The diminishing role of Quicken is partly by design as the software became a tiny part of a giant financial software company, Intuit (INTU).

It's doable, but requires the software to be reinvented as much as the PC itself - the device on which Quicken flourished - has. The question is can Quicken be turned into software that is again a must-buy. But if you haven't tried Quicken before - there's nothing in the 2016 version to convince you to start now. Most Quicken users, typically people who monitor their money and investments like hawks - will likely get around to upgrading eventually. Quicken 2016 will be yet another update dedicated users of Quicken - of which there have been millions over its years - will appreciate for the behind-the-scenes bug fixes. It's Quicken 2017 that will really matter. In other words - Quicken 2016 is a placeholder. Quicken is still important - and could be even more important depending on what's next. Quicken is a Lamborghini in a world where most people are happy using a skateboard to monitor their money. But for people who really need to know where their money is - with more than one account - it's still the best game in town. It's a bit of an anachronism - a software program that runs on desktop computers and costs $40 or more. Invented more than 30 years ago when most people were still using pencil and paper to track their finances - Quicken is fighting to remain relevant in a world awash with free money-tracking smartphone apps, more than capable bank Web sites and financial overview Web sites like. But while the product looks the same - it's perhaps the most important year yet for the most important personal finance software in history. The interface hasn't been upgraded to speak of.

There aren't any breakthrough new features to the money-tracking software. Quicken 2016 - the latest version - is out today.

Release date for quicken 2016 mac