How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Cash App Taxes is the only mainstream tool that is genuinely free for both federal and state filing, with no paid tiers, though it covers just one state return.
- FreeTaxUSA offers free federal filing for everyone with an interface reviewers praise, charging only for state returns and extras.
- TurboTax and H&R Block dominate on guidance and support depth, but their free editions cover narrower situations than the marketing suggests.
- The "free" label varies wildly: check whether your situation (investments, self-employment, itemizing) still qualifies before you start.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 TurboTax | Maximum guidance and live help | See website | Yes |
 H&R Block | In-person backup plus online filing | See website | Yes |
 TaxAct | Affordable all-rounder | See website | Yes |
 FreeTaxUSA | Free federal filing for everyone | See website | Yes |
 TaxSlayer | Budget filing with military discount | See website | Yes |
 Jackson Hewitt | Brand trust with office support | See website | No |
 Cash App Taxes | Truly free federal and state | Free | Yes |
 eFile.com | Simple returns on a budget | See website | Yes |
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The best tax software for individuals
Tax software promises the same thing every year: your biggest legal refund with the least pain. The reality splits between genuinely free tools, freemium ladders that upsell mid-return, and premium products with human help. Your return's complexity decides which tier you actually need. Eight tools for every situation.
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
TurboTax is the default recommendation for a reason: its step-by-step interview catches deductions and credits that cheaper tools miss, and the live-help tiers put a credentialed expert on screen with you. Importing last year's return, W-2s and brokerage 1099s removes most manual entry.
The pricing ladder is the catch. The free edition handles only basic 1040s without schedules, and costs climb steeply through Deluxe, Premier and Self-Employed tiers, plus state filing fees. TurboTax fits filers with investments, rental property or self-employment income who want maximum hand-holding and will pay for it.
What we like- Best-in-class interview guidance for complex returns
- Live expert help and full-service options
- Imports W-2s, 1099s and prior returns smoothly
Watch out for- Free edition covers only simple returns
- Paid tiers are the priciest in the category
- Upsell prompts are persistent
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
H&R Block's advantage is the hybrid model: file online, but walk into an office if the return gets scary. Its free online edition covers a wider slice of ordinary tax situations than many competitors' free tiers, including students and homeowners in some cases. The Tax Pro Review add-on gives expert eyes on your self-prepared return.
It is not quite as slick as TurboTax on imports and guidance, and the paid tiers cost nearly as much. H&R Block fits filers who want the safety net of a physical office and a genuinely useful free tier for straightforward returns.
What we like- Thousands of offices for in-person help
- Free online edition covers more situations than most rivals
- Tax pro review option
Watch out for- Interface and import polish trail TurboTax slightly
- Paid tiers approach TurboTax pricing
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
TaxAct undercuts TurboTax and H&R Block at nearly every tier while covering the same forms. Its free edition handles simple 1040-only returns, and paid plans add the schedules investors, landlords and freelancers need. The company's own site is unusually transparent about what each tier covers.
The free tier's limits are real: no investments, no rental income, no itemizing, no self-employment. And the interface shows its age. TaxAct fits price-conscious filers with moderately complex returns who do not need white-glove guidance.
What we like- Lower prices than the big two across comparable tiers
- Free edition for simple 1040 filers
- Expert help add-ons available
Watch out for- Free edition eligibility is narrow (about 40% of users per the company)
- Interface feels dated next to TurboTax
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
FreeTaxUSA's deal is simple: file your federal return free no matter how complex it is, including investments, rental income and self-employment. That alone beats every "free edition" with asterisks. The interface is straightforward, with drop-down navigation and error warnings that reviewers like.
State returns cost extra, and you will not get TurboTax-level live support. There is also no mobile app, though the site works on phones. FreeTaxUSA fits anyone whose federal return is the main event and who does not need hand-holding.
What we like- Federal filing is free regardless of complexity
- Clean interface reviewers consistently praise
- Handles investments and self-employment on the free tier
Watch out for- State filing costs extra
- Support is thinner than the big brands
- No mobile app
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
TaxSlayer competes on price with a no-nonsense product. Its Simply Free tier covers basic returns, paid tiers stay well under TurboTax equivalents, and active military members file federal free. The interface is plain but functional.
You give up some guidance polish and import breadth. Complex investors may miss TurboTax's hand-holding. TaxSlayer fits budget filers, military families and anyone whose return is straightforward enough that guidance matters less than price.
What we like- Low prices across tiers
- Free federal filing for military members
- Straightforward interface for simple returns
Watch out for- Guidance depth trails the leaders
- Fewer import integrations
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Jackson Hewitt brings retail tax-prep trust to online filing. The online product covers standard individual returns, and the office network means help is nearby when the return exceeds DIY confidence. Seasonal promotions often undercut competitors.
The digital experience is not the draw; this is a brand and support play. Filers who want everything online with maximum polish should look at TurboTax or H&R Block. Jackson Hewitt fits loyal customers and anyone who values the option of walking in.
