PlanOptica vs FreeERISA
FreeERISA is a fine first stop for one-off lookups. When you outgrow it, PlanOptica is $39/mo with 29 prospect flags and retirement plus welfare on one login.
FreeERISA is a fine first stop for one-off lookups. The product dates to the 2000s and the UX reflects that; the Deluxe tier runs roughly $400/yr. PlanOptica is $39/mo with 29 prospect flags, retirement and welfare on a single login, and a current UI.
FreeERISA vs PlanOptica
| Feature | FreeERISA | PlanOptica |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Retirement (welfare limited) | Retirement + welfare on one login |
| Prospect flags | 15 Red Flags (Deluxe) | 29 (17 retirement + 12 welfare) |
| Pricing model | Free / Deluxe $400/yr | Free / $39 Solo / $100 Team |
| Modern UX | ||
| Self-serve signup | ||
| Savable searches + saved plans | Limited | |
| Sourced CSV exports | Deluxe tier | Solo + Team |
| Custom analytics service |
Where PlanOptica differs from FreeERISA
Seventeen retirement plus twelve welfare prospect flags. Every flag has a sourced rationale that links back to the filing. The Red Flag vocabulary was the original; we extended it across both product lines.
Schedule A welfare data and Form 5500 retirement filings on the same account. Follow a sponsor's full benefit stack without switching tools.
Filters refine the count as you tick. Saved searches re-run next quarter. CSV exports keep the DOL provenance trail attached.
Common questions
When does FreeERISA still make sense?
For a one-off lookup of a known plan, FreeERISA is fine and we routinely point people there. The case for PlanOptica starts when you find yourself doing the same lookup three times a week, or building a prospect list, or wishing you could re-run a saved search.
Can I migrate my saved searches?
No automatic import. Email hello@planoptica.com with the searches and prospect lists that matter and we'll help recreate them as savable views on your account.
Why $39/mo instead of $400/yr like Deluxe?
$39/mo is close to the same annual spend, paid monthly, with cancel-any-time billing. The monthly cadence lines up with the renew/cancel decision so the seat earns its keep month by month.