Best Canadian Retirement Planning Software (2026)

There's no single "best" retirement planning software for every Canadian — the right tool depends on whether you want a free quick check or a paid deep-dive, whether you own a corporation, which province you live in, and how hands-on you want to be. This guide lays out the main options so you can compare them yourself.

How to read this comparison. We build RetireZest, so this is a vendor's roundup — and importantly, it's a comparison of published facts (pricing, free tiers, stated features, and country focus), not a hands-on review. We haven't independently tested every tool, so we've stuck to what each company publishes on its own site and left subjective "which feels better" judgments to you. Always verify current details directly with each vendor before deciding.

Quick comparison (2026)

Tool	Free tier	Paid price (published)	Notes
RetireZest	Yes (full simulations)	$5.99/mo or $47/yr CAD	Canada-focused (AB, BC, ON, QC + QPP); models corporate (CCPC) accounts
Optiml	14-day trial	$99–$499/yr	Canada-focused; corporate planning listed in its top tier
ProjectionLab	Yes (Basic, $0)	$129/yr or $549/yr (Pro)	Supports multiple countries including Canada
MaxiFi Planner	Not listed	~$109–$149/yr USD	US-based company; check its site for Canadian coverage
Canada.ca calculator	Yes (free)	Free	Official CPP/OAS income estimate

All figures are as published by each vendor in 2026 and may change — verify directly before buying. We have not independently tested these tools; this reflects what each company states on its own site. Confirm currency, features, and pricing with each vendor.

RetireZest

Our own tool, so we can speak to it directly. RetireZest runs a year-by-year simulation under 2026 Canadian tax rules, compares withdrawal strategies, and stress-tests with Monte Carlo. Results are summarized in a 0–100 Zest Score across four pillars — plan survival, lifetime tax cost, retirement cushion, and spending reliability — so the number isn't just a grade: it shows where your plan is weakest and points to the biggest opportunity to improve, which you can then test by adjusting your inputs.

• Facts (retirezest.com/pricing): Free tier with full simulations (not a trial); paid plans $5.99/month or $47/year — the lowest paid price among the tools listed here; models corporate (CCPC) accounts with eligible/non-eligible dividends, CDA, and RDTOH; supports Quebec QPP; plain-language education built in.
• Worth knowing: The tax engine currently models four provinces in full (Alberta, BC, Ontario, Quebec); other provinces map to the nearest supported one. It's a newer tool than some on this list.

Optiml

A Canadian DIY planning tool that, per its site, focuses on goal-based optimization (maximize estate, minimize lifetime tax, or maximize spending) and includes an AI assistant.

• Facts (optiml.ca/pricing): No permanent free tier — a 14-day trial, then $99–$499/year across three plans. Corporate/holding-company planning is listed in the top ("Legacy", $499/year) tier.
• Worth knowing: Optiml's access is via the 14-day trial rather than a permanent free tier; check which features sit in which plan for your situation.

ProjectionLab

A planning tool that, per its site, supports multiple countries including Canadian inputs (CPP, OAS, RRSP, TFSA, and provincial tax), with scenario modelling and Monte Carlo.

• Facts (projectionlab.com/pricing): Free "Basic" tier; paid plans at $129/year (Premium) and $549/year (Pro).
• Worth knowing: Because it spans several countries, it's worth confirming on their site that the Canadian features you need are covered.

MaxiFi Planner

A planning tool built on an economics "consumption smoothing" approach. We include it because Canadians often come across it. MaxiFi is a US-based company, so if you're in Canada it's worth checking directly whether it covers the Canadian benefits and tax rules you need.

• Facts (maxifi.com/pricing): Paid plans about $109–$149/year (USD) for Standard/Premium.
• Worth knowing: Confirm Canadian coverage (CPP, OAS, provincial tax) on MaxiFi's site before relying on it for a Canadian plan.

Free government calculator (Canada.ca)

The Canadian Retirement Income Calculator gives a free, official estimate of your CPP and OAS income.

• Facts: Free and official. It estimates government benefit income; it does not compare withdrawal strategies, optimize tax across account types, run Monte Carlo, or produce a year-by-year drawdown plan.
• Worth knowing: Useful as a first benefit estimate before using a fuller planning tool.

How to choose

Rather than rank them, here are the factual distinctions to weigh:

• Want to start free? RetireZest and ProjectionLab both list free tiers; Canada.ca is free for a basic estimate. Optiml and MaxiFi do not list a permanent free tier.
• Own a corporation? RetireZest models CCPC accounts on every tier; Optiml lists corporate planning in its top tier.
• Live in Quebec? RetireZest lists QPP support; confirm QPP handling with any tool you consider.
• Want a Canadian-focused tool? RetireZest and Optiml present themselves as Canada-focused; ProjectionLab supports several countries including Canada; MaxiFi is US-based — check each tool's Canadian coverage directly.
• Lowest published ongoing price for a full planner? RetireZest at $47/year, of the tools listed here.

The honest path: try a free option first to learn your own numbers, then test a paid tool yourself before committing — published feature lists are a starting point, not a substitute for trying it.

Sources

All competitor facts above are drawn from each vendor's own published pages, checked June 2026. Verify current details directly, as pricing and features change.

• RetireZest — pricing
• Optiml — pricing
• ProjectionLab — pricing
• MaxiFi Planner — pricing
• Government of Canada — Canadian Retirement Income Calculator