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Quicken vs Vanguard

Quicken logo

Quicken

Software

Take control of your finances

From
$3.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vanguard logo

Vanguard

Software

Investing for your future

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Quicken quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal; Vanguard a 25 USD annual account service fee applies unless the account uses e-delivery, is a Cash Plus Account, is enrolled in an advisory service, or holds 1 million USD or more in qualifying assets
  • They diverge on capability: Quicken covers Budget creation, Vanguard covers Low-cost index funds.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Quicken and Vanguard actually diverge.

Attributes where Quicken and Vanguard differ
AttributeQuickenVanguard
Starting price$3.99/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOSWeb, IOS, Android
Founded19831975

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Quicken

  • Budget creation
  • Bill management
  • Investment tracking
  • Tax planning
  • Credit cards
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

Only in Vanguard

  • Low-cost index funds
  • Commission-free trading
  • Retirement accounts
  • Financial advisors
  • Web support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • IOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Quicken

  • Individuals managing personal finances via Quicken Simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings trackingnot Vanguard
  • Freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via Quicken Business & Personal plannot Vanguard
  • Users preferring local data storage via Classic desktop editionsnot Vanguard

Vanguard

  • Holding low cost index mutual funds and ETFs for long term investingnot Quicken
  • Running IRAs and taxable brokerage accountsnot Quicken
  • Employer retirement plan participationnot Quicken

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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)

Vanguard

  • A 25 USD annual account service fee applies unless the account uses e-delivery, is a Cash Plus Account, is enrolled in an advisory service, or holds 1 million USD or more in qualifying assets
  • Broker assisted trades cost 25 USD each, waived only at 1 million USD in qualifying assets or with an advisory service
  • Options trades carry a 1 USD per contract fee on top of zero commission
  • Transaction fee mutual funds cost 20 USD per online trade below 1 million USD in qualifying assets, falling to 8 USD only at higher tiers
  • Outgoing wire transfers cost 10 USD unless the account is a retirement account or holds 1 million USD or more
  • Commission levels are tied to a Qualifying Assets balance, so the cheapest rates require 1 million USD or more

Pricing, plan by plan

Quicken

$3.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Quicken review.

Vanguard

On request
  • Self-Directed Investor$undefined/month
    • Low-cost index funds
    • Commission-free trading
  • Advisory Services$undefined/month
    • All Self-Directed features
    • Financial advisors

Which should you pick?

Choose Quicken if

  • You need budget creation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want bill management.
Quicken review

Choose Vanguard if

  • You need low-cost index funds.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want commission-free trading.
Vanguard review

Questions people ask

Is Quicken or Vanguard better?
Neither clearly leads. Quicken starts at $3.99/month and Vanguard at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Quicken or Vanguard?
Quicken starts at $3.99/month and Vanguard at On request.
Does Quicken or Vanguard run on more platforms?
Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. Vanguard runs on Web, IOS, Android.
What is Quicken best used for?
Quicken is most often used for individuals managing personal finances via quicken simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings tracking, freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via quicken business & personal plan, users preferring local data storage via classic desktop editions. Of those, individuals managing personal finances via quicken simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings tracking and freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via quicken business & personal plan are not what Vanguard is typically brought in for.
What can Quicken do that Vanguard cannot?
Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Investment tracking, Tax planning. Vanguard covers Low-cost index funds, Commission-free trading, Retirement accounts, Financial advisors. Both handle Bank accounts, Investment accounts, IOS support.
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