Comparison

When Can We Retire vs FIRE Independence

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

When Can We Retire

Features
Read full description

You and your spouse may have retirement savings in a 401(k) plan, IRA, or cash and investments. **App Highlights** 
 *The "When Can We Retire" app calculates your retirement age based on numerous optional inputs such as your current salary, yearly salary increase, yearly retirement contribution, yearly contribution increase, employer matching contribution, post-retirement expense, social security, and other retirement income. *This unique app factors in the retirement age calculation that you cannot withdraw your retirement savings from a 401(k) plan and IRA before you turn 59 ½ without incurring a possible 10% penalty. *This app considers that you can contribute only up to a specific maximum limit to your employer-sponsored retirement plan. For example, you can contribute a maximum of 23,000 dollars to your 401(k) for this year as per the current law. However, there is a catch-up contribution limit of an additional 7,500 dollars if you are aged 50 and older. *The app considers the combined total of your contributions and employer matching contributions cannot exceed your salary or 69,000 dollars for this year as per the current law. There is a catch-up contribution limit of an additional 7,500 dollars if you are aged 50 and older. *This app lays out a clear picture of your finances with both a pre-retirement and post-retirement plan. *The app allows you to email your pre-retirement plan and post-retirement plan in tabular and graphical views to yourself or others. *This app saves your inputs and retains them across the launches upon successful retirement age calculation. *You can share the app via email, Facebook, or Twitter from within the app. 
 Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

FIRE Independence

This app helps users plan for early retirement by calculating their financial independence number, tracking assets and expenses, and projecting future net worth. It offers various FIRE lifestyle options and emphasizes data privacy with local storage.

Highlights
  • Personalized FIRE Number calculation
  • Tracking of assets, investments, expenses, and debts
  • Projections for net worth and years to FIRE
  • Support for Lean, Standard, Fat, and Coast FIRE
  • User-friendly interface with real-time updates
  • Local data storage for enhanced privacy
Features
Read full description

Unlock Your Path to Financial Independence with FIRE Independence! Are you dreaming of retiring early? FIRE Independence is your ultimate iOS companion for mastering the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement. Whether you're just starting out or fine-tuning your strategy, this app empowers you to track, calculate, and project your journey to financial freedom—all from the palm of your hand. Key Features: Personalized FIRE Calculations: Easily compute your "FIRE Number" using the proven 4% rule (Annual Expenses ÷ 0.04). Input your age, expenses, assets, debts, and expected returns for instant insights. FIRE Variants at Your Fingertips: Explore different lifestyles: Lean FIRE (60%): Retire frugally with reduced spending. Standard FIRE (100%): Maintain your current lifestyle in retirement. Fat FIRE (150%): Enjoy an upgraded, luxurious post-work life. Coast FIRE: See when you can stop saving aggressively and let your investments grow on their own. Comprehensive Tracking: Assets & Investments: Log brokerage accounts, 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, HYSAs, crypto, and real estate equity. Include annual contributions and growth factors for realistic projections. Expenses: Break down monthly costs (housing, food, transportation) and annual ones (taxes, vacations) with a retirement adjustment slider. Debts: Factor in mortgages, loans, and payments to get an accurate net worth view. Powerful Projections: Visualize your progress with estimates like "Years to FIRE," net worth at age 90, and amount needed. Adjust variables like safe withdrawal rates (default 4%) and retirement age for tailored scenarios. User-Friendly Interface: Edit entries anytime, with intuitive toggles and sliders. Projections update in real-time as you input data. Data Privacy First: All your information stays local on your iPhone using secure UserDefaults—no servers, no tracking, no data sharing. Optional iCloud backups keep things safe, and deleting the app wipes everything clean. Why choose FIRE Independence? It's designed for real people chasing early retirement. Underestimating expenses? We've got tips to track accurately. Wondering about market returns? Use conservative estimates (5-7%) for peace of mind. Whether you're paying down debt or optimizing investments, this app turns complex math into actionable steps. Projections are estimates—life happens, markets fluctuate—but FIRE Independence gives you the tools to plan smartly. Always consult a financial advisor for personalized advice. Ready to retire on your terms? Download FIRE Independence today and start building your future!

Screenshots

When Can We Retire4 screens
FIRE Independence4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: FIRE Independence at every 9 days against When Can We Retire's every 5 months. When Can We Retire's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

When Can We Retire costs $1.99 and FIRE Independence $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

When Can We Retire ships an update every 5 months, FIRE Independence every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
When Can We Retire versus FIRE Independence: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhen Can We RetireFIRE Independence
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating—5.0 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—11 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS8.0 — better18.1
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGrow Nest Egg, LLCRyan Henryson

In-app purchases

None

When Can We Retire

No in-app purchases

None

FIRE Independence

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is When Can We Retire free?
When Can We Retire costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FIRE Independence free?
FIRE Independence costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do When Can We Retire or FIRE Independence have ads?
Neither When Can We Retire nor FIRE Independence shows ads.
Which is updated more often, When Can We Retire or FIRE Independence?
When Can We Retire ships an update every 5 months, and FIRE Independence every 9 days. Most recently, When Can We Retire was updated on October 26, 2026 and FIRE Independence on October 30, 2026.

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