Boldin vs ProjectionLab 2026: Which Retirement Planning Tool Wins?
Boldin vs ProjectionLab: the two leading DIY retirement planning tools compared head-to-head. Boldin wins on Roth conversion tax modelling; ProjectionLab wins on Monte Carlo depth and FIRE-horizon planning.
Boldin PlannerPlus
9/10
ProjectionLab Premium
8.5/10
Verdict by use case
| Use case | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Roth conversion optimisation | Boldin | Year-by-year Roth conversion with tax-bracket targeting and IRMAA modelling is more sophisticated than ProjectionLab's tax layer |
| Monte Carlo simulation depth | ProjectionLab | 10,000 scenarios vs Boldin's 1,000 — more statistically reliable for tail-risk analysis |
| FIRE long-horizon planning (30-60 years) | ProjectionLab | Built for FIRE horizons; variable withdrawal rates and FIRE-specific scenario types are stronger |
| Scenario comparison UI | ProjectionLab | Side-by-side scenario viewing is cleaner and more usable |
| Pre-retiree with pensions (FERS, TSP) | Boldin | Multi-source pension + 401k + SS stacking is more accurately handled |
| Ease of onboarding | Boldin | Faster to get a meaningful first result; ProjectionLab rewards more investment |
| Price / value | Tie | Boldin $120/yr (monthly) vs ProjectionLab $109/yr; lifetime $799 PL tilts value toward PL for long-term users |
The short answer
Choose Boldin if you’re a pre-retiree (5-15 years from retirement) who needs Roth conversion optimisation, IRMAA modelling, or multi-source pension planning.
Choose ProjectionLab if you’re pursuing FIRE, want maximum Monte Carlo simulation accuracy (10,000 runs), or prefer a cleaner scenario comparison UI.
Use both if you can — Boldin for the tax-optimisation layer, ProjectionLab for independent Monte Carlo sanity-checking. See our two-tool stack guide.
The Monte Carlo difference
This is the key technical distinction and it matters.
Boldin PlannerPlus runs 1,000 Monte Carlo scenarios. ProjectionLab Premium runs 10,000. Both are meaningfully better than linear-projection tools (Fidelity, Vanguard, Bankrate), which assume a fixed return and report “you’re on track” without scenario analysis.
The practical difference between 1,000 and 10,000 scenarios: tail risks (the worst 5-10% of historical market sequences) show up more clearly with a larger sample. For conventional pre-retirees with 20-25 year horizons, the difference is moderate. For FIRE planners with 40+ year horizons, it’s more significant — the tail of a 40-year simulation has more compounding variance than a 25-year one.
If you’re on a FIRE path, ProjectionLab’s 10,000 runs give you a more reliable success probability.
Tax modelling: where Boldin wins
ProjectionLab includes tax modelling, but it’s thinner than Boldin’s. The specific gap is Roth conversion optimisation: Boldin lets you specify target tax brackets for Roth conversions, models the IRMAA cliff (Medicare premium surcharge triggered at specific MAGI thresholds), and projects year-by-year tax bills across your entire retirement timeline.
This matters most in the “Roth conversion window” — the years between retirement and RMD age (currently 73, rising to 75 per SECURE 2.0) when income is often lower and strategic Roth conversions can reduce lifetime taxes by $20,000-$100,000+ for households at moderate income levels.
If this optimisation is relevant to your situation, Boldin’s tax layer is worth the price difference.
Use-case decision matrix
| You are… | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Pre-retiree, 5-10 years out, want Roth conversion help | Boldin PlannerPlus |
| FIRE pursuer, 30-50 year horizon, want Monte Carlo depth | ProjectionLab Premium |
| Federal employee with FERS + TSP + SS to model | Boldin (handles pension stacking better) |
| Just getting started, want quick first result | Boldin (faster onboarding) |
| Power user who will invest time to learn the tool | Either (PL rewards investment) |
| Want lifetime pricing to avoid recurring fees | ProjectionLab ($799 lifetime) |
Pricing comparison
| Tool | Annual | Lifetime | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boldin PlannerPlus | $120/yr (monthly) or $144/yr | N/A | IRMAA + Roth conversion layer |
| ProjectionLab Premium | $109/yr | $799 | Lifetime is the value anchor |
Both prices verified from vendor pages May 2026.
The two-tool stack verdict
For most serious DIY planners: start with Boldin PlannerPlus for the primary planning session (tax modelling, Roth conversion, drawdown sequencing), then run the same scenario in FIRECalc (free) as an independent Monte Carlo sanity-check. If you’re FIRE-focused, swap FIRECalc for ProjectionLab.
This gives you the tax depth of a paid tool and the simulation independence of a community-built free tool.
Tools tested hands-on May 2026. Pricing verified from vendor pages. Affiliate disclosure: we earn commissions on Boldin signups; we earn $0 on ProjectionLab signups. Sources: Boldin pricing, ProjectionLab pricing, Bogleheads comparison thread.