Choosing the right tax software can save you hundreds of dollars and hours of frustration. In this comprehensive guide, we compare the six most popular DIY tax platforms for the 2025 tax filing season: TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, FreeTaxUSA, and Cash App Taxes. We tested each platform's pricing, free tier limitations, features, customer support, mobile apps, accuracy guarantees, and ease of use. Whether you're a W-2 employee with a simple return, a freelancer with 1099 income, a crypto trader, or a landlord with rental properties, this guide will help you find the best tax software for your specific situation without overpaying.
The best tax software depends on your situation. Here's the quick answer:
Find your situation below to see our recommendation:
| Your Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Want cheapest option | FreeTaxUSA or Cash App |
| Self-employed / 1099 / Freelancer | FreeTaxUSA ($0) or TaxSlayer ($53) |
| Crypto trading / Day trader | TurboTax (best imports) |
| Need tax expert / CPA help | H&R Block or TurboTax |
| Moved states / Multi-state | FreeTaxUSA ($15.99/state) |
| S-Corp / LLC / Partnership | TaxAct Business |
| Active military | TaxSlayer (free) |
| Want in-person help option | H&R Block |
| First time filing taxes | TurboTax or H&R Block |
| Rental property / Landlord | FreeTaxUSA ($0) |
| Simple W-2 only | Cash App Taxes ($0) |
Tax software prices range from $0 to $239 for the same tax situation. Here's what each platform actually charges:
Here's what you'll actually pay (federal + 1 state) for common tax situations:
| Tier | TurboTax | H&R Block | TaxAct | TaxSlayer | FreeTaxUSA | Cash App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Deluxe | $79 | $35 | $49.99 | $22.95 | $0 | $0 |
| Premium | $139 | $55 | $84.99 | $42.95 | $0 | $0 |
| Self-Employed | $139+ | $85 | $99.99 | $52.95 | $0 | $0 |
| Fee Type | TurboTax | H&R Block | TaxAct | TaxSlayer | FreeTaxUSA | Cash App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay from Refund | $40 | $42 | $54.99 | ~$40 | $24.99 | $0 |
| Audit Defense | $39.99 | Varies | $49.99 | $29–44 | $19.99 | FREE |
| Expert Review | $49–159 | ~$55 | $25–45 | Included | $44.99 | N/A |
Not all "free" tax software is actually free. Many platforms force upgrades for common situations. Here's what each free tier actually covers:
| Requirement | TurboTax | H&R Block | TaxAct | TaxSlayer | FreeTaxUSA | Cash App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income Limit | None | None | <$84,000 | <$100,000 | NONE | NONE |
| Age Limit | None | None | 20–59 | Under 65 | NONE | NONE |
| Dependents OK? | Yes | Yes | Yes | NO | YES | YES |
| % Who Qualify | ~37% | ~52% | ~44% | ~15–20% | ~95%+ | ~90%+ |
| Tax Situation | TurboTax | H&R Block | TaxAct | TaxSlayer | FreeTaxUSA | Cash App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-2 Income | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Tax Credit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Earned Income Credit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unemployment (1099-G) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HSA (Form 8889) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Itemized Deductions | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-Employment | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stock/Investments | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rental Income | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cryptocurrency | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free State | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ $39.99 | ✓ (1) | ✗ $15.99 | ✓ |
Self-employed taxes require Schedule C, which most platforms charge $85-139+ for. FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes offer Schedule C for FREE.
| Platform | Self-Employed Tier | Federal Cost | Total (Fed + State) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax | Premium | $139+ | $179–239 |
| H&R Block | Self-Employed | $85 | $122 |
| TaxAct | Self-Employed | $99.99 | $134.98 |
| TaxSlayer | Self-Employed | $52.95 | $92.90 |
| FreeTaxUSA | Free (all tiers) | $0 | $15.99 |
| Cash App Taxes | Free | $0 | $0 |
For crypto traders, import capabilities matter most. TurboTax supports 20,000 transactions from 20+ exchanges. Cash App requires manual entry.
| Platform | Crypto Import | Max Transactions | Exchanges Supported |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax | Direct API | 20,000 | Coinbase, Kraken, Binance.US + 20 more |
| H&R Block | Via CoinTracker | Varies | CoinTracker integration |
| TaxAct | CSV upload | Varies | CoinLedger, Koinly CSV |
| TaxSlayer | CSV upload | 500/upload | Third-party CSV |
| FreeTaxUSA | CSV upload | Varies | 1099-DA supported |
| Cash App | Manual only | Manual | Cash App 1099-B only |
| Feature | TurboTax | H&R Block | TaxAct | TaxSlayer | FreeTaxUSA | Cash App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-2 Photo Import | ✓ (OCR) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brokerage Import | 100+ firms | Major firms | Limited | Growing | Limited | ✗ |
| Multi-State | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Schedule K-1 | Premium | Premium | Premier | Classic | FREE | ✗ |
| AI Assistant | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Support | TurboTax | H&R Block | TaxAct | TaxSlayer | FreeTaxUSA | Cash App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Chat | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Live Chat | Paid tiers | Paid tiers | ✓ | Premium+ | $7.99 | ✗ |
| Phone Support | Paid tiers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $44.99 | ✗ |
| In-Person | ✗ | 10,000+ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| CPA Access | $49–159 | Included | $25–45 | Premium+ | $44.99 | ✗ |
| Platform | iOS App | Android | iOS Rating | Full Filing | W-2 Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5/5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| H&R Block | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6/5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| TaxAct | ✓ | ✓ | 4.0/5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| TaxSlayer | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8/5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| FreeTaxUSA | Web only | Web only | N/A | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cash App | In app | In app | 4.8/5 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Platform | Coverage | Max Amount | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax | Penalty + interest | No cap stated | 7 years |
| H&R Block | Penalty + interest | Up to $10,000 | Current year |
| TaxAct | Penalty + interest + audit | $100,000 | Filing year |
| TaxSlayer | Penalty + interest | Not stated | Filing year |
| FreeTaxUSA | Penalty + interest | Not stated | 45 days |
| Cash App | Gift card only | $1,000 max | Filing year |
| Platform | Basic Support | Full Defense | IRS Representation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax | Free Q&A | $39.99 | ✓ With MAX |
| H&R Block | Free notice help | Included | ✓ |
| TaxAct | Free guidance | $49.99 | ✓ Third-party |
| TaxSlayer | 1–3 years | $44 | ✓ Self-Emp tier |
| FreeTaxUSA | Basic included | $19.99 | ✓ Up to $1M |
| Cash App | FREE | FREE | ✓ Included |