9 Best Tax Software of 2026

This list is for US filers comparing what tax software will actually cost them, by return type and by state. We compared documented features and published prices, and every verified price comes from the vendor's own US page as of November 2026. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%. Vendors usually reset prices when the filing season opens in January, so check the final price at checkout. H&R Block and TaxAct prices could not be loaded from our location and are marked pending.

1. 01Top value

   

   FreeTaxUSA

   9.0/10

   Online tax software with free federal returns for every tax situation and a flat fee per state return.

   Price

   $15.99per state return, federal free

   Federal return free for all tax situations; $15.99 per state return

   “State Tax Return $15.99 Audit Defense $19.99 Pro Support $44.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.6

   Features (35%)

   8.7

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forFilers with investments, rentals or self-employment income who want the lowest total cost.

   FreeTaxUSA keeps the federal return free no matter what is on it, which is rare in this category. Rental income, stock and crypto sales, home sales and self-employment schedules are all covered by the free federal return, and the vendor says it makes its money from state returns and optional services. Each state return costs $15.99, so a single-state filer with a complicated return pays $15.99 in total. Add-ons are priced up front: Deluxe Support at $7.99 adds live chat and unlimited amended returns, Pro Support at $44.99 adds calls or chats with a tax pro and a final review, and Audit Defense costs $19.99. You can import W-2s and 1099s by photo or upload, and bring over a prior year return from TurboTax or H&R Block. The tradeoffs: free support is email based, paying from your refund costs $24.99, and the interface is plainer than the big brands. For most filers who can follow prompts, it is the lowest total cost here.

   • ✓No upgrade needed for complex federal returns
   • ✓Lowest paid state fee we found
   • ✓Optional live chat and tax pro support at fixed prices

   • ✕Free support is email and in-app messages only
   • ✕Paying with your refund adds $24.99
   • ✕Amended returns cost $16.98 unless you buy Deluxe or Pro support

   Federal return:

   $0 for every tax situation

   State return:

   $15.99 each

   Deluxe Support:

   $7.99, live chat and unlimited amendments

   Pro Support:

   $44.99, tax pro advice and final review

   Audit Defense:

   $19.99

   Bottom line: The best value for most US filers: every federal return is free and states cost $15.99. Pay $44.99 for Pro Support if you want a tax pro to look it over.

   Visit freetaxusa.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Cash App Taxes

   8.7/10

   Block's free tax filing service for federal and state returns, used through a Cash App account.

   Price

   Freeper return

   Free federal and state returns; no paid tiers

   “Yes, Cash App Taxes is 100% free for state and federal returns.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.8

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forCash App users who want federal and state returns filed for $0.

   Cash App Taxes is the only service here that charges nothing for both the federal and the state return, and it states that the price stays at $0 for 1099 income, small business income and sales of stocks or bitcoin. Block says it has filed over 12 million returns without charging a filing fee. The catch is the account: you have to download Cash App and sign up before you can use the tax service, though you can then file from a phone or a computer at cash.app/taxes. It backs returns with an accurate calculations guarantee and a max refund guarantee, and refunds deposited into Cash App can arrive up to 5 days early. Support runs by phone from 8AM to 9:30PM ET and by chat in the app. What you do not get is a paid path to a tax professional, so filers who want a human to review their return should look at FreeTaxUSA Pro Support or TurboTax Expert Assist. For confident filers, the price cannot be beaten.

   • ✓$0 for federal and state, including self-employment and investments
   • ✓No upsell tiers
   • ✓Phone support daily and in-app chat

   • ✕You must download Cash App and create an account
   • ✕No paid tax pro review offered on the product page
   • ✕Early refund timing depends on depositing into Cash App

   Federal return:

   $0

   State return:

   $0

   Returns filed:

   Over 12 million, per Cash App

   Account required:

   Cash App

   Support:

   Phone 8AM to 9:30PM ET daily, chat in app

   Bottom line: The cheapest way to file federal and state, at $0 for most tax situations. It requires a Cash App account and offers no tax pro review.

