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Your fastest path out of debt.

See your debt-free date — snowball vs avalanche, side by side. Add your debts, set a budget, and watch the exact month every balance hits zero, plus how much interest you can save.

Build my payoff plan How it works

Multi-debt optimisation
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Your debt payoff planner

Edit the example debts below or add your own. Results update instantly.

Your debts

Pre-filled with an example — edit the numbers to match your own.

Currency

Debt nameBalance (£)APR (%)Min / mo (£)

Debt name

Balance

APR %

Min /mo

Debt name

Balance

APR %

Min /mo

Debt name

Balance

APR %

Min /mo

Total monthly budget (£)

Minimums total £325 / month.

One-time extra payment (£, optional)

Applied in month 1 (e.g. a bonus or tax refund).

Repayment strategy

Debt-free date

July 2029

3 yr 1 mo

Total interest paid

£3,645.62

avalanche method

Total amount paid

£18,145.62

principal + interest

Interest you could save

£91.61

avalanche vs other method

Snowball vs Avalanche — side by side

Snowball

Time to debt-free: 3 yr 1 mo
Total interest: £3,737.23
First debt cleared: Credit Card B

Avalanche

Lowest interest

Time to debt-free: 3 yr 1 mo
Total interest: £3,645.62
First debt cleared: Credit Card A

The avalanche method saves £91.61 in interest.

Total balance over time

How your combined debt falls under each strategy.

Payoff order

The order your debts clear under the avalanche method.

1Credit Card A
2Credit Card B
3Personal Loan

Payoff schedule

37 months total

Month	Interest	Remaining balance	Credit Card A	Personal Loan	Credit Card B
1	£198.54	£14,198.54	£4,010.15	£8,403.54	£1,784.85
2	£193.66	£13,892.2	£3,816.68	£8,306.08	£1,769.45
3	£188.7	£13,580.9	£3,619.51	£8,207.6	£1,753.79
4	£183.65	£13,264.56	£3,418.58	£8,108.1	£1,737.88
5	£178.52	£12,943.07	£3,213.82	£8,007.56	£1,721.7
6	£173.29	£12,616.37	£3,005.15	£7,905.97	£1,705.25
7	£167.98	£12,284.35	£2,792.5	£7,803.32	£1,688.53
8	£162.58	£11,946.92	£2,575.79	£7,699.61	£1,671.53
9	£157.08	£11,604	£2,354.95	£7,594.81	£1,654.25
10	£151.49	£11,255.49	£2,129.89	£7,488.92	£1,636.68
11	£145.8	£10,901.28	£1,900.53	£7,381.93	£1,618.82
12	£140.01	£10,541.29	£1,666.8	£7,273.83	£1,600.67

Should you consolidate?

Compare a single consolidation loan against your DIY avalanche plan.

Your DIY plan (avalanche)

Time to clear: 3 yr 1 mo
Total interest: £3,645.62
Total cost: £18,145.62

Consolidation loan

Monthly payment: £378.07
Total interest: £3,212.52
Total cost (incl. fee): £18,147.52

Your DIY avalanche plan looks cheaper by about £1.9. Consolidating at these terms would cost more — try a lower APR, smaller fee, or shorter term.Estimate only — not a quote or financial advice. Check the lender's actual terms and any early-repayment options.

Snowball vs avalanche — what's the difference?

Both pay the minimum on every debt, then funnel any spare cash at one target debt. They differ in which debt they target first.

Debt Snowball

Targets your smallest balance first. You clear whole debts quickly, and each cleared payment rolls onto the next. The early wins build powerful momentum — the reason so many people stick with it.

Open the snowball calculator →

Debt Avalanche

Targets your highest APR first. By killing your most expensive interest soonest, it mathematically minimises the total interest you pay — usually the cheapest route out of debt.

Open the avalanche calculator →

How the planner computes it: each month we add interest to every balance (balance × APR ÷ 12), pay the minimum on all debts, then send the remaining budget to the target debt. When a debt clears, its minimum rolls into the budget for the next target. We repeat month by month until every balance is zero — then total up the interest and time for both strategies so you can compare.

Decision tool

Should you consolidate your debt?

Consolidation rolls several debts into one loan with a single monthly payment — ideally at a lower rate. But a tempting headline APR can still cost more once you add fees and stretch the term. The planner's consolidation comparison does the maths for you: enter an offer's APR, fee, and term, and see its all-in cost against your DIY snowball or avalanche plan.

1Consolidation often helps when the new rate beats your weighted-average APR.
2Watch the origination fee and a longer term — both can erase the saving.
3A 0% balance-transfer card can be cheaper still for card debt — mind the fee and intro period.

Open the consolidation calculator

Quick rule of thumb

Consolidation is most likely to win when:

New APR is clearly below your current average — and the fee is small (often 0–5%).

The term isn't so long that low monthly payments quietly pile up more total interest.

Use the calculator with your real offer — these are guidelines, not advice.

Next step

Ready to lower your interest rate?

If your plan shows consolidation could save you money, compare real, regulated lenders and 0% balance-transfer cards before you apply. Always check the representative APR, fees, and eligibility.

Compare consolidation loansSee representative personal-loan APRs from regulated lenders to roll multiple debts into one payment.Compare 0% balance transfersMove high-APR card debt to a 0% intro card so more of every payment clears the balance, not interest.

Affiliate disclosure: these are sponsored comparison links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. This is not financial advice — check each provider's terms before applying.

More debt payoff calculators

Every calculator uses the same accurate engine — pick the one that matches your goal.

Debt Snowball Calculator

Knock out your smallest balance first and build unstoppable momentum.

Open

Debt Avalanche Calculator

Target your highest interest rate first to pay the least interest possible.

Open

Credit Card Payoff Calculator

See exactly how long your cards take to clear — and what minimum payments really cost.

Open

Debt Consolidation Calculator

Compare the true cost of a consolidation loan against your DIY payoff plan.

Open

Loan Payoff Calculator

Work out your payoff date, total interest, and how much you save by paying extra.

Open

Frequently asked questions

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

The snowball method pays off your smallest balance first for quick motivational wins. The avalanche method pays off your highest-APR debt first to minimise total interest. Debtless simulates both month by month so you can compare the debt-free date and interest saved side by side.

How does Debtless calculate my payoff schedule?

Each month we accrue interest on every balance (balance × APR ÷ 12), pay the minimum on all debts, then funnel your remaining budget to the target debt. When a debt is cleared, its payment rolls onto the next target. We repeat until every balance reaches zero.

Should I consolidate my debts?

Consolidation can help if the new loan rate is lower than your current weighted-average APR and the fees and term do not erase the saving. Debtless compares the all-in cost of a consolidation offer against your DIY plan so you can decide with real figures.

Is Debtless free, and does it store my data?

Debtless is completely free and runs entirely in your browser. We do not store, transmit, or sell your financial information — all calculations happen on your device.

Is this financial advice?

No. Debtless is an educational planning tool, not financial advice. Figures are estimates based on your inputs and standard interest assumptions. For personal guidance, speak to a regulated financial adviser or a free debt charity such as StepChange or National Debtline.