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Home / Tax Software guides / TurboTax vs FreeTaxUSA: Same Refund, $180 Apart

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.

Written by Team RankingRight
August 25, 2026 · 3 min read

Same numbers

All three of our test returns — family, freelancer, investor — came out identical in TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA and matched the CPA.

Different bills

Freelancer with one state: TurboTax Premium $193, FreeTaxUSA $14.99. Investor: $193 vs $14.99. Family: $0 vs $14.99 (TurboTax Free Edition covered it).

What $180 buys

  • Brokerage and crypto import — the investor return took 25 minutes in TurboTax and 70 in FreeTaxUSA.
  • A friendlier interview and a better mobile app.
  • Live Assisted for a video call with a pro.

Who should still pay

Investors with hundreds of trades, and anyone who wants a person on call. Everyone else is paying for comfort.

» See the full rankings: Best TurboTax Alternatives, Best Tax Software for Self-Employed and Freelancers .