Common Questions
What is PayOff Pro?
PayOff Pro is an iOS app that helps you track your mortgage and plan extra payments to pay off your loan faster. It shows you exactly how much interest you'll save and when you'll be debt-free based on your payment strategy.
Core features:
Dashboard with current balance and payoff timeline
Complete 360-payment amortization schedule
Extra payment tracking (one-time and recurring)
What-if scenarios to test different strategies to pay off.
Milestone tracking (1%, 5%, 10%...100% paid with custom milestones setting)
Analytics showing interest savings
Who should use PayOff Pro?
PayOff Pro is designed for anyone with a mortgage who wants to:
Track progress toward being debt-free by applying regular extra payments to principal
Understand where their monthly payment goes (principal vs interest)
See the impact of extra payments before making them
Compare different payoff strategies
You don't need financial expertise. PayOff Pro explains concepts clearly and shows the math behind every calculation.
What makes PayOff Pro different from other mortgage calculators?
Three key differences:
Accessibility-first design - 95% WCAG 2.2 AA compliance with extensive VoiceOver support
Progress tracking of Extra Payments- Tracking your extra payments applied to your loan month after month, year after year.
Milestone system includes (9 achievement levels) celebrates your journey. You can customize and include 5 additional goals/targets as well.
What-if scenarios - Test strategies risk-free before committing
Most calculators just show you numbers. PayOff Pro helps you understand them, track them consistently, and act on them.
Is PayOff Pro free?
PayOff Pro's pricing details are available on the App Store. Check the app listing for current pricing and features.
Does it work with all mortgage types?
PayOff Pro works with fixed-rate mortgages — loans where your interest rate never changes.
Compatible:
30-year fixed mortgages
15-year fixed mortgages
Any fixed-rate term
Not compatible:
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) - rate changes require manual updates
Interest-only loans
Balloon payment loans
Reverse mortgages
What devices are supported?
PayOff Pro requires:
iOS 18.0 or later
iPhone (optimized for iPhone 15 Pro and newer)
iPad support: PayOff Pro is iPhone-optimized. It runs on iPad but the interface is designed for iPhone screens.
What information do I need to get started?
You need four pieces of information from your most recent mortgage statement:
For New Mortgage:
Original loan amount — How much you borrowed initially
Interest rate — Annual percentage (e.g., 5.625%)
Loan Term - Duration of our loan
Start Date: Current Month and Year always defaulted
For Existing Loans
+Current balance — Principal you still owe (NOT including upcoming interest)
+ Monthly payment — Principal + interest only (NOT escrow)
+ Principal Amount for current month.
+ Interest Amount for current month
+ Loan Term - Duration of our loan
+ Start Date: Month and Year the Loan started
Where to find this:
Check your monthly mortgage statement
Look for "Principal Balance" or "Current Balance"
Monthly payment should be "P&I" (principal and interest)
Call your lender to get any information you maybe missing from your mortgage statement
Where do I find my current balance?
Your current balance is on your monthly mortgage statement. Look for:
Common labels:
"Principal Balance"
"Current Balance"
"Remaining Principal"
"Outstanding Balance"
What NOT to include:
Upcoming interest charges
Escrow balance (taxes/insurance)
Fees or late charges
Example: Your statement might show "Principal Balance: $205,750.32" — enter $205,750.32.
Should I include escrow in my monthly payment?
No. Use principal + interest (P&I) only.
Example:
Total payment to lender: $3,200/month
Principal + Interest: $2,175.98
Escrow (taxes/insurance): $1,024.02
Enter in PayOff Pro: $2,175.98
Why? Escrow pays property taxes and insurance. These don't reduce your loan balance or generate interest savings. PayOff Pro focuses on the loan itself.
What if I have a new mortgage vs existing mortgage?
PayOff Pro handles both:
New mortgage (just closed):
Original loan amount = amount borrowed
Current balance = same as original amount
Months remaining = 360 (for 30-year) or 180 (for 15-year)
Existing mortgage (been paying for years):
Original loan amount = what you borrowed at closing
Current balance = what you owe now (from statement)
PayOff Pro calculates months remaining automatically
The app works the same way for both.
How do I update my loan details?
Open SettingsOpen Dashboard and tap the Settings tab (bottom right).Edit loan detailsTap "Edit Loan Details", update the changed information (balance, rate, payment).SaveTap "Save". Your schedule and projections update immediately.
When to update:
Annually (to sync with current balance)
After refinancing
If your ARM rate adjusts
After making a large lump sum payment
Can I track multiple loans?
Not currently. PayOff Pro tracks one mortgage at a time.
Workaround: You can manually switch between loans by editing loan details, but you'll lose the previous loan's extra payment history.
How accurate are PayOff Pro's calculations?
