Instead vs ProConnect Tax
Instead
instead.comProConnect Tax
accountants.intuit.comSide by side
| Figure | Instead | ProConnect Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $17.50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 25 |
| Spec score · Small Business Tax Software | 8.9 (#1) | 8.8 (#2) |
| Spec score · AI Tax Software | 8.8 (#3) | 8.7 (#5) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States | Mountain View, California, United States |
| Integrations | Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box are listed as live integrations with two-way sync, version tracking, and automatic folder mapping. | The product page names Intuit Accountant Suite, Intuit Sign, Intuit Tax Advisor, SmartVault and QuickBooks-related workflows as connected tools. |
| Support | Terms state that standard support may use in-product help, websites, chat, email, video, phone and online communities. | Intuit lists ProConnect product support and a sales contact on its product pages; the pricing page says User Access is required to access support. |
| What it does | Instead is an AI tax platform that coordinates research, planning, preparation, filing and defense in one system. | ProConnect Tax is Intuit's cloud professional tax-preparation service for accounting firms, connecting books, tax preparation and advisory work. |
Plans
ProConnect Tax
- ProConnect Essentials 50Priced on request
- ProConnect Essentials 100Priced on request
- ProConnect PlusPriced on request
- ProConnect AdvancedPriced on request
- Individual returns, pay as you goPriced on request
- Business returns, pay as you goPriced on request
- Individual returns, upfront 50+Priced on request
- Individual returns, upfront 100+Priced on request
- Individual returns, upfront 200+Priced on request
- Individual return, 200+ volume$32.21, paid once
In their own words
Instead
Instead is a web-based AI agent for tax research, planning, preparation, filing, and defense. It lists support for individual 1040, C corporation 1120, S corporation 1120-S, partnership 1065, and trust and estate 1041 returns. Users choose which workflows to run, and credits are consumed only when they start a task; the credit estimate is shown beforehand. Users can review the agent’s work before filing. Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box are live integrations with two-way sync, version tracking, and automatic folder mapping. Instead says it is IRS-approved and supports e-filing in 48 or more state jurisdictions, as well as local filing. Federal and state e-file and prior-year import are listed. The free Instead Platform plan is free and includes unlimited users, entities, e-file and print file, multi-entity support, and collaborators and viewers. Instead Agent is billed per credit, with pricing dependent on volume and usage; purchased credits are valid for 12 months. The service lists a free trial, US-based customer support, and 24/7 support, with email responses within 24 business hours.
ProConnect Tax
ProConnect Tax is cloud-based professional tax preparation software for accounting firms, available on the web and Windows. It supports individual and business returns, federal and state e-filing, amended returns, self-employed filers, and rental income. SmartReturn uses imported data to prepare low- to medium-complexity 1040 returns. AI features cover document data extraction, assisted import and review, and Smart Navigation, which suggests a route through preparation. The product lists 7,200+ forms and more than 21,000 diagnostics. Firms can move bookkeeping information from QuickBooks Accountant or export it; ProConnect also powers the Tax Prep tool in Intuit Accountant Suite. Individual returns cost $82.46 as a one-time purchase and business returns cost $97.48 as a one-time purchase, each specific to a tax year. User Access costs $210 a year and is separately required for e-filing, printing, and other listed services. Annual plans include return-volume options for smaller firms, growing firms, and high-volume teams. A free trial is available to new customers, but it excludes e-filing, printing, and User Access features.