Best Retirement Planning Software in 2026

Boldin, formerly NewRetirement, is built specifically for retirement planning rather than general budgeting. The free planner helps you answer whether your savings may last, while the paid PlannerPlus tier adds state and federal tax projections, Social Security claiming comparisons, Roth conversion modeling and side-by-side scenario checks. That depth makes it the strongest DIY choice in this list.

The trade-off is complexity. With hundreds of planning inputs available, new users can spend a long time entering data before they see a clear plan. Start with the core inputs, income, spending, accounts and retirement age, and add detail only where it changes your decision.

ProjectionLab appeals to planners who like to test ideas themselves. You can model different retirement ages, spending levels, income changes and market paths, and see how each choice affects your plan over decades. The interface favors experimentation, which suits people who enjoy building and comparing scenarios.

It is less of a guided service than Boldin, so you need to know which questions to ask. If you want classes, coaching or advisor access built in, Boldin may suit you better. If you want a modeling sandbox with a free starting tier, ProjectionLab is a strong pick.

MaxiFi takes a different approach from most planners. Instead of asking how much you can spend in a good year, it calculates a sustainable living standard across your lifetime, smoothing spending so you avoid running short late in life. That math helps people who worry about overspending early in retirement.

The style is more numbers-focused than story-focused, and there is no free tier to test it first. If you prefer a visual, guided planner, Boldin or ProjectionLab may feel friendlier. If you want economics-based optimization and detailed tax-aware planning, MaxiFi is worth the trial period.

Empower, formerly Personal Capital, offers free tools that track net worth, investments and fees, plus a retirement planner that projects income gaps. For people who already track investments in one place, adding a retirement projection in the same dashboard is convenient and costs nothing for the basic tools.

The planner is lighter than Boldin or MaxiFi on tax-aware withdrawal order and Roth conversion detail. Use Empower for tracking and a first projection, then use a dedicated retirement planner if you need detailed tax or Social Security modeling. Note that Empower also sells managed investment services, which are separate from the free tools.

Fidelity offers free retirement calculators that estimate monthly and annual income in retirement, plus fuller planning tools for account holders. The tools are useful for a quick readiness check, especially if you already hold Fidelity accounts and want projections based on real balances.

For detailed Roth conversion, tax bracket and withdrawal order work, a dedicated planner such as Boldin or MaxiFi gives more control. Fidelity is best as a free first check and an educational starting point, not as the only tool for a complex retirement tax plan.

Pralana suits planners who want spreadsheet-level control over every assumption. You can model detailed tax, income, Roth conversion and spending scenarios, and the tool is popular with DIY planners who enjoy working through manuals and detailed reports. For complex cases with rentals, pensions or irregular income, that depth can be valuable.

The cost is usability. Pralana takes time to learn, and new users may feel lost without reading the guides first. If you want a quick visual plan, choose Boldin or ProjectionLab. If you want maximum detail and are willing to study the tool, Pralana rewards the effort.

OnTrajectory is a lighter planner for people who want a clear projection without hundreds of inputs. The free tier covers basic income, spending and net worth paths, and guided prompts help you add life events such as a home purchase or a career change. That simplicity makes it a good first planner for younger savers.

Advanced features, including fuller Roth conversion modeling, sit behind the paid tier, and the tool does not match the tax depth of Boldin or MaxiFi. Use OnTrajectory to get a first picture and test retirement ages, then move to a deeper tool if tax planning becomes central to your decisions.

RightCapital is financial planning software used by advisors, not a direct consumer app. If your advisor uses it, you get a client portal with your plan, projections and what-if scenarios, plus detailed tax and Social Security modeling behind the scenes. The reports are clear, and the portal makes it easy to update data between meetings.

The limit is access. You cannot buy RightCapital as an individual and run your own plan in the same way as Boldin. If you work with an advisor, ask which software they use and how you can view and update your plan. If you plan alone, choose a consumer tool from the rest of this list.