DebtFreeBy — find your debt-free date with the snowball method

What is the debt snowball method?

In short: pay the minimum on every debt, aim all your spare money at the smallest one, and when it's cleared, roll its payment onto the next — so the amount attacking each debt keeps growing. Quick early wins keep the plan alive, which is why so many people finish it. Read the full explanation in how the snowball method works, or compare it with the highest-rate-first alternative in snowball vs avalanche.

What this planner does

Enter your debts, incomes and spending, and the planner works out your debt-free date, the total interest you'll pay, and a milestone for every debt you clear along the way. Unlike most calculators it models real life: annual pay rises, one-off lump sums like a bonus or tax refund, scheduled rate changes such as a 0% promotional deal ending, and an optional emergency fund built from spare money before overpaying. It compares snowball and avalanche orders on your actual numbers — or tests every possible payoff order and applies the best one — and lets you track real progress against the plan month by month.

Everything runs in your browser. There are no accounts and no server: your figures are saved on your own device and never uploaded. You can export your plan to CSV or PDF, share it as a link, or install the planner as an app that works offline. Read more about how the snowball method works, or check the maths yourself on the verify page.

Guides to getting out of debt

How to make a debt payoff plan in 7 stepsFrom listing every debt honestly to automating payments and tracking progress.
Debt snowball vs debt avalancheA worked example of both methods, and when each one wins.
How credit card interest actually worksAPR, grace periods and the minimum-payment treadmill, in plain English.
How to find extra money each monthFreeing up cash for the snowball without miserable austerity.
Emergency fund vs paying off debtWhy most plans start with a small cash buffer — and when yours shouldn't.
0% balance transfers without getting burnedHow promo rates and fees really work, and the rule that makes them pay off.
Debt consolidation loans: help or hurt?The term trap, the re-spending trap, and a checklist before you sign.
What to do when you can't pay your debtsPriority debts, talking to creditors, and where to get free help.

See all guides, or our list of free debt-help services by country.

Frequently asked questions

Is DebtFreeBy really free? Yes. The planner is free to use, with no sign-up, no premium tier and no products to sell you. The site is supported by advertising.

Is my financial data private? Yes. Everything you type stays in your own browser (localStorage). There are no accounts, no database and nothing is uploaded — see the privacy policy.

Does it account for pay rises? Yes. You can model annual percentage rises and one-off promotion increases per earner, applied in the month each one actually lands — plus lump sums and scheduled rate changes on any debt.

How accurate is the maths? Interest is modelled as monthly compounding at APR÷12, a good approximation of most statements, and you can inspect the month-by-month working on the verify page. It won't match every lender to the penny, and it isn't financial advice.