to keep your own copy.

What is the Debt Payoff Planner (Snowball vs Avalanche)?

Free debt payoff planner. Add your credit cards and loans, choose the snowball or avalanche method, set an extra monthly payment and see your debt-free date, total interest saved and a payoff timeline chart. Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

Debt Payoff Planner (Snowball vs Avalanche)

Name: Debt Payoff Planner (Snowball vs Avalanche)
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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A debt payoff planner that turns a pile of credit cards and loans into a single, clear plan: who to pay first, how much extra to throw at it, exactly when you’ll be debt-free, and how much interest you’ll save along the way. It is built for anyone juggling more than one balance who wants to escape minimum-payment limbo without a spreadsheet.

How it works

You list each debt with its balance, APR (annual interest rate) and the minimum payment the lender demands. Then you pick a strategy and set one extra monthly amount you can afford on top of all the minimums.

The planner runs a true month-by-month simulation. Every month it charges interest on each open balance at APR divided by twelve, pays the required minimum on each debt, then directs every remaining pound — your extra payment plus any minimums freed up by debts you’ve already cleared — at the single priority debt. That roll-over is the whole point of the snowball and avalanche methods: as each debt dies, its payment swells the attack on the next one, so the last debt gets demolished fast.

The two strategies differ only in which debt gets the extra money. Avalanche orders debts by highest APR first, mathematically minimising total interest. Snowball orders by smallest balance first, giving you quick, motivating wins. The tool simulates both simultaneously, so the summary tells you precisely how much more or less interest the other method would cost on your numbers, and the chart draws both payoff curves side by side. Everything persists in your browser and exports to CSV.

Example

Imagine four debts: a 4,200 credit card at 21.9%, a 1,300 store card at 27.9%, an 8,600 car loan at 7.4% and a 5,000 personal loan at 11.2% — minimums totalling 525/month. Paying only the minimums, you’d be in debt for years and hand over thousands in interest.

Add a 150/month extra with the avalanche method and the planner attacks the 27.9% store card first, then the 21.9% card, then the personal loan, then the car loan — clearing everything far sooner and saving a large chunk of interest versus minimums only. Switch to snowball and it kills the 1,300 store card first for an early win, then the personal loan, then the credit card, then the car loan. The summary line shows the interest difference between the two so you can choose with open eyes.

Method	Pays first	Best for
Avalanche	Highest APR	Lowest total interest
Snowball	Smallest balance	Fastest first win, motivation

Every figure is calculated locally in your browser — no balances are uploaded or stored anywhere.