PayOff Pro uses standard mortgage amortization formulas. The math is straightforward:
Monthly interest calculation:
Precision: PayOff Pro uses decimal math (not floating point) to avoid rounding errors that accumulate over 360 payments.
What this means: The numbers you see match upto +/- 0.01 what you'd get from a financial calculator using the same inputs. Rounding difference are acceptable due to timing and other factors.
Why doesn't my schedule match my lender's exactly?
Small differences (usually a few cents) can happen for several reasons:
Payment timing
Your lender may calculate interest from payment date to payment date
PayOff Pro assumes equal monthly periods
Rounding methods
Different rounding approaches can create penny differences
Over 360 payments, this might total a few dollars
Fees not included
Late fees, origination fees, or PMI aren't in PayOff Pro
We calculate loan balance only
Escrow confusion
Your statement's "total balance" may include escrow
PayOff Pro tracks principal balance only
If the difference is more than a few dollars, verify you entered the correct current balance and interest rate.
Can I trust the interest savings projections?
Yes. The savings calculations are based on simple math:
How it works:
Calculate total interest paid with NO extra payments (baseline)
Calculate total interest paid WITH your extra payments
Subtract: Baseline - With Extras = Savings
Example:
Baseline total interest: $405,353
With $500/month extra: $239,683
Savings: $165,670
The math is verifiable. Lower balance = less interest charged each month. This compounds over the remaining loan life.
You can verify yourself: Use any mortgage calculator with the same loan details and compare results.
Does PayOff Pro account for taxes and insurance?
No. PayOff Pro focuses on your loan (principal and interest).
Not included:
Property taxes
Homeowners insurance
PMI (private mortgage insurance)
HOA fees
Why? These don't affect your loan balance or interest calculations. They're important for your budget, but separate from mortgage payoff math.
Is there a margin of error?
Yes, small variances are normal:
Typical variance: A few cents per payment, totaling $5-20 over 30 years.
Why it happens:
Rounding differences
Payment timing assumptions
Leap year handling
Acceptable variance: Differences under $50 over the full loan term are normal and don't affect decision-making.
If difference is large (over $100), verify:
Current balance entered correctly
Interest rate is accurate
Monthly payment matches statement (P&I only, not escrow)
How do I add an extra payment?
Open Dashboard and tap the "Add Extra Payment" button (green button at bottom).Choose payment typeSelect One-time (lump sum) or Recurring (every month).Enter detailsEnter amount (e.g., $500) and select "Save". Your dashboard and schedule update immediately to show the impact.Detailed walkthrough: Making Extra Payments →
What's the difference between one-time and recurring?
One-time (lump sum):
Applied to a single specific month
Example: $5,000 bonus in December
Recurring (monthly):
Applied every month starting from selected month
Example: $200 extra every month
Key difference: Recurring payments continue until loan is paid off or specified period. One-time payments are applied once.
You can combine: Add both one-time and recurring extras. They stack together.
Can I edit or remove extra payments?
Yes.
Edit a single extraGo to Schedule tab, find the payment with the extra, tap the payment row, edit amount or delete, then save.Remove all extrasGo to Settings → Tap "Clear All Extra Payments" → Confirm.
Note: Deleting an extra payment recalculates your entire schedule instantly.
When's the best time to make extra payments?
Mathematical answer: As early as possible.
Why earlier is better:
$500 extra in Month 1: Saves ~ $1,840 in interest
$500 extra in Month 180: Saves ~ $920 in interest
$500 extra in Month 300: Saves ~ $140 in interest
Same $500, different timing, vastly different savings.
Practical answer: Pay extra whenever you have surplus funds. Earlier is better, but any extra payment helps.
How much should I pay extra?
There's no right answer. It depends on your budget and goals.
Small amounts work:
$50/month saves $26,337 in interest
$100/month saves $53,875 in interest
$200/month saves $103,823 in interest
Common strategies:
The Rounding Method
Round payment to nearest $100
Payment: $2,175.98 → $2,200
Extra: $24.02/month
Savings: ~ $8,900 over loan life
The 13th Payment Method
Add 1/12 of payment each month
Example: $2,175.98 ÷ 12 = $181.33/month
Saves ~ $64,000 in interest
Percentage of Income
Dedicate 1% of gross income to mortgage
Scales with your budget
Easy to automate
Use What-If Scenarios to test different amounts before committing.
Should I pay extra or invest instead?
It depends on your situation.
Hybrid approach: Many people do both. Pay some extra toward mortgage, invest the rest.
Mortgage extra payment = guaranteed return equal to your interest rate. Investing = potential higher return, but with risk.
Do small extra payments really help? ($50/month example)
Yes. Small payments compound significantly.
