Debt Avalanche Basics: Paying High-APR Balances First
An educational primer on avalanche vs snowball — and how payoff calculators support either plan.
Updated 2026-07-15 · Not financial advice
Avalanche vs snowball
Avalanche targets the highest APR first (math-efficient). Snowball targets the smallest balance first (motivation).
Either approach benefits from a fixed payment above minimums. Run scenarios in the credit card payoff tool.
Related tool: credit card payoff
Sources
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which method should I use? +
That depends on cash flow and behavior. FeeFriction does not prescribe a personal plan.