EmailBest Reviewed
Accounting Software
- Best personal accounting software Quicken 2009 Deluxe *Est. $50
- Alternative personal accounting software Money Plus Deluxe *Est. $55
- Budgeting and debt-management software You Need A Budget Pro *Est. $50
- Free personal accounting software GnuCash *Est. $0
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Alternative personal accounting software
- Free phone and chat support
- Desktop alerts and overviews
- Bill reminder
- No Mac version
- Complaints of bugs
- Displays ads within the software
- Downloads transactions only for two years
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Average Customer Review
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Unusable - Mostly bloatware and advertising, May 29, 2009I purchased this thinking that I could use it to enhance my banking record keeping. After several DAYS of trying to get this set up to work with online banking, I had to give up. This software appears… to be a cooperative effort between Microsoft and various banks. About half of this software is advertising for online services for a fee. The other half of the software is unusable. I estimate it would take a week to train one of my secretaries or staff to use this software. I have over 40 years of experience with computers, and, after a half of a day, I could not find out how to print a simple check from the software. There is no resident help feature. Consequently, everytime you need to reference the very, very, very complicated use of this software to accomplish even the most simple tasks (like printing a check) you must go online to MSN Today and spend (sometimes hours) looking for the use information you need. Are you still not convinced that this is a major RIPOFF? I installed it, and, when to the "Help About" feature to find out that in the small print my copy of the software "will expire on 1/21/2010" for online use. In other words, you don't buy this software, you are paying just to RENT it for a year. After one year you would find out that you MUST BUY THE NEW VERSION FOR 2010 or you will be unable to use ANY OF your online banking and accounting data for 2009! This will be a HUGE mistake if you try to implement it in your home or business accounting. The Microsoft execs and marketing people who are behind this should be put in prison.
Dreadful, January 17, 2009New versions are not improvements, December 12, 2008I was forced to update to this version because my bank no longer communicates with Money 99. Believe me, Money 98 and 99 were the best versions. All since have added the "traditional" Microsoft bloat,… complications, and features nobody much needs. After many hours, I gave up on transferring my data from 99 to Plus, even though the Microsoft website gives procedures. So now I have 10 years of data that is no longer accessible. Why is it that Microsoft won't allow two versions of Money to co-exist on a computer? BTW, I'm not normally a crank, it's just that Money 99 was a very good, useful program, and they have screwed it up.
Our Sources
1. About.com
This head-to-head comparison of Quicken 2009 and Money Plus includes a detailed breakdown of features that's very helpful. Overall, Quicken comes out ahead. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Quicken vs. Microsoft Money, Shelley Elmblad
2. CNET
CNet.com reviews the Plus Premium version of Microsoft Money Plus, but it assigns all the versions the same rating of 6.7 on a 10-point scale -- lower than the "very good" rating for Quicken. Wenzel concludes that Money 2008 provides excellent reports and has some nice features, but that some aspects are awkward and ad-ridden.
Review: Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe 2008, Elsa Wenzel, Nov. 19, 2007
3. Slate.com
Currey gives Money Plus Deluxe a total score of 23 out of 40, while Quicken Deluxe 2009 gets a 22. Currey says he found Money Plus Deluxe easier to set up and use than Quicken Deluxe. He gives Quicken a higher score for security, however, because Money Plus requires the use of a Windows Live ID to access the service. Because this login is used for a variety of Microsoft-run services, it may be more vulnerable.
Review: Show Me My Money: What's the Best Software for Keeping Track of Your Personal Finances?, Mason Currey, Oct. 7, 2008
This review compares the small-business versions of Money Plus and Quicken 2008, but many of the comments can also apply to other versions. As the article title states, Quicken comes out ahead.
Review: First Look: Business Tools Help Quicken Edge Out Money Plus, Yardena Arar, Sept. 21, 2007
5. Amazon.com
More than 70 owners review Money Plus Deluxe here, giving it a rather dismal average rating of only 2.5 on a five-point scale. Many owners complain about bugs, having to view ads and the software's sluggishness; others don't like having to upgrade every two years or lose online support. Many do like the software itself, however.
Review: Money Plus Deluxe, Contributors to Amazon.com
6. About.com
This detailed single-product review compares several versions of Money Plus 2008, with plenty of attention to the investment features. The review is especially useful if you're not sure which version to choose for an upgrade. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Microsoft Money Plus Review, Shelley Elmblad
7. Money.com
This review tests only the 2007 versions of Quicken and Money and focuses on basic accounting rather than tracking investments. Although both Quicken and Money are good products, reviewer Futrelle points out that both are "so big that they can run slowly and be difficult to navigate."
Review: The Best Personal-Finance Software, David Futrelle, Aug. 30, 2007
Accounting Software Runners Up:
2 picks including: About.com…
2 picks including: About.com…
