Pension Pilot vs a DIY spreadsheet.
Free calculators and spreadsheets can get you a number. Pension Pilot is built to get you a number you can trust, with the Age Pension rules already built in.
Side by side
DIY spreadsheet or free calculator
Free, but takes time to set up and maintain. Age Pension rules — deeming, the assets test versus the income test, couple treatment — are easy to get wrong or leave out. Usually outputs a number with no explanation.
Pension Pilot $29 report
A staged flow that takes minutes, with current Age Pension thresholds and rules built in. Separates the assets and income tests automatically and produces a plain-English PDF with warnings and adviser-check questions.
Where a spreadsheet still helps
If you already track your own budget closely, a spreadsheet is still useful for month-to-month cash flow. Pension Pilot is built for the bigger question — how your Age Pension, super and income line up over the whole retirement timeline — not for replacing your everyday budget tracking.
Up next
Age Pension guide
Understand the assets and income tests.
Pension Pilot vs a financial adviser
See how the report compares to paid advice.
Tools & pricing
See what’s included and what it costs.
Pension Pilot vs a super fund calculator
See how a fund’s built-in calculator compares.
Pension Pilot vs MoneySmart guidance
See how the free ASIC tools compare.