Our calculators
Credit Card Payoff Calculator
Balance, APR, monthly payment — see your debt-free date, total interest, and a year-by-year schedule.
Open calculator →Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator
Same debts, same payment. Which method saves more interest — smallest balance first, or highest APR first?
Open calculator →Minimum Payment Trap Calculator
Paying only the minimum can take nearly 20 years and cost almost double the balance in interest. See the trap in numbers.
Open calculator →Balance Transfer Calculator
Is a 0% intro APR worth the fee? Compare the fee against the interest saved and find the break-even month.
Open calculator →Extra Payment Calculator
What does an extra $50 or $100 a month do? Months saved, interest saved, and your new debt-free date.
Open calculator →Debt-to-Income Calculator
How card minimums affect your DTI — and what paying off one card does to your mortgage or auto loan chances.
Open calculator →Payoff Date Planner
Pick the date you want to be debt-free. The planner works backward to the monthly payment it takes.
Open calculator →Why CardPayoffTools?
The real cost, not the minimum
Card statements show a minimum payment. We show the total interest and the years — the numbers that actually decide when you are free.
Private by design
Every calculation runs entirely in your browser. No accounts, no email capture, no "check your rate" forms — your balances never leave your device.
Free, no signup
All tools are free with no usage limits. We plan to keep the lights on with advertising, which is why you will never hit a paywall before seeing a result.
Plain-language guides
Each calculator ships with a short guide explaining the math — minimums, APR, snowball vs avalanche, break-even — written for real people, not bankers.
How credit card minimums actually work
Every month, your card charges interest on the balance: balance × APR ÷ 12. A $5,000 balance at 24.99% APR racks up about $104 of interest in the first month. Your payment covers that interest first; whatever is left reduces the balance.
The minimum payment is usually that month's interest plus 1% of the balance, with a $25 floor. On that $5,000 balance, the first minimum is about $154 — and it shrinks as the balance shrinks. That is the trap: your payment falls just as it should be growing, so paying only the minimum can take nearly 20 years and cost almost double the balance in interest.
The way out is a fixed payment you choose yourself. Pick a number — even $150 a month on that same balance — and hold it steady even as the minimum falls. The difference is measured in years and thousands of dollars. Our minimum payment trap calculator shows the two paths side by side, and the extra payment calculator shows what a little more buys you.
If you carry several cards, order matters too. The snowball vs avalanche calculator runs both famous methods on your actual debts, and the balance transfer calculator checks whether a 0% intro APR is worth its fee. Start with the payoff calculator, then pick the tool that matches your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Are these calculators really free?
Yes. Every tool is free with no usage limits and no account required.
Is my financial data sent anywhere?
No. All calculations happen locally in your browser using JavaScript. There are no user accounts, and the numbers you enter are never transmitted to us.
Are the results financial advice?
No. The calculators produce good-faith estimates based on standard card math and widely used rules of thumb. Card terms, APRs, and minimum formulas vary — for decisions involving real money, talk to a qualified financial professional.
What is the debt snowball method?
Pay the minimum on every card, then throw all extra money at the smallest balance. When it is gone, roll its minimum into the next smallest. It is built for quick wins and motivation.
What is the debt avalanche method?
Same idea, different target: throw the extra money at the highest APR first. It costs the least interest in total, because the most expensive debt shrinks first.
How much does a balance transfer save?
It depends on the fee and how much you pay during the intro period. A $5,000 transfer at a 3% fee costs $150 — but at 24.99% APR, the same balance costs about $104 in interest in the first month alone. Run the numbers in the balance transfer calculator before you apply.