FIRECalc vs ProjectionLab
FIRECalc
firecalc.com
ProjectionLab
projectionlab.comSide by side
| Figure | FIRECalc | ProjectionLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $10.75/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Spec score · Retirement Planning Software | 7.8 (#13) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Privacy | FIRECalc says it does not store users' financial entries; temporary files for spreadsheets and graphics are session-only and deleted approximately 15 minutes after creation. | ProjectionLab says it does not sell planning data or use it for third-party advertising and lets users export or delete their data. |
| Purpose | FIRECalc helps assess whether savings and planned spending can sustain a retirement across historical market conditions. | ProjectionLab simulates personal financial and retirement scenarios to help users plan their financial future. |
| Support | The contact page directs usage questions to the FIRECalc support section of the Early Retirement forum and accepts bug reports and suggestions. | Support is available by email, through the Discord community, and via bookable educational 1-on-1 sessions. |
| Tax planning | FIRECalc says it does not account for taxable versus nontaxable portfolios or provide tax planning. | Premium models Roth conversions, capital-gains harvesting, withdrawal order and ACA subsidy thresholds for planning purposes. |
Plans
ProjectionLab
- BasicFree
- BasicFree
- Premium$129 a year
- Premium$129 a year
- Pro$549 a year
- Pro$549 a year
In their own words
FIRECalc
FIRECalc is a free web calculator for assessing whether savings, planned spending, and other resources could sustain retirement. It tests plans against historical market conditions beginning in 1871 and reports how often the portfolio would have remained funded for the selected term across historical starting years. Users can include Social Security, pensions, and other income or spending adjustments. Spending options include inflation-adjusted constant amounts, Bernicke's Reality Retirement Plan, and a percentage of the remaining portfolio. Portfolio settings allow historical investment portfolios, fees, and consistent or random returns. Planning inputs can include a future retirement date, annual contributions before retirement, and future lump-sum changes. Defaults are a 75% stock-index and 25% bond-fund portfolio, a 0.18% fund fee, and inflation-adjusted spending over 30 years. FIRECalc says it cannot predict future returns and does not provide tax planning. The homepage reports data through January 1, 2026, updated April 17, 2026. It says it does not store financial entries; temporary spreadsheet and graphic files are deleted after about 15 minutes.
ProjectionLab
ProjectionLab simulates personal financial and retirement scenarios to help users plan for different possible futures. Users can model life milestones, cash flow, estimated taxes, investment strategies, account types, withdrawals and estate outcomes. Monte Carlo simulations and historical backtesting let users explore potential outcomes. The free Basic plan includes forecasting, financial planning, simulations and backtesting. Premium adds tax optimization, Roth conversions, ACA subsidies, capital gains harvesting, international planning and advanced analytics, and costs $129 a year. Pro costs $549 a year and is aimed at financial advisors and coaches, with client management tools and 10 client seats. ProjectionLab does not directly link financial accounts, so users can make plans without supplying account numbers or connecting bank or brokerage accounts. The web app can be installed on mobile devices as a Progressive Web App; the maker says it has no formal mobile app. Support is available by email, Discord and bookable educational sessions.