Best Tax Preparation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: WISO Steuer is ranked #1 of 34 as of 8 October 2026, ahead of H&R Block Online and StudioTax. The best-ranked option with a free plan is H&R Block Online. The lowest first paid tier on this page is TaxFreeway at $0.83/mo.
Choosing tax software starts with the kinds of returns and filing situations you need to handle. Compare filer types, electronic filing inclusion, state returns and amended returns, as well as support for rental income or self-employment. WISO Steuer, StudioTax and Taxfix are among the options to consider. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the filing features, and focus on the circumstances that apply to your own return. The listed criteria offer a practical way to compare coverage without assuming every product supports the same situations.
34 tax preparation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
13 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WISO SteuerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | €3/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | H&R Block OnlineWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | StudioTaxWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | TaxfixWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | €3.33/mo | 6.5 | |
| 5 | 1040.comWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $34.99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | Cash App TaxesWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | ClearTaxWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | TaxActWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $44.99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 9 | TurboTaxWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $79/mo | 6.4 | |
| 10 | TurboTax CanadaWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 11 | UFileNo platforms listed | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 12 | OnLine TaxesWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $7.95/mo | 6.2 | |
| 13 | TaxSlayerNo platforms listed | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 14 | SteuerbotWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 15 | TaxFreewayWindows · Mac · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $0.83/mo | 5.5 |
| 16 | TaxTronWeb · Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 17 | CCH Axcess PracticeWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 18 | FreeTaxUSANo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 19 | GoSimpleTaxWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 20 | smartsteuerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | €3.33/mo | 5.3 |
| 21 | Steuer-SparerWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 22 | Wealthsimple TaxWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 23 | TaxSlayer ProWeb · Windows · Mac · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $116.25/mo | 5.2 |
| 24 | UltraTax CSWeb · Windows | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 25 | Drake TaxWeb · Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $25/mo | 5.1 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Filer types | State returns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WISO Steuer | 6.7 | Free plan | €3/mo | No | — | both | — |
| 2 | H&R Block Online | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | StudioTax | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | individual | Yes |
| 4 | Taxfix | 6.5 | Free plan | €3.33/mo | No | — | both | — |
| 5 | 1040.com | 6.4 | Free plan | $34.99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Cash App Taxes | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | ClearTax | 6.4 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | TaxAct | 6.4 | Free plan | $44.99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | TurboTax | 6.4 | Free plan | $79/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | TurboTax Canada | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 11 | UFile | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | OnLine Taxes | 6.2 | Free plan | $7.95/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | TaxSlayer | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Steuerbot | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | TaxFreeway | 5.5 | No | $0.83/mo | Yes | — | individual | Yes |
| 16 | TaxTron | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 17 | CCH Axcess Practice | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | FreeTaxUSA | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | GoSimpleTax | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | smartsteuer | 5.3 | No | €3.33/mo | No | — | both | — |
| 21 | Steuer-Sparer | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | individual | — |
| 22 | Wealthsimple Tax | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 23 | TaxSlayer Pro | 5.2 | No | $116.25/mo | No | — | both | Yes |
| 24 | UltraTax CS | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | both | Yes |
| 25 | Drake Tax | 5.1 | No | $25/mo | No | 379.99 /yr | both | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
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Questions about this list
Which tax preparation software is ranked first on Freedom251?
WISO Steuer is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 6.7. H&R Block Online is second and StudioTax third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, TaxFreeway has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.83/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.