TurboTax vs FreeTaxUSA

TurboTax9.3Visit FreeTaxUSA8.7Visit

Higher score TurboTax #1 in Personal Tax Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit TurboTax

vs

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

• TurboTax fits best

  US filers wanting broad guided support

• FreeTaxUSA fits best

  Low-cost comprehensive US filing

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Side by side

Feature	TurboTax 9.3/10 Visit ↗	FreeTaxUSA 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.7
Ranking	#1 in Personal Tax Software	#4 in Personal Tax Software
Best for	US filers wanting broad guided support	Low-cost comprehensive US filing
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$79 one-time	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Phone, Live chat	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features TurboTax 4/4 · FreeTaxUSA 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 Edition includes simple Form 1040 federal and state filing Paid tiers cover self-employment, investments, crypto, and rental income Available on web, desktop, iOS, and Android with expert options	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
Cons	Paid online products charge extra for state filing Advanced support starts at $139 for the Premium tier Online prices can vary by tax situation, filing date, and add-ons	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
Our verdict	TurboTax is Intuit’s personal tax preparation software for individuals filing US federal and state returns. It supports guided preparation, document import, upload, or photography, and AI-powered Intuit Assist guidance. The product is… Read the review →	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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• TurboTax — where it wins

  • Free Edition includes simple Form 1040 federal and state filing
  • Paid tiers cover self-employment, investments, crypto, and rental income
  • Available on web, desktop, iOS, and Android with expert options

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid online products charge extra for state filing
  • Advanced support starts at $139 for the Premium tier
  • Online prices can vary by tax situation, filing date, and add-ons

• 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

• TurboTax9.3/10 · Free plan

  A broad US tax filing suite with free simple returns and paid expert support.

  Visit TurboTaxFull verdict →
• FreeTaxUSA8.7/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit FreeTaxUSAFull verdict →