Example: $50/month extra on $378k loan at 5.625%
Results:
Total extra paid: $17,950
Interest saved: $26,337
Time saved: 2.9 years (35 months)
ROI: 1.47x (47% return)
That's $50 per month — the cost of a couple streaming services or a few coffees.
Why it works: $50 reduces your balance, which reduces interest charged next month, which increases principal paid, which reduces balance faster. This compounds for 360 months.
Start with what you can afford. Even $25/month makes a measurable difference.
How do I verify extra payments with my lender?
Important: Making extra payments in PayOff Pro doesn't send money to your lender. You must pay your lender separately.
Contact your lenderCall or check online portal and ask: "How do I ensure extra payments go to principal?"Common methods Write "Apply to principal" in memo lineUse separate online payment for principal reduction. Mail a separate check with noteVerify on next statement.Check that balance decreased by extra amount. If not, contact lender immediately.
Warning: Some lenders default to applying extras to future payments (not principal). This doesn't save interest. Always confirm with lender first.
What if I miss an extra payment?
No problem. Extra payments are goals, not obligations.
If you skip a recurring extra:
Go to Schedule
Find the missed month
Delete or reduce the extra for that month
Save
Your schedule updates to reflect the change.
Remember: Your lender only requires the regular monthly payment. Extra payments are optional and completely under your control.
Can I schedule future extra payments?
Yes. PayOff Pro treats future extras as projections.
How it works:
Add extra payment for future month
PayOff Pro does not show projected savings until that month elapses.
If you skip it, just delete it before the month ends.
This lets you test scenarios ("What if I pay $5,000 bonus in December?") before committing.
Important: Adding a future extra in PayOff Pro doesn't automatically pay your lender. You still need to make the actual payment.
How do I read the payment schedule?
The payment schedule shows all 360 monthly payments in a scrollable list.
Each row shows:
Payment # — 1 to 360
Date — Month/year
Payment — Total amount paid ($2,175.98)
Principal — Amount reducing balance
Interest — Amount to lender
Extra — Any additional payment (if added)
Balance — Remaining principal after payment
What are milestones and how do they work?
Milestones celebrate your progress toward debt freedom.
The 9 milestone levels:
1% Paid — First Victory
5% Paid — Getting Started
10% Paid — Building Momentum
15% Paid — Quarter Tank
20% Paid — One-Fifth Done
25% Paid — Quarter Complete
50% Paid — Halfway There
75% Paid — Final Quarter
100% Paid — Debt-Free Victory
How they're calculated:
Example:
Original loan: $378,000
Current balance: $283,500
Paid: $94,500
Percentage: 25% — Quarter Complete milestone unlocked!
How do I use what-if scenarios?
What-if scenarios let you test payment strategies without committing.
Three scenario types:
One-Time Lump Sum — "What if I put my $10,000 bonus toward mortgage?" Shows interest saved and new payoff date.
Recurring Monthly — "What if I pay $300 extra every month?" Shows total savings and years reduced.
Goal-Based — "What if I want to pay off in 20 years?" Shows required monthly extra to hit goal.
How to use:
Tap Analytics tab
Scroll to "What-If Calculator"
Choose scenario type
Enter amount
See results instantly
No changes to actual schedule. This is for modelling only. Add actualal extra payments in the Payment Schedule view.
What does the analytics screen show?
The Analytics tab provides three key insights:
Interest Summary
Baseline: Total interest without extras ($405,353)
Optimized: Total interest with your extras
Savings: Difference between them
Debt-Free Countdown
Days until final payment
Target payoff date
Percentage progress
What-If Calculator
Test scenarios before committing
Compare strategies side-by-side
How do I switch between currency formats?
PayOff Pro currently displays amounts in USD ($) format by design because the app is based on USA's mortgage amortization calculations.
Can I customize the dashboard?
Not currently. The dashboard shows a fixed set of cards:
Loan Balance
Monthly Payment
Principal Progress
Simplified Milestone
Future versions may include customization options (hide/show cards, reorder, etc.).
Does PayOff Pro work with VoiceOver?
Yes. PayOff Pro achieves 95% WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance with extensive VoiceOver support.
Key features:
All cards and buttons are properly labeled
Dashboard cards announce values clearly
Schedule table navigates with swipe gestures
Forms have clear field labels and hints
Milestone announcements use live regions
To enable VoiceOver: Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver → Toggle On
How do I enable larger text sizes?
Open iOS settingsGo to iOS Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Larger Text.Adjust sizeDrag slider to preferred size.Return to appReturn to PayOff Pro — text scales automatically.Notes:All text scales except currency amounts in tight spaces (may truncate) and navigation bar titles.Recommended: Test at your preferred size to ensure readability.
