Software · head to head
Investopedia Stock Simulator vs Quicken
The short version
- Only Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Investopedia Stock Simulator market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education; Quicken quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
- They diverge on capability: Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Quicken covers Budget creation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Investopedia Stock Simulator and Quicken actually diverge.
| Attribute | Investopedia Stock Simulator | Quicken |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $3.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
| Founded | 2009 | 1983 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Virtual stock trading
- Real-time market data
- Portfolio management
- Educational resources
- Market data
- Web support
Only in Quicken
- Budget creation
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Tax planning
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Credit cards
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Budget Managementnot Quicken
- Expense Trackingnot Quicken
- Investment Trackingnot Quicken
Quicken
- Individuals managing personal finances via Quicken Simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings trackingnot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via Quicken Business & Personal plannot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Users preferring local data storage via Classic desktop editionsnot Investopedia Stock Simulator
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education
- Limited order type support compared to modern trading platforms
- Simplified fill simulation does not replicate real trading execution
- Platform has not received significant updates in many years
Quicken
- Quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
- Renewal pricing significantly higher than introductory rate; annual cost jumps from $47.88 (promotional) to $83.88 (regular renewal)
Pricing, plan by plan
Investopedia Stock Simulator
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Investopedia Stock Simulator review.
Quicken
$3.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Quicken review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Investopedia Stock Simulator if
- You need virtual stock trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time market data.
Choose Quicken if
- You need budget creation.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- You also want bill management.
Questions people ask
- Is Investopedia Stock Simulator or Quicken better?
- Neither clearly leads. Investopedia Stock Simulator starts at Free and Quicken at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Investopedia Stock Simulator or Quicken?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Investopedia Stock Simulator and $3.99/month for Quicken.
- Does Investopedia Stock Simulator or Quicken run on more platforms?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator runs on Web. Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- Can I use Investopedia Stock Simulator for free?
- Yes. Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quicken starts at $3.99/month.
- What is Investopedia Stock Simulator best used for?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what Quicken is typically brought in for.
- What can Investopedia Stock Simulator do that Quicken cannot?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Real-time market data, Portfolio management, Educational resources. Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Investment tracking, Tax planning.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Investopedia Stock Simulator: Is the Investopedia Stock Simulator free?
Yes, the Investopedia Stock Simulator is completely free to use after creating an account. No real funds are required for simulated trading.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: What is included in the simulator?
Users receive a $100,000 virtual portfolio to trade stocks, with integrated educational content including articles, tutorials, and a financial dictionary for learning investing.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: What are the limitations of the Investopedia Simulator?
The simulator uses delayed market data (typically 15-20 minutes), has limited order type support, simplified fill simulation, and has not received proper updates in many years.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: Can you compete with other traders?
Yes, you can join existing games or create custom games with configurable rules including options, margin trading, and adjustable commission rates, competing with thousands of Investopedia traders.
SourceRelated pages
More on Investopedia Stock Simulator
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