What we do
CalcMatters publishes free money calculators for the decisions that cost real money: mortgages, compound interest, savings goals, budgeting and taxes. Each page pairs a working calculator with the formula it uses, the assumptions it makes, and an explanation of the result in ordinary language.
Everything is free. There is no sign-up, no email capture, and no lead-selling form between you and the number you came for.
How we keep the numbers honest
The formulas we use are the standard ones: the amortization formula for amortizing loans, the future-value formula for compound growth, the standard federal income tax brackets for tax estimates. We have documented all of them on our methodology page, including the specific thresholds and figures that change from year to year.
Where a result depends on a rate, a tax bracket, or a limit that changes annually, we update the underlying values and the date shown on the page. We would rather update a page than let a stale number stand.
What we do not do
We do not sell your data, and we do not sell leads to lenders. We are supported by advertising, and we keep that advertising separate from the calculators themselves so the tool stays a tool.
Corrections and questions
If you find an error in a calculation, or you think a page is missing something important, we want to hear about it. Get in touch and we will take a look.