Home/Personal loan calculator

White Glove tool · borrowing math

Personal loan or credit card?
See the difference.

Use the adjustable assumptions below to model a fixed-rate personal-loan scenario beside a credit-card balance paid at a steady monthly amount. The result is context—not a quote or a promise of savings.

Open the calculator
An ivory envelope and brass calculator on a walnut desk beside white gloves.

The short answer

Compare total payments, not only the number due each month.

A fixed-rate loan can make the payoff schedule easier to see. A credit card can remain open and accrue interest while the balance is carried. The actual result depends on APR, fees, payment behavior, term, and the provider’s agreement.

01Payment

What fits your budget each month.

02Interest

The modeled cost of carrying the balance.

03Total

The amount paid under the assumptions shown.

Live illustrative calculator

Change the assumptions,
watch the math move.

Adjust the amount, APR, term, and monthly card payment. The model updates instantly and does not collect application information.

Loan versus cardLive estimate
Illustrative loan payment$346.60Fixed monthly payment
Loan interest$2,477.76Over the selected term
Card payoff time51 monthsAt the selected payment
Card interest$7,751.92Illustrative estimate
Loan total of payments$12,477.76
Card total paid$17,751.92
Illustratively, the fixed-rate comparison could reduce interest by about $5,274.16 if the terms shown were available and the balance were otherwise identical.

Estimate only. It does not account for origination fees, taxes, late payments, card minimum-payment rules, lender eligibility, prepayment terms, or changes in APR. Review the provider’s full disclosures and your budget.

An ivory envelope and brass calculator on a walnut desk beside white gloves.
01Make the tradeoff visible.

Run a scenario, then verify the actual agreement at the provider.

How to use it

Start with a number you can explain.

Use the amount you are actually considering, then adjust APR, term, and the card payment to match realistic alternatives. Treat the output as a comparison frame—not a forecast of approval or a recommendation.

  • Compare APR and fees together.
  • Look at total payments as well as monthly payment.
  • Stress-test a payment you could sustain.

Keep the context

A lower payment can still mean a higher total cost.

Longer terms and minimum-payment structures can change the picture. If a payment does not cover modeled interest, increase it or review a different scenario.

Read the borrowing guide

Ready for a first look?

Run the math,
then review providers.

See starting points

Questions, answered plainly

Is this calculator a lender quote?

No. It is an illustrative model using the assumptions you select. Provider eligibility, APR, fees, approval, and funding terms can differ.

Does a personal loan always cost less than a credit card?

No. Compare the actual APR, fees, term, payment behavior, and total cost. A loan does not automatically save money.

How does credit-card interest affect payoff time?

Interest is added to the outstanding balance each period. When a payment is only slightly above interest, principal falls slowly; when it does not cover interest, the modeled balance will not amortize.