The following assumes you have downloaded a qif file for a single account from a financial institution, or have a qif file exported from a single account in a Quicken data fileset.
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Starting with this year’s release, Quicken 2018, Quicken has changed their pricing structure and the various Quicken editions. The price is more expensive than people have paid in the past and payment is based on a yearly subscription. Basically, you now pay a yearly fee for the rights to use the Quicken program.
In case you are looking for an alternative to Quicken, I will first mention the two top Quicken replacements.
After that, I’ll explain the new Quicken editions for 2018, then I’ll talk more about the pricing changes.
Alternatives to Quicken
Understandably, some people are frustrated with Quicken’s change in pricing. For people who don’t normally upgrade Quicken every year, the new pricing can be quite a bit more expensive. Before you take the leap into a Quicken subscription, you may consider trying out one of these two alternatives.
The first alternative is completely free and the other has a free 30-day trial.
1. Personal Capital
My first recommendation is Personal Capital. This program is completely free and is an outstanding product. It’s easy to set up, easy to use, and lets you keep track of all your accounts in one place. For anyone with investments, it has especially good investment tools that are better than those that come with Quicken. Try Personal Capital for free.
2. Moneyspire
My second recommendation is Moneyspire. This program is very similar to Quicken, it supports both Windows and Mac, and comes with a free 30-day trial. You can even import your Quicken data into Moneyspire so you don’t lose any history. This is the best desktop personal financial management program next to Quicken and a great alternative if you are looking for a change. Try Moneyspire free for 30 days.
New Quicken Editions for 2018
There are now three editions for Mac users and four editions for Windows users.
Mac users can rejoice because Quicken Starter, Deluxe, and Premier work on both Windows and Mac. Formerly, there was only one limited version of Quicken for Mac, but now Mac users get the same versions of Quicken that are available to Windows users, along with all the great features that have been missing from previous Mac editions.
The former Quicken Rental Property Manager and Quicken Home and Business editions have been combined into the new Quicken Home, Business, and Rental Property. This new edition includes all the features of the former Quicken Rental Property Manager and the former Quicken Home & Business. At this time, Quicken Home, Business, and Rental Property works on Windows computers.
The Windows and Mac versions are nearly identical, with very minor differences. Premier editions and above come with Quicken Bill Pay included for free, a $119/year value. Premier and above also come with free priority customer support.
New Quicken Price Structure (Membership Subscription)
Beginning this year, Quicken will now be a membership subscription. Under this new pricing system, Quicken users pay for a 12 or 24 month membership subscription to the software instead of paying for an annual upgrade. This is a good thing. Let me explain why.
First of all, in previous years, many Quicken features would stop working at a pre-determined date, regardless of when a user purchased and installed the software. Under the new subscription model, a user gets a full 12 or 24 months of full Quicken functionality beginning when the user installs and activates the software. This new subscription system is more fair to users because you now get the full term of Quicken usage that you pay for, regardless of when you purchase or install your Quicken software.
A second advantage of the new subscription system is instant access to new features. Under this new system, as soon as Quicken releases an upgrade, enhancement, or new feature, all users get it right away. Under the old system, you had to wait until a new version was released in the fall before getting access to new features. Now, new features will be added and installed continuously, giving you the latest and greatest version of Quicken no matter what time of year you purchase it.
The new subscription system also includes 5 GB of free online secure backup storage in partnership with Dropbox. This lets users backup and restore Quicken data from Dropbox without having to pay for an additional storage fee.
Quicken Premier and Quicken Home, Business, and Rental Property users will receive Quicken Bill Pay included for free. This Bill Pay feature was previously a paid addition to Quicken, but is now included in the membership subscription price. This is a $119/year value that’s included free. This alone makes Premier worth the price. You can pay any business or individual in the U.S., making is super easy to pay all your bills on time from one place.
Lastly, Quicken is the best personal financial management product available. I want to see it get better and continue improving. The only way that can happen is if Quicken receives enough revenue to pay for more developers and to show a profit. This change to a membership subscription model will help Quicken receive a more consistent revenue stream to keep the company profitable and working on improving our favorite money management program.
This all comes at a cost of only $2-$4 per month (check out current prices). If you don’t think Quicken is worth this price, I would suggest you try one of the Quicken alternatives listed at the beginning of this article.
Now for some big questions people are asking:
Is Quicken now an online program?
