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Snowball vs Avalanche vs Hybrid Calculator

Compare debt payoff strategies – time to freedom, total interest & full monthly schedules

📋 Your Debts & Payments

Strategies: Snowball (lowest balance) · Avalanche (highest rate) · Hybrid (rate then balance)
$

💳 Debts

💰 One-time Extra Payments

Optional lump sums applied in a future month (e.g. bonus, tax refund).

📊 Strategy Comparison

Snowball
—
Interest: —
Total paid: —
Avalanche
—
Interest: —
Total paid: —
Hybrid
—
Interest: —
Total paid: —
💡 Quick Insight
Enter your debts and extra payment to see which strategy wins on interest and speed.
Avalanche usually minimises interest. Snowball often delivers faster psychological wins. Hybrid balances both.
Snowball
Avalanche
Hybrid

📅 Full Monthly Schedule

Payoff order will appear here after calculation.
Month Payment Interest Remaining Paid Off
Add debts and adjust inputs to see the full schedule

How to Use the Debt Repayment Strategy Calculator

This free tool compares three proven debt payoff methods — Snowball, Avalanche and Hybrid — so you can see exactly how long each takes, how much interest you will pay, and the month-by-month path to becoming debt-free. Add all your debts, set a realistic extra monthly payment, and optionally schedule one-time lump sums (bonuses, tax refunds, etc.).

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Enter Your Debts

For every debt you want to include:

Use the “+ Add Debt” button for additional accounts. You can remove any debt with the × button.

2. Set Your Extra Payment Power

3. Understand the Three Strategies

4. Read the Results

The comparison cards show time to debt-free, total interest and total amount paid for each strategy. The interactive chart visualises remaining balance over time. Switch tabs under “Full Monthly Schedule” to inspect every month’s payment, interest accrued, remaining total and which debts were paid off that month.

Common Scenarios & Examples

Scenario: Four Common Debts + $300 Extra

Goal: See which strategy clears the debts fastest and cheapest (sample data is pre-loaded).

  1. Store Card ($2,200 @ 19.9%, min $90), Credit Card ($7,800 @ 22.9%, min $210), Personal Loan ($9,500 @ 11.5%, min $240), Car Loan ($14,500 @ 5.9%, min $320).
  2. Extra Monthly Payment = $300.
  3. Optionally add a one-time payment (e.g. $1,000 in month 6).
  4. Compare the three cards, the chart, and switch the Full Monthly Schedule tabs.
Typical outcome with this data:

Avalanche (and Hybrid) attack the 22.9% Credit Card first and usually finish with lower total interest. Snowball clears the small Store Card first for a quick win, then the Credit Card. The chart and payoff order clearly diverge.

Using One-time Payments

Goal: Model a tax refund or work bonus that arrives in a few months.

  1. Click “+ Add One-time Payment”.
  2. Enter the amount and the future month number (e.g. 4 for four months from now).
  3. The lump sum is applied on top of the regular extra that month and follows the same targeting rules of each strategy.

Disclaimer & Limitations

Not Professional Advice: This calculator is an estimation and educational tool only. It does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Actual interest calculations, fees, penalties, promotional rates and lender policies can differ. Consult a qualified advisor for personalised guidance.

Assumptions: Interest is compounded monthly. Minimum payments and the extra amount remain constant (except when a debt is paid off and its minimum is redirected). No fees, late charges, taxes or inflation are modelled unless you adjust the inputs yourself. One-time payments are applied at the beginning of the stated month after interest accrual.

Estimation Purposes Only: Real-world results vary with changing rates, payment behaviour and unexpected expenses. The schedules are illustrative.

Bug Reports and Suggested Improvements

Please email all suggestions for improvements and any bug reports to: repaymentstrategycalc@personalfinances.me, thank you.