Amortization vs payoff calculators—what’s the difference?

Amortization shows the full scheduled payments. Payoff models how extra monthly or lump-sum payments reduce interest and shorten the term.

What rate should I use for compound interest projections?

Use a conservative annual rate and match compounding frequency (monthly, yearly). Regular contributions use annuity math.

Can these tools handle taxes and fees?

Some tools include tax/fee fields (e.g., VAT, mortgage extras). For precise local rules, consult an advisor or your lender.

Do you store any personal data?

No. All calculations run in your browser. You can print or copy your results locally.

How can I request a new calculator?

Use our Request a Tool page and share your use case and required outputs.

Finance Calculators: Loans, Debt, Savings & Taxes (Free)

Q: Can I compare two loans side-by-side?

Yes—use Lease vs Buy for asset scenarios or compare Mortgage, Amortization, and Payoff outputs together. A two-loan comparator is on our roadmap.

Q: How does Debt-to-Income (DTI) affect borrowing?

Lower DTI (e.g., ≤36%) generally improves approval odds and rates. Our DTI calculator estimates your ratio.

Q: What is LTV and why does it matter?

Loan-to-Value (LTV) = loan amount ÷ property value. Lower LTV means more equity and often better rates/fees.

Who this hub is for

Whether you’re buying a home, refinancing, paying off credit cards, planning retirement, or pricing freelance work, these calculators help you make faster, clearer money decisions. Compare tools, learn the formulas, and follow worked examples to avoid costly mistakes.

Important: The tools on this page are for education only and are not financial, tax, accounting, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on your inputs and general assumptions.

Best Finance Calculators (Quick Picks)

Mortgage Calculator

Monthly payment, total interest, and amortization schedule.

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Credit Card Debt Payoff

Time to payoff and interest saved with higher payments.

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Savings Goal

Monthly amount to hit your target by a date.

Open

Investment Return

Future value with contributions and compounding.

Open

Compare Tools

Tool	Best For	Inputs	Outputs
Mortgage	Home loan payment planning	Loan, rate, term, taxes/insurance	Payment, total interest, schedule	Open
Loan Amortization	Any fixed-rate loan schedule	Principal, APR, term	Payment table & remaining balance	Open
Mortgage Payoff	Impact of extra payments	Loan, rate, term, extra	New payoff date & interest saved	Open
Credit Card Debt	Revolving balance payoff	Balance, APR, payment	Months to zero & interest paid	Open
DTI Ratio	Borrowing capacity check	Monthly debts & income	DTI % with guidance	Open
Savings Goal	Target-based saving	Target, current, rate, months	Monthly contribution needed	Open
Investment Return	Long-term growth	Start, contrib, rate, freq	Future value & chart	Open
Retirement Savings	Retirement planning	Savings, contrib, return, years	Projected balance at retirement	Open
German Income Tax	DE net income estimate	Gross, tax class, deductions	Net pay & contributions	Open

Loans & Mortgages

Mortgage Calculator — monthly payment, total interest & schedule.
Loan Amortization — full fixed-rate payment table.
Mortgage Payoff — extra payments → payoff date & savings.
Interest-Only Loan — IO period vs fully amortizing payments.
Lease vs Buy — total cost comparison with fees.
Home Affordability — what price range fits your budget.
Debt-to-Income (DTI) — qualifying ratio estimate.
Loan-to-Value (LTV) — equity ratio from price vs loan.

Debt & Credit

Credit Card Debt — time to payoff & interest paid.
Split Bill — fair shares with tax/tip rules.
Tip & Tax — add gratuity & VAT quickly.
VAT & Invoice — net/gross VAT math + invoice lines.
Marketplace Fees — Etsy/eBay/Amazon fee estimator.

Savings, Investment & Retirement

Savings Goal — monthly save to hit a target.
Savings Withdrawal — safe monthly draw.
Compound Interest — growth with compounding.
Investment Return — contributions + compounding projection.
Retirement Savings — balance by retirement.
Net Present Value (NPV) — discounted cash flow.
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) — project return estimate.
Effective Annual Rate (EAR) — APR → effective rate.
Break-Even Point — units/revenue to cover costs.
Inflation Calculator — value change over time.

Income & Work

Work Hours & Overtime — total pay with OT rules.
Time Card — clock-in/out payroll helper.
Freelance Hourly Rate — set a sustainable rate.
German Income Tax — net income breakdown.