No, Quicken is still a desktop program that you install on your computer. The new subscription membership only changes the way you pay for Quicken, but the program itself is still the same (with updates and new features). Your Quicken data is still saved on your own computer, not in the Cloud. Quicken does come with free Dropbox space, but you do not have to backup your Quicken data to Dropbox unless you choose to do so.
What happens if your subscription expires or you don’t renew? Do you lose access to Quicken?
No, you don’t lose access to Quicken. You’ll still be able to use Quicken to view all your data, enter transactions manually, and view/print reports. Online-based features will be turned off, meaning you won’t be able to download transactions directly from your bank or use Bill Pay, but you will still be able to enter transactions manually and access all your data. If you decide to renew your subscription, all the online-based features will be turned back on. (Note that this does not apply to the Quicken Starter edition. If you are using Quicken Starter, all your data will become read-only when your subscription expires.)
If I install Quicken on more than one computer, do I have to purchase more than one subscription?
With Quicken 2018, you are allowed to install Quicken on an unlimited number of computers. You can even install it on a PC and on a Mac. You only need to buy one subscription. The subscription is linked to your Quicken ID. As long as you are using the same Quicken ID on each device, you can use Quicken on as many devices as you would like.
Where should you go to get a membership subscription to Quicken 2018?
There are a few different options, and as always, I’ll try to point you to the best deals.
- Least Favorite Option: If you want to pay full price and get just a one-year (12 month) subscription, you can go directly to Quicken.com. There you can purchase a 12-month membership to any of the Quicken editions at the full retail price. This is the most expensive way to purchase Quicken.
- Better Option: If you would like to save money (and who doesn’t), I would recommend going to an online retailer. Most online retailers are selling 2-year (24 month) subscriptions to Quicken at a significant discount to paying for a one-year subscription twice.
We list the current best prices from around the web on our price comparison chart. - Best Option: If you want to save even more money, I recommend buying your subscription at Amazon. Amazon has an exclusive deal with Quicken to offer a 27-month subscription for the price of 24 months. So you essentially get an extra 3 months on your subscription for free. There are several other advantages to purchasing Quicken on Amazon:Amazon Exclusive Subscription Advantages
- 27 months for the price of 24 months (three months free)
- 15 GB of additional free online storage for Quicken backups with Dropbox (in addition to the standard 5 GB that now comes with Quicken)
- Free Premium support with unlimited priority access official Quicken Customer Care ($49.99/year value)
New features for Quicken 2018
Quicken 2018 New Features for Windows
- Automatic bill tracking with 11,000+ billers supported
- More custom report layout options and export to Excel
- 5GB free secure online backup with Dropbox
- Move and archive investments (Deluxe and up)
- Better investment performance analysis (Premier and up)
- Free Quicken Bill Pay included with Premier and up
- New custom invoices with your logo, color, payment links to Paypal and web links to Yelp (Home, Business & Rental Property only)
- Email rent reminders, receipts, and business invoices directly from Quicken (Home, Business & Rental Property only)
Quicken 2018 New Features for Mac
- Three versions for Mac: Starter, Deluxe, and Premier
- Support for 11,000+ online billers for automatic bill tracking
- 5GB free secure online backup with Dropbox
- Customizable investment portfolio views (Deluxe and up)
- Investment tracking by lot (Deluxe and up)
- Loan analysis with variable payment scenarios (Deluxe and up)
- Free Quicken Bill Pay included (Premier only)
Nate Phillips has been using Quicken and TurboTax for almost 20 years. He has spent part of that time as a Quicken beta tester, helping identify bugs and annoyances with Quicken updates before they are released. Nate holds a master’s degree in Computer Science and has numerous technology certifications.
Screenshot of Quicken 2005 Premier Home & Business | |
Developer(s) | Quicken Inc. |
---|---|
Initial release | 1983; 36 years ago |
Stable release | |
Operating system | MS-DOS, Apple II, Windows, Classic Mac OS, macOS, iOS, Android |
Type | Accounting software |
License | Proprietary |
Website | quicken.com |
Quicken is a personal finance management tool developed by Quicken Inc. (formerly part of Intuit, Inc.). On March 3, 2016, Intuit announced plans to sell Quicken to H.I.G. Capital; terms of the sale were not disclosed.[1]
Different (and incompatible) versions of Quicken run on Windows and Macintosh systems. Previous versions ran on DOS[2] and the Apple II.[3] There are several versions of Quicken for Windows, including Quicken Starter, Quicken Deluxe, Quicken Rental Property Manager, Quicken Premier, and Quicken Home & Business, as well as Quicken for Mac.[4] Since 2008, each version has tended to have the release year in the product name (e.g., Quicken Basic 2008); before then, versions were numbered (e.g., Quicken 8 for DOS).
