ProjectionLab

ProjectionLab is a financial planning web app for exploring personal financial and retirement scenarios. Users can model life milestones, cash flow, estimated taxes, investment strategies, account types, withdrawals, and estate outcomes. Monte Carlo simulations and historical backtesting help examine possible outcomes. The free Basic plan includes forecasting, financial planning, flexible modeling, simulations, and backtesting. Premium costs $129 / year and adds cash-flow projections, tax optimization, withdrawal strategies, estate planning, international planning, and advanced analytics. Pro costs $549/ year and is intended for financial advisors and coaches, with 10 client seats and client-management tools. The app does not directly link bank or brokerage accounts, and planning can be done without providing account numbers. Plugins made by third parties can sync Lunch Money and YNAB data, import Monarch Money data, or support custom automations. ProjectionLab is a web app that can be installed on mobile as a Progressive Web App; the maker says it does not currently have a formal mobile app. The maker says planning data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and users can export or delete it.

ProjectionLab provides scenario modeling across personal and retirement planning, with additional tax and advisor-focused tools on paid plans. Its lack of direct account linking and formal mobile app may matter to some users.

Basic and Premium are for personal financial planning, while Pro is described for financial advisors and coaches. It may suit people who prefer planning without connecting financial accounts.

Overview

ProjectionLab is a financial planning tool for people who want to shape and compare long-term money scenarios rather than rely on a single forecast. It is strongest for individuals prepared to enter their own financial details, with a separate professional tier for advisors and coaches. Its range of planning models is substantial, but keeping data current is a manual job.

Key features

ProjectionLab lets users model milestones, income and cash flow, savings growth, taxes, investments, account types, withdrawals, Social Security and estate outcomes. Monte Carlo simulations and historical backtesting provide different lenses on potential results, making it useful for weighing a change in assumptions or strategy. They are planning aids, not guarantees; the projections depend on the inputs users provide.

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, extending its appeal beyond U.S.-only planning. Third-party plugins can sync Lunch Money and YNAB, import Monarch Money data or support custom automations, but these do not change the central limitation: ProjectionLab has no direct financial-account linking.

Users can plan without entering account numbers or connecting bank or brokerage accounts. The maker says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, uses multifactor authentication and SOC 2-aligned controls, and is not sold or shared for advertising or marketing. Users can export or delete planning data. Support comes by email, Discord and bookable educational one-on-one sessions.

Pricing

Basic costs nothing (billed $0 / year) and includes forecasting, financial planning, Monte Carlo simulations, historical backtesting and flexible modeling. It is a meaningful way to build and examine a plan without paying, but it lacks Premium's expanded cash-flow, tax, withdrawal, estate and international tools.

Premium costs $129 a year (billed $129 / year), with a 7-day trial. It adds cash-flow projections, tax optimization, withdrawal strategies, estate planning, multiple plans, advanced analytics, international planning, flexible spending and premium support. This is the suitable tier for an individual who needs more detailed tax and retirement scenarios; the annual commitment is the trade-off.

Pro costs $549 a year (billed $549/ year) and includes everything in Premium, 10 client seats and a directory listing. Additional clients cost $2/month. It 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 can be installed on a mobile device as a Progressive Web App. The maker does not offer a formal mobile app. That approach provides mobile access, but users looking specifically for a dedicated app should look elsewhere. Android, iOS and API are listed as platforms; financial-account synchronization is not supported.

Who it's for

ProjectionLab suits people who want to compare detailed retirement and financial scenarios and are willing to maintain their own inputs. Its no-account-linking approach may appeal to users who prefer to plan without sharing financial credentials, while frustrating anyone who expects balances to update automatically. Premium is better suited to users who need tax and cross-border planning; Pro is for advisors or coaches managing client plans.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Monte Carlo simulations and historical backtesting let users consider uncertainty and historical conditions, not just a single projection.
• Pros: Premium covers tax strategies, withdrawals, estate planning and international presets in one planning product.
• Pros: Planning does not require account numbers or bank and brokerage connections, and users can export or delete their data.
• Cons: No direct account linking means users must maintain their own financial inputs.
• Cons: Mobile access is through a Progressive Web App rather than a formal mobile app.
• Cons: Several of the more specialized planning tools require the $129 a year Premium plan.

Alternatives

Browse Retirement Planning Software or Financial Planning Software to compare the broader categories. Boldin is another freemium option 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. MaxiFi is a paid alternative with a 14-day trial and support for Linux, macOS, Windows and mobile platforms. Retirement Budget Calculator offers a free lifetime plan for basic retirement budgeting and asset tracking, with a monthly Premium option.

driftcurve, FI Calc, Fidelity Planning & Guidance Center, FIRECalc and Flexible Retirement Planner are alternatives for readers comparing other retirement-planning tools.

Verdict

Choose ProjectionLab if you want to test detailed retirement and financial scenarios, including tax and withdrawal strategies, and are comfortable maintaining your own data. Its breadth of modeling and account-free planning are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if automatic account syncing or a formal mobile app is essential.