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Annuity vs drawdown calculator

Certainty against flexibility.

Built and reviewed by Dovanic, Founder and editor, FreeByteLast reviewed: 2026-08-18
$
6%
4%
5%

Annuity income

$27,000

Drawdown income

$18,000

With these inputs, annuity income comes to $27,000. Drawdown income works out to $18,000. The result assumes annuity rate stays at 6%.

Income difference
$9,000
Pot after 20 years drawing
$549,086

What moves the number · Annuity income

Input−10%Now+10%
Pot$24,300$27,000$29,700
Annuity rate$24,300$27,000$29,700

Solve for an input

Whatmakesequal

Compare scenarios

Save this set of inputs, change something, then save again to compare the outcomes side by side.

Certainty against flexibility.

A worked example

Starting figures

Pot
$450,000
Annuity rate
6%
Drawdown rate
4%
Investment return
5%

What it returns

Annuity income
$27,000
Drawdown income
$18,000
Income difference
$9,000
Pot after 20 years drawing
$549,086

How to read the results

With the defaults above, annuity income works out at $27,000.

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