2026-07-10
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Is Best?
The snowball and avalanche methods are two ways to clear multiple debts. Here is how each works, their pros and cons and how to choose.
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Personal finance, unbroken
Personal finance is broken
Let's unbreak it. Keep more of your money — and help us build finance that rewards people, not corporations.
Why we’re here
How is personal finance broken?
We say it a lot, so here’s what we mean. Three ways the system is quietly built against you — and the reason we’re trying to do things differently.
We owe more than ever
US households now carry a record $18.8 trillion1 in debt, with credit-card balances up 63% in five years1. For all the apps and advice out there, people keep sliding further into the red.
1 New York Fed Household Debt and Credit Report, Q1 2026
More access, no better off
It’s never been easier to check our own credit scores and reports. It was sold as putting you in control. Mostly it’s made the companies behind it richer on commissions and fees, while everyday finances haven’t really improved.
And it’s kept hard to follow
Fine print, vague fees and wide APR ranges make it genuinely hard to see what you’re signing up for, or to compare your options side by side. That confusion is exactly what keeps people stuck in debt.
Free tools
See what debt really costs
Run the numbers on what you owe or plan to borrow — monthly payments, payoff timelines and refinance savings.
Free, instant and no sign-up.
- Payment CalculatorEstimate your monthly payment and total interest across the life of a loan.
- Refinance CalculatorCompare your current loan with a new rate and term to see what you could save.
- Debt Payoff CalculatorAdd up your debts to see when you’ll be debt-free and how much interest you’ll pay at your current payments.
- Debt Snowball vs AvalancheCompare the debt snowball and avalanche methods to see which clears your debts sooner and costs less in interest.
Payment Calculator
ExampleMonthly payment$106.24over 60 payments
- Principal$5,000
- Interest$1,374.11
- Origination fees$250
Total you'll pay$6,624.11
Borrowing $5,000 costs you $1,624.11 in interest and fees.
Payment breakdown over time
PrincipalInterestBalance
Try it with your own numbers
Make the numbers yours
Add your debts to your account to see what you owe, compare ways to pay it off and even export the results as a spreadsheet.
From compare to cashback
How it works
1
Create a free account (optional)
Save your comparisons and — once cashback launches — receive your share. Comparing loans is open to everyone, no sign-up required.
2
Compare personal loan providers
Browse and compare a variety of personal loan options from top providers. Check out our loan comparison page.
3
Select the best option
Choose the loan that best suits your financial needs.
4
Start the application process
Click the link to begin your loan application on the lender’s website.
5
Complete your application
In the worksFinish on the lender’s site. If they approve you and pay us a referral commission, that’s what will fund the rewards below.
6
Get rewarded
In the worksOur goal is to share part of that commission back with you. We’re building this now — follow along as it rolls out.
Steps 5 & 6 are where we're headed — cashback isn't live yet.
Get early access
Create a free account and we'll let you know the moment cashback and new features go live.
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