US retirement planner comparison
The 4 retirement planners Americans actually use.
Empower for tracking. Boldin or ProjectionLab for planning. That's the consensus on r/financialindependence and r/Bogleheads. Here's how cinder.fi compares — and where it does things none of them do.
Last verified: 2026-05-26. Competitor capabilities change — links go to their own pages.
TL;DR
Empower
Best free account aggregation. Weak on planning depth — no Roth conversion modeling, no withdrawal sequencing, no tax bracket optimization.
Boldin
Most comprehensive step-by-step planner. Great for near-retirees who want guidance. PlannerPlus ($12/mo) unlocks the real tools.
ProjectionLab
Best visualizations. FIRE community favorite. Flexible scenario branching. No budgeting, no bank sync.
cinder.fi
The only one that combines real budgeting + retirement planning in a single free tool. Multi-objective optimizer. Historical backtest to 1871. Also works for Canadians.
Pricing
What you actually pay
cinder.fi
Free tier
Full planner — projections, budgeting, 4 charts, Plaid (1 account), no account required
Paid
$12/mo or $99/yr
Trial
Free tier is the trial
Empower
Free tier
Account aggregation, net worth, retirement probability, budgeting, fee analyzer
Paid
Advisory: 0.49-0.89% AUM ($1M+ min)
Trial
Free tools are the funnel
Boldin
Free tier
Basic retirement planner
Paid
$12/mo or $144/yr (PlannerPlus)
Trial
14-day trial
ProjectionLab
Free tier
Forecast + simulate (can't save)
Paid
$109/yr or $799 lifetime
Trial
Free tier available
Empower's free tools are a loss-leader for their wealth management advisory ($1M+ AUM). Prices verified 2026-05-26.
Feature parity
What each planner actually does
Rows are the decisions that actually move the needle — Roth conversions, withdrawal sequencing, tax bracket targeting — not feature-list padding.
Tax engine & Roth conversions
Federal + state tax brackets
Real marginal rates, not flat estimates
cinder.fi
yes (50 states + DC)
Empower
Limited
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Roth conversion modeling
Convert Traditional → Roth in low-bracket years
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
yes (PlannerPlus)
PL
✓
Long-term capital gains rates
0% / 15% / 20% preferential rates + NIIT
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
Limited
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Social Security taxation
Up to 85% inclusion based on combined income
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
✓
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
IRMAA Medicare surcharges
High-income premium surcharges
cinder.fi
Planned
Empower
—
Boldin
✓
PL
Unknown
Multi-objective tax optimizer
Sweep across 8+ dimensions to find optimal strategy
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
Limited
PL
Unknown
Accounts & Social Security
401(k) / Traditional IRA / Roth IRA
Standard retirement accounts
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
✓
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
HSA (Health Savings Account)
Triple-tax-advantaged, post-65 unlock
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
✓
Boldin
✓
PL
Unknown
Defined-benefit pension
Lifetime income + survivor options
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
✓
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Social Security optimization
Optimal claiming age for individual + spouse
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
✓
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Spousal + survivor SS benefits
Coordinated claiming strategy for couples
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
Limited
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Withdrawal strategies
Multiple withdrawal strategies
Tax-aware sequencing, not just pro-rata
cinder.fi
4 built-in + custom
Empower
—
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Spending strategies
Fixed, Guyton-Klinger guardrails, VPW, custom
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
Limited
PL
✓
RMD schedule modeling
Required minimum distributions from 73+
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
✓
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
PLOC / SBLOC strategy
Borrow against portfolio to defer capital gains
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
—
PL
—
Stress testing
Monte Carlo simulation
1,000+ randomized market paths
cinder.fi
yes (1,000 runs)
Empower
yes (5,000 runs)
Boldin
yes (PlannerPlus)
PL
✓
Historical backtest
Test plan against real market history
cinder.fi
yes (1871-present)
Empower
—
Boldin
Unknown
PL
Limited
Scenario comparison
Side-by-side "what if" overlays on charts
cinder.fi
yes (1 free, unlimited Pro)
Empower
—
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Budgeting & spending
Budget categories with targets
Monthly spending limits that feed projections
cinder.fi
yes (16 categories)
Empower
yes (basic)
Boldin
yes (75+ categories, manual)
PL
—
Transaction import
CSV, OFX, YNAB, Copilot imports
cinder.fi
yes (6 formats)
Empower
no (Plaid only)
Boldin
—
PL
—
Plaid bank sync
Auto-sync balances + transactions
cinder.fi
yes (1 free, unlimited Pro)
Empower
✓
Boldin
yes (PlannerPlus)
PL
—
Spending feeds projections
Real spending → retirement impact
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
—
PL
—
Retirement impact from spending
"Over-spending delays retirement by X months"
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
—
PL
—
Real assets
Primary home + mortgage
Appreciation, payoff, downsizing, HELOC
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
✓
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Rental properties
Income, expenses, appreciation, sale
cinder.fi
yes (up to 3)
Empower
Limited
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Platform & extras
Works without an account
Use immediately, no sign-up
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
—
PL
—
Also works for Canadians
Full Canadian tax engine, CPP/OAS, RRSP/TFSA
cinder.fi
yes (13 provinces)
Empower
—
Boldin
—
PL
limited (4 provinces)
MCP API for AI agents
19 tools for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor
cinder.fi
✓
Empower
—
Boldin
—
PL
—
PDF export
Shareable report for spouse or advisor
cinder.fi
yes (Pro)
Empower
—
Boldin
✓
PL
✓
Mobile app
Native iOS / Android
cinder.fi
