Money, made plain.

What we do

• Free calculators that show real tradeoffs — payoff timing, total interest, monthly payment, break-even points.
• Plain-English guides that walk through how each calculation works and when it matters.
• No signup walls. No "unlock" buttons. The math is the product.

What we don't do

• We don't sell financial advice. We are not advisors, fiduciaries, or licensed in any of the things that come with those titles.
• We don't recommend a specific product without explaining what it is good for and what it is not.
• We don't hide the assumptions behind a calculation. If a number depends on something we can't see — your tax situation, your credit score, your lender's exact fees — we say so.

How we work

Every calculator on the site uses standard finance formulas — the same amortization math your bank uses. Where there is more than one reasonable approach (for example, ordering debts by balance vs. by APR), we build a calculator for each so you can compare them directly. If two paths come out roughly equal for your numbers, we say that too.

We update calculators when interest rates, tax thresholds, or formulas change. Pages carry a "last reviewed" date where it matters.

How we make money

Some calculator results and guide articles include links to financial products — credit cards, consolidation loans, savings accounts. When you sign up through one of those links, we may earn a commission. That is how PlainCents stays free.

Affiliate commissions do not change the math in our calculators, and we mark sponsored links clearly. Full details are on the affiliate disclosure page.

A note on financial advice

PlainCents is educational. The calculators and guides on this site are not personalized financial advice and do not account for your full situation. For decisions that matter — paying off significant debt, refinancing a mortgage, planning retirement — talk to a professional who can see the whole picture.