Debt consolidation calculator
Should I consolidate? Three paths, side by side.
Drop in your real debts and a loan offer. We'll show snowball, avalanche, and consolidation against each other in real time — so you can see whether the loan actually wins on payment, total cost, payoff speed, or just feels like it.
Sliders, not forms. Adjust APR, term, fee, and target payment and watch the comparison shift live. The cheapest path gets a star. The risks the math doesn't capture get called out below.
Loading scenario…
How to use this calculator
- Step 1 — Your debts. Enter every debt you'd roll into the loan, with current balance, APR, and minimum payment. Add an extra monthly amount if you'd realistically throw more at the stack.
- Step 2 — The loan. Drag the APR, term, and fee sliders to match a real offer (or test a hypothetical). Choose whether to solve for a monthly payment you can afford, or a date you want to be debt-free.
- Step 3 — The comparison. Three cards show snowball, avalanche, and consolidation side by side. Stars mark the winner on each metric, and a verdict line summarizes the tradeoff in one sentence.
- Step 4 — The risks. Read the warnings before you sign anything. A lower rate or smaller payment is not the same as less risk.
Methodology
Snowball and avalanche results come from the same shared payoff engine. The only thing that changes is the priority order: smallest balance first for snowball, highest APR first for avalanche.
The consolidation scenario uses a separate installment-loan model that finances upfront fees into the modeled balance for MVP and estimates monthly interest using APR divided by 12.
The winners shown on this page are modeled winners only. They are useful for understanding tradeoffs, but they are not personal financial advice.
FAQ
Is a debt consolidation loan always cheaper?
No. A lower rate can still cost more overall if the term gets stretched out, fees eat the savings, or the lower payment just keeps you in debt longer.
Why compare snowball and avalanche too?
Because consolidation should beat realistic alternatives, not just look good in isolation.
Why is a home-backed option flagged as risky?
Because securing consumer debt against your home can reduce the rate while increasing downside if repayment goes sideways.
Related guides
Related calculators
Disclaimer
These results are scenario estimates based on the assumptions shown here. They do not account for taxes, credit-score effects, lender underwriting, behavioral changes, or every fee a real loan might include.