What is the best Alternative to Quicken after 2020 (Non Subscription)

[RetMD21]

I spent months inputting all my previous paper files in the early 90's and have kept up ever since. I don't want to lose an entire lifetime of accounts, transactions, and financial history. Aside from a few very short term bank accounts and cash in college, I have practically everything in this database

I still have my Quicken data files although I stopped using Quicken years ago. I had Quicken for Dos v 2. and ultimately kept a pc just for that program. When I finally upgraded to windows I had to upgrade to intermediate versions (that they sent me on disks) When I could see Quicken outliving its utility I tried Gnucash- free. I found it too hard and time consuming to learn. Keeping the files made me feel better. I have had no reason to try to access them and I got over the feeling that I needed to have access just because I had been collecting the data.

 

[deserat]

Moneydance comes to mind. I do not want a cloud or web based version.

I've used Moneydance now for over ten years - works well enough for my needs - I think I got the free version, although you can get paid for versions now with more features. I download a .qfx version of my bank statements and Moneydance recognizes it, ingests it and then I categorize the entries for tracking - they also offer other file formats (even .csv), so it hasn't become obsolete for download purposes yet.

I do agree with your sentiments regarding 'cloud' anything...if you truly value something and/or want to keep it private, you need to keep it yourself: i.e. on your own hardware and within your own application or software......add on some encryption at rest and in-transit for even more protection...

 

[bobandsherry]

Those who are looking for a deal - Quicken Deluxe 2019 available for $21.99

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Quicken-Deluxe-2019-1User-1Year/122505975

 

[gooddog]

Was never a big fan of Quicken. Seems easier to write your own code so it is customized to what you do, or make extremely customized excel sheets. There is more time into it on the front end doing it this way, but for someone who is using the applications for a long period of time, it is much more effective. It also has the bonus of being free.

 

[steelyman]

For me, using Quicken (or any other package you like) in combination with a customized spreadsheet gives the most flexibility.

A custom sheet can take a long time to set up and new tweaks to it seem unending but there are things that need fine-tuning that it’d be unreasonable to expect any general-purpose software developer to anticipate/provide.

 

[ncbill]

Installed Quicken 2019...have never used it.

Instead use Mint & Personal Capital.

 

[Montecfo]

I'm the last user of Tobias MYM. Only runs in the compatibility box in Win7. If it ain't broke...

I think using some obsolete free software has some appeal. The original software I used was called Money Counts and it was fantastic. After they got bought they killed the product. I continued to use it.

A few years later somehow my data got corrupted. With no support (and I tried) and no recovery path, I lost all my data. All that remains is a few reports I kept.

I am no fan of quicken. But I have 24 years of data in quicken. I did try Ace Money a couple of years ago and found it clunky. Plus it was cumbersome to chase down duplicate entries in the data as imoldernu recounted.

I will probably just stay with quicken. I do not use the investment part or budgeting. Just tracking and as an expense database.

I could see possibly staying with an older version if I decide I do not need the CC details. I do not use any other online features.

 

[steelyman]

Here's an example I generated this morning from my data using Google Sheets only, presenting the information in a way that makes sense to me (vs what Quicken does). Quicken can download current and historical prices for securities as well as Quicken's idea of asset classes, which don't match my idea. One Quicken "class" is "asset mixture", which doesn't do me a whole lot of good.

This chart is the up-to-date breakdown of my retirement portfolio, using asset classes I prefer. I think it's an example of tailoring things to your liking in a customized spreadsheet (workbook).

Keeping my fingers crossed that a PNG image coming from my Chromebook will actually post!

 

[bobandsherry]

Was never a big fan of Quicken. Seems easier to write your own code so it is customized to what you do, or make extremely customized excel sheets. There is more time into it on the front end doing it this way, but for someone who is using the applications for a long period of time, it is much more effective. It also has the bonus of being free.

I have written several programs myself (a couple were even distributed commercially years ago), and having written my own basic budget and expense tracking program for my own use, again many years ago. Also very proficient in Excel / Macros / VBA. But, there's no way I could develop the software with functionality that Quicken offers such as downloading transaction and stock details. And I've found nothing, absolutely nothing, that provides all the functionality that Quicken does. I've got to say that for $30/yr that's pretty much a bargain. However if it makes you happy then I get it, but I find that's time I can use to do other things.

 

[Smitty700]

I think using some obsolete free software has some appeal. The original software I used was called Money Counts and it was fantastic. After they got bought they killed the product. I continued to use it.

