We test and rate the top online tax services to help you find the best one for filing quickly and accurately—and for getting the largest possible refund.
Online tax preparation services can save you a lot of time and frustration compared with filing your taxes on paper. They reflect any tax code modifications from the IRS and help you maximize your refund by finding deductions you might have missed. We’ve been reviewing tax services for more than a decade, so you can trust our advice on choosing the best one for your needs, no matter what your level of experience. Our Editors‘ Choice winners for the 2025 tax year include TurboTax, which provides an exceptional user experience and class-leading support, and FreeTaxUSA, which offers all the help you need to file even complex federal returns for free. These aren’t the only tax apps worth considering, so read on for more of our top picks, followed by everything you need to know about filing with tax software.Why We Picked It
TurboTax has topped our list of the best tax prep applications for many years because it makes doing your taxes more understandable and accessible than any competitor, increasing your chances of getting a bigger refund. Its explanations of both simple and complex tax topics are conversational and comprehensible, and it provides multiple layers of help as it takes you through IRS Form 1040. TurboTax also offers the most state-of-the-art user experience across its apps.Who It’s For
Anyone who wants the best DIY tax prep experience: TurboTax has been an Editors’ Choice winner for years because of its superior usability, depth, and guidance.
Investors who buy and sell frequently: TurboTax is the best option for in-depth reporting of capital gains and losses from investments, including cryptocurrency.
Self-employed individuals with complex tax profiles: Self-employed taxpayers are the most likely to justify the cost of TurboTax Premium.Why We Picked It
H&R Block is a household name when it comes to in-person tax preparation, and its DIY tax prep software lives up to that reputation. Its numerous products and services feature user-friendly interfaces, extensive topic coverage, and multiple levels of help. The company excels at explaining tax issues in ways you can easily understand.Who It’s For
Households with multiple income streams and numerous deductible expenses: H&R Block Deluxe is an affordable option that’s suitable for family tax issues. It offers free expert help no matter how complex things get.
Road warriors: Taxpayers who want to prepare and file their taxes on the go will like the company’s dedicated mobile apps.
Sole proprietors who are willing to pay extra for specialized help: H&R Block’s Self-Employed version offers comprehensive coverage of sole proprietor tax topics, built-in guidance, and unlimited free access to tax experts.
Taxpayers with limited income and expenses: H&R Block offers the most robust free version available. Paying as little as possible for tax software ensures you minimize what you owe or get the biggest possible refund.Why We Picked It
FreeTaxUSA is the best free federal tax prep website (state returns cost $15.99). It supports all major IRS forms and schedules, offers a clean, professional user interface, and provides an easy-to-understand navigation system. Its help content is unusually good for a free product. The service allows you to connect directly with a tax professional for just $44.99. Its mobile site is excellent, too.Who It’s For
Budget-conscious and tax-savvy individuals with complex returns: FreeTaxUSA’s usability, thorough coverage of tax topics, and better-than-expected guidance might prove just enough if you must report a lot of income and expenses. Similarly, it should appeal if you have a firm handle on the tax prep process and want to save some money.
First-time filers with simple returns: Free versions of competing apps might technically be sufficient, but FreeTaxUSA offers friendly, fast, comprehensive prep with enough help to support basic tax topics.
Some Schedule C filers: Competitors charge a lot for their self-employed versions, whereas FreeTaxUSA lets sole proprietors file federal returns for free. If you don’t anticipate needing much help, it could be a good option.Why We Picked It
TaxAct is another DIY personal tax prep solution that’s been around for decades. It excels at simplicity, featuring a user interface, navigation system, and contextual support content that helps you through the complexities of the IRS tax code. TaxAct digs deep, asking questions about your finances that help it find all the deductions and credits that you should get. It doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app, but the responsive site works well on smaller screens.Who It’s For
Taxpayers with simple financial scenarios: TaxAct offers a good amount of guidance, but individuals who must report on self-employment and investment sales, for example, might want more help than it offers. Still, TaxAct can handle basic business income and expenses.
W-2 employees who want to itemize: TaxAct is a good choice for W-2 workers who want to maximize their refund by itemizing but don’t need the targeted support of H&R Block or TurboTax.Why We Picked It
TaxSlayer started as a tool for accountants and professional tax preparers more than 50 years ago. It’s been in the online DIY tax prep business since the 1990s. The site provides walk-throughs of Form 1040-related topics, a searchable database of help files, and guidance sprinkled throughout.Who It’s For
Budget-minded individuals with a lot to report: TaxSlayer’s Classic level, which includes all major IRS forms and schedules, costs less than competitors‘ equivalents.
Very small business owners familiar with Schedule C: Self-employed individuals who have reported business income and expenses before or who don’t need a lot of handholding are a good fit for TaxSlayer. Again, it’s available at a modest price, ideal for companies looking to keep costs down.Why We Picked It
Cash App Taxes is the only service we tested that doesn’t cost a dime for comprehensive federal and state preparation and filing. It supports all major and most minor tax forms and schedules. The site is fast, with an excellent interface and navigation, and its mobile apps work well. It offers almost everything you need to prepare the most difficult returns—except for a robust help system and access to professionals.Who It’s For
Self-employed individuals (especially gig workers) on a tight budget: While Cash App Taxes is lighter on help and guidance than paid competitors, its self-employment section now might be sufficient for the smallest businesses.
Struggling households that simply can’t afford tax prep: Families strapped for cash are likely to have simple enough tax profiles that Cash App Taxes will suffice. As mentioned, it’s free for federal and state preparation and filing.
Taxpayers whose income and expenses changed little in 2025: The only tax topics that might require extra support are those related to tax code changes, and the latest version of Cash App Taxes covers them well.
Why We Picked It
Jackson Hewitt has an online DIY tax prep service, though it’s best known for its physical offices. You can trust the company’s financial expertise and expansive coverage of tax topics in its online tax service, and the price is very reasonable at just $25 for both federal and state returns. Jackson Hewitt professionals are ready to take over if you can’t complete your return yourself.Who It’s For
Taxpayers who have used the product before and liked it: Jackson Hewitt Online hasn’t changed much over the years, so you can expect a similar experience with the latest version.