   Visit cash.app ↗

3. 03

   

   TaxSlayer

   8.7/10

   Online tax software with a free edition for simple returns and an all-forms Classic edition at a flat price.

   Price

   $19.99per federal return (Classic), state extra

   Simply Free $0 with one state for simple returns; Classic $19.99 federal, state additional; Premium $39.99

   “Classic All tax situations covered at one low price Get all forms, credits, and deductions. The best value for any tax situation. $19.99 State additional” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   8.5

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.3

   Best forFilers who want every form and paid phone support at a low price.

   TaxSlayer has three consumer tiers, and the middle one carries most of its value. Simply Free costs $0 and includes a federal and one state return, but only for simple situations: TaxSlayer describes it as Form 1040 with limited credits. Classic costs $19.99 and includes all forms, credits and deductions, so freelancers, investors and landlords do not need to upgrade for coverage. Premium at $39.99 adds live chat, skip-the-line phone and email support, and Ask a Tax Pro. State returns are extra on both paid tiers. You can upload last year's return from another provider and import eligible W-2s and 1099s to fill in income. Compared with FreeTaxUSA, you pay for the federal return, but the paid support is cheaper to reach than at the big brands, and the company says support is US-based. It is a good pick if you want phone access to help without paying TurboTax prices.

   • ✓Classic covers every tax situation for $19.99
   • ✓Free edition includes one state return
   • ✓US-based phone, chat and email support

   • ✕State returns cost extra on Classic and Premium
   • ✕Simply Free is limited to Form 1040 and limited credits
   • ✕Tax pro access requires Premium

   Simply Free:

   $0, state included, simple returns

   Classic:

   $19.99, state additional

   Premium:

   $39.99, state additional

   In business:

   Over 60 years, per TaxSlayer

   Bottom line: A low flat price for any federal return, at $19.99 for Classic. Premium at $39.99 is one of the cheapest ways to get tax pro access.

   Visit taxslayer.com ↗

4. 04

   

   TurboTax

   8.2/10

   Intuit's tax software with do-it-yourself, expert-assisted and full-service options.

   Price

   $79per federal return (Deluxe), state extra

   Free Edition for simple Form 1040 returns; Deluxe $79 federal, state additional

   “$79* Federal State additional” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   6.2

   Features (35%)

   9.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.3

   Best forFilers who want the most guided software and the option of on-demand expert help.

   TurboTax has the most complete set of options in this list. The Free Edition handles simple Form 1040 returns with W-2 income, the standard deduction, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, student loan interest and Schedule 1-A deductions, and Intuit says roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify. Anything beyond that, such as itemized deductions, unemployment income, 1099-NEC income or stock sales, moves you to a paid tier. Deluxe is listed at $79 for the federal return with state additional, and Premium, which replaced the old Self-Employed edition, covers investments, crypto, rental property and Schedule C. Expert Assist adds on-demand help from a tax expert and a final review, and Expert Full Service hands the whole return to an expert. Paying from your refund can add a $40 fee. The software is very polished and the help options are the deepest here, but on price alone it loses to every other paid option we compared.

   • ✓The widest range of help, from DIY to full service
   • ✓Product specialist support included with Deluxe and Premium
   • ✓Free Edition covers EITC, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest

   • ✕Deluxe costs $79 before state, far above FreeTaxUSA or TaxSlayer
   • ✕Itemized deductions, stock sales and 1099-NEC income all need a paid tier
   • ✕Paying from your refund can add a $40 service fee

   Free Edition:

   Simple Form 1040 returns only

   Deluxe:

   $79 federal, state additional

   Premium:

   Investments, rentals and self-employment

   Refund payment fee:

   Up to $40

   Bottom line: The most guided software with the deepest expert options. You pay for it: Deluxe is $79 before any state fee.

   Visit intuit.com ↗

5. 05

   

   1040.com

   8.1/10

   A Taxwell company's online filing service with one flat price for federal and state returns.

