RetireCalcs vs FIRECalc: FIRE-Focused Comparison
FIRECalc is the long-running FIRE community favorite — a simulation tool that tests your portfolio against every historical market starting point. RetireCalcs covers FIRE plus the rest of retirement planning (Social Security, RMDs, 401(k) targets, Roth conversions). Both have a place in the FIRE planner's toolbox.
FIRECalc pros
- Cult favorite among the FIRE community — strong credibility for the specific use case
- Tests your portfolio against every starting point in US market history (1871-present) — deeply battle-tested methodology
- "Cycles" output shows exactly how many historical cycles failed, when they failed, and why
- Free, no signup, no email required — pure standalone calculator
- Configurable for variable spending, second-portfolio inflows (rental income), Social Security timing
FIRECalc cons
- UI is mid-2000s — text-heavy form fields, dense outputs, mobile-unfriendly
- Single calculator focused on portfolio survival — no broader retirement planning (no Roth conversion, no RMDs, no 401(k) targets, no Social Security claim optimization)
- No saved scenarios or shareable results — every visit re-enters all inputs
- Output is a survival rate, not actionable advice ("you have 92% historical success" → what should I change?)
- Maintenance is volunteer-driven; UI has not been modernized in 15+ years
Where RetireCalcs is better
- Modern, mobile-first UI
- Broader scope: FIRE math + 25× rule + 401(k) targets by age + Social Security timing + Roth conversion + RMD planning
- Step-by-step guides explaining when to use each calculator and how to interpret outputs
- Faster scenario comparison — change one input, see the change, no full form re-entry
- Calculator-first UX — your inputs are visible without scrolling
Use FIRECalc when
For deep FIRE-specific historical simulation. FIRECalc's methodology of testing against every historical start point is the gold standard for evaluating portfolio survival, especially for early retirees with 40–60 year horizons.
Use RetireCalcs when
For broader retirement planning beyond just portfolio survival. When you also need to think about Social Security timing, RMDs after 73, Roth conversion windows in your 60s, and 401(k) contribution targets by age. FIRECalc tests one specific question really well; RetireCalcs covers the full planning landscape.