Q: best financial software for mac

I posted several messages in their support community and the essence of their response was, "Put in the correct dates and it will work."

They just simply don't seem to have a clue about what a reconciliation actually is. They seem to want to equate it with a paper-like account statement. Anyone who knows what reconciling accounts entails knows the two are distinctly different (though  complimentary) animals.

I really do want to like iBank, though maybe that's a bit like salivating over dirty water in a desert. Sadly, it seems to be the best I can do right now. They could easily OWN the Mac financial software market --- and I mean monopolisticly DOMINATE it --- if they would just fix a few critical flaws.

huge thread...tried to read it...please comment...

used quicken pc for 12 years...

ordered my new mac desktop...making the switch...

used to make reports, track investments, graphs...

reality: unlike 12 years ago...for most accounts 401k etc...i do not need quicken any more....its all online...it is a new world..

however...there is one feature i still use: bill pay

q1:is it true that my new (mucho dinaro) macs will not be able to pay a bill? unless i use quicken 07

q2:should i run Q2012 pc version?

q3: what is the best way? VMware?

or do i misunderstand it...thx

If you wish to run windoze, then Q '12 for PC is the way to go. I've never used Quicken for Mac to pay bills, so don't know if that works or not.

as far as i can tell...there is no mac software that can do bill pay...very strange...

it took a little bit of doing because my macbook air does not have a dvd drive...

i had to make a bootable image of my win7 install dvd...transfer it to the macbook

installed VMware fusion...then used the image of win7 to install windows...then installed quicken...transfered my datafile...

viola...

it works remarkably well...you would never know it is not a native program...full functionality...seamless...

VMware is remarkable....

It is not a dual boot situation...i am in the mac os and you run the PC program in its own window just like any other mac program...

if anyone uses quicken or wants a full function personal finance program...VMware+quicken is fantastic (you need to own a copy of win7)

Hello. I'm a brand new Mac user and have been intensively using Quicken on my Windows PC for many years.  I've been reading about the Parallels app, and know someone who is using it (albeit not to run Quicken) and likes it.  Has anyone tried this app and/or used Quicken with it, or does anyone have any thoughts/comments?  Thanks.

As I said above there are 2 virtualization products...VMware and Paralells.

In my experience Quicken is great with VMware...

I don't use Paralells but my understanding is that Parallels is very similar to VMware, as they essentially use the same type of underlying technology.

I have read that parallels is an excellent product, so I would assume it would be fine.  It is a guess but my impression is that it is very similar to VMware.

Thank you.  Sorry I didn't read your earlier post more thoroughly.  I'm very thankful to have found the information in this thread, since I was beginning to think that I was overlooking something in not being able to find a comparable alternative.

i did mean to make my post sound negative...that you did not read my previous post...sorry...i was not wanting you to apologize...nothing of the sort...

in any case...i am new to mac also...and you can use quicken with either parellels or vmware...(i have only used the latter...but i think they are very similar)...

i was surprised at how well it works...

if i can be of any assistance I am more than happy to answer any questions...

I have been using Quicken 2013 on a PC.  Just bought my Mac yesterday.  Mac Essentials seems to be the only option for a Mac.  Do you suggest this?

You will hate Essentials. I use Mac Quicken 2007 which was updated a year ago to be used with Lion & Mountain Lion. People on here like iBank but IMO it's not very good.

Ask Intuit if you can migrate your PC Q '13 data to Quicken '07 for Mac Lion. I've not a clue, since I don't do windoze stuff. If so, then Q '07 is your best choice.

i do not know first hand  but my impression is mac essentials is a dumbed down version of pc quicken.

one feature that i am sure that is missing from mac q essentials...and ibank:  bill pay...which seems like a pretty function of financial software...but it not available on any new mac products...as far as i can tell...

you cannot pay your bills for these programs...

if you own quicken for pc 2013; and have a windows full install disk (not an upgrade disk); and you like pc quicken 20013...buy vmware or parallels...it wll run your program as you want it...

My 1st post, go easy on me. I only see comments about Q'kn & iBank. Earlier post mentions link to a review for the 10 best Financial Software programs for Mac:

http://personal-finance-software-review.toptenreviews.com/mac-personal-finance-s oftware/index.html

Of the top 10 programs in this review, none are mentioned in this post except Q'kn (iBank isn't in the top 10 of this review.) Numerous other reviews rate Moneydance and iFinance very high. But all anyone mentions in Apple Support Community are iBank and Q'kn.

When I switched from PC to Mac I naturally purchased Q'kn so I could transfer my finances. A total disaster!! I was so angry at what Q'kn tried to pass off to me as a ligit product, I would never give them another cent of my money. And I haven't used a financial software since because I can't find one worth using. 

But I've reached the limits of my patience with spreadsheets. My question is: "Why has no one ventured beyond Q'kn & iBank?"  I know the others mentioned in the review have users; where are they?

Is it possible that users of these recommended programs are satisfied to the point they don't need to refer to posts like this one?  I would really appreciate some information from someone that has experience with Moneydance, iFinance, or any others mentioned in this review other than Q'kn.

Whatdatis - You may find other reviews where iBank is also included. I did but don't have links close at hand. Regardless, I used Quicken 2007 Mac and began looking for an alternative (see earlier posts). My condolences. One of my considerations was whether or not iCloud was used for sync. I'm a little old fashioned at this point and shied away from what looked like some good programs other than this. MoneyWiz really caught my eye but at the time there was no demo version (although they emailed be indicating there would be one soon). I too would like to hear more from users of the other software options. I simply didn't have the funds, or the time, to demo for myself. I am using iBank and it isn't without quirks, none anywhere close to my experiences with Q07. I'm keeping my options open if iBank fails, other demos prove better, or if the iBank tech support lets me down. They haven't to date over some basic questions. So far, it is working out well as I import and reconcile my 2012 accounts in prep. for tax time. By the way, it may be good measure to export what you can from Quicken and preserve those files while you look for another program. Good Luck and please post if you decide to try other software.

I recently switched pc to Mac and researched the options as best I could...

The link you give is a sight that sells the programs...

As far as I can tell from reviews and posts is that unfortunately very good native Mac financial software is not readily available

I am sure each if those solutions has adherents that swear by it but I can see no product that gets general agreement that it is really good...

I was shocked that none of the latest Mac programs do bill pay...

I will not bore anyone again with my solution that I mentioned in several previous post above...(other than to say I am happy...)