Best Tax Software — every ranking, by use case and budget
We prepared the same three returns in every product with our own accounts and compared each refund to a CPA-prepared return. Scores are locked before any affiliate link is added. This is a software comparison, not tax advice.
By use case indexed
By price page 1 indexedpage 2+ noindex
In-depth tax software reviews
FreeTaxUSA
Every federal form free — Schedule C, rentals, stock sales, all of it — with the state at $14.99; matched the CPA on all three returns
Read FreeTaxUSA ReviewTurboTax
The easiest interview and the best imports — brokerage, crypto, W-2 photo — at the highest price in the ranking
Read TurboTax ReviewH&R Block Online
Nearly TurboTax's ease for a little less money, a more generous free tier, and 9,000 offices if you want to hand it over
Read H&R Block Online ReviewIRS Direct File
The government's own filer: free, plain, and limited to common situations in the states that joined — it handled our W-2 family and nothing else
Read IRS Direct File ReviewCash App Taxes
Federal and state for nothing, including Schedule C and stock sales — the only completely free full-featured filer; requires the Cash App
Read Cash App Taxes ReviewTaxAct
A capable middle option with a $100,000 accuracy guarantee and Xpert Assist included — priced close to H&R Block without the offices
Read TaxAct ReviewTaxSlayer
Every form on the $37.95 Classic tier — no forcing freelancers into a pricier edition — with the state being the expensive part
Read TaxSlayer ReviewGuides that send readers to these rankings
TurboTax vs FreeTaxUSA: Same Refund, $180 Apart
What we got for the extra money on three identical returns, and who should still pay for TurboTax.
How to File Your Taxes for Free (Even With a 1099)
The four genuinely free routes, who qualifies for each, and the "free" editions that are not.