ProjectionLab alternative: how RetireNumber compares
A privacy-first planning tool with strong scenario modelling, popular with the FIRE community.
The short answer
ProjectionLab and RetireNumber agree on the thing that matters most: neither asks to link your accounts. The real differences are price and shape. ProjectionLab has richer scenario modelling and a devoted following among early-retirement planners. RetireNumber is cheaper, gets you to a first answer without an account and offers a monthly option rather than annual-only billing.
Where ProjectionLab is the better choice
We would rather you pick the right tool than pick ours.
- Deeper and more flexible scenario modelling, which is what its users tend to praise most
- A polished, much-reviewed product with a strong reputation in the FIRE community
- A lifetime option that covers all future features, if you prefer to buy once and stop thinking about it
Where RetireNumber differs
- Cheaper at the paid tier, with monthly billing rather than annual only
- A first answer in about a minute without creating an account
- The free tier saves a plan, rather than being limited to ad-hoc projections
Side by side
| RetireNumber | ProjectionLab | |
|---|---|---|
| Paid plan | Free tier, then $4.99/mo, $49/yr or $399 once | Premium, reported at $129/yr, billed annually |
| Billing options | Monthly, yearly or one-time | Annual only, plus a reported $1,199 lifetime |
| Free tier | 1 plan, 2 scenarios, Monte Carlo, historical backtesting | Basic, reported as ad-hoc projections and Monte Carlo without saved plans |
| Links your bank and brokerage accounts | No. Numbers are entered by hand | No, reported as no linking and no data harvesting |
| Scenario modelling depth | Scenarios per plan, compare mode on Pro | Reported as its strongest area |
| Monte Carlo | Yes, on the free tier | Yes, including on the free tier |
| Signup needed to see a result | No | Yes |
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Try it before you decide
You can run a full projection without creating an account, so comparing costs you nothing but a minute.
Run your plan free60 seconds, no signup required
Other comparisons: Boldin, Empower. See also our pricing and what the model cannot do.