Instead vs TaxFile
Instead
instead.comTaxFile
taxfile.aiSide by side
| Figure | Instead | TaxFile |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $3.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Spec score · Small Business Tax Software | 8.9 (#1) | 7.0 (#22) |
| Spec score · AI Tax Software | 8.8 (#3) | 6.9 (#30) |
| Product | Instead describes itself as an AI agent for tax research, planning, preparation, filing, and defense. | TaxFile uses AI to prepare tax returns from uploaded documents or answers to questions, identify deductions and credits, and check for errors. |
| Support | Terms state that standard support may use in-product help, websites, chat, email, video, phone and online communities. | TaxFile lists email support at [email protected] and says its team usually replies within one business day. |
Plans
TaxFile
- Simple$39 a year
- Self-Employed$89 a year
- Business$199 a year
- EnterprisePriced on request
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.