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The Best Tax Software of 2026 Reviewed — Including the Free Versions
You may be frantically searching for your tax forms, organizing your receipts, figuring out how much it’ll cost you to file and trying to remember the most recent updates to the tax code. Tax season can be stressful… to say the least.
Thankfully, some smart software companies have made the process way easier — and, in some cases, even free.
Even the tax pros themselves are getting on board.
“I actually informally started my own tax practice using TurboTax to prepare people’s returns from my kitchen table,” said Ben Rugg, certified public accountant.
So you can rest assured your taxes are in good hands with online tax filing services — and save yourself a boatload of money and stress. And you’re in good company. A recent Tax-Time Reality Check survey from They Penny Hoarder found that more than half of Americans said they file their taxes themselves using tax software rather than pay someone else to do them.
The three best online tax programs with paid plans are undoubtedly TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxAct. Here’s a quick look at how they stack up.
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Note: The prices below are accurate as of Jan. 26, 2026 but may fluctuate throughout tax season.
Best Tax Software 2026: At a Glance
Each of these three tax prep services offers a similar suite of options that are split among their free and paid tiers. The details and prices vary among them, so take a look at the features that are important to you to see which product is the right fit.
All three services include free federal filing for your tax return with any service tier. That’ll file your federal tax return with the IRS.
Most services charge an additional fee to file a state return — which you’ll be required to do if you live in any of the 41 states that collect income tax, or did work in one that requires you to file a tax return. State filing fees are charged for each state you file with.
Each tax preparation service includes a free option for basic filers. What each covers varies, so which is best for you depends on how complex your tax situation is.
Each service offers almost identical paid tiers for more complicated tax returns: a “Deluxe” and a “Premium” tier.
These tiers help you prepare your taxes when you have additional deductions and credits to claim, or you have income from anywhere other than an employer.
Each service includes support for self-employment income in less expensive tiers.
But if the majority of your income comes from self-employment of any kind — as a freelancer, independent contractor or small business owner — you’ll benefit from tax prep support specifically tailored for self-employment and small business owners.
These versions are the most expensive of the basic online filing options, but they cost significantly less than paying an individual accountant to prepare your taxes. They’re a budget-friendly way to tackle your complicated paperwork and ensure you don’t miss out on vital tax breaks.
All three services provide the same basic support for self-employed filers, but here are some highlights that could help you choose:
Note: This review covers individual tax filing features. If you file as an S-Corp or C-Corp, you have to use the business version of these services to file business taxes.
All three companies offer tax help from real, live tax professionals, like a certified public account (CPA) or IRS enrolled agent (EA) — and this option is where they differ the most. Pay attention to these options if live tax support is important to you.
H&R Block or TurboTax should be your go-to services if you’re concerned about a complicated tax audit. TaxAct doesn’t provide audit support for most customers.
All three services have mobile apps available for both iOS and Android.
Need money now? All three services offer a tax refund advance, although TurboTax’s and TaxAct’s has ended for 2026.
All three services let you use your tax refund to pay for product and filing fees, so you never see an out-of-pocket cost for your tax preparation.
The companies offer different levels of peace of mind for using their products.
To prepare and file your taxes online with each service, you’ll pay a product fee, filing fees for state returns, and — depending on the company — fees for live tax professional assistance.
Fees vary dramatically when you access these products online. What’s listed here is accurate as of this writing, but note that these services might advertise different fees to you depending on when and how often you visit their sites.
Fee Comparison at a Glance
Alternatively, you can download tax preparation software from each company so you can save your tax information on your own computer. Software products are tiered similar to online tiers and include a one-time download fee and filing fees.
The download fee for tax filing software is usually a little higher than the fee to file online, because they include the option to file multiple federal returns (typically around five). Those are only good for a single tax year, but you can use them for multiple people, so downloadable software could save you money if multiple people in your family need to file.
Any of these popular, tested tax preparation services is a good fit for you if you want to DIY your tax returns this year and file online — with added assurance from software or tax pros that you’re doing everything right.
Here are a few standout differences among H&R Block, TurboTax and TaxAct that will help you pick the best product for your situation.
In addition to these top options for affordable online filing, you can find tons of free ways to file simple returns online for free.
You can always file your federal taxes for free, if you’re eligible, through the IRS Free File portal. This service is available to filers who earned $89,000 or less (in 2025), and the page also links to free fillable forms for earners at all levels.
The IRS doesn’t directly provide this service, but it partners with eight tax preparation companies — like TaxAct and TaxSlayer — to facilitate your process.
If you made less than $89,000 in 2025, take advantage of United Way’s MyFreeTaxes program to file federal and state taxes online for free. If you earned less than $69,000, you can use tax assistance through United Way to have an expert file your taxes for you.
If your taxes are simple and you earned less than $100,000, TaxSlayer will help you file online for free. The Simply Free edition offers a deduction finder, and you can add your state returns at no charge.
Active duty military members can file a federal return for free, regardless of your tax situation.
TaxSlayer’s Simply Free edition lets you claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit and student loan interest, but not EITC, Child Tax Credit or mortgage interest.
Get help with basic tax prep from an IRS volunteer through the locally-administered Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. VITA assistance is available to:
TCE assistance is available for filers over age 60, and volunteers specialize in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues.
All volunteers are certified by the IRS and many have professional backgrounds in accounting and finance.
So you can file your own taxes from the comfort of your home… but should you?
Rugg told us that some circumstances add new levels of tax considerations you might miss if you don’t bring in a professional eye.
“There are five situations where taxpayers should consider using a professional — when they get married, when they buy a home, when they have a child, when they have investments and/or when they are self-employed,” he said.
One of these events might trigger you to work with a tax pro every year after. Or you might just want to bring in help for the tax year when the change happens so you can get a better understanding of your situation, the forms you’ll need and the deductions, credits and additional tax liabilities you should know about.
You probably don’t need to work with a tax expert if you’re a single W-2 employee with no dependents or property. You should be able to easily find a free tax software/platform instead of paying for guidance from a real person or pricy software.
We hope with the best online tax preparation software at hand, April 15 (Tax Day) doesn’t seem so ominous.
Just don’t wait until the last minute to file your taxes, and you should be fine.
Dana Miranda is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® and founder of Healthy Rich, a platform for inclusive, budget-free financial education. She’s written about work and money for Forbes, The New York Times, CNBC, NextAdvisor, Insider, Inc. Magazine and more.
Laura Grace Tarpley contributed reporting to this review.
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