ProjectionLab

Overview

ProjectionLab is a web-based tool for modeling personal finances and retirement scenarios, from cash flow and taxes to investment strategies and estate outcomes. It is best suited to planners willing to enter and maintain their own inputs. Its combination of flexible forecasts, simulations and backtesting gives users several ways to compare possible futures.

Key features

Users can model life milestones, income, savings growth, account types, estimated taxes and withdrawal strategies, then examine Social Security and estate outcomes. Monte Carlo simulations and historical backtesting add ways to explore uncertainty and past market conditions; they help frame a decision, not guarantee an outcome. The breadth is useful for comparing changes to a plan, but depends on the quality of the assumptions entered.

Premium adds tax optimization, Roth conversions, ACA subsidies, tax estimation, capital gains harvesting and advanced analytics. International tax presets and account types include examples for Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, making the higher tier relevant to users whose planning crosses borders. Third-party plugins can sync Lunch Money and YNAB, import Monarch Money data or support custom automations. They do not provide native account linking, which ProjectionLab does not currently support.

Users do not need to provide account numbers or connect bank or brokerage accounts to plan. ProjectionLab says it encrypts data in transit with HTTPS/TLS and at rest with AES-256, uses multifactor authentication and SOC 2 aligned controls, and does not sell user data or share planning data for advertising or marketing. Users can export or delete their planning data. Support is available by email, through Discord and via bookable educational one-on-one sessions.

Pricing

ProjectionLab has a free Basic plan, a 7-day trial and paid plans from $129/yr. Basic costs nothing, billed $0 / year. It includes forecasting, financial planning, Monte Carlo simulations, historical backtesting and flexible modeling, a substantial starting point for individual planners. It gives up Premium's expanded tax tools, withdrawal strategies, estate planning, multiple plans, international planning, flexible spending, advanced analytics and premium support.

Premium costs $129 a year, billed $129 / year. It adds those planning capabilities to Basic and is the fit for individuals who need more than core forecasting, especially tax or international modeling. Pro costs $549 a year, billed $549/ year. It includes everything in Premium, 10 client seats and a directory listing; additional clients cost $2/month. Pro is aimed at financial advisors and coaches who need client management tools, rather than individuals planning only for themselves.

Platforms

ProjectionLab runs on the web and supports Android and iOS access as an installable Progressive Web App. It does not have a formal mobile app, so users who specifically want a native app should look elsewhere. An API is also listed among its platforms.

Who it's for

Basic and Premium serve personal financial planning, with Basic covering core scenario work and Premium suiting users who need deeper tax, withdrawal, estate or international planning. Advisors and coaches are the intended audience for Pro's client seats and management tools. ProjectionLab is less suitable for anyone who expects their bank or brokerage data to sync directly into a plan.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Simulation and historical backtesting let users examine scenarios from more than one angle.
• Pros: Premium combines detailed tax tools with international presets and account types.
• Pros: Planning does not require account numbers or connected financial accounts, and users can export or delete their data.
• Cons: No direct financial-account linking means users must maintain inputs themselves or rely on third-party plugins.
• Cons: Mobile access is through a Progressive Web App, not a formal mobile app.
• Cons: Pro's client seats and tools may be unnecessary overhead for people planning only their own finances.

Alternatives

For a free individual tool that supports Linux, macOS, Windows and web, consider Flexible Retirement Planner; its free use is limited to non-commercial purposes, with educators and trainers also able to use it for educational purposes. RetireePlan is a free, open-source option for readers who prefer that model, with web, desktop and self-hosted platforms. Boldin is another freemium choice with Android, iOS and web access; its free Basic plan includes 100+ inputs, two interactive explorers, 10+ charts and up to five Boldin AI questions per day.

Readers seeking a free web-based budgeting option can consider Retirement Budget Calculator, whose free plan covers basic retirement budgeting and asset tracking. Retireator is a free, open-source retirement simulator for web and Windows. Fidelity Planning & Guidance Center generates a plan at no fee, though investment expenses and account transaction fees may still apply. MaxiFi offers a 14-day trial and supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Calculator is a free web-based alternative.

Browse more options in Retirement Planning Software or Financial Planning Software.

Verdict

Choose ProjectionLab if you want detailed personal or client-oriented planning built around adjustable scenarios, simulations and backtesting, and are comfortable managing your own financial inputs. Its strongest case is the range of planning methods and Premium tax tools; look elsewhere if direct account synchronization or a formal mobile app is essential.