CNET Editors' review
Quicken Essentials offers numerous useful tools to track your finances on the Mac, but it falls short by leaving out some important features found in Windows versions. The interface has been rebuilt from the ground up to make Mac users feel at home by following the design and navigation schemes of other Mac programs like iTunes. All of your accounts, transactions, credit cards, reports, and program tools are easily accessible from the left sidebar (what they call the Source List), showing all the information for each in the main register window. Like iTunes, you can click and drag to expand columns in the register and also sort by column heading with a single click.
Intuit strove to make it easy to set up accounts and import data from old versions of the program, Windows versions, and old users of the now defunct Microsoft Money. The import process is less than intuitive, however, forcing you to go through multiple steps even to import data from your Mac version of Quicken 2007. Also, those with large amounts (multiple years) of data are in for a long wait. Some import actions require the use of an external converter, which seems like it ought to have been part of the import process already and something you shouldn't have to deal with.
Where Quicken Essentials shines is for those who are new to tracking their finances. A wizard guides you through the process of adding bank accounts, credit cards, and ongoing monthly expenses like car payments or rent, making it easy to track all your spending habits. In addition to your transactions, you can view charts and graphs that detail your spending over a given period of time so you can make adjustments in real life to make your income work better for you. Quicken Essentials will also let you view activity in individual accounts or view a ledger of all your accounts so you can assess your overall financial health. Unfortunately, those hoping to use Bill Pay or track their investments will be disappointed with Quicken Essentials because Intuit chose to leave Bill Pay out of the Mac version and you only get the barest minimum of information regarding your investments.
Quicken Essentials does a great job categorizing your expenses, accurately identifying the ways you're spending your money automatically. For added convenience the software lets you download your transaction data, obviating the need to enter transactions manually. The program's budgeting tools are top notch as well, making it easy to analyze your spending categories and draw up a realistic budget.
Overall, Quicken Essentials for Mac is still not as feature-rich as its Windows counterpart, but succeeds if you're just looking for a way to keep an eye on your finances. Unfortunately, those with more complicated needs such as investment tracking or automatic bill pay may need to fire up Quicken in Windows using Boot Camp or any of a number of other virtualization programs.
Publisher's Description
From Intuit:
View your accounts all in one place. Our completely reimagined interface makes it easier than ever to see where you can save more and spend less.
Save time and money. Quicken automatically categorizes transactions so you can see where your money's going and pay down debt.
Avoid pesky overdraft and late fees. See your current balance, including upcoming bills and paychecks so you always know where you stand.
What's new in this version: We're very excited about the all-new Quicken Essentials for Mac. Not only does it solve the core Quicken jobs better, it also provides the ease of use and elegant user interface Mac customers have come to expect from their applications. Our Quicken Mac 2007 and earlier users should note that this is a brand new product, so some of the features you've grown used to may not be included.
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All versions:
1.5 starsout of 55 votes
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Current version:
1.4 starsout of 51 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"horrible automation"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Uses Quicken format.
Cons
Automated features that are slow, difficult or impossible to configure, and counterproductive. Lack of Quicken features.
Summary
This is a horribly frustrating piece of software to use. It has many problems but the most difficult for me to overcome is the date picker. You can't de-automate this. You can't avoid the picker popping up. And it's slow. So if you're used to ten-key entry or are just fast at entering your data, you're going to get incorrect entries, even if you're on a very fast Mac. Then there are other bad choices made by the designer; for example the default action for many edits you might make is to change all similar items, a design decision that can (and has, for me) destroy data. The default should be to NOT dump or alter existing data! I thought I could deal with the lack of features that so many complain about. But I've seen few complaints about what has actually turned out to be the problem, all these really odd design decisions that make the program frustrating or counterproductive.
I hate this software. As soon as I get a break in my workload, I'm going to drop it for GnuCash or something else. A sharp rock and a rotting log would be a better accounting tool. -
"Not even a full program"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
nothing but a glorified checkbook register
Cons
Unable to track loans at all. Windows allow you to enter the parameters of the loan to amortize all the payments, however, this is not available in Essentials. I am starting to regret getting a mac, the programs or lite versions or non-existsant. In addition, to reconsile,you are required to have the balances for each one of the account even though they are connected through the web. So you are unable to use the online account balance. A lot of work!
Summary
I have used money management software for years, ever since linking your account online was possible. I believe that software was more advanced than Essentials 2010. It also concerns me to see such a discrepancy between CNET review and the user reviews. I guess I should have listen to the users out there instead of who I thought the "experts" were.
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"What a total disappointment and waste of money."
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
None that I can think of.
Cons
The program constantly (and consistently) crashes, even though I reinstalled the program 3 times thinking that it might be due to an installation problem or perhaps a computer glitch. But after 3 attempts at installing the program (along with the latest updates) and then having consistent crashes on each try, I think it's fair to conclude that it's the program that is faulty.
Summary
This program is totally unfit to be used. The programmers need to go back to the drawing board and either update Quicken 2007 or totally rebuild this program from the bottom up. The only other alternative is for Intuit to announce that they no longer support the Mac platform. I'm sure there are other program developers out there who are most anxious to fill that gap. If I only knew who they were.