Quicken's major marketplace is North America, and most of the software sold is specialized for the United States and Canadian marketplace and user base. But the core functions can often be used more widely, regardless of country; and versions have been tailored for a variety of marketplaces, including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Singapore.[5] Development of the UK-specific version of Quicken was stopped in January 2005, with sales and support ending shortly afterwards. There were also versions for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, and Venezuela.[5]
- 4Editions
- 4.1Current
Product description[edit]
The Quicken name typically refers to the core product offering of personal financial management software. The software includes financial planning activities that, historically, people may have done on paper – recording banking transactions, planning a budget and measuring progress against it, tracking investments and their prices and performance. Quicken has offered various editions, with varying prices – such as Basic which includes only those typical activities for someone with simple banking accounts, to Small Business for someone who also runs a business out of their home.
Quicken includes online services that allow users to retrieve transactions from various providers – such as their bank or credit card company. In most cases, online services and technical support are now supported for up to three years after the product's labeled version. e.g. Quicken 2018 will be supported until 2021.[6]
Related products[edit]
The Quicken brand has been extended to other personal and household areas, including healthcare. Quicken Health Expense Tracker is a free online tool for healthcare consumers enrolled in participating health plans. Users can 'manage and direct their health care finances, view and organize medical expenses, payments and service histories, and download and organize personal health claims data.'[7] The Quicken Medical Expense Manager is a desktop software tool for managing healthcare paperwork, tracking claims and payments, and consolidating related information.
Quicken Kids & Money was a Web-based program that aimed to help parents teach five- to eight-year-old children how to earn, spend, save, and share money. It is defunct.[8]
Other products are aimed at home business and seem to fit in a space for a less formal business than would be using QuickBooks. Quicken Rental Property Manager is a desktop software tool for managing rental properties; tracking tenants, expenses, and payments; and producing tax reports.
Software as a service[edit]
Quicken Online was a free, hosted solution (see software as a service) by Intuit. Intuit hosted all of the user's data, and provided patches and regularly upgraded the software automatically. Initially this was launched as a monthly paid subscription, and was a free service for over a year.
Intuit completed the acquisition of competitor Mint.com on November 2, 2009.[9] Quicken Online was discontinued on August 29, 2010, and users were encouraged to transition to Mint.com.
Beginning with Quicken 2018, Quicken is now a subscription service. Annual memberships can be purchased directly from Quicken.com and two-year subscriptions can be purchased through several retailers.[10]
Editions[edit]
The following are current (selling and supported) and retired (discontinued in both sales and support) versions of Quicken.
Current[edit]
Selling[edit]
- Quicken (Starter, Deluxe, Premier) 2019 for Windows[11]
- Quicken (Starter, Deluxe, Premier) 2019 for Mac[11]
- Quicken Home & Business 2019 for Windows[11]
Supported[edit]
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, Rental Property Manager 2017 - expires April 30, 2020
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, Rental Property Manager 2016 - expires April 30, 2019
- Quicken 2017 for Mac
- Quicken 2016 for Mac
- Quicken 2015 for Mac
Retired[edit]
Quicken 8 for DOS
(Dates retired are shown.) [12]
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, Rental Property Manager 2015 - April 30, 2018
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, Rental Property Manager 2014 - April 30, 2017
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, Rental Property Manager 2013 - April 30, 2016
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, Rental Property Manager 2012 - April 30, 2015
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business Edition 2011 - April 30, 2014
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business, Rental Property Manager 2010 - April 30, 2013
- Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business 2009 - April 30, 2012
- Basic, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business 2008 - April 27, 2011
- Basic, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business 2007 - April 30, 2010
- 2006 (Win) – April 30, 2009
- 2005 (Win) – April 30, 2008
- 2004 – April 30, 2007
- 2003 – April 25, 2006
- 2002 – April 19, 2005
- 2001 – April 19, 2005
- 2000 – May 18, 2004
- 98 and 99 – April 20, 2004
- Version 6 for Windows. 'Designed for Windows 95. Release 6.0. (c) 1996'
