The Best Retirement Planning Software
If you're trying to figure out whether you're on track for retirement, there are a lot of tools out there.
I've tested these four.
Quick note: some of the links on this page are affiliate links (which means I might earn a small commission at no cost to you). I only share the apps I've personally tested.
MY TOP RETIREMENT PLANNING TOOLS
Empower
Price: Free.
Completely free, no paid version.
A free dashboard for your net worth, spending, investments and retirement planning. It's not just a retirement tool. It links to your accounts, so everything updates automatically.
Best for: Beginners, or anyone who wants a free, simple check on whether they're on track.
What I like:
- Free, automated, and easy to setup
- Shows your chance of success and lets you add things like rental income, part-time work, or a big trip.
- The retirement Fee Analyzer shows what yourinvestment fees cost you over time. This is a great feature.
- Compare plans side by side, on the web, or in the app.
Keep in mind:
- Not much customization
- Only one savings amount per year
- Very little tax planning.
- If you have over $100k invested, you may get notifications to set up a free consultation from their advisers.
My take: If you want something free and easy, start here. It's the quick check-up
Boldin
Price: Free version, or PlannerPlus at $168/year
14-day free trial of PlannerPlus
If Empower is the quick check-up, Boldin is the full physical. It's built just for retirement and goes a lot deeper.
Best for: People getting closer to retirement who want their accounts linked with serious tax details.
What I like:
- Up to 10 plans to test what-ifs, like retiring at 60 vs. 67 or downsizing.
- Roth Conversion Explorer and year-by-year tax projections.
- Plans for Medicare costs and required withdrawals, so there are fewer surprises later.
- The AI assistant helped answer my setup questions.
Keep in mind:
- The best features are behind the paywall, and there are a lot of upgrade prompts.
- Setup has a learning curve. It wasn't the most intuitive for me.
- It shows as $14/month, but it's billed once a year.
My take: Build one base plan first, then copy it for each scenario. It's so much easier than starting fro scratch every time.
ProjectionLab
Price: Free version, or Premium at $129/year.
7-day free trial of Premium
For people who want to control every single assumption. You don't link your accounts, by design, so it's a good fit if privacy matters to you.
Best for: Hands-on DIYers, FIRE planners, and anyone with a complex or international situation.
What I like:
- Very customizable and very visual.
- Plan around milestones like retirement, Coast FIRE, a big trip or selling your house.
- Tax settings for other countries.
- The free plan now saves your data.
Keep in mind:
- Everything is manual, so you'll update balances yourself.
- There's a learning curve. One viewer said it's like building with Legos: you have all the blocks, but you have to know how to build.
- No account linking, which is a dealbreaker for some people.
My take: It took me about an hour to set up, and it was actually the most intuitive for me. That could just be how my brain works.
MaxiFi
Price: $149/year.
14-day free trial
Instead of asking "Will I run out of money?" it asks "How much can I safely spend?" It was built by economist Larry Kotlikoff, who's known for his Social Security expertise.
Best for: People who are on track (or close to retirement) and want to know how much they can comfortably spend, or anyone weighing Social Security timing.
What I like:
- Tells you the highest steady amount you can spend every year for the rest of your life.
- Strong Social Security and Roth conversion tools.
- Really good support, including free orientation and office hours.
Keep in mind:
- It's a different way of thinking that takes some getting used to.
- A lot is behind the paywall.
- The interface is still being improved. I've only tested it for about a month, so this is my first impression.