Comparison
Meridary vs Empower
One is free because it sells advice; the other you pay for once and it sells nothing. Here's how to choose between Empower's dashboard and Meridary.
By Steven, Founder · Updated July 24, 2026
The core trade-off
Empower Personal Dashboard is free and its account aggregation is best-in-class — but it's the top of a funnel toward Empower's paid wealth-management service, and linking your accounts triggers advisor outreach. Its planner is also light on the tax detail that decides a retirement answer.
Meridary charges once and sells nothing else. It skips aggregation entirely — you enter your accounts — and curates the tax interactions Empower's planner mostly skips: federal tax plus a flat state rate, RMDs, Social Security taxation, and Roth conversions.
Pick Empower if…
You want a free, polished net-worth dashboard that aggregates every account automatically, and you don't mind that it's paid for by advisory sales — or hearing from an advisor after you link.
Pick Meridary if…
You want an independent, tax-aware answer to “will my money last” with no account linking and no sales calls, and you'd rather pay once for the tool than be the product.
Where they differ most
Empower is built around aggregation and advice; Meridary is built around a legible, after-tax projection you own. If tax-aware planning is the job, Meridary models it; if a free aggregated dashboard is the job, Empower does that well.
Meridary vs Empower, at a glance
| Feature | Meridary | Empower |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A tax-aware, independent retirement answer | A free, auto-updating net-worth dashboard |
| You pay with | One price, once ($149–$199) | Your linked data + advisory sales calls |
| Retirement tax detail | Roth, RMDs, SS taxation — plus IRMAA/ACA tools | Light — the free planner skips most of it |
| Account data | You enter it — nothing to link | Linked automatically; that's the product |
| Independence | Sells only the tool — no upsell | Funnels toward paid wealth management |
Related free calculators
Frequently asked
- Is Empower or Meridary better for tax planning?
- Meridary — it models the tax interactions that move a retirement answer (Roth conversions, RMDs, Social Security taxation) that Empower's free planner largely omits. Empower is stronger at automatic aggregation.
- Do I have to link my accounts to use Meridary?
- No. Unlike Empower, Meridary has no account aggregation — you enter your accounts yourself, so there are no credentials to share and no linking required.
Read next
This is an educational estimate, not tax or financial advice. Figures reflect the law year shown and the inputs you provide. Consult a qualified professional before acting.