Is PayOff Pro accessible for screen reader users?
Yes. PayOff Pro was designed with accessibility from the start.
Accessible features:
VoiceOver labels on all interactive elements
Semantic HTML structure for logical navigation
High contrast mode support
Keyboard navigation (external keyboard)
No text in images (all text is actual text)
Limitations:
Some charts are visual-only (text alternatives provided)
Complex tables may require rotor navigation
Tested with VoiceOver on iOS 17+.
Where can I get help if I'm stuck?
In-app support:
Tap Settings tab → Help & Support
Browse FAQ categories
Search for specific topics
Documentation:
Complete user guide
Quickstart for new users
Feature guides for specific functionality
Contact support:
Email: [email protected]
Response time: 24-48 hours
How do I report a bug?
Open report formSettings → Help & Support → Report a Bug.Describe the issue:
Include:
What you were doing?
What happened?
What you expected?
Add details and click send email using the native mail app on the iOS device.
How do I request a feature?
Open request formSettings → Help & Support → Request a Feature.Describe the featureExplain the feature you'd like to see and the use case (why it would help you).Submit by sending email.
Is my financial data secure?
Yes. PayOff Pro takes data security seriously:
Data storage:
All data stored locally on your iPhone
Nothing sent to external servers
No cloud backup required
What PayOff Pro doesn't do:
Doesn't connect to your bank
Doesn't access your accounts
Doesn't share data with third parties
Doesn't require login or account
Your data never leaves your device unless you explicitly export it.
Does PayOff Pro connect to my bank?
No. PayOff Pro is a mortgage tracking/calculating app, not a banking app.
What this means:
You manually enter loan information
No automatic balance updates
No access to your bank accounts
No transaction monitoring
This is by design for maximum privacy and security.
Where is my data stored?
Locally on your iPhone only.
Storage details:
Uses iOS's secure local database
Protected by iPhone encryption
Backed up with iPhone backup (if enabled)
Synced to iCloud (Once you enable the toggle)
If you delete the app, your data is deleted permanently.
Can I delete my data?
Yes.
To delete all data:
Delete the PayOff Pro app to remove all associated data.
What information does PayOff Pro collect?
PayOff Pro collects minimal information:
Stored locally:
Loan amount, balance, rate, payment (your manual entries)
Extra payment history (your manual entries)
App preferences
Not collected:
Personal identity information
Banking credentials
Location data
Contact information
No analytics or tracking unless you opt-in.
Is my data shared with third parties?
No. PayOff Pro does not share your data with anyone.
Why? All data stays on your device. There are no external servers to share data with.
Exception: If you use iPhone backup, your data is included in your personal backup (encrypted by Apple).
The app crashed, what should I do?
If PayOff Pro crashes:
Immediate steps:
Force close the app (swipe up from app switcher)
Restart PayOff Pro
Check if data is intact (Dashboard should load)
If crash persists:
Restart your iPhone
Check for app updates (App Store → Updates)
Reinstall if necessary (delete and reinstall)
Note: Your data is stored locally. Reinstalling may delete it unless backed up.
Still crashing? Report the bug via Settings → Help & Support.
Why can't I see my payment schedule?
If the Schedule tab is blank:
Common causes:
Loan not set up
Go to Settings
Tap "Reset Loan Details" to restart the onboarding process.
Enter loan details
Invalid loan data
Balance is $0 or negative
Interest rate is 0%
Monthly payment is incorrect
App data corruption
Try force-closing and restarting
Check Settings for data integrity
Fix: Verify all loan details are entered correctly in Settings → Edit Loan Details.
How do I update PayOff Pro?
PayOff Pro updates through the App Store:
Manual update:
Open App Store
Tap your profile icon (top right)
Scroll to "Available Updates"
Find PayOff Pro
Tap "Update"
Automatic updates:
Settings → App Store → App Updates → Toggle On
Check current version: PayOff Pro Settings → About → Version
Does PayOff Pro work offline?
Yes. PayOff Pro is fully functional offline.
No internet required for:
All calculations
Viewing schedule
Adding extra payments
What-if scenarios
All core features
Internet required for:
Downloading app updates
Accessing documentation links
Submitting bug reports
Your data stays on device, so offline functionality is complete.
Can I use PayOff Pro on iPad?
Yes, with limitations.
PayOff Pro is iPhone-optimized but runs on iPad:
On iPad:
App runs in iPhone compatibility mode
Interface scaled to iPad screen
All features work
Not optimized for larger screen
Native iPad version with optimized interface is planned for future release.
Current recommendation: Use on iPhone for best experience.
Still have questions? Contact support via Settings → Help & Support.
Last Updated: 2025-10-16 Guide Version: 1.0 App Version: PayOff Pro v1.0
Last updated