---
title: TurboTax vs H&R Block vs TaxAct vs TaxSlayer vs FreeTaxUSA vs Cash App Taxes | PrimeWay Federal Credit Union
description: Compare TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, FreeTaxUSA & Cash App Taxes. See pricing, features, free tiers & which is best for your 2025 tax return.
---

[PrimeWay Blog ](https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog)

# [TurboTax vs H&R Block vs TaxAct vs TaxSlayer vs FreeTaxUSA vs Cash App Taxes | PrimeWay Federal Credit Union](https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/turbotax-vs-hr-block-vs-taxact-vs-taxslayer-vs-freetaxusa-vs-cash-app-taxes)

 Written by [Laurie Masera Garza](https://www.primewayfcu.com/blog/author/laurie) | Jan 14, 2026 9:50:56 PM

## TurboTax vs H&R Block vs FreeTaxUSA vs TaxSlayer vs Cash App Taxes

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. 

### What Is the Best Tax Software in 2025?

The best tax software depends on your situation. Here's the quick answer:

- **Best Overall Value: **FreeTaxUSA ($0 federal, $15.99 state for ALL tax situations)
- **Best 100% Free Tax Software:** Cash App Taxes ($0 federal + $0 state)
- **Best for Beginners:** TurboTax (easiest to use, best guidance)
- **Best for In-Person Help:** H&R Block (10,000+ office locations)
- **Best for Military: **TaxSlayer (free for active duty)
- **Best for S-Corp/LLC:** TaxAct Business (only major online option)
  
   

### Which Tax Software Should I Use? (Quick Decision Guide)

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) |

## How Much Does Tax Software Cost in 2025? (Price Comparison)

Tax software prices range from $0 to $239 for the same tax situation. Here's what each platform actually charges:

### How Much Does TurboTax Cost in 2025? (TurboTax Prices)

- TurboTax Free Edition: $0 federal + $0 state (only 37% of filers qualify)
- TurboTax Deluxe: $79 federal + $40-64 per state
- TurboTax Premium: $139 federal + $40-64 per state
- TurboTax with Live Expert: $89-209 federal + state fees

### How Much Does H&R Block Cost in 2025? (H&R Block Prices)

- H&R Block Free Online: $0 federal + $0 state (about 52% qualify)
- H&R Block Deluxe: $35 federal + $37 per state
- H&R Block Premium: $55 federal + $37 per state
- H&R Block Self-Employed: $85 federal + $37 per state

### How Much Does FreeTaxUSA Cost? (FreeTaxUSA Prices 2025)

- FreeTaxUSA Federal: $0 for ALL tax situations (self-employed, investments, rental income)
- FreeTaxUSA State: $15.99 per state (75% cheaper than TurboTax)
- FreeTaxUSA Deluxe: $7.99 add-on for live chat support

## Tax Software Price Comparison 2025 (Federal Filing)

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 |

 

## Tax Software Hidden Fees 2025 (Pay from Refund, Audit Defense)

| **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 |

 

## Best Free Tax Software 2025: How to File Taxes for Free

Not all "free" tax software is actually free. Many platforms force upgrades for common situations. Here's what each free tier actually covers:

### Is TurboTax Free Really Free? (TurboTax Free Edition Limitations)

- Only 37% of filers actually qualify for TurboTax Free Edition
- NOT included in TurboTax Free: HSA, unemployment, itemized deductions, investments, self-employment
- Any of these trigger upgrade to $79+ Deluxe tier

### Is H&R Block Free Really Free? (H&R Block Free Limitations)

- About 52% of filers qualify for H&R Block Free Online
- H&R Block Free includes unemployment (1099-G) - better than TurboTax
- NOT included: HSA, itemized deductions, investments, self-employment

### Is FreeTaxUSA Really Free? Is FreeTaxUSA Legit?

- YES - FreeTaxUSA federal filing is 100% free for ALL tax situations
- Includes Schedule C (self-employed), Schedule D (investments), Schedule E (rental) - FREE
- Only cost: $15.99 per state return
- 82+ million returns filed - legitimate, IRS-approved platform

### Is Cash App Taxes Really Free? Is Cash App Taxes Safe?

- YES - Cash App Taxes is 100% free for federal AND state
- Includes FREE audit defense (worth $20-50 elsewhere)
- LIMITATIONS: Single state only, no multi-state filing, no tax expert access
- Safe and legitimate - IRS-approved, formerly Credit Karma Tax

## Free Tax Filing Comparison: Who Qualifies for Free Filing?

| **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%+ |

 

## What's Included in Free Tax Software? (Forms Covered)

| **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 | ✓ |

 

## Best Tax Software for Self-Employed 2025 (Freelancers, 1099, Gig Workers)

Self-employed taxes require Schedule C, which most platforms charge $85-139+ for. FreeTaxUSA and Cash App Taxes offer Schedule C for FREE.

## Self-Employed Tax Software Cost Comparison 2025

| **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 |

 

## Best Tax Software for Crypto 2025 (Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency Taxes)

For crypto traders, import capabilities matter most. TurboTax supports 20,000 transactions from 20+ exchanges. Cash App requires manual entry.

### Crypto Tax Software Comparison: Import Features

| **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 |

 

## Tax Software Features Comparison 2025

### Does TurboTax Import W-2? Tax Software Import Features

| **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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |

 

## Tax Software Customer Support: Phone, Chat, In-Person Help

### Does TurboTax Have Phone Support? Tax Help Options Comparison

| **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 | ✗ |

 

## Best Tax App 2025: File Taxes on Your Phone

### Tax Software Mobile App Ratings (iOS & Android)

| **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 | ✓ | ✓ |

 

## Tax Software Accuracy Guarantee & Audit Protection 2025

### Which Tax Software Has the Best Accuracy Guarantee?

| **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 |

 

### Tax Software Audit Defense: Cost & What's Included

| **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-Employed tier |
| FreeTaxUSA | Basic included | $19.99 | ✓ Up to $1M |
| Cash App | FREE | FREE | ✓ Included |

 

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