Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I just migrated from MS Money 2007. I've been a user since 2002 (versions 2002 & 2004). I was very happy with Money 2004, but was forced to upgrade to 2007 to continue online services. Some features that were important to me were removed (bill multi-selection with immediate account balance projection and Money Express as a bill reminder). So I decided to finally make the jump to Quicken.
The bad: My first impression, after coming from Money's clean interface, is the busy clutter of the home page. Money didn't use windows (how ironic) like Quicken does. If you keep opening reports, and jumping to other areas, you'll find yourself with piles of windows at the bottom of your screen. I found the navigation clumsy and it was difficult to see the whole screen at my preferred screen resolution of 800 X 600. And, why no option to keep Frequent Flyer Accounts for the very common rewards programs that are out there?? It can be done with an "Asset" account, but I thought there would have been an option for it. And I think the cash flow projection can be improved. Although I like the calendar that shows my upcoming transaction and the impact on my checking account, in the last version of Money (NOT 2007-it's why I left) in the Bills screen I could multi-select several bills and get a projected outcome of my balance. That was a GREAT feature! I hope Intuit considers something like that on its calendar or in the bill screen (I've already written twice to suggest it).
The good: Reports, reports, reports. You can print from practically any screen. Beautiful reports. And you can attach files to your transactions. And, far more customizable than Money. I like the weblinks right on the bill pay screen so I can go right to my payee's website. (Money made that a two step deal to try to get you go with its MSN Bill Pay service. Why should I if I get it from Citibank for FREE!??)
And, the Bill Reminder is okay (Money did away with its "Money Express" for security reasons, yet another useful feature that I grew to depend on). But, I don't like that the Bill Reminder program does not require a password and will show anyone who cares to click on it all my upcoming transactions. Why no password protect?? And, it doesn't run on the taskbar, so once you close it after startup, it's gone until you (or anyone else at all, as I already said) cares to open it again.
And did I go through hell to convert my Money 07 file! I had already researched the reasons why the data converter that Quicken provides on its website would not convert my Money file and what my options probably were before contacting Intuits "Live Chat" support. After being annoyed by having to repeat everything I already typed to the techie and finding he was just going to the forum and doing the reading I had already done, I made a request to be elevated to higher tech support. After reiterating what I had read on the forum, the tech gave me a link to get the Quicken 02 version that I knew I needed. I then had to shorten all my Money account names and categories, export the .QIF files for EACH account. Install Quicken 02. Import each .QIF account. Start Quicken 07 and convert the Quicken 02 file. My data was a little quirky because I some categories became payees and detached from their transactions, but so far my balances look right. I downloaded my transactions from my bank and credit card companies in little time.
Overall, I think I've decided to keep Quicken. I sure went through a whole day or two trying to get the data converted and looking right, so I already feel commited. It does seem to be ahead of Money somewhat and I'll get used to the interface. Anyone looking to try either product, don't forget to backup your data file somewhere that is not in the original directory, so it is not over-written. Several backups are wise.
Hope this helps.
Update: January 12, 2007
I am sticking with Quicken for sure. After constant "tweaking" I have become accustomed to the home screen and the navigation and would not switch back to Money even if it was free. I love the "go" links that are on my bill page making it easier to go to my payee's website. The only convenience Money provided in its update centered on you signing up for its online bill payment service. The calendar with the optional running balance is very handy at-a-glance, especially the ability to add notes to it. I am glad I took the time to convert my file. It was worth it and I would now give this product 4 stars (because of the difficulty with the data converting).
Updated 01/23/07:
My earlier review was premature. Although I do like the customizability of the software, it has alot of problems downloading transaction. Sometimes it will get your transactions from your financial institution and bring them home, and sometimes they just disappear. Even importing files is difficult. It is very quirky. And I am computer literate. I went and downloaded an MS Money 2007 trial (I was originally running Money 04 and upgraded to Money 2007 on January 1st with 30 days money back refund. Not being thrilled with it, I tried Quicken a week later and liked Quicken better so I got my money back from Microsoft). Although I had issues with Money 2007 removing some features, it at least was dependable and kept my accounts up-to-date. I am giving Quicken another 30 days (and have spent hours on its forum) to figure out its issues (it has a 60 day return policy). In the interim, I am updating my transactions in both programs. (I should add that to convert my Quicken file to Money took all of a minute. Not so to convert my Money file to Quicken -- that took over two days and required downloading a prior version of Quicken!) I will update one more time. Hope this helps someone.
Updated 2/3/07:
Last update. I have come to a complete understanding of Quicken. One not so immediately apparent difference between it and Money is when you download your transactions via web connect (when you go to your bank's website yourself, as opposed to direct connect, where your program does background banking for you) Quicken will NOT let you re-download transactions that it already imported. Even if you deleted a transaction something by accident. It "remembers" it had already imported that transaction. Money will let you import as many times as you want to. If you really had to re-download to Quicken, you would have to delete your cookies first. Overall, this is not a problem. Quicken allows you to very easily manage your data files with backup, copy, rename options right from the program. I find it a far superior product than MS Money 2007.
UPDATE: 07/25/08
Still with Quicken Deluxe 2007. No complaints. I will be upgrading when they tell me my internet services have expired, which will probably be 2009.
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