Best Tax Preparation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: WISO Steuer is ranked #1 of 34 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of smartsteuer and 1040.com. The best-ranked option with a free plan is 1040.com. The lowest first paid tier on this page is TaxFreeway at $0.83/mo.
Tax preparation software is easier to compare when you begin with the kinds of returns and filing details relevant to you. Compared on filer types, electronic filing included, state returns and amended returns, these options also cover criteria such as rental income and self-employed support. WISO Steuer, smartsteuer and H&R Block Online are among the software shown. Check which of the listed filing situations match your own, then weigh free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the support offered. The comparison can help you focus on the return needs and filing options that matter for your circumstances.
34 tax preparation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
34ranked
13free plans on this page
$0.83/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Tax Preparation Software 25 channels on this page · 78 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromFiler typesState returnsAmended returnsSelf-employed supportRental income supportElectronic filing included Spec sheet Score
01 WISO Steuer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedFiler typesbothState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 5/8spec lines stated 8.0
02 smartsteuer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedFiler typesbothState returnsnot statedAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
03 1040.com Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
04 H&R Block Online Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
05 StudioTax Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesindividualState returnsYesAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.2
06 TaxAct Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 Taxfix Free planNoPaid fromnot statedFiler typesbothState returnsnot statedAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
08 TaxFreeway Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesindividualState returnsYesAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 ClearTax Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.0
10 TaxSlayer Pro Free planNoPaid fromnot statedFiler typesbothState returnsYesAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includedYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.0
11 Drake Tax Free planNoPaid from$379.99/yrFiler typesbothState returnsYesAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 8/8spec lines stated 6.9
12 Steuerbot Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
13 TaxTron Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesbothState returnsYesAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
14 TurboTax Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
15 TurboTax Canada Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
16 ProConnect Tax Free planNoPaid from$813/yrFiler typesbothState returnsYesAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportYesElectronic filing includedYes 8/8spec lines stated 6.8
17 TaxCalc Free planNoPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.8
18 UFile Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
19 Cash App Taxes Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.6
20 OnLine Taxes Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.5
21 TaxSlayer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.5
22 CCH Axcess Practice Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.4
23 ONESOURCE Certificate Manager Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedFiler typesbothState returnsYesAmended returnsYesSelf-employed supportYesRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includedYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.4
24 GoSimpleTax Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.3
25 FreeTaxUSA Free planYesPaid fromnot statedFiler typesnot statedState returnsnot statedAmended returnsnot statedSelf-employed supportnot statedRental income supportnot statedElectronic filing includednot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.2
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Filer types | State returns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WISO Steuer | 8.0 | Free plan | €3/mo | No | — | both | — |
| 2 | smartsteuer | 7.3 | No | €3.33/mo | No | — | both | — |
| 3 | 1040.com | 7.2 | Free plan | $34.99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | H&R Block Online | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | StudioTax | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | individual | Yes |
| 6 | TaxAct | 7.1 | Free plan | $44.99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Taxfix | 7.1 | Free plan | €3.33/mo | No | — | both | — |
| 8 | TaxFreeway | 7.1 | No | $0.83/mo | Yes | — | individual | Yes |
| 9 | ClearTax | 7.0 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | TaxSlayer Pro | 7.0 | No | $116.25/mo | No | — | both | Yes |
| 11 | Drake Tax | 6.9 | No | $25/mo | No | 379.99 /yr | both | Yes |
| 12 | Steuerbot | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | TaxTron | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 14 | TurboTax | 6.9 | Free plan | $79/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | TurboTax Canada | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | ProConnect Tax | 6.8 | No | $17.50/mo | No | 813 /yr | both | Yes |
| 17 | TaxCalc | 6.8 | No | £3.50/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 18 | UFile | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | Cash App Taxes | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | OnLine Taxes | 6.5 | Free plan | $7.95/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | TaxSlayer | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | CCH Axcess Practice | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | ONESOURCE Certificate Manager | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | both | Yes |
| 24 | GoSimpleTax | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 25 | FreeTaxUSA | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which tax preparation software is ranked first on Specifiction?
WISO Steuer is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 8.0. smartsteuer is second and 1040.com 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 on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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