   Price

   $34.99federal and state, flat fee

   $34.99 flat for federal and state, all features included

   “$34.99 Just one simple price. Every feature included for everyone.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.3

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forFilers who want every feature at one price and a free preview before paying.

   1040.com charges one flat price, $34.99, and says it applies regardless of who you are, how much you earn or how you earn it. That price covers the federal and state return, all filing statuses, most income sources and email and chat support. You can work through the whole return and preview the completed version for free, paying only when you are ready to file, which takes the guesswork out of comparing totals. Two extras are optional: paying with your refund through E-collect costs $29.95 more, and Audit Assistance from Protection Plus costs $34.95. Compared with Jackson Hewitt Online, it costs $9.99 more for the same flat-fee idea, and compared with FreeTaxUSA, a one-state filer pays about twice as much. The appeal is predictability: there are no tiers to climb, so a complicated return costs the same as a simple one. Simple filers will still save with the free options higher on the list.

   • ✓No upgrades: same price for every filer
   • ✓Preview the finished return at no charge
   • ✓Support by email and chat included

   • ✕No free edition
   • ✕Paying with your refund adds $29.95
   • ✕Audit Assistance costs $34.95 extra

   Price:

   $34.99 federal and state

   Pay with refund:

   $29.95 extra

   Audit Assistance:

   $34.95 extra

   Owner:

   Taxwell

   Bottom line: A predictable $34.99 for federal and state with no upgrades. Simple and one-state filers pay less elsewhere.

   Visit 1040.com ↗

6. 06

   

   H&R Block

   8.1/10

   Online and downloadable tax software from H&R Block, with Deluxe and Premium editions.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.8

   Features (35%)

   9.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forFilers who want a big-brand alternative to TurboTax with downloadable software as an option.

   H&R Block sells both online editions and downloadable software, which few rivals still do. Its online line includes Deluxe, which the company positions for itemized deductions, and Premium, which it positions for investors and crypto. On the download side it lists Basic, Deluxe + State and a Premium & Business version for small business filers. That range makes it the closest match to TurboTax for people who want a large brand with guided interviews, and the downloadable versions suit filers who prefer to keep return files on their own computer. We could not load H&R Block's pricing pages from our location, so the price is marked pending and we scored value conservatively. Check the current online price and the state fee on hrblock.com before you start, and compare it with TaxSlayer Classic and FreeTaxUSA, which cover similar forms for much less.

   • ✓Online and downloadable versions
   • ✓Editions built around itemizing, investing and small business
   • ✓Strong brand and broad form coverage

   • ✕Pricing page could not be checked from our location
   • ✕Paid tiers sit in the same range as TurboTax
   • ✕State returns are an extra cost on paid tiers

   Online editions:

   Deluxe, Premium

   Download software:

   Basic, Deluxe + State, Premium & Business

   Price check:

   Pending

   Bottom line: A solid big-brand alternative to TurboTax with online and download options. Confirm the current federal and state price on hrblock.com.

   Visit hrblock.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Jackson Hewitt Online

   8.1/10

   Jackson Hewitt's do-it-yourself online filing at one flat fee for federal and state returns.

   Price

   $25federal and state, flat fee

   $25 flat for federal and state returns, any tax situation

   “File Federal & State taxes for $25 flat.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.8

   Features (35%)

   7.5

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.8

   Best forFilers with W-2, 1099 or multi-state returns who want one fixed fee.

   Jackson Hewitt Online keeps pricing to one number: $25 for federal and state returns, which the company says applies to simple and more complicated returns alike. The page lists W-2 workers, gig workers with 1099 income, families claiming the Child Tax Credit, students filing Form 1098-T and multi-state filers as covered at the same price, which makes it a strong deal for people who would otherwise pay two or three state fees. You only pay when you file, and live chat support is free. It comes with a maximum refund guarantee that reimburses prep fees if you get a bigger refund elsewhere, plus a 100% accuracy guarantee. There is no free tier, so a simple return costs more here than at Cash App Taxes, FreeTaxUSA or TaxSlayer Simply Free. Guidance is lighter than at the big two, but if you want a person later, you can take the return to a Jackson Hewitt office, including locations inside Walmart.