Worked Examples

Mortgage plan: €350,000 at 3.9% for 25 years → payment on the Mortgage Calculator. Then add €150/month extra in Mortgage Payoff to see the new payoff date and interest saved.
Credit card payoff: €8,000 at 19.9% with €200/mo payment → time to zero on Credit Card Debt. Try €250 to compare interest saved.
Savings goal: Target €20,000 in 24 months at 3% APY → required monthly saving on Savings Goal; compare with Compound Interest for growth detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which finance calculator should I start with?

Planning a purchase? Start with Mortgage or Loan Amortization. Paying down debt? Use Credit Card Debt and DTI. Growing savings? Try Savings Goal and Compound Interest. For investing, see Investment Return, NPV, and IRR.

How accurate are these results?

These are educational estimates. Real offers can differ due to fees, day-count conventions, rounding, taxes, and creditworthiness.

Amortization vs payoff calculators?

Amortization shows the scheduled payments for a fixed term. Payoff models how extra monthly or lump-sum payments reduce interest and shorten the term.

Can I compare two loans side-by-side?

Use Lease vs Buy for asset comparisons, and read Mortgage/Amortization/Payoff outputs together. A dedicated two-loan comparator is planned.

How does DTI affect borrowing?

Lower DTI (e.g., ≤36%) typically improves approval odds and rates. Our DTI calculator estimates your ratio.

What is LTV and why does it matter?

LTV = loan ÷ property value. Lower LTV usually means better terms and less risk for lenders.

What rate should I use for compound interest?

Use a conservative annual rate and match compounding frequency. Contributions use annuity math.

Do these tools include taxes and fees?

Some do (e.g., VAT, mortgage extras). For precise local rules, consult an advisor or your lender.

Do you store personal data?

No. All calculations run in your browser. You can copy/print results.

How do I request a new calculator?

Use our Request a Tool page — share your use case and required outputs.

Finance Hub Disclaimer

The calculators and content on this page are provided for informational and educational purposes only. They are not financial, investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice, and they do not constitute an offer or solicitation for any financial product or service.

Estimates & assumptions: Outputs use simplified formulas and your inputs. Actual lender offers, rates, fees, day-count conventions, taxes, and rounding rules may differ.
No advisor–client relationship: Using this site does not create a fiduciary or advisory relationship. Consider consulting a qualified professional for your situation.
Jurisdictions vary: Tax thresholds, benefits, and regulations differ by country/region (e.g., Germany). Verify with official sources or your advisor.
Not a lender/broker: SwissKnifeCalculator does not provide credit decisions or brokerage services.
Privacy: Calculations run in your browser; we do not store your inputs. See our Legal & Privacy.
Advertising & affiliates: Pages may include advertising. If affiliate links are used, they will be marked and treated with rel="sponsored nofollow".

By using these tools you agree that results are provided “as is” without warranties and that you are responsible for any decisions you make.

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Last updated: September 17, 2025

How to Choose the Right Calculator

Loan vs Mortgage: Use Mortgage for home loans (with tax/insurance fields). For other fixed-rate loans, use Amortization; for extra payments, use Payoff.
Debt strategy: Credit Card Debt shows payoff time and interest. Check DTI to understand borrowing capacity. LTV helps estimate equity and rate tiers.
Savings vs Investment: Savings Goal is target-driven. Investment Return & Compound Interest model long-term growth with contributions and compounding.
Income & Work: Use Time Card/Work Hours for payroll math; Freelance Rate to set a sustainable rate; German Income Tax for DE net pay.

Key Formulas (at a glance)

        Loan payment (amortizing):  P = r · L / (1 - (1 + r)^-n)
        Compound growth:            FV = PV · (1 + r/m)^(m·t) + PMT · [((1 + r/m)^(m·t) - 1) / (r/m)]
        Break-even (units):         Q = FixedCosts / (Price - VariableCost)
        DTI:                        DTI = MonthlyDebt / GrossMonthlyIncome
        LTV:                        LTV = LoanAmount / PropertyValue

More Worked Examples

Lease vs Buy: Compare a 36-month lease €399/mo vs buying at €24,500 with 5-year loan at 4.5% using Lease vs Buy.
Retirement ramp: Start €10,000, add €300/mo at 6% for 25 years in Retirement Savings.
Inflation reality check: See how €1,000 in 2005 compares today in Inflation.

Popular Use Cases

Refi vs extra payments on a mortgage.
Debt avalanche vs snowball planning.
Setting a freelance day rate that covers taxes and downtime.
Comparing retirement contribution scenarios.

Who this hub is for

Best Finance Calculators (Quick Picks)

Mortgage Calculator

Credit Card Debt Payoff

Savings Goal

Investment Return

Compare Tools

Loans & Mortgages

Debt & Credit

Savings, Investment & Retirement

Income & Work

Worked Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Finance Hub Disclaimer

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