- Checkbook Register
- Quicken alternative
A simple Quicken alternative for your checkbook
Updated November 5, 2026 · Macon Apps
Lots of people bought Quicken years ago for one reason: to keep their checkbook register on the computer and balance it against the bank statement. Quicken has since become a yearly subscription with far more than that in it. If the register is all you ever used, Checkbook Register gives you that part back, for a one-time price.
Is this the right Quicken alternative for you?
Be honest about what you use. Quicken is a full personal finance suite. Checkbook Register deliberately is not.
| You mostly… | Good fit? |
|---|---|
| Keep a checking register, mark items cleared and reconcile each month | Yes, this is exactly what it's for |
| Track a few accounts: checking, savings, a credit card, cash | Yes, with Pro |
| Download your bank's QFX or OFX file and match it to what you typed | Yes, with Pro |
| Print checks on pre-printed check stock | Yes, with Pro (3-per-page stock) |
| Want to see spending by category and payee | Yes, with Pro reports |
| Track investments, retirement accounts, loans or net worth | No. Stay with a full finance suite |
| Need automatic bank syncing, online bill pay or budgets | No. It never connects to your bank, by design |
What you get
- A register that works like Quicken's used to: date, number, payee, category, memo, payment, deposit, cleared column and a running balance. Tab between boxes, Enter to save.
- Payee memory: type a payee and its category and last amount fill in; the next check number is already there.
- Reconcile: enter the statement balance, tick what cleared, watch the difference reach zero, add fees and interest as you go.
- Import (Pro): QFX, OFX, QIF and CSV files from your bank. Entries you already typed are matched and marked cleared rather than duplicated.
- Reports (Pro): monthly income vs. spending, by category, by payee, and a check log that flags missing check numbers.
- Private: no account to create, no cloud, no ads, no analytics. Your register is stored only on your PC.
What it costs
The free edition never expires: one account with unlimited transactions, reconciliation, search, printing, CSV export and backups. Pro is a one-time US$7.99 in-app purchase through the Microsoft Store, and it's tied to your Microsoft account so it works on all your Windows PCs. There is no renewal.
Moving your checkbook from Quicken
Checkbook Register can't open Quicken's own data file (.QDF), which is a proprietary format. There are two easy ways across:
- Start from today's balance. This is the quickest and what most people do. Create your checking account with the balance from your last reconciled statement, and keep your old Quicken file as an archive for past years.
- Bring history with you (Pro). Export the account from Quicken to a QIF file, or download QFX/OFX files covering the period you want from your bank's website, then use Import in Checkbook Register. See how to open QFX, OFX and QIF files.
After importing, reconcile against your latest statement once so the starting point is confirmed.
Try it before you decide
You don't need to install anything to see if the register suits you. The free web edition runs in your browser with the same register and reconcile screens; move to the Windows app later with a backup file, and unlock Pro there when you want it.
On a Mac, Chromebook or phone? The web edition works in your browser; the Store app is for Windows PCs.
Questions
Can Checkbook Register open my Quicken data file?
Not directly: Quicken's .QDF data file is a proprietary format. Export each account from Quicken to a QIF file, or download QFX/OFX files from your bank, and import those with Pro.
Does Checkbook Register download transactions from my bank automatically?
No, by design. It never stores bank passwords or connects to your bank. You import the file you download from your bank's website, and entries you already typed are matched instead of duplicated.
Does it track investments, loans or budgets?
No. It is a checkbook register: checking, savings, credit card and cash accounts, with categories and reports. If you need investment tracking, a full finance suite is the better fit.
Quicken is a trademark of Quicken Inc. Checkbook Register is an independent product by Macon Apps and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Quicken Inc.