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Tested May 2026 · Version ProjectionLab 2026 · Edited by Max

ProjectionLab Review 2026: The FIRE Community's Favourite Planning Tool

ProjectionLab is the FIRE community's preferred tool for Monte Carlo simulation, with 10,000 scenario runs, a clean scenario-comparison UI, and lifetime pricing at $799. Best for probability-of-success modelling; pair with Boldin for Roth conversion tax work.

8.5/10 Our score
Best for
FIRE aspirants and DIY modelers who prioritise Monte Carlo simulation accuracy and scenario UI
Skip if
You need deep Roth conversion or IRMAA tax modelling — Boldin or Maxifi handle that better
Price floor
$0 (free tier) / $109/yr (Premium) / $799 lifetime
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Affiliate link — disclosed

Realism check

ProjectionLab runs 10,000 Monte Carlo scenarios — the highest run count of any tool in this price range. A 90% success rate here is based on a larger simulation sample than most competitors, making it more statistically reliable.

What ProjectionLab actually is

ProjectionLab is a browser-based retirement and financial independence planning tool built with a clear bias toward Monte Carlo simulation accuracy and scenario modelling clarity. Founded by a software engineer (not a product-manager-led team), it has stronger simulation infrastructure than most tools in its price range.

Key differentiators:

  • 10,000 Monte Carlo runs — highest in the $0-$200/yr tier
  • Clean scenario comparison UI — side-by-side scenario viewing that Boldin lacks
  • Lifetime pricing at $799 — removes the recurring-fee decision
  • Local-first option — data can stay in browser storage; no mandatory cloud account

The free tier gives access to core Monte Carlo, which is unusual — most tools gate Monte Carlo behind a paywall.

The 10,000 scenario advantage

Monte Carlo simulation accuracy is proportional to run count. Boldin runs 1,000 scenarios. ProjectionLab runs 10,000. The practical difference: edge cases (worst-case sequence-of-returns events, tail-risk scenarios) show up more clearly with 10,000 runs.

For a FIRE planner with a 40-year retirement horizon, this matters more than for a conventional retiree with a 25-year horizon. The longer the horizon, the more sequence-of-returns variance compounds — and the more you want a large sample.

Strengths

  • Scenario UI: The ability to compare scenarios side-by-side (aggressive vs conservative vs baseline) is cleaner than any other tool in this price range
  • FIRE-specific horizon handling: 30-60 year horizons don’t break the model
  • Variable withdrawal rate support: Guyton-Klinger guardrails, VPW (Variable Percentage Withdrawal), bucket strategy — more withdrawal strategies modelled than Boldin
  • Lifetime option: $799 lifetime is the upsell anchor — heavy upfront cost, but removes the $109/yr recurring decision

Weaknesses

  • Tax modelling is thinner than Boldin: Roth conversion optimisation, IRMAA projection, and year-by-year tax bracket targeting are less sophisticated than Boldin PlannerPlus
  • Pension handling: Basic pension input, but not as granular as Boldin for FERS/TSP stacking
  • No advisor tier: No equivalent to Boldin Advisors ($2,800) for professional second-opinion reviews

Pricing

TierPriceWhat you get
Free$0Core Monte Carlo, basic scenarios
Premium (annual)$109/yrFull features, unlimited scenarios
Lifetime$799All Premium features, no renewal

Pricing verified from projectionlab.com/pricing May 2026.

Verdict

ProjectionLab Premium is the right pick if Monte Carlo simulation depth and clean scenario UI are your priorities. For the FIRE community, the 10,000-run simulation, long-horizon handling, and variable withdrawal rate support make it the default tool.

Pair with: Boldin PlannerPlus free trial — if your plan requires Roth conversion sequencing or IRMAA modelling, ProjectionLab’s tax layer is thinner. Boldin handles the tax side better. See our two-tool stack guide.

Also consider: FIRECalc (free) for historical sequence testing alongside ProjectionLab’s Monte Carlo. Pralana Online ($119/yr) if you prefer actuary-grade accuracy over interface polish.

No public affiliate program for ProjectionLab as of May 2026 — we earn $0 from ProjectionLab signups. Pricing verified from vendor page May 2026. Source: ProjectionLab product page.

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Affiliate disclosure: we earn a commission if you sign up. Rankings are based on testing, not payout.

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