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"Yikes - Steer Clear of This One"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Honestly, if I think back to the previous Quicken version I'm pretty sure they have identified and eliminated any 'pros' that the product could have had. The mighty have indeed fallen.
Cons
Compared to the prior version, this one is awful. The UI now requires data entry from the ledger view. I just reconciled and the ledger view would jump down to the bottom when I take my hand off the mouse for a few moments. When you enter transactions, the entry leaps to the correct chronological position so you have to re-orient yourself to it's new location. It's like balancing your checkbook manually while flying through a hurricane in a small aircraft.
Compared to the previous version, this one is terrible. I used to love Quicken, but was forced to upgrade when I moved to Lion. The account conversion utilities did not work at all so I had to recreate the accounts from scratch and lost years of history in my primary checking. Today, I noticed that the whacky data entry quirks had caused me to double enter a paycheck. Also, I can't for the life of me figure out how to have repeating transactions automatically enter.Summary
A steaming pile of dookie.
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"Trash. Conversion program won't even run under Lion."
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
None that I can see.
Cons
The Quicken File Exchange Utility that is supposed to convert my old Quicken 2007 data WILL NOT RUN under Lion. It's a PPC program. So, no old data can be imported. There is no support for investment transactions, so you can no longer track your, um, retirement accounts, kids' 529 education accounts, etc, other than by the "total value". Pretty worthless. There are no scheduled transactions. Reports are extremely limited. On and On. What??? What were they thinking?
Summary
I wish I had read the blogs and reviews BEFORE I wasted my time and money on this app. I will be looking at iBank and See Finance as a replacement, because Intuit is providing an unworkable replacement for Quiken 2007.
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"Pure Unadulterated Garbage. NEGATIVE 10 stars"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Absolutely none
Cons
Cannot update using a qif file after the initial setup. The only report I could print was a printout of the entire account from day one.
Summary
Total waste of money. I wish I could get my money back. This piece of trash in no way, shape or form resembles Quicken. Total Scam. I was a fool to buy this piece of ......trash.
Note to Intuit about quicken essentials: How do I loathe thee - let me count the ways. (maybe ten thousand?)
Updated on Oct 10, 2011 -
"Awful. D- compared to an A rating for the PC version"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Drag and drop memory. Ease of adding/deleting accounts
Cons
Cannot auto-reconcile, no bill pay, investment tracking. Register is cumbersome to use and modify. Difficulty changing over from PC version to Mac...took forever to get my account reconciled. Very few features in comparison...terrible product!
Summary
If you have ever used quicken on a PC (even the earliest versions) you will be HIGHLY disappointed and frustrated in changing to this product. Would not recommend.
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"Much better than what the reviews here say"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Easy to use interface. I added and updated a dozen or so accounts in minutes. Clear presentation of account values and investment holdings
Cons
Trouble connecting with Dodge and Cox account (worked in Quicken 2008 for PC) as well as my wife's Vanguard IRA accounts (also worked in Quicken 2008 PC version)
Summary
I give it 3.5 to 4.0 stars
The reviews here with ratings of 1 are, in my opinion, unfair. I actually put off ordering Quicken Essentials for over a year because of all these negative reviews but after Quick 2008 for PC stopped connecting to my banks a few months ago I decided to give Essentials a try (Quicken 60-Day guarantee was a plus). Needless to say it does what I need it to do, it tracks all my investments, allows me to keep track of my various assets (properties, none brokerage investments, etc) as well as my bank accounts. A few of the auto download features are a little clunky but overall very positive experience. -
"Fail! No more Quicken (or Quicken Essentials for me)"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
None found or discovered.
Cons
Could not get years worth of financial data to transfer from Quicken 2007 in Lion (10.7); unsupported now starting with 10.7.
Summary
There are alternatives "out there;" I am "done" wiht Quicken. I will not continue with Quicken anymore due to thier non-support of the Mac platform by upgrading thier mainstay Quicken product to run on the newer Mac paltforms. There should have been an upgrade from 2007, but the Quicken group appears to not support thier product in the Mac community.....shame! I have had Quicken since the mid-'90s upgrading when the new versions were released -- and never having a problem with the upgrades.
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"Worst dumbed down software ever. Epic fail for Intuit!!"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Seems to do math accurately
Can download transactionsCons
Cannot handle amortization for mortgages!
Doesn't handle paycheck categories as easily as earlier versions.
Much tougher to track and prepare for tax season with this software
Miserably behind the Windows versions in features and sophisticationSummary
I'm so disappointed with this version. Why they had to take so much content out of the Quicken 2007, I'll never understand. This is such a huge step backward. I can't believe that they hold the Mac community in such contempt that they would insult us all with this lame software. Every version of the software before had this essential feature. And the Windows versions are so far beyond this one....
Specific problems: Can't handle mortgage amortizations. As a result the downloaded balances underestimate the debt. (Wish that 100% of my mortgage payment went to interest.) Paycheck set-up is non-existent. Can't see how to easily track taxes, donations, insurances, etc.
If you want a complete list of all the features that this doesn't have, try to find earlier versions of Quicken 2007 or 2010 for Windows. I'm so insulted by this software. They should pay me interest beyond refunding my money.
This used to be a good piece of software. Now, it's just a big disappointment.
Intuit is playing the most cynical game with it's Mac users. Without a viable alternative, they are playing all for idiots.
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