Debt Avalanche vs. Snowball Calculator (Which Saves More?)

Facing a pile of debt? Two common, structured methods can help you pay it off faster: the Debt Avalanche and the Debt Snowball. Both work because they make you commit extra money to debt each month.

The big difference is this: one plan saves you the most money (Avalanche), and the other saves you the most motivation (Snowball).

Debt Avalanche—Saving Money

The Debt Avalanche method is the smartest path, mathematically, to clear your debt. It looks at the interest rate, ignoring the balance size.

How the Avalanche Works

1. List and Sort: Write down all your debts, putting the highest interest rate (APR) at the top and the lowest at the bottom. The balance size doesn't matter yet.
2. Attack the Top: Pay the smallest amount required on all debts. Every extra dollar you have goes toward the very first debt on your list (the one with the highest APR).
3. Roll Over: Once the first debt is gone, take the full amount you were paying toward it and add it to the payment of the next debt on your list. This creates a strong, growing payment.

Avalanche Pros and Cons

• Pro: Saves the most money. Getting rid of the most expensive debt first drastically cuts the total interest you pay over the long run.
• Pro: Shortens payoff time. Since more of your money hits the principal balance sooner, you finish paying off everything faster.
• Con: Slow start. If your highest-interest debt is also your biggest balance, it might take many months to clear the first account. This can make the progress feel slow at the beginning.

Debt Snowball—Building Motivation

The Debt Snowball method focuses on behavior and keeping your energy up. It targets the smallest balance first, giving you quick wins to keep you focused.

How the Snowball Works

1. List and Sort: Write down all your debts, putting the smallest balance at the top and the largest at the bottom. Ignore the interest rate completely.
2. Attack the Smallest: Pay the smallest amount required on all debts. All extra money goes toward the debt at the top of the list (the one with the smallest balance).
3. Roll Over: Once the smallest debt is gone, you take that entire monthly payment amount and "snowball" it onto the next smallest debt. The payment grows bigger each time you clear an account.

Snowball Pros and Cons

• Pro: Builds momentum. Seeing a debt disappear quickly provides a jolt of immediate psychological success, which helps many people stay committed to the plan.
• Pro: Simple to follow. You only look at the balance size, not confusing interest rates.
• Con: Costs more interest. Since you keep large, high-interest debts around longer, this method generally leads to paying more money in total interest over the life of the debt.

Using A Calculator to Decide

While the Debt Avalanche is smarter when you look at the math, the best method for you is always the one you are willing to use consistently.

• For Math-Driven Savers: If you are disciplined and want the best optimization, the Avalanche method will leave thousands more dollars in your pocket.
• For Motivation-Driven Savers: If you need those quick, clear wins to stay committed to a plan that takes years, the Snowball method is the best approach.

Debt Avalanche vs. Snowball Calculator

Before you choose, test your own numbers and run your debt details through our Debt Avalanche vs. Snowball Calculator below. This calculator will show the exact difference in payoff time and total interest paid. This will help you decide if the added motivation from the Snowball is worth the extra financial cost of the Avalanche.

Final Verdict