Calculators for borrowing smart & getting debt-free
Six tools for both sides of debt — price any loan before you sign, and build the fastest, cheapest plan to clear what you already owe. Free, instant, and private to your browser.
Price a loan
Loan Calculator
any loanMonthly payment, total interest and payoff date for any fixed-rate loan — with an amortization chart and extra-payment savings.
Open calculatorPersonal Loan
unsecuredMonthly payment plus the real APR once the origination fee is baked in — and exactly how much lands in your account.
Open calculatorAuto Loan
the carYour real car payment with sales tax, down payment and trade-in folded in — plus the amount financed and total interest.
Open calculatorPay it off
Credit Card Payoff
the cardHow long to clear a card balance at your monthly payment — or the payment needed to be debt-free by a date — plus the interest it costs.
Open calculatorDebt Snowball
smallest firstList every debt and a budget: see the smallest-balance-first payoff order, your debt-free date, and the interest you save.
Open calculatorDebt Avalanche
highest rateThe highest-interest-first plan that costs the least: payoff order, debt-free date, total interest and how much the avalanche saves.
Open calculatorBorrow well, then clear it fast
Two jobs, in order: understand the true cost before you take on debt, then attack what you already carry.
Price it before you sign
Turn a loan amount, rate and term into a real monthly payment and total interest — and watch how the term quietly changes the true cost.
See the real APR
Fees and trade-ins change the picture. For a personal or auto loan, check what actually lands in your account and the effective rate you're paying.
Attack the cards
Credit-card interest is the most expensive money most people carry. See how long a balance takes to clear — or the payment needed to be free by a date.
Understanding what debt costs
Every loan is the same three numbers in different clothes: how much you borrow, the rate, and how long you take to repay. Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest — often dramatically — which is the trade-off most borrowers underestimate.
When it comes to paying debt off, the maths is unambiguous: attacking the highest interest rate first costs the least. But behaviour matters as much as maths, which is why the momentum of clearing a small balance first works for many people.
APR vs APY
APR is the stated annual rate; APY (or the effective rate) folds in compounding and fees. On loans, the real cost is usually higher than the headline APR once fees are counted.
Amortization
The schedule that splits each payment between interest and principal. Early payments are mostly interest, so extra payments early in the loan remove the most total interest.
Origination fees
An upfront charge, often on personal loans, deducted from what you receive. It raises your effective rate and means less money actually lands in your account than the loan amount.
The minimum-payment trap
Paying only the minimum on a card stretches repayment for years and multiplies the interest. Even a small fixed amount above the minimum shortens it dramatically.
Snowball vs avalanche
Snowball clears the smallest balance first for quick wins and motivation; avalanche targets the highest rate first to minimise total interest. Both beat paying at random.
Refinancing & consolidation
Replacing debt with a cheaper loan can cut the rate or simplify payments — worthwhile only if the new terms and any fees genuinely leave you better off.
Why a longer loan costs more
A $25,000 loan at 8% APR, repaid over different terms. The longer you take, the lower the payment — and the more interest you hand over.
| Term | Monthly payment | Total interest | Total paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $783 | $3,199 | $28,199 |
| 5 years | $507 | $5,415 | $30,415 |
| 7 years | $390 | $7,741 | $32,741 |
Illustrative, at a constant 8% APR. Same loan, same rate — stretching from three years to seven more than doubles the interest. Use the payment you can afford, but know what the extra years cost.