Head-to-head · Small Business Tax Software
Drake Tax vs ATX
Drake Tax leads on 0 checks, ATX on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreDrake Tax · 8.1/10
- Most featuresATX · 2 of 4
Drake Tax scores higher on our rubric for small business tax software: 8.1 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #9 and #10.
Drake Tax is the better fit for small firms needing broad professional tax coverage. ATX is the better fit for firms needing extensive forms and research.
- Drake Tax fits best
Small firms needing broad professional tax coverage
- ATX fits best
Firms needing extensive forms and research
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Side by side
| Feature | Drake Tax 8.1/10 Visit ↗ | ATX 8.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.1 | 8.0 |
| Ranking | #9 in Small Business Tax Software | #10 in Small Business Tax Software |
| Best for | Small firms needing broad professional tax coverage | Firms needing extensive forms and research |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $1,895/yr | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Self-hosted, Desktop |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Solo |
| Features Drake Tax 0/4 · ATX 2/4 | ||
| Federal e-file | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| State e-file | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Bookkeeping imports | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Prior-year import | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Business entity support | Not checked yet | C corporations, S corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts |
| Included state returns | Not checked yet | 0 returns |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for tax preparers and accounting firms handling individual and business returns. It supports federal and state filings, multi-state returns, amended returns, electronic filing, and forms… Read the review → |
ATX is desktop, forms-based tax preparation software from Wolters Kluwer for CPAs, individual tax preparers, and small firms. It supports federal, state, and local returns across individual, C corporation, S corporation, partnership,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Drake Tax — where it wins
- Prepares federal and state individual and business returns
- Includes multi-state packages and electronic filing
- Diagnostics, planning tools, and prior-year references included
Where it doesn't
- Windows is the listed platform
- No free plan is available
- State amended-return e-filing varies by state
ATX — where it wins
- More than 6,000 federal, state, and local compliance forms
- Diagnostics flag e-filing errors, omissions, and overridden entries
- Includes tax research, electronic signatures, and payroll reporting
Where it doesn't
- ATX 1040 excludes state business returns
- Desktop software may not fit cloud-first workflows
- No free plan is available
- Drake Tax8.1/10 · Paid
Broad federal, state, and business tax coverage for professional preparers.
Visit Drake TaxFull verdict → - ATX8.0/10 · Paid
A forms-focused tax suite for firms handling complex federal, state, and local returns.
Visit ATXFull verdict →
All small business tax software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update