Minimum payments only
Your required payment shrinks as the balance falls. That helps your monthly budget, but usually keeps interest running the longest.
What-if calculator
See which payoff plan gets you out fastest.
Compare four ways to tackle the same credit card debt—and see the time and interest each one could cost.
4×
Four paths, one clear comparisonEnter your numbers to compare payoff time, interest, and total cost.Your payoff comparison
Bottom line
| Strategy | Debt-free in | Interest | Total paid |
|---|
Explain these results
Why the winning plan costs less
Avalanche, in plain English
Keep every card current, then aim all extra money at the card charging the highest interest. When that card is gone, roll its payment to the next-highest rate. This usually saves the most money.
Snowball, in plain English
Keep every card current, then aim all extra money at the smallest balance. Each payoff arrives sooner, which can make the plan easier to stick with—even when it costs a little more.
How the four plans differ
Debt avalanche
Uses your extra payment and attacks the highest-rate card first. The monthly payoff budget stays steady until the debt is gone.
Debt snowball
Uses your extra payment and clears the smallest balance first. The monthly payoff budget also stays steady.
Minimums + extra
Adds the extra amount to your required payments and spreads it across all remaining balances instead of targeting one card.