A few years later somehow my data got corrupted. With no support (and I tried) and no recovery path, I lost all my data. All that remains is a few reports I kept.

...which is why I don't mind paying a subscription for continued support. I depend on Quicken every day. I'd rather not pay anything, but since most folks don't like to work for free, I'll fork over my $$ to keep Quicken alive and well.

 

[pb4uski]

^^^ I agree... I was a very advanced Excel user and while I probably could replicate the functionality in Excel, it would be a boatload of work if it could even be done at all and difficult to maintain. I view Quicken as my database... it is good for holding transactions and has a lot of good tools for importing transactions and easy lookups.

However, it is lacking for the way I want to manage my portfolio, so I copy and paste a Portfolio Value report into a LibreCalc workbook onto a "Data" sheet and then other sheets draw off of that report data to show me my actual AA vs target, bucket analysis, tax attribute analysis, YTD return, etc.

Luckily, I can afford the subscription fee and the functionality is worth the cost to me.

 

[bobandsherry]

Here's an example I generated this morning from my data using Google Sheets only, presenting the information in a way that makes sense to me (vs what Quicken does). Quicken can download current and historical prices for securities as well as Quicken's idea of asset classes, which don't match my idea. One Quicken "class" is "asset mixture", which doesn't do me a whole lot of good.

This chart is the up-to-date breakdown of my retirement portfolio, using asset classes I prefer. I think it's an example of tailoring things to your liking in a customized spreadsheet (workbook).

Keeping my fingers crossed that a PNG image coming from my Chromebook will actually post!

Agree with you. I don't find the stock reports in Quicken as I'd like, but being able to easily export into Excel allows me to create customized reports/views. I have 8 standard reports that I export monthly from Quicken and paste into Excel (as data sheets). One of the more useful ones is the details for tax planning, helps keep me centered for ACA subs.

 

[Montecfo]

I see the advantage of using spreadsheets being the flexibility. But I find I can get all the detail I want from my brokerage websites. I do not need to review or tweak AA frequently. And my tax basis etc is already there.

But I welcome learning if I am missing something.

 

[steelyman]

I see the advantage of using spreadsheets being the flexibility. But I find I can get all the detail I want from my brokerage websites. I do not need to review or tweak AA frequently. And my tax basis etc is already there.

But I welcome learning if I am missing something.

I think people who are satisfied with their setup don’t need to change anything, so they’re not missing something.

 

[bobandsherry]

I see the advantage of using spreadsheets being the flexibility. But I find I can get all the detail I want from my brokerage websites. I do not need to review or tweak AA frequently. And my tax basis etc is already there.

But I welcome learning if I am missing something.

If all the info you need is there, then probably all you need. Sounds like you are more focused on just your investments. However, for me, I have a need for more details than what my brokerage site has. Different stroke for different folks.

 

[Montecfo]

If all the info you need is there, then probably all you need. Sounds like you are more focused on just your investments. However, for me, I have a need for more details than what my brokerage site has. Different stroke for different folks.

Not focused on just investments. I use quicken for expense tracking and I do not see a reasonable alternative that is worth my time for that. For investments I get what I need from my brokerage websites which are in fact quite robust.

I was just trying to understand what investment details people wish to track in spreadsheets that do not originate with the broker.

For me beginning there seems the easiest route. I can analyze AA, track dividends, my basis in taxable investments is there, and so forth. I even have Morningstar reports there.

I once used Quicken to track investments but was spending too much time reconciling investments to actual. Now that brokerage sites have improved reporting and analysis, I see even less value in duplicating it elsewhere.

 

[steelyman]

I once used Quicken to track investments but was spending too much time reconciling investments to actual. Now that brokerage sites have improved reporting and analysis, I see even less value in duplicating it elsewhere.

It seems that your answer to the question posed in this thread is to use brokerage websites. That’s an answer, no need to go further.

 

[Montecfo]

It seems that your answer to the question posed in this thread is to use brokerage websites. That’s an answer, no need to go further.

You said that already. Thanks for the warm and helpful comments.

 

[bobandsherry]

Not focused on just investments. I use quicken for expense tracking and I do not see a reasonable alternative that is worth my time for that. For investments I get what I need from my brokerage websites which are in fact quite robust.

I was just trying to understand what investment details people wish to track in spreadsheets that do not originate with the broker.

For me beginning there seems the easiest route. I can analyze AA, track dividends, my basis in taxable investments is there, and so forth. I even have Morningstar reports there.

