Debt Payoff Planner
Debt Payoff Planner is a free finance tool that runs directly in your browser with no account required.
About this tool
Enter several debts at once and this planner simulates both the avalanche (highest APR first) and snowball (smallest balance first) strategies side by side. It reports debt-free dates, total interest for each strategy, the order in which each debt is retired, and a month-by-month timeline for your chosen strategy that you can export as CSV.
How to use
- List each debt on its own line in the Debts box as name, balance, APR %, minimum payment.
- Set your Extra monthly payoff budget — the amount available beyond all minimums.
- Choose a Primary strategy: Avalanche (highest APR first) or Snowball (smallest balance first).
- Review the debt-free date, the payoff order table, and the strategy comparison, then use Download payoff CSV for the full timeline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between avalanche and snowball?
Avalanche directs your extra budget at the highest-APR debt to minimize total interest; snowball targets the smallest balance first for quicker wins. The tool runs both and shows the interest difference so you can see the actual cost of each choice.
How does the simulation work each month?
Every active debt accrues interest at its APR divided by 12, minimum payments are applied to all debts, and then the entire extra budget goes to the strategy's current target. Freed-up minimums from paid-off debts are not rolled over automatically — only the extra budget snowballs.
What input format do the debts need?
One debt per line: a name, the balance, the APR percentage, and the minimum payment, separated by commas. Every debt needs a positive minimum payment, and debts with a zero balance are ignored.
Is there a limit on the projection length?
Yes, the simulation stops at 600 months. If your debts would take more than 50 years to clear, you will see an error suggesting a larger monthly budget.
What is in the CSV download?
The month-by-month timeline for your primary strategy: total payment, interest, principal, and the combined remaining balance for each month.
Should I treat this as financial advice?
No — it is a planning estimate. Real accounts have daily interest accrual, changing rates, and fees, so confirm any payoff plan against your actual statements.