- Version 3 for Windows 3.1
- Quicken Essentials for Mac - April 30, 2015
- Quicken for Mac 2007 - retired October 2016[12]
- Quicken Mac 2007 OS X Lion compatible - retired October 2016[12]
- Quicken for Mac 2006
- Quicken for Mac 2005 - retired April 30, 2015
Criticism[edit]
Intuit stopped supporting its Quicken software in the United Kingdom in 2005, leaving many thousands of users with only partly functional software.[13]
In 2008 and 2009, Quicken users reported an unusually large number of software bugs for a commercial product.[14][15][16] A review of Quicken 2010 suggests that quality and user interface in that product year is dramatically improved.[17]
Existing Quicken Online users' data is not transferable/importable into Mint.com. This is in direct contrast to VP Aaron Patzer's promise, made on April 27, 2010: '[Until the merger with Mint.com is complete], you can continue to use Quicken Online just like you have. Once we have completed integrating all features to Mint, you will be able to easily transfer your information and data to ensure the smoothest transition possible.'[18]
History of Quicken and the absence of a common cross-platform file format[edit]
Quicken uses a database file structure. Since Quicken started on MS-DOS and the Apple II back in 1983 (before the Macintosh appeared in 1984), a database structure of choice[which?] did not exist for the Macintosh, nor has there really been a good common database structure developed that was cross-platform compatible created in the early days. So, when Mac development started, it had to take an independent path, and the DOS version transitioned to Windows.
Then when Mac OS X came out in 1999 (server) and 2001 (desktop), a new platform emerged. Apple developed backward compatibility for OS 9 (and predecessors), so Quicken for Mac development continued in an older platform database structure (PowerPC-based). Apple continued to support PowerPC-based apps (via Rosetta) on their Intel-based Macs in August 2009 (via Mac OS X 10.6). Rosetta was a temporary measure to support the eventual transition to exclusively Intel-based software (achieved in March 2011 with the release of OS X 10.7 (Lion)).
In 2009, faced with the eventual retirement of the PowerPC, it was deemed that the structure for Quicken for Mac (2007) was not suited for the direction of the Mac (intel) and OS X.[citation needed] Though they got Quicken for Mac 2007 to run on Intel in 2012,[19] Intuit decided to start from scratch and Quicken Essentials for Mac (QEM) was created in 2010.[20] Quicken 2015 for Mac, released in August 2014, and later versions for Mac are built on the Quicken Essentials for Mac foundation.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^John Rebeiro (March 3, 2016). 'Intuit selling Quicken to private equity firm HIG Capital'. pcworld.com. IDG Consumer & SMB. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^'Quicken for DOS'. Intuit, Inc. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
- ^Field, Cynthia E. 'Quicken Offers Check Writing, Budget Analysis for Apple IIs'. InfoWorld. March 17, 1986: 35–36 – via Google Books.
- ^'All Quicken Products'. Intuit.
- ^ ab'International Versions of Quicken'. Intuit. 2011-06-20. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26.
- ^'Retirement of online services for older versions of Quicken'. Intuit/Quicken. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^An April 2007 article in the San Jose Business Journal.
- ^'Quicken Kids & Money Help'. Intuit Inc. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008.
- ^'Intuit Press Release - Intuit Completes Acquisition of Mint.com'. about.intuit.com. November 2, 2009.
- ^'Quicken 2018 Subscription Membership Pricing Explained'. Top Financial Tools. 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^ abc'Quicken 2018 - Which Version Do You Need? | Compare Quicken Products'. Top Financial Tools. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^ abc'Currently Supported Quicken Products (Discontinuation Policy)'. Quicken. 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^Oates, John (2005-01-17). 'Intuit UK kills Quicken and TaxCalc'. The Register. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^nathanau (2008-01-27). 'Quicken Community - Quicken 2008 Bug List'. Quicken Community. Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^thecreator (2008-08-28). 'Quicken Community - Quicken 2009 Bug List'. Quicken Community. Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^Elmblad, Shelley (2009-01-14). 'The Best and Worst Features in Quicken'. About.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^Arar, Yardena (2009-10-29). 'Intuit Quicken Premier 2010'. Quicken Premier. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
- ^'Quicken Support - Quicken Community'. Intuit. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
- ^'Intuit releases Lion-compatible Quicken 2007'. CNET. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
- ^Snell, Jason (2010-02-24). 'After delays and criticism, Intuit releases Quicken Essentials for Mac'. Macworld. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quicken&oldid=917421655'