Compare
Retirement planning software, compared
How Meridary stacks up against the planners people weigh it against: Boldin, ProjectionLab, Empower, and WealthTrace. The matrix is the at-a-glance view; the pages below go deep on each.
Competitor information reviewed September 3, 2026
How to choose
- Start with household and tax features your plan actually requires.
- Decide whether connected accounts or manual entry fits how you will maintain the plan.
- Compare the relevant paid tier, not a free tier with different capabilities.
- Read each tool’s assumptions and omissions before comparing its projected result.
| Feature | Meridary | Boldin | ProjectionLab | Empower | WealthTrace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time lifetime license | Subscription (free tier + paid) | Subscription (free tier + paid) | Free dashboard; advisory offered separately | Annual Standard and Deluxe tiers |
| Lifetime license | Yes | No | Not listed on current pricing page | n/a | No |
| Tax engine | Federal + flat state, on published IRS figures | Federal + per-state + IRMAA | Federal + state, IRMAA/ACA, auto-Optimizer | Not detailed on the public tools page | Tax updates; advanced scenarios on Deluxe |
| Household composition | Two-earner wages; one Social Security benefit | Couples supported | Couples supported | Couples supported | Couples supported |
| Account aggregation | No (by design) | Yes | Manual with supported integrations | Yes | Link/import (add-on charges may apply) |
| Monte Carlo | Yes, seeded, percentile fan | Yes | Yes | Retirement scenario projections | Yes |
| Risk-reducer | 30-day money-back guarantee | Free tier + 14-day trial | Free tier | Free | Trial available |
| Best for | A legible answer, owned once | Maximal depth + control | Open-ended model building | Free aggregated dashboard | Granular detail |
Comparison method: public features and prices are taken from each provider’s official pages listed below. Meridary’s own scope is taken from the live product and validation documentation. A listed feature does not establish that two products calculate it the same way.
Category decisions
Neutral comparisons between the planners buyers most often weigh together.
Head-to-head
Meridary next to another planner, feature by feature.
Meridary vs Boldin
Boldin offers a broad planning toolbox with connected accounts and many controls. Meridary offers a narrower guided plan with manual entry and a lifetime or monthly purchase choice.
Meridary vs ProjectionLab
ProjectionLab emphasizes flexible, detailed model building. Meridary emphasizes a guided U.S. retirement path with an explicitly narrower scope.
Meridary vs Empower
Empower combines a free connected financial dashboard with retirement tools and separately offers advisory services. Meridary is a paid, manually entered retirement model.
Meridary vs WealthTrace
WealthTrace offers tiered retirement-planning software with linked accounts and advanced analysis. Meridary offers a narrower guided model with lifetime and monthly pricing.
Alternatives
Thinking of switching? How Meridary stands in as an alternative.
A Boldin alternative with a smaller planning surface
Meridary is an alternative for people who do not need Boldin's full input set or account linking and prefer a guided plan with a lifetime purchase option.
A ProjectionLab alternative with a guided path
Meridary is an alternative for a narrower use case: a supported U.S. household that wants fewer modeling decisions and the option to purchase lifetime access.
An Empower alternative without account linking
Meridary is an alternative when you want a focused retirement projection and prefer manual account entry over a connected financial dashboard.
A WealthTrace alternative with fewer moving parts
Meridary is an alternative for households that do not need WealthTrace's connected accounts, report suite, insurance analysis, or Deluxe scenarios.
Comparison sources
- Boldin: DIY retirement and financial planning software pricing · Accessed September 3, 2026
- ProjectionLab: Pricing & subscriptions · Accessed September 3, 2026
- Empower: Financial tools · Accessed September 2, 2026
- WealthTrace: WealthTrace planning software features · Accessed September 2, 2026