Snowball vs avalanche: which debt payoff method saves more?

Two popular ways to attack multiple debts: snowball (smallest balance first) and avalanche (highest APR first). Both assume you keep paying minimums on every account and roll freed payments into the next target once a balance hits zero.

Snowball: close accounts sooner, same math rules

Snowball targets the smallest balance first so you see accounts close sooner. That can make it easier to keep paying extra — even when a larger high-rate card would save more interest mathematically.

Avalanche: lowest total interest

Avalanche pays the highest APR first, which usually minimizes total interest when you keep the same extra payment budget. The tradeoff is slower visible progress if your largest rate is also a large balance.

Run both with the same inputs

The only way to know which fits your situation is to model the same debts, minimums, and extra payment side by side. Use our debt payoff calculator or debt snowball calculator with documented amortization — see methodology for formulas and Fed rate presets.