Is there a free alternative to Projection Lab?

Yes, NovaPlan's Plans for the Future is a 100% free and private alternative to Projection Lab. It features advanced multi-phase simulation, linear stock/bond glidepaths, spending guardrails, tax drag, and historical cohort backtests.

Does NovaPlan support asset allocation glidepaths?

Yes, NovaPlan allows you to define a starting stock percentage and a target retirement stock percentage, transitioning linear portfolio return and volatility calculations dynamically as you age.

How does the historical backtesting compare to Projection Lab?

NovaPlan features real year-by-year historical returns and CPI inflation data for key cohorts (1929 Great Depression, 1966 Stagflation, 1982 Golden Bull Run, 1999 Dotcom Crash) to run high-fidelity backtests.

Free Projection Lab Alternative | Interactive Timeline Planner

Why NovaPlan is the Best Free Alternative to Projection Lab

If you love the advanced planning features of Projection Lab but want a completely free, open-source, and private solution, NovaPlan's Plans for the Future is designed for you.

NovaPlan runs entirely in your browser with local data persistence, meaning your personal financial numbers are never uploaded to a third-party server. It bridges the gap between basic spreadsheets and costly premium planning software by delivering high-fidelity simulations for accumulation, drawdown, taxes, asset glidepaths, and spending guardrails.

Feature Comparison: NovaPlan vs. Projection Lab

Capability	NovaPlan (Free & Open Source)	Projection Lab
Dual-Phase Modeling (Accumulation & Drawdown)	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
Linear Stock/Bond Glidepath	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
Guyton-Klinger Spending Guardrails	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
Taxes & Tax Drag Modeling	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
Monte Carlo Simulation	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
Historical Backtesting (Great Depression, etc.)	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
Interactive FIRE Milestone Pins (Coast, Barista, Full)	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
No Sign-up / Local Data Privacy	✓ Yes (Free)	✓ Yes (Paid)
Monthly Pricing	$0 (100% Free)	From $9/mo

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Multi-Phase Engine

Model savings contributions during your career and inflation-adjusted withdrawals in retirement, offset by social security starting at 65.

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Linear Glidepaths

Transition stock and bond percentages linearly as you age to protect your portfolio's value from sequence of returns risk.

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Spending Guardrails

Apply Guyton-Klinger Capital Preservation and Prosperity rules to dynamically adjust withdrawals based on portfolio health.

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