GuideStead is a small set of free, browser-based calculators for everyday US money decisions — comparing job offers, working out what a raise is really worth, weighing a car purchase, and a handful of others.
It started because the same calculations kept coming up, and rebuilding the same spreadsheet logic from scratch each time got old. Each tool does one thing: it takes the numbers you already know, applies the official published rates and rules, and gives you a practical estimate you can act on.
The numbers you enter stay in your browser. There are no accounts and no sign-ups, and your inputs aren't sent to a server or saved anywhere but your own device. The site itself uses basic analytics; the Privacy page explains what's collected and what isn't.
The calculators are deliberately scoped. They won't project a retirement balance 30 years out or predict which college major will pay more. They estimate what can be estimated honestly from the numbers entered, and they say plainly what they leave out — GuideStead is an educational tool, not financial or tax advice.
If something's wrong or outdated, email hello@guidestead.com. Corrections are welcome.