> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guide.mypayoffpro.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guide.mypayoffpro.com/payoff-pro.md).

# PayOff Pro

What PayOff Pro does, who it is for, and where to start.

A mortgage is the largest number most people never look at. PayOff Pro exists so you can look at it, and then change it.

The app does one job. It shows you where your loan actually stands today, and it shows you what happens to your payoff date when you pay a little extra. Then it keeps score, month after month, so the progress stays visible instead of disappearing into a statement you never open.

## What the app is for

Your lender gives you a payoff date. PayOff Pro treats that date as something you can move.

When you pay more than your required payment, the extra goes straight to your principal, which is the debt itself rather than the interest charged on top of it. A smaller principal generates less interest. Less interest means fewer months. PayOff Pro does the arithmetic for you and tells you, in years and months, how much sooner you finish.

You pay your lender directly. Logging the payment in PayOff Pro is what moves your date on screen.

## Who it helps

* You are about to take out a mortgage and want to see what the full term really costs before you sign.
* You are already paying and want an honest picture of what you owe, what you have paid off, and what is left.
* You put a bonus, a tax refund or a spare few hundred against the loan and want credit for it.
* You want the thirty years to be shorter, and you want proof that it is working.

You do not need to know any finance vocabulary. If you can read your mortgage statement, you can use this app.

## What you should know up front

* **Your data stays on your iPhone.** Nothing about your loan is sent anywhere for the app to work.
* **A subscription unlocks the app.** Access covers everything: every tab, every card, every screen. There are no tiers and no add-ons.
* **Projections are estimates for illustration only.** They are not financial advice. Always verify final terms with your lender.
* **Paying extra is optional, and it is not always the best use of a spare dollar.** Emergency savings, higher-interest debt and your other goals have a claim on it too. Weigh those before you commit.

## The five tabs

PayOff Pro has five tabs along the bottom of the screen.

| Tab                          | What it is for                                                  |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Home](/home.md)             | Where you stand today, at a glance                              |
| [Progress](/progress.md)     | Charts, your payoff forecast, and What-If scenarios             |
| [Milestones](/milestones.md) | Badges you earn as you pay down principal, plus your own goals  |
| [Schedule](/schedule.md)     | Every payment, month by month, and where you add extra payments |
| [Settings](/settings.md)     | Your loan details, reminders, backups and account               |

## What this guide covers

* [Getting started](/getting-started.md) walks you through setup, both for a new mortgage and for one you are already paying, and through your first extra payment.
* The five tab pages above explain each screen and what you can do on it.
* [Widgets, Siri and shortcuts](/beyond-the-app.md) covers widgets, Siri and links that jump straight to a screen.
* [FAQ](/faq.md) answers the questions people ask most.
* [Accessibility](/accessibility.md) covers VoiceOver, Reduce Motion and appearance.

## Looking for how mortgages work?

Two pages cover the mechanics behind the app, with the arithmetic worked out rather than summarised:

* [How mortgage interest works](/how-mortgages-really-work/mortgage-interest-explained.md) explains how interest is charged, daily and monthly, and why the early years are almost all interest.
* [Mortgage amortization explained](/how-mortgages-really-work/amortization-explained.md) covers the payment schedule itself, and when principal finally overtakes interest.

If you would rather run your own numbers, the [mortgage calculator](https://www.mypayoffpro.com/calculator) does it without installing anything, and the [blog](https://www.mypayoffpro.com/blog) goes further into strategy.

New here? Start with [Getting started](/getting-started.md).