Best tax software in the US (2026) | Dashpick

Full ranking

1. #1

   TurboTax

   Market leader for a reason—polished questions, broad coverage, and import ecosystem—but watch aggressive upsells and premium tiers for complex schedules.

   Average score: 8.8/10

   • Excellent step-by-step UX for first-time filers with typical jobs
   • Live expert tiers add cost fast—model total price with state + add-ons
   • Imports shine when brokers and payroll participate in partner programs

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   • Threads vs X

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	10/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	10/10
   Audit help & expert options	9/10
   Price transparency	5/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	10/10

2. #2

   H&R Block

   Hybrid online/offline story—strong when you want optional in-person help at franchise offices if software hits a wall.

   Average score: 8.4/10

   • Audit support and human assistance packages are a differentiator for anxious filers
   • UX slightly less slick than TurboTax for some flows—still very capable
   • Compare total cost including state and professional review options

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	9/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	9/10
   Audit help & expert options	9/10
   Price transparency	6/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	9/10

3. #3

   FreeTaxUSA

   Budget champion for straightforward federal returns—great value discipline if you can tolerate fewer hand-holding flourishes.

   Average score: 7.8/10

   budget

   • Transparent low pricing appeals to cost-sensitive households
   • Advanced scenarios may feel sparser than premium suites—read form support lists
   • Pair with education when you are learning taxes the hard way

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   • Threads vs X

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	7/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	8/10
   Audit help & expert options	6/10
   Price transparency	10/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	8/10

4. #4

   TaxAct

   Solid middle ground—less marketing noise than the top two giants, with competent coverage for many common schedules.

   Average score: 7.8/10

   • Often cheaper than TurboTax at similar complexity tiers
   • Import breadth good but not always best-in-class—spot-check numbers
   • Good fit for repeat DIY filers who know what forms they need

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   • Threads vs X

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	8/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	8/10
   Audit help & expert options	7/10
   Price transparency	8/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	8/10

5. #5

   Cash App Taxes

   Free filing angle resonates with mobile-native users—verify supported forms every year; not every edge case is included.

   Average score: 7.4/10

   budgetbeginner

   • Hard to beat on price when you qualify for supported situations
   • Support depth may trail incumbents for messy returns
   • Convenient if your financial life already lives inside Cash App

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   • Threads vs X
   • Venmo vs Cash App

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	7/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	7/10
   Audit help & expert options	6/10
   Price transparency	10/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	7/10

6. #6

   Jackson Hewitt Online

   Familiar retail brand online—reasonable when you want continuity with in-store preparers under the same umbrella.

   Average score: 7.4/10

   • Useful bridge if you sometimes switch between DIY and assisted prep
   • Check bundle pricing against H&R Block and TurboTax promos
   • UX adequate though rarely class-leading on polish

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	8/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	8/10
   Audit help & expert options	8/10
   Price transparency	6/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	7/10

7. #7

   TaxSlayer

   Simple pricing tiers and honest positioning for students and military audiences—good when you want fewer surprise gates.

   Average score: 7.8/10

   budget

   • Competitive value for self-employed lite scenarios—confirm schedule support
   • Support channels vary by tier—read SLAs if you expect hand-holding
   • Solid alternative to big-brand marketing overload

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   • Threads vs X

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	8/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	8/10
   Audit help & expert options	7/10
   Price transparency	9/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	7/10

8. #8

   TaxHawk

   Ultra-low-cost lane—works for disciplined DIYers who read IRS instructions alongside software and do not need plush UX.

   Average score: 7/10

   budgetadvanced

   • Minimizes fees if you truly know what you are doing
   • Sparse compared with TurboTax for education and error prevention
   • Best paired with external help for anything non-trivial

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   • Threads vs X

   Detailed scores by criterion(expand)

   Criterion	Score
   Interview clarity & guardrails	6/10
   Schedule & situation coverage	7/10
   Audit help & expert options	5/10
   Price transparency	10/10
   W-2 & brokerage imports	7/10