The best ProjectionLab alternatives are Boldin, Empower, Portfolio Visualizer, cFIREsim, Flexible Retirement Planner, MaxiFi Planner. ProjectionLab is loved because it models taxes, cash flow, and Monte Carlo outcomes in one clean plan [source: ProjectionLab]. But not everyone wants the same tool. Some people want free tracking. Some want deep retirement math. Some just want a quick “Can I quit at 58?” answer.
TLDR: If you want the closest ProjectionLab-style planner, try Boldin. If you want free net worth tracking, use Empower. If you care most about investment testing, use Portfolio Visualizer. Example: a couple with $850,000 saved, adding $2,000 per month, can use these tools to test retiring at 60, 62, or 65 and see how success rates change from 71% to 88% under different market assumptions.
1. Boldin: Best overall ProjectionLab alternative
Boldin, formerly NewRetirement, is the closest match for people who like ProjectionLab but want a more guided retirement plan.
It helps you map income, spending, Social Security, home value, taxes, health costs, and withdrawals. The screens feel friendly. You do not need to be a spreadsheet wizard. That helps.
- Best for: retirement planning with lots of detail
- Fun part: you can test “what if” plans fast
- Weak spot: the free version can feel limited
The catch is that it can still ask for a lot of data. Expect to spend 30 to 60 minutes on setup if you want useful results. But once it is done, the reports are clear.
2. Empower: Best free money dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard is great if you want to track your full money picture. It connects accounts. It shows net worth. It shows spending. It also has retirement planning tools.
It is not as rich as ProjectionLab for modeling small details. Still, it is handy. You can see if your investments are too heavy in one area. You can also check fees, which is boring but sneaky important.
- Best for: people who want free tracking
- Fun part: your net worth updates by itself
- Weak spot: you may get sales calls or offers
Honestly, it feels like the “check engine light” for your money. You may not love what it shows. But you should probably look.
3. Portfolio Visualizer: Best for investment nerds
Portfolio Visualizer is not a full life planner. It is more like a lab coat for your portfolio.
You can test asset mixes. You can run Monte Carlo simulations. You can compare past returns. You can ask, “What if I held 60% U.S. stocks, 30% bonds, and 10% international stocks?” Then you can see the results.
- Best for: backtesting and portfolio stress tests
- Fun part: it makes investment ideas feel testable
- Weak spot: the interface is plain and a bit dry
It drives me a little nuts that simple tests can take a few more clicks than expected. But the math is useful. If you love numbers, this is candy.
4. cFIREsim: Best for early retirement fans
cFIREsim is a classic tool for the FIRE crowd. FIRE means financial independence, retire early. The tool tests how your plan would have done across past market periods.
You enter savings, spending, years in retirement, and portfolio mix. Then it checks many historical paths. Simple. Fast. No glitter.
- Best for: early retirement simulations
- Fun part: fast answers with very little setup
- Weak spot: it looks old-school
Use it for big questions. Like, “Can I spend $48,000 per year for 40 years?” It will not hold your hand. But it will give you a quick gut check.
5. Flexible Retirement Planner: Best simple Monte Carlo tool
Flexible Retirement Planner is built around Monte Carlo simulation. That means it runs many possible market outcomes. Then it tells you how often your plan worked.
This is useful because retirement is not one straight line. Markets jump. Inflation bites. Life gets weird. A tool like this lets you test rough weather.
- Best for: simple probability checks
- Fun part: clear success rate style outputs
- Weak spot: it feels like older desktop software
If ProjectionLab feels too polished or too involved, this may feel refreshingly plain. Type. Run. Read. Done.
6. MaxiFi Planner: Best for Social Security and lifetime spending
MaxiFi Planner is for people who want serious lifetime planning. It focuses on safe spending, taxes, Social Security, Medicare costs, and long-term decisions.
It is especially useful near retirement. Why? Because timing matters. Claiming Social Security at 62 versus 70 can change lifetime income in a big way. MaxiFi helps compare those paths.
- Best for: pre-retirees and retirees
- Fun part: strong Social Security planning
- Weak spot: it may feel less pretty than newer apps
This is not the cutest tool at the party. But it may be the one with the calculator everyone needs.
Quick pick guide
- Closest to ProjectionLab: Boldin
- Best free dashboard: Empower
- Best for portfolio testing: Portfolio Visualizer
- Best for FIRE: cFIREsim
- Best for simple simulations: Flexible Retirement Planner
- Best for retirement income: MaxiFi Planner
How to choose without overthinking it
Pick based on your main question.
If your question is, “Can I retire at 60?” choose Boldin or MaxiFi. If your question is, “Is my portfolio built well?” choose Portfolio Visualizer. If your question is, “Where did my money go?” choose Empower.
Use two tools if needed. One for your full plan. One for investment testing. That is often better than forcing one app to do everything.
ProjectionLab is strong. No doubt. But these six alternatives cover almost every planning style. Some are prettier. Some are nerdier. Some are free. The best one is the one you will actually use more than once.