Is Moneydance cheaper than Quicken?

Moneydance is a one-time US$65 license that keeps working without renewal, while Quicken is sold as an annual subscription. Over several years Moneydance is typically far cheaper, though Quicken bundles some premium online services.

Does Moneydance run on Mac and Linux like Quicken?

Moneydance runs on Windows, macOS and Linux from one codebase. Quicken offers separate Windows and Mac editions with feature differences and does not offer a Linux version.

Can Moneydance import my Quicken data?

Moneydance can import standard QIF, OFX/QFX and CSV files exported from Quicken, so you can migrate account history when switching.

Comparison · Personal finance

Moneydance vs Quicken

Moneydance vs Quicken comes down to a one-time license versus a subscription, cross-platform support, and where your data lives. Here is how the two personal finance apps compare — and which to pick.

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Moneydance 2024.4 · US$65 one-time · Windows, macOS & Linux

Moneydance dashboard compared with Quicken

Moneydance vs Quicken is a choice between a one-time purchase and a subscription. Moneydance is a cross-platform desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux) sold as a single US$65 license with data stored locally on your machine. Quicken is a long-established, subscription-based personal finance product with separate Windows and Mac editions and bundled online services. Both handle budgeting, online banking and investment tracking; the differences are pricing model, platform coverage and data ownership.

Moneydance vs Quicken — side by side

	Moneydance	Quicken
Pricing model	One-time US$65 license	Annual subscription
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows and Mac (separate editions)
Data storage	Local, encrypted on your device	Local file with cloud/companion services
Online banking	11,000+ institutions via Moneydance+	Broad US institution coverage
Investment tracking	Yes — securities, cost basis, quotes	Yes (Premier/Home & Business tiers)
Mobile app	Free iOS & Android companion	Companion mobile/web app
Data import	QIF, OFX/QFX, CSV (incl. from Quicken)	QIF/OFX, Quicken formats

Which should you choose?

Pick Moneydance if…

You want a one-time purchase with no subscription, run macOS or Linux, and prefer your financial data stored locally and encrypted on your own machine.

Try Moneydance

Pick Quicken if…

You are already deep in the Quicken ecosystem, rely on its specific US bill-pay and premium online services, and don't mind an ongoing subscription.

Switching over?

Moneydance imports QIF, OFX/QFX and CSV exports from Quicken, so you can bring account history with you. Start on the free trial before you buy.

Download Moneydance

Pricing over time — the real difference

The headline gap is the payment model. Moneydance is a single US$65 purchase that keeps working indefinitely, with a free upgrade to the next major release; you only pay again if you choose the optional Moneydance+ bank-sync add-on (around US$40 per year). Quicken is billed as a recurring annual subscription that stops delivering updates and some online services when it lapses. Over a typical three-to-five-year horizon a one-time Moneydance license usually costs a fraction of stacked Quicken renewals — the trade-off is that Quicken bundles certain US bill-pay and premium web features that Moneydance leaves to your bank or the Moneydance+ service.

How to switch from Quicken to Moneydance

Export from Quicken: create a QIF, OFX/QFX or CSV export of the accounts you want to move.
Download the free trial: get Moneydance for Windows, macOS or Linux and open it — the trial runs the full app up to 100 manually entered transactions.
Create a new file: start a fresh Moneydance account file to import into.
Import your data: use File › Import to bring in the QIF/OFX/CSV export and map the accounts.
Reconnect online banking: set up direct connect or OFX for each account via Moneydance+.
Buy a license when ready: once you have confirmed your history imported cleanly, unlock the full app for a one-time US$65.

Frequently asked questions

Is Moneydance cheaper than Quicken?: Moneydance is a one-time US$65 license that keeps working without renewal; Quicken is an annual subscription. Over a few years Moneydance is usually far cheaper.
Does Moneydance run on Mac and Linux?: Yes — one codebase covers Windows, macOS and Linux. See our Moneydance for Mac page. Quicken has no Linux edition.
Can Moneydance import Quicken data?: Yes — it imports QIF, OFX/QFX and CSV files exported from Quicken.
Is there a free trial?: Yes — the Moneydance download is a free trial of the full app, limited to 100 manually entered transactions with no time limit.