Abstract Perovskite photovoltaics are gaining prominence as highly efficient solar cell alternatives, surpassing 22% efficiency. However, the use of environmentally harmful lead poses a challenge. Tin (Sn) has emerged as a promising replacement for lead. This study employed SCAPS-1D software to simulate lead-free perovskite solar cells and investigate the impact of interface defect density. Various cell parameters, such as the doping concentration of the perovskite absorption layer and defect density of the perovskite absorber layer, were examined. Lowering the defect density in the perovskite absorption layer significantly improved overall cell performance. Two interface layers, TiO2/perovskite and perovskite/hole transport material (HTM), were introduced to assess their effect on cell performance. The TiO2/perovskite interface had a greater impact due to higher carrier density and increased recombination rates. Through parameter optimization, a maximum efficiency of 24.63% was achieved.