BEST DEALS OF THE DAY Quicken has been around for years, with roots in budgeting dating back to XNUMX, and thankfully that means it's still making transitions that keep it reassuringly relevant. This is especially the case during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It also has the added benefit of being available as software that will also run on a Windows or Mac machine, as well as its mobile counterparts. Quicken actually gave us a boost lately, as it was updated to coincide with the release of Apple's latest operating system, macOS XNUMX Big Sur. There's an improved interface, as well as a host of features that let users harness the power of Apple's new operating system. There is also a version that can be used online only if downloading software is not your thing. Although Quicken has a bit more enthusiastic competition these days, it's still a super-useful bundle of money management software. Add in other useful features like the optional ability to sync with your checking accounts, strong XNUMX-bit encryption, like cloud-based backups, and there's a lot to like. Look up Mint, You Need a Budget (YNAB), Banktree, Money Dashboard, or Moneydance if you want to see what some of the contenders have to offer.
Quicken comes in different shapes to suit different budgets (Image credit: Intuit)
Award
Today, Quicken Starter costs start at $XNUMX a year, with a Deluxe version currently costing $XNUMX, down from $XNUMX. Meanwhile, a premier edition is available for €XNUMX from its regular cost of €XNUMX. Other than that, there's a home and business version for $XNUMX instead of the usual retail price of $XNUMX. All of these costs are based on an annual subscription, which could make the plan more expensive over time. However, you should also keep in mind that while the prices were reasonable at the time of writing, they may change in line with each and every one of our other software reviews. However, Quicken offers a reasonably attractive cost structure, even if you're looking at the product at its most normal cost.
Features
The latest update to Quicken has resulted in the addition of some useful new features, with real benefits, in the Mac version. You'll find that you work better on this platform now, more than ever, as each and every users can take advantage of the familiar interface that is easier to use. You'll start your financial journey in the Getting Started tab, which gives a comprehensive overview of your financial status. For beginners, there's also a wizard-style system to help you choose your path when setting up. Of course, when you've saved a lot of your data in Quicken, the processes involved in managing your money become simpler.
Quicken's interface updates mean it has a powerful set of features (Image credit: Intuit) There are key areas that help you get a picture of your financial situation, with an Expenses tab, an Invoices section, and also Income, etc., each and every one of which are pretty simple to understand. Customization of these areas is also essential, as it allows you to fully customize Quicken to your needs.
Quicken is great at understanding how your finances change (Image credit: Intuit)
One of the most attractive aspects of the latest incarnation of Quicken is that it can be used as an online solution only if you prefer. This is good news for anyone who tends to move from one machine or device to another and doesn't want to start downloading software on multiple computers. As a result, the performance you can expect from Quicken will largely depend on your Internet connection, but if all goes well, you'll find the software to work just fine. However, you get fewer features in this edition, so for relentless performance and the full set of tools, features, and functions, you'll still want to go down the downloadable software path.
Quicken has a powerful set of tools, but you'll need to spend some time learning the ropes (Image credit: Intuit)
Ease of use
Although we love the many customization options in Quicken, there is a slight drawback to this, in that it can be quite difficult to get things just the way you like them. While usability is usually pretty good, you're going to need to spend some quality time shaping Quicken to make it work the way you want it to. However, other areas of Quicken are designed with overall efficiency in mind, and it works especially well for the auxiliary keys you get in the Premier Edition and later versions. The bill pay option, for example, is a great way to optimize your expenses, but we're also very interested in alarm tools that really allow you to even out your finances and maintain them that way. This is especially the case when it comes to paying bills on time. Of course, you'll need to create an account to do all of this, but it'll only take a few minutes, like matching the app with your checking accounts.
Quicken has been around for a long time, but it still gets a regular injection of new features (Image credit: Intuit)
Support
Considering how long Quicken has been around, it's no wonder you can find plenty of tips online and video tutorials for taking full advantage of its charms. In addition to this, there are tons of documents to help you discover the inner workings of this sometimes quite complex software. We also found the community aspect of Quicken really nice, with plenty of user experiences giving you valuable insight into its finer corners. If you choose Quicken Premier or higher, you get free access to a premium level of phone support for one year. Alternatively, it's currently available as an add-on for €XNUMX.
You will find an extensive variety of help resources in Quicken, such as telephone support for Premier editions and above (Image credit: Intuit)
Final verdict
We think Quicken ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to getting your finances in shape. If you're happy with the subscription costs and use it a lot, the plan seems to be good value for money. While we think you'll surely place the most value on the kinds of small businesses with more to think about than people with easier finances to run. Much has been done to improve the interface, functionality, and usability with the current edition. As a result, the mobile versions are robust, while the anywhere access option is ideal for people who need to access Quicken through a browser on multiple machines. A good level of security, powerful synchronization with checking accounts, and the ability to use cloud-based backups add value here. THE BEST DEALS OF THE DAY