I once used Quicken to track investments but was spending too much time reconciling investments to actual. Now that brokerage sites have improved reporting and analysis, I see even less value in duplicating it elsewhere.

If you have all investments at one broker, maybe you have everything you need there. For me, I have 4 different brokers, two for 401k (wife and mine) and also two brokers for investments (stock options at one of those). Really no hassle to reconcile all 4 of them, all data downloads into Quicken and always reconciles. Quicken aggregates them all well. Also easier to pull data from Quicken to summarize my gains/losses as well as dividends with all my other income and I can easily pull into spreadsheet and quickly see my tax position. I can even reasonably estimate my qualified dividends. Just how I've managed my financial data, works easily for me with one central data source.

 

[Montecfo]

If you have all investments at one broker, maybe you have everything you need there. For me, I have 4 different brokers, two for 401k (wife and mine) and also two brokers for investments (stock options at one of those). Really no hassle to reconcile all 4 of them, all data downloads into Quicken and always reconciles. Quicken aggregates them all well. Also easier to pull data from Quicken to summarize my gains/losses as well as dividends with all my other income and I can easily pull into spreadsheet and quickly see my tax position. I can even reasonably estimate my qualified dividends. Just how I've managed my financial data, works easily for me with one central data source.

Makes sense. Thanks for the color. When I was using quicken for that I was at many more investment firms.

 

[steelyman]

For me, I have 4 different brokers, two for 401k (wife and mine) and also two brokers for investments (stock options at one of those).

I’m in a similar but scaled-down situation with respect to my tax-advantaged funds earmarked for retirement living. Three accounts held at two companies. Taxable stuff is separate.

The mutual fund companies I use support an add-in feature in which you can enter investments held elsewhere but that seems intrusive and ultimately more work to keep updated.

I suppose the companies could use that information for data mining purposes on their clients. It’s not necessary for the individual investor who aggregates their data with personal finance software and/or spreadsheets.

 

[bobandsherry]

The mutual fund companies I use support an add-in feature in which you can enter investments held elsewhere but that seems intrusive and ultimately more work to keep updated.

I suppose the companies could use that information for data mining purposes on their clients. It’s not necessary for the individual investor who aggregates their data with personal finance software and/or spreadsheets.

Agree, one of my brokerages offer similar, but while they track balances, they don't have the transnational details, or rather they don't show that to me, for the accounts not at their brokerage So more work to keep them updated as well as the same concern you have, they use that information for further data mining purposes. As they say, when a company offers a service for free and you wonder what the value is to them, the value is you and your data

There are some other balances I have that are not available online, those sites would never have 100% of my full financial reporting details. And I've looked at literally all the other alternatives. I either lose data on conversion, lose functionality and/or features or would end up costing me more in the long run.

So, I use Quicken to do all the dirty work for me. Yes, it cost me $30/yr (sub or whatever you want to call it) but I blow more than that on other totally stupid stuff in my life, so the 30 bucks isn't going to cause me to lower my lifestyle.

 

[Willers]

I've never found anything that can handle all of the information quicken can as easily as it can. I'm not an IT guy so I'm not going to build my own. I'm an advanced Excel user, but that's just not as convenient. I'm not thrilled about a subscription model, but the even with that the yearly fee is <.001 % of our nest egg. Skip one lunch out a year and it is paid for.

It just makes my life easier and it is a small price to pay. Maybe not for those recycling dryer sheets...

 

[steelyman]

Agree, one of my brokerages offer similar, but while they track balances, they don't have the transnational details, or rather they don't show that to me, for the accounts not at their brokerage So more work to keep them updated as well as the same concern you have, they use that information for further data mining purposes. As they say, when a company offers a service for free and you wonder what the value is to them, the value is you and your data

There are some other balances I have that are not available online, those sites would never have 100% of my full financial reporting details.

At risk of derailing the thread from its topic: I wonder, when reading doom and gloom reports of how people are not saving enough for retirement, if supporting evidence like “Fidelity (or whoever) reports average retirement account balance of $xx,xxx” underestimates reality. I don’t think it’s unusual for people to have accounts at multiple firms for various reasons so their actual savings is often higher.

 

[COcheesehead]

I built 3 spreadsheets that along with my brokerage account at Fidelity are all I need.
Spreadsheet 1 tracks current and historic value of 9 expense categories.
Spreadsheet 2 tracks current and historic net worth, PV of my retirement asset pool and portfolio value.
Spreadsheet 3 is my age plan. What best thing to do at each future age or a specific action needed in a future year.