Head-to-head · Income Tax software
WISO Steuer vs CrossLink
WISO Steuer leads on 0 checks, CrossLink on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreWISO Steuer · 8.8/10
WISO Steuer scores higher on our rubric for income tax software: 8.8 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.
WISO Steuer is the better fit for german filers wanting guided ELSTER submission. CrossLink is the better fit for professional preparers needing hosted and desktop filing.
- WISO Steuer fits best
German filers wanting guided ELSTER submission
- CrossLink fits best
Professional preparers needing hosted and desktop filing
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Side by side
| Feature | WISO Steuer 8.8/10 Visit ↗ | CrossLink 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.8 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #4 in Income Tax software | #5 in Income Tax software |
| Best for | German filers wanting guided ELSTER submission | Professional preparers needing hosted and desktop filing |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web, Windows |
| Support | Phone, Tickets, Docs | Email, Phone, Docs |
| Compliance | GDPR | 2FA |
| Integrations | 1 integrations | 7,000+ integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features WISO Steuer 0/2 · CrossLink 0/2 | ||
| E-filing | Not published | Not published |
| Professional preparer use | Not published | Not published |
| Specs | ||
| Return types | Not published | Not published |
| Tax jurisdictions | Not published | Not published |
| Returns included | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | WISO Steuer is a German income-tax application for employees, retirees, self-employed people, landlords and other taxpayers. Its guided tax-return interview organizes the preparation process, while automatic retrieval of employer and… Read the review → |
CrossLink is professional tax-preparation software for tax preparers, tax offices, service bureaus, and franchise operations. Its individual-return offering covers 1040-series filing, while a separate business product supports business… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
WISO Steuer — where it wins
- Guided workflow with live refund and pre-submission checks
- Supports self-employed returns, rental income and property expenses
- Receipt scanning, automatic data retrieval and SteuerGPT AI advice
Where it doesn't
- No free plan; payment is requested when submitting from the test version
- Vorteils-Abo allows up to five tax returns per year
- Linux access is provided through the web version rather than desktop software
CrossLink — where it wins
- Supports unlimited 1040-series returns and state returns on CrossLink 1040
- Combines OCR import, return verification, and document archiving
- Offers remote signatures, TaxPass collection, and TextLink messaging
Where it doesn't
- Business returns require a CrossLink 1040 license
- The Franchise or Service Bureau plan adds fewer listed tax-workflow features
- Pricing is paid, with no free plan
- WISO Steuer8.8/10 · From €35.99/yr
A broad German tax tool for guided filing, self-employed work and rental income.
Visit WISO SteuerFull verdict → - CrossLink8.7/10 · Paid
A broad tax-preparation suite for offices that need desktop and hosted filing.
Visit CrossLinkFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update





