Every FERS calculator claims to be the best. Here's an honest, founder-voice look at what HighThree does that no competitor does — and where we're honest about what others do well.
| Feature | HighThree | FedTools | FedCalc | FERSplus | MyFedBenefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FERS pension estimate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TSP projection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Break-even vs. private sector | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| 50-state tax comparison | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| All departure years at once | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Transparent formulas shown | Yes | Partial | No | No | No |
| Client-side only (no server) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| No account required | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | No |
| No affiliate / lead gen | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Social Security integration | Yes | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Survivor benefit comparison | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Export results (JSON/CSV) | Yes | No | No | ||
| Free | Yes | Yes | Freemium | Freemium | Yes |
The short version: HighThree is the only calculator that answers "What would I actually give up if I left federal service?" Every other tool stops at "What is my pension?" That difference — break-even vs. pension-only — is the entire point.
The good: Suite of seven calculators, established reputation, covers CSRS and FERS, includes a COLA calculator and leave calculator. Solid, no-nonsense tool.
The gap: Generic feature-broad approach. No break-even analysis. No 50-state tax lens. No transparent formula display. No export. The voice is institutional, not founder-led.
The good: Clean interface, quick estimates, produces a downloadable PDF report.
The gap: Freemium model — the "Full Retirement Analysis" costs money. Methodology is opaque: you can't verify the math. No break-even. No state tax comparison. No TSP drawdown modeling.
The good: iOS app + web, visually polished, free tier covers basics.
The gap: Freemium with paid features. Less authoritative on methodology. No break-even calculator. No transparent formulas. No export. The app-first approach means the web experience is secondary.
The good: Extensive educational content, webinar series, human advisors available.
The gap: This is a lead-generation business. The calculator is a funnel to financial advisors who pay for referrals. Your data is collected. Your contact info is sold. The math is not the product — you are. HighThree exists in direct opposition to this model.
We don't win on everything. Here's where others do it better:
Our stance: We built HighThree because no one else was building it this way. Not because the others are bad — because the thing we needed didn't exist. If you find a tool that serves you better, use it. The goal is informed federal employees, not market share.