Enough

Honest Comparison · 2026

EnoughMoney vs FIRECalc

FIRECalc is the longest-running, free, historical-returns FIRE calculator — built by Bill Bernstein-adjacent early-retirement enthusiasts in 2002. Rough UI, unimpeachable methodology.

Bottom Line

FIRECalc is the methodological gold standard for US historical-returns backtesting; EnoughMoney provides the actual planning surface. Use both.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureEnoughMoneyFIRECalc
Retirement Math
Safe Withdrawal Rate Calculator✓Yes✓Yes
Monte Carlo simulation✓Yes✗No
Historical returns backtest✓YesBest-in-class
Dynamic / variable withdrawal (Guyton-Klinger, VPW)✓YesPartial
Sequence-of-returns risk modeling✓Yes✓Yes
Tax Planning
US federal tax engine✓Yes✗No
US state tax (all 50 states)✓Yes✗No
International tax (86 countries)✓Yes✗No
Roth conversion modeling✓Yes✗No
Tax-optimized withdrawal sequencing✓Yes✗No
Geographic Intelligence
City cost-of-living comparison✓Yes✗No
Cities covered307None
Geo-arbitrage FIRE modeling✓Yes✗No
Lifestyle-tier simulator✓Yes✗No
Planning & Experience
Multi-account portfolio tracking✓Yes✗No
What-if scenarios✓Yes✗No
AI-powered coaching✓Yes✗No
Public calculators (no login)✓Yes✓Yes
Mobile accessWeb-responsiveWeb only (desktop-oriented)

Based on publicly available feature documentation as of 2026-04-17. Corrections and updates welcome.

Pricing: FIRECalc vs EnoughMoney

FIRECalc

Free: Entirely free, no account required

EnoughMoney

Free: All public calculators (FIRE, SWR, Roth, tax, city comparison) — no signup.

  • Navigator: $19/mo or $15/mo annual ($179/yr)the money dimension — personal CFO: FIRE planning, tax, withdrawal, lifestyle simulator
  • Architect: $29/mo or $23/mo annual ($279/yr)all 10 dimensions of a wealthy life — adds Studio, Thread, life-events planning, emotional resilience

What FIRECalc Does Well

  • ✓Longest-running FIRE calculator on the internet (since 2002)
  • ✓Uses historical US market data from 1871 forward — 'if you'd retired in each historical year, did your plan survive?'
  • ✓Zero marketing, zero subscription — the purest expression of the FIRE ethos
  • ✓Bengen-faithful methodology, adjustable to any time horizon
  • ✓Beloved by the early-retirement-forum.com community

Where EnoughMoney Goes Further

  • →UI is from 2002 and shows it — multi-step form flow, no visualization beyond simple charts
  • →US-only historical data; no international markets
  • →No tax modeling at all (it's a pre-tax portfolio simulator)
  • →No city or geographic intelligence
  • →No account features, scenario saving, or sharing

Which Should You Pick?

Pick FIRECalc if…

Use FIRECalc for a second opinion — run your plan through its historical-returns engine as a sanity check against whatever your primary tool says. It's free, methodologically sound, and the absence of marketing makes it uniquely trustworthy. Don't use it as your only tool.

Visit FIRECalc →

Pick EnoughMoney if…

Use EnoughMoney as your primary tool for its tax modeling, geographic intelligence, scenario saving, and modern UX — then use FIRECalc as a backtest sanity check.

Try our FIRE Calculator →

FAQs

Is FIRECalc still accurate in 2026?

The methodology (historical returns from 1871-present) is still valid and updated annually. The UI has not been modernized since 2002, but the engine itself is accurate and widely used as a reference.

Does FIRECalc account for taxes?

No. FIRECalc models your pre-tax portfolio. You need to adjust your withdrawal rate or spending to reflect your expected tax drag. EnoughMoney models taxes explicitly.

Which is better, FIRECalc or cFIREsim?

Both are free, both use historical data. FIRECalc is the older and more conservative; cFIREsim has more customization and modern UI. Both are respected by the FIRE community.

Try EnoughMoney — free, no credit card

Run our FIRE calculator, compare cities, model your tax drag across 86 countries, or explore the lifestyle simulator. All core planning is free; Navigator ($19/mo) unlocks AI coaching and the full personal plan.

Create Free AccountTry calculator first

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This comparison is an independent editorial analysis. EnoughMoney has no affiliate or financial relationship with FIRECalc. Feature descriptions reflect publicly-available documentation as of April 2026 — things change; verify current features before subscribing.