FreeTaxUSA vs TaxSlayer

FreeTaxUSA8.7Visit TTaxSlayer8.3Visit

Higher score FreeTaxUSA #4 in Personal Tax Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit FreeTaxUSA

vs

T TaxSlayer #8 in Personal Tax Software 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit TaxSlayer

• FreeTaxUSA fits best

  Low-cost comprehensive US filing

• TaxSlayer fits best

  US filers needing mobile and live help

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Side by side

Feature	FreeTaxUSA 8.7/10 Visit ↗	TTaxSlayer 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.3
Ranking	#4 in Personal Tax Software	#8 in Personal Tax Software
Best for	Low-cost comprehensive US filing	US filers needing mobile and live help
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community	Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features FreeTaxUSA 4/4 · TaxSlayer 4/4
Self-employment support	✓	✓
Investment income	✓	✓
Rental income	✓	✓
Audit support	✓	✓
Specs
State filing	Paid_add_on	Paid_add_on
Mobile access	Web_and_mobile	Web_and_mobile
Our review
Pros	Free federal filing includes self-employment, investments, crypto, and rentals Imports W-2s, 1099s, and competitor return PDFs Optional audit defense and tax-professional support are available	Federal and state filing supports major IRS forms and income types Mobile access across web, iOS, and Android Higher tiers add live chat, tax-pro assistance, and priority support
Cons	State tax return preparation and e-file are paid add-ons Optional Deluxe, Pro, and audit services add to the cost Access is browser-based rather than through a native mobile app	Simply Free is limited to qualifying simple tax situations State returns cost extra on paid tiers Premium support and tax-professional help require higher tiers
Our verdict	FreeTaxUSA is an online tax preparation service for U.S. individual taxpayers who want to file federal returns through a web browser. Its free federal filing supports common and more complex situations, including self-employment and… Read the review →	TaxSlayer is online tax preparation software for U.S. taxpayers who want to prepare and electronically file federal and state returns. Its plans cover simple returns as well as filing situations involving major IRS forms, self-employment,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• FreeTaxUSA — where it wins

  • Free federal filing includes self-employment, investments, crypto, and rentals
  • Imports W-2s, 1099s, and competitor return PDFs
  • Optional audit defense and tax-professional support are available

  Where it doesn't

  • State tax return preparation and e-file are paid add-ons
  • Optional Deluxe, Pro, and audit services add to the cost
  • Access is browser-based rather than through a native mobile app

• TaxSlayer — where it wins

  • Federal and state filing supports major IRS forms and income types
  • Mobile access across web, iOS, and Android
  • Higher tiers add live chat, tax-pro assistance, and priority support

  Where it doesn't

  • Simply Free is limited to qualifying simple tax situations
  • State returns cost extra on paid tiers
  • Premium support and tax-professional help require higher tiers

• FreeTaxUSA8.7/10 · Free plan

  A broad, low-cost option for complex federal returns, with state filing priced separately.

  Visit FreeTaxUSAFull verdict →
• TTaxSlayer8.3/10 · Free plan

  A broad tax-filing option with mobile access and live help on higher tiers.

  Visit TaxSlayerFull verdict →