This Personal Capital review explains the Personal Capital app—a free financial tool that helps you manage your money more effectively.
Do you fully understand your finances? Are you managing them effectively? In this Personal Capital review, I’ll cover my favorite personal finance tool and explain how it can improve your financial life.
More than 3.4 million people use Personal Capital, and I’m one of them.
Personal Capital offers free personal finance software that is similar to Mint.com but in many ways superior. If you use Mint, I recommend giving Personal Capital a try.
I suggest everyone sign up for Personal Capital, whether you’ve been investing for years or haven’t started yet. The platform provides valuable tools for anyone, and since it’s free, there’s nothing to lose.
Quick summary of what Personal Capital is – Their free personal finance software helps users manage finances by aggregating accounts. You can connect mortgages, bank and credit card accounts, investment portfolios, retirement accounts, and more at no cost. The platform tracks cash flow, spending, savings, and investment performance so you can see all your accounts in one place and manage your finances efficiently.
Again: it’s free, and there’s no catch.
I focus on keeping finances simple so you can spend time on other parts of life. Personal Capital centralizes your financial information, and you can access it from a computer, tablet, phone, or smartwatch, making it easy to stay updated wherever you are.
Personal Capital review
Background before we dive in
Personal Capital has grown rapidly, so now is a good time for a clear review of their free personal finance software.
They currently serve over 3.4 million registered users and manage more than $20.5 billion in assets.
What can you do with Personal Capital?
The Personal Capital app includes many useful tools, including the following:
Net worth calculator
The net worth tool tracks your assets and liabilities so you can monitor progress toward financial goals. It highlights changes over time, helps you make informed decisions, and supports debt reduction strategies.
Cash flow
The cash flow features let you track income, analyze spending by category, review recurring bills, and inspect transactions to see where your money goes. This visibility makes it easier to adjust spending and improve savings.
Retirement planner
The retirement planner consolidates investment accounts to show performance, asset allocation, and retirement readiness. It projects whether you’re on track to meet retirement goals and helps you plan accordingly.
401(k) fee analyzer
Investment fees can quietly erode returns. Personal Capital’s fee analyzer reveals the costs you’re paying in retirement and investment accounts and demonstrates how fees may affect long-term outcomes.
Free investment checkup
The investment checkup assesses your portfolio’s performance and risk profile, offering a personalized plan and recommendations to improve diversification and retirement readiness.
How does Personal Capital make money?
The core platform is free. If you opt for their managed investment service, Personal Capital earns management fees—typically under 1% of assets under management. Enrollment in the advisory service is optional; all of the tools described above are available at no cost and can be used without engaging paid advisory services.
Personal Capital security – Is it safe?
Security is essential when linking financial accounts. Personal Capital uses industry-standard protections. According to the company: “Data is encrypted with AES-256 with multi-layer key management, including rotating user-specific keys and salts. Strict internal access controls – no individual at Personal Capital has access to your credentials.”
Additionally, you cannot move funds through the Personal Capital interface, so accounts remain protected from transfers initiated through the platform.
My take on Personal Capital
Personal Capital offers many advantages. Key positives include:
- It’s free—no cost to access the core tools.
- High-quality financial tools that help you track net worth, cash flow, investments, and retirement readiness.
- User-friendly: link your accounts and the platform compiles and analyzes your data automatically.
- Available across devices—desktop, mobile, and smartwatch—so you can check your finances from anywhere.
I recommend Personal Capital for anyone who wants better visibility and control over their finances. The free tools are powerful and accessible, and the optional advisory service is available for those who want professional management.
How do I use Personal Capital?
Getting started is simple: create an account, link your financial accounts, and begin using the free tools immediately. The setup takes only a few minutes and provides an instant view of your financial picture.
Is Personal Capital worth using?
Yes. Personal Capital is a valuable tool for a wide range of users—from beginners building their first budgets to experienced investors monitoring portfolios. The dashboard is intuitive, the mobile app is convenient, and the suite of free tools makes it easy to assess and plan your financial future.
I hope this Personal Capital review was helpful. If you have questions about using the platform or how it fits into your financial routine, feel free to ask.
What do you use to manage your finances?