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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Best personal accounting software
- Detailed account tracking
- Budgeting and savings tools
- Convenient interface
- Embedded help features
- Setup tab simplifies tasks
- Reported software bugs
- Ads in transaction register
- Expensive phone support
- No portfolio analysis
February 2009. Most professional reviews recommend Quicken 2009 Deluxe as the best personal accounting software, saying it has a slight edge over Microsoft Money Plus, its top competitor. In addition to detailed tracking of checking and savings accounts, Quicken 2009 includes convenient integration with online banking sites, as well as with PayPal and the iPhone. The software also provides tools to help pay bills on time and achieve savings goals. But reviews say that those using the 2007 or 2008 version have no reason to upgrade. Owners note drawbacks to the 2009 version, including ads in the transaction register, bugs and expensive phone support. The Billminder alert works only with Windows Vista. For those who want financial software that supports accounting but emphasizes budgeting, experts recommend You Need A Budget Pro (*est. $50).
We found the most credible comparison reviews of Quicken 2009 Deluxe at About.com. These reviews are thorough and detailed -- one comparing it with Money Plus, the other comparing Quicken 2009 with earlier versions. A review at Slate.com compares Quicken 2009 with Money Plus and a couple of financial accounting websites. Users rate and review Quicken 2009 Deluxe at Amazon.com. Reviews at CNet.com, PC World and Money magazines are based on Quicken 2008.
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Our Sources
1. About.com
This feature-by-feature comparison of Quicken 2009 and Money Plus includes details left out of most other reviews. The two software packages are compared across 11 categories. Quicken 2009 gets the higher score in six categories, and it ties with Money Plus in three others. ( Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Quicken vs. Microsoft Money, Shelley Elmblad
2. About.com
This review compares Quicken 2009 with earlier versions. The details here could make a difference in your decision, but the review concludes that most existing Quicken users don't need to upgrade. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Quicken 2009 Personal Finance Software Review, Shelley Elmblad
3. Slate.com
In this comparison, Mason 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 it 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
4. Amazon.com
About 100 owners review Quicken 2009 Deluxe here, with the average rating of two (on a five-point scale) stemming from people who have recently upgraded from an earlier version of Quicken. Many experienced problems with software bugs before Intuit issued two patches last fall. Some complain about poor customer service.
Review: Quicken Deluxe 2009, Contributors to Amazon.com
5. CNET
CNet tests the Premier rather than the Deluxe version of Quicken 2008, but calls Quicken 2008 "a solid finance package" overall, rating it 7.3 out of a possible 10. During testing, the software crashed a Windows Vista machine, and Quicken's tech support loses points for the inaccuracy of information it provided.
Review: Quicken Premier 2008, Jeff Bertolucci, Sept. 5, 2007
This review compares Quicken 2008 Home and Business with the equivalent Money Plus software for small business accounting, but many of the comments can also apply to Quicken 2008 Deluxe. For example, Quicken lets users download transactions from financial institutions for three years, while Money forces an upgrade after only two.
Review: First Look: Business Tools Help Quicken Edge Out Money Plus, Yardena Arar, Sept. 21, 2007
7. Money
This review tests only the 2007 versions of Quicken and Money, but it also covers lots of alternatives that are priced cheaper or are even free. Reviewer Futrelle says both Quicken and Money are good products, but he finds both "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…
