Canopy vs TaxCycle (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Canopy if

• Fits if you run a tax or accounting firm and want clients, documents and billing in one place
• Makes sense if your firm already uses QuickBooks Online or Microsoft 365

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want software for your own books, because this manages a firm and not a ledger
• Pricey if you have many staff: it's per user, from $74 to $149 a month
• Skip it if you want a free plan or trial, since neither is listed
• Watch out: Tax Resolution is $50 per user a month and Close Automation is $10 per connected client a month on top

Pick TaxCycle if

• Fits if your firm prepares Canadian T1 and T2 returns on Windows machines
• Makes sense if you are moving a practice over from ProFile, Cantax, Taxprep or DT Max

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use a Mac or work in a browser, as it is Windows only
• Pricey if you need several modules, since each is licensed per user per tax year and extra users cost $238 to $944 each
• Watch out: the Suite prices on the page are sale prices until about December 17, and the page does not name the currency
• Watch out: refunds apply to first purchases of the current-year product and may be prorated or declined after February 28

Canopy

• Pricing is per user, so cost scales with firm headcount; the page says annual billing saves 20% against monthly.
• Capacity planning and custom reporting need Plus, and advanced workflows and billing need Premium.
• Add-ons are priced separately: Tax Resolution is $50 per user a month, and Close Automation is $10 per connected client a month.
• Tax Workflow Automation starts at $34 per client credit, billed annually.

TaxCycle

• Runs on Windows 11 and Windows Server only; the system requirements page lists no Mac or browser version.
• Prices are per tax year and per module, with extra users priced separately; the page does not name the currency.
• The page shows the Suite and bundles on sale until about December 17; the plans above list the regular prices.
• Refunds apply to first-time purchases of the current-year product; after February 28 they may be prorated or declined.

Canopy

Client portal and messaging

Clients get a portal, a mobile app and secure messaging for sending documents, questionnaires and organizers.

Workflow and engagements

Recurring task workflows, engagement letters and proposals, and tax workflow automation keep firm work on a schedule.

Time, billing and payments

Tracks time, invoices clients, collects payments and shows realization rates; group billing combines entities on one invoice.

Tax resolution tools

Pulls IRS transcripts, tracks notices and auto-fills more than 200 federal and state forms, as a paid add-on.

Coworker AI

An AI assistant included on every plan with monthly credits per user; the pricing page lists it as in open beta.

TaxCycle

Tax modules by return type

Separate modules cover personal T1, Québec TP1, corporate T2, trusts T3, charities T3010, partnerships T5013 and the T4, T5 and NR4 slips.

Carry forward from other software

The trial page says returns from Intuit ProFile, Cantax, Taxprep and DT Max can be carried forward into TaxCycle.

TaxFolder client portal

TaxFolder adds e-signatures and a client portal. It is licensed until the end of 2027 and sold on its own or bundled with the suite.

DoxCycle document management

DoxCycle handles scanned and captured client documents and extracts data from them. It needs a TWAIN or WIA scanner for scanning.

Client Manager and Template Editor

Included in the Complete Tax Suite and Tax Basics bundles: a client list for the practice and an editor for letter and engagement templates.

EFILE and integrations

The product pages list EFILE for returns, plus links to Xero, Caseware, Docusign, Gmail, Microsoft 365 (Outlook) and Remitian.

Canopy

• Standard$74

  per user / month, billed annually ($93 billed monthly)

  CRM, document management and e-sign, client portal, task workflows, invoicing and payments, and the Coworker AI.

• Plus$109

  per user / month, billed annually ($136 billed monthly)

  Adds user roles and access controls, more client intake capacity, capacity planning and custom reporting.

• Premium$149

  per user / month, billed annually ($186 billed monthly)

  Adds advanced workflows and automation, advanced billing scenarios and deeper reporting.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Tailored plan for large firms; the page says it is likely not a fit below roughly a 200-person firm.

TaxCycle

• Tax Basics 2026$1,680

  for 1 user, per tax year, regular price

  T1, T2, CO-17, T4, T4A, RL-1, RL-2, T5 and RL-3, with Client Manager and Template Editor. Sale price $1,655 now.

• Complete Tax Suite 2026$2,800

  for 1 user, per tax year, regular price

  Every tax module plus DoxCycle, Client Manager and Template Editor. $2,700 during the current sale; extra users $756 each.

• Suite + TaxFolder 2026$3,102

  for 1 user, per tax year, regular price

  Complete Tax Suite plus the TaxFolder client portal with e-signatures. $2,852 during the sale; extra users $944 each.

• TaxCycle T1 2026$618

  for 1 user, per tax year

  Federal personal tax returns only. Extra users $238 each; the Québec TP1 add-on is $198 for a site license.

• TaxCycle T2$1,102

  for 1 user, per tax year

  Corporate returns, including AT1 and CO-17. Extra users $248 each.

Canopy

• Annual discount

  Save 20% with annual billing

  The pricing page says annual billing saves 20%, for example Standard at $74 instead of $93 per user a month.

TaxCycle

• Other savings

  Seasonal sale on the TaxCycle Suite

  The pricing page shows up to $350 off the Suite until about December 17, and a 12-month payment plan available only during the sale.