What we like- Recognized brand with thousands of locations
- Online filing backed by in-person expertise
- Straightforward pricing promotions
Watch out for- Online product is less developed than the big two
- No meaningful free online tier
#7
Cash App Taxes
Best for: Truly free federal and state
Visit cash.app
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Cash App Taxes (formerly Credit Karma Tax) is the price disruptor: federal and state filing for $0, with no upsell ladder, covering schedules C, D and E plus crypto, per the company's own site. There is genuinely nothing to buy.
The constraints are real: one state only, no multi-state or part-year returns, no foreign earned income, and you need a Cash App account. Brokerage import is limited compared with TurboTax. Cash App Taxes fits single-state filers of any complexity who want the true total to be zero.
What we like- 100% free federal and state filing with no paid tiers at all
- Covers investments, crypto and self-employment free
- Max-refund and accuracy guarantees
Watch out for- Only one state return, no multi-state or part-year filings
- Requires a Cash App account
- Form import is limited
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
eFile.com serves the budget end with simple online filing. W-2-only filers can get through quickly and cheaply, with a free basic tier for the simplest returns.
It is not the tool for investors, landlords or the self-employed; guidance and import features are basic. eFile.com fits uncomplicated filers who want the cheapest path from W-2 to e-file without fuss.
What we like- Low-cost filing with a free basic option
- Simple interface for straightforward returns
- Quick for W-2-only filers
Watch out for- Smaller company with thinner support resources
- Fewer advanced features for complex situations
What to check before you buy
Start with your forms, not the marketing. List your income types: W-2 only, 1099s, investments, rental, crypto, self-employment. Then check each product's free-tier eligibility against that list, since "free" usually means "simple 1040 only." The true cost is federal plus state plus any add-ons.
Test the import experience during the trial window: W-2 photo capture, 1099 brokerage import and prior-year return import save the most time. Check state pricing separately, since a cheap federal tier with an expensive state add-on changes the total. Finally, know your support needs: audit defense, expert review and live help are where premium tiers earn their price.
How we chose
We compared individual tax filing products with live 2026-season offerings and real user bases, covering free, budget and premium tiers, using vendor sites, pricing pages and public reviews. The Cash App Taxes free price comes from the company's own site; elsewhere we wrote See website where we could not verify a current figure on the vendor's own pricing page. We did not prepare test returns.
Documents to gather before you file
Tax software is only as good as the inputs. Gathering documents before you start turns filing from a scavenger hunt into a data entry task. Here is the checklist.
Income documents: W-2s from every employer, 1099-NEC for contract work, 1099-MISC for miscellaneous income, 1099-INT and 1099-DIV for interest and dividends, 1099-R for retirement distributions, SSA-1099 for Social Security, and records of any crypto or brokerage sales. If you switched jobs, check every employer; missing a W-2 is the most common filing error.
Deduction and credit records: mortgage interest statements (1098), property tax receipts, charitable donation receipts, student loan interest (1098-E), tuition statements (1098-T), childcare provider details and amounts, HSA contributions, and business expense records if self-employed. The rule is simple: if you plan to claim it, you need proof.
Last year's return. Not just for reference: it carries forward capital losses, confirms your AGI for e-filing identity verification, and reminds you what you claimed before. Consistency matters; the IRS notices when deductions appear and disappear without explanation.
Identity documents: Social Security numbers for everyone on the return, including dependents, plus bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit and direct debit. Identity theft makes this sensitive: file early in the season before a fraudster files with your number.
Organize digitally as they arrive. A folder per tax year, documents scanned or downloaded as they come in January and February. By the time you sit down to file, everything is in one place. The filers who scramble are the filers who miss things, and missed documents mean amended returns.
Frequently asked questions
Is free tax software really free?
Sometimes. Cash App Taxes is free for federal and state with no tiers. FreeTaxUSA is free for federal regardless of complexity. Most "free editions" cover only simple returns and charge for everything else, so verify your situation qualifies.
Which is better: TurboTax or H&R Block?
TurboTax leads on guidance polish and imports; H&R Block counters with a broader free tier and office backup. For complex returns with live help, compare their assisted tiers head to head on price.
Can I file self-employment income for free?
Yes. Cash App Taxes and FreeTaxUSA both handle Schedule C free (federal). Most big-brand free editions do not cover self-employment.
Do I need to file a state return too?
Most states with income tax require it. State filing is where "free" often ends: many products charge $15 to $40 per state. Cash App Taxes includes one state free.
What if I need help during filing?
TurboTax and H&R Block sell live expert help and full-service preparation. Budget tools offer limited support. If your return involves anything unusual, the assisted tiers pay for themselves in avoided mistakes.
When can I file?
The IRS typically begins accepting returns in late January. Filing early gets refunds faster and reduces identity-theft risk, since a thief cannot file in your name once you have filed.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://turbotax.intuit.com
- https://www.hrblock.com
- https://www.taxact.com
- https://www.freetaxusa.com/
- https://www.taxslayer.com
- https://www.jacksonhewitt.com
- http://cash.app/taxes
- https://taxeshelp.cash.app/s/article/Getting-started-with-Cash-App-Taxes
- https://efile.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.