   • ✓One price for simple and complex returns
   • ✓State returns included
   • ✓Reimburses prep fees if you get a bigger refund elsewhere

   • ✕No free edition
   • ✕Fewer guidance features than TurboTax or H&R Block
   • ✕Help beyond live chat means visiting an office

   Price:

   $25 flat, federal and state

   Support:

   Free live chat

   Covers:

   W-2, 1099, dependents, education, multi-state

   Guarantee:

   Max refund and 100% accuracy

   Bottom line: A fixed $25 for federal and state, even for multi-state returns. Simple returns are cheaper at the free options above it.

   Visit jacksonhewitt.com ↗

8. 08

   

   TaxAct

   8.1/10

   Online and downloadable tax software with Free, Deluxe, Premier and Self-Employed editions.

   Price

   Free plan

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   8.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.1

   Best forFilers who want tiered editions and a free option for active duty military.

   TaxAct sits between the budget filers and the big two. It sells online editions named Free, Deluxe, Premier and Self-Employed, plus downloadable software, and you pay when you file rather than up front. The free edition is for qualifying federal returns, so most filers with itemized deductions, investments or business income will move to a paid tier. TaxAct also runs a program that lets active duty military file federal and state returns for free, which is worth checking if you serve. The Self-Employed edition targets freelancers and contractors who need Schedule C. We could not load TaxAct's site from our location, so its price is marked pending and its value score is conservative. Before you choose it, compare its current Deluxe and state prices with TaxSlayer Classic at $19.99 and FreeTaxUSA, which cover the same forms for less, and with TurboTax if you want more guidance.

   • ✓Clear edition ladder from simple to self-employed
   • ✓Downloadable software option
   • ✓Military filers can file federal and state for free

   • ✕Pricing page could not be checked from our location
   • ✕State returns cost extra
   • ✕Free edition is limited to qualifying returns

   Online editions:

   Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed

   Military:

   Free federal and state for active duty

   Price check:

   Pending

   Bottom line: A middle option with a full edition ladder and free filing for active duty military. Confirm current prices on taxact.com.

   Visit taxact.com ↗

9. 09

   

   ezTaxReturn

   7.5/10

   A long-running online filing service with free simple federal returns and flat prices for other returns.

   Price

   $44.99per federal return, state $45.99

   Free simple federal returns; otherwise $44.99 federal, $45.99 state, $90.98 for both

   “If you qualify for a simple tax return, federal is FREE. Otherwise, federal is just $44.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   7.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.8

   Best forFilers with a simple federal return who also want callback support.

   ezTaxReturn has been doing online filing for over 25 years and keeps a short price list. Simple federal returns are free; everyone else pays $44.99 for the federal return, and a state return costs $45.99, so a non-simple return with one state comes to $90.98. Optional extras include audit defense for $42.99, amended return insurance for $12.99, and a refund transfer for $39.95 if you want the fees taken out of your refund. Support is free, US-based and available seven days a week by callback or email, and the company offers an equal or bigger refund guarantee against other online programs and preparers. The free simple federal return is useful, but once you leave that bracket, ezTaxReturn costs more than TaxSlayer, Jackson Hewitt Online or 1040.com for comparable coverage, and its $45.99 state fee is the highest we found. It makes sense mainly for simple returns.

   • ✓Simple federal returns cost nothing
   • ✓Support by callback seven days a week
   • ✓Over 25 years of online filing

   • ✕State return costs $45.99, the highest fee here
   • ✕Federal plus state is $90.98 for non-simple returns
   • ✕Refund transfer adds $39.95

   Simple federal:

   $0

   Federal:

   $44.99

   State:

   $45.99

   Audit defense:

   $42.99

   Amended return insurance:

   $12.99

   Bottom line: Free for simple federal returns with callback support. For anything more complex, the $90.98 federal and state total is hard to justify.

   Visit eztaxreturn.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.