in development
Empower
✓
Boldin
—
PL
—
| Feature | cinder.fi | Empower | Boldin | ProjectionLab |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax engine & Roth conversions | ||||
| Federal + state tax brackets Real marginal rates, not flat estimates | yes (50 states + DC) | Limited | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roth conversion modeling Convert Traditional → Roth in low-bracket years | ✓ | — | yes (PlannerPlus) | ✓ |
| Long-term capital gains rates 0% / 15% / 20% preferential rates + NIIT | ✓ | Limited | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social Security taxation Up to 85% inclusion based on combined income | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| IRMAA Medicare surcharges High-income premium surcharges | Planned | — | ✓ | Unknown |
| Multi-objective tax optimizer Sweep across 8+ dimensions to find optimal strategy | ✓ | — | Limited | Unknown |
| Accounts & Social Security | ||||
| 401(k) / Traditional IRA / Roth IRA Standard retirement accounts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HSA (Health Savings Account) Triple-tax-advantaged, post-65 unlock | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Unknown |
| Defined-benefit pension Lifetime income + survivor options | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social Security optimization Optimal claiming age for individual + spouse | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spousal + survivor SS benefits Coordinated claiming strategy for couples | ✓ | Limited | ✓ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal strategies | ||||
| Multiple withdrawal strategies Tax-aware sequencing, not just pro-rata | 4 built-in + custom | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spending strategies Fixed, Guyton-Klinger guardrails, VPW, custom | ✓ | — | Limited | ✓ |
| RMD schedule modeling Required minimum distributions from 73+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PLOC / SBLOC strategy Borrow against portfolio to defer capital gains | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Stress testing | ||||
| Monte Carlo simulation 1,000+ randomized market paths | yes (1,000 runs) | yes (5,000 runs) | yes (PlannerPlus) | ✓ |
| Historical backtest Test plan against real market history | yes (1871-present) | — | Unknown | Limited |
| Scenario comparison Side-by-side "what if" overlays on charts | yes (1 free, unlimited Pro) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Budgeting & spending | ||||
| Budget categories with targets Monthly spending limits that feed projections | yes (16 categories) | yes (basic) | yes (75+ categories, manual) | — |
| Transaction import CSV, OFX, YNAB, Copilot imports | yes (6 formats) | no (Plaid only) | — | — |
| Plaid bank sync Auto-sync balances + transactions | yes (1 free, unlimited Pro) | ✓ | yes (PlannerPlus) | — |
| Spending feeds projections Real spending → retirement impact | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Retirement impact from spending "Over-spending delays retirement by X months" | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Real assets | ||||
| Primary home + mortgage Appreciation, payoff, downsizing, HELOC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rental properties Income, expenses, appreciation, sale | yes (up to 3) | Limited | ✓ | ✓ |
| Platform & extras | ||||
| Works without an account Use immediately, no sign-up | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Also works for Canadians Full Canadian tax engine, CPP/OAS, RRSP/TFSA | yes (13 provinces) | — | — | limited (4 provinces) |
| MCP API for AI agents 19 tools for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor | ✓ | — | — | — |
| PDF export Shareable report for spouse or advisor | yes (Pro) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app Native iOS / Android | in development | ✓ | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
› Is Empower's retirement planner really free?
Yes. Empower (formerly Personal Capital) offers free account aggregation, net worth tracking, a retirement planner with Monte Carlo simulations, and basic budgeting. The trade-off: the free tools are a funnel for Empower's wealth management advisory service (0.49-0.89% AUM fee for $1M+ portfolios). The planning engine is real but shallow — no Roth conversion modeling, no withdrawal sequencing, no tax bracket optimization.
› What's the difference between Boldin and ProjectionLab?
Boldin (formerly NewRetirement) is a step-by-step guided planner that appeals to near-retirees — comprehensive, editorial-quality guidance, 75+ expense categories. ProjectionLab is a scenario-branching visual tool popular with the FIRE community — better UI, more flexibility, but less hand-holding. Most serious planners on Reddit use one of the two alongside Empower for account tracking.
› Which retirement planner has the best free tier?
Empower has the most feature-complete free tier for tracking (account aggregation, net worth, basic retirement probability). cinder.fi has the most feature-complete free tier for planning — real projections, budgeting with 16 categories, 4 charts, Plaid bank sync (1 account), plan sharing, and a retirement readiness score. No trial timer, no account required. ProjectionLab's free tier lets you forecast but can't save your plan.
› Can these tools handle Roth conversion ladders?
cinder.fi, Boldin, and ProjectionLab all model Roth conversions. cinder.fi's multi-objective optimizer sweeps across conversion amounts alongside 7 other dimensions simultaneously. Boldin has dedicated Roth conversion analysis in PlannerPlus. ProjectionLab lets you model conversions in its scenario branching. Empower does not model Roth conversions.
› Do I need a retirement planner if I already use a budgeting app?
Budgeting apps (YNAB, Monarch, Copilot) track where your money went. Retirement planners project where it's going. cinder.fi is the only tool that connects both — your real spending flows into 50-year tax-aware projections. See our budgeting comparison at /compare/budgeting/ for details.
Plan by state
Built by the cinder.fi team. Where Empower, Boldin, or ProjectionLab do something we don't, the row says so. If you spot something wrong, tell us.
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