Cash App Taxes vs Drake Tax (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Cash App Taxes if

• Fits if you file a US individual return, even with 1099 income or stock sales
• Works for people who already hold a Cash App account

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you do not want a Cash App account, as you must create one to log in
• Skip it if you file for a business or outside the US, as the pages do not describe either
• Watch out: the 5-day-early refund needs the refund paid into Cash App and is an estimate, not a promise
• Watch out: it states it is not a tax advisor

Pick Drake Tax if

• Fits if you run a tax practice and prepare returns for clients
• Works for firms that want a Windows desktop program with an online option

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you are filing your own return, because it is sold to tax professionals
• Skip it if you use a Mac and want a native program, since the desktop edition is Windows only
• Pricey if you want the desktop suite, which runs about $1,895 to $3,295 a year
• Watch out: licences are per tax year, per site and per EFIN, and renewal prices show only inside your account
• Watch out: Portals, Workflow, E-Sign, Drake Pay, bank products and Audit Defense are all extra

Cash App Taxes

• A Cash App account is required: you must download the app and create an account to log in.
• It files US federal and state returns only; the pages do not describe business or non-US filing.
• The 5-day-early refund applies only if the refund is deposited into Cash App, and is an estimate, not a promise.
• Cash App Taxes is not a tax advisor, as the vendor states on its page.

Drake Tax

• Sold to tax professionals; it is not a product for filing your own return.
• The desktop program is a Windows application; for a Mac the vendor points to Drake Tax Online or cloud hosting.
• Licensing is per tax year, per physical site and per EFIN, and renewal pricing is shown only inside a customer's Drake account.
• Portals, Workflow, E-Sign, Drake Pay, bank products and Audit Defense cost extra; Rightworks cloud hosting is listed at $114 per user / month.

Cash App Taxes

Federal and state e-filing

Prepares and files both federal and state returns, with the vendor stating there is no charge for either, even with deductions or credits.

Wide range of income types

The site says W-2s, 1099s, self-employment income, stock sales and bitcoin sales are covered without extra fees.

Accuracy and max refund guarantees

The vendor offers an Accurate Calculations Guarantee and a Max Refund Guarantee, both with eligibility terms and exclusions on its help pages.

Refund into Cash App

A refund deposited into Cash App can arrive up to 5 days early, based on the vendor's estimate from tax year 2024 filing data.

Account security

Requires a phone number and verification, supports authenticator-app two-factor sign-in and encrypts data in transit.

Drake Tax

Individual and business returns

Covers 1040, 1040-NR, 1040-SS and 709 returns plus 1120, 1120-S, 1065, 1041, 990 and 706 returns, with more than 4,300 federal and state forms and schedules.

Federal and state e-file

The pricing page says all states are included and e-filing carries no extra fee.

Return review tools

Hundreds of return diagnostics, plus DoubleCheck review, LookBack comparison with the prior year and LinkBacks from a diagnostic to its source entry.

Data conversion

Drake converts prior-year client data from most competing programs, and the vendor says the conversion is free for most packages.

Practice management add-ons

Drake Portals, Drake Workflow, Drake E-Sign and Drake Pay are separate products, bundled at a discount as the Practice Essentials Bundle.

Support included

Every package includes US-based support by phone, email or chat, plus a knowledge base, video tutorials and practice returns.

Cash App Taxes

• Free$0

  Federal and state filing at no cost, including 1099 income, stock and bitcoin sales.

Drake Tax

• Drake Tax Online$299.99

  per tax year for the first user, then $99 per additional user

  Browser-based. Returns are paid as you go at $49.99 per individual and $74.99 per business return, with discounts when bought in bulk (25 or more).

• Pay-Per-Return$379.99

  per tax year, multi-user

  Desktop software with 10 individual returns included; further individual returns cost $49.99 and business returns $74.99.

• Drake Tax 1040 (150 returns)$1,995

  per tax year, multi-user, 150 individual returns included

  For 1040-focused preparers. Business returns are $74.99 each and extra individual returns $49.99. Listed retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $1,895 until Nov. 30.

• Drake Tax 1040 (unlimited)$2,445

  per tax year, multi-user, unlimited individual returns

  Unlimited individual returns, with business returns at $74.99 each. A single-user version is listed at $2,195. Retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $2,325 until Nov. 30.

• Drake Tax Pro (250 returns)$2,495

  per tax year, multi-user, 250 individual and business returns included

  All return types. Extra individual returns are $49.99 and business returns $74.99. Retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $2,375 until Nov. 30.

• Drake Tax Pro (unlimited)$3,295

  per tax year, multi-user, unlimited individual and business returns

  For high-volume firms. A single-user version is listed at $2,845. Retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $3,145 until Nov. 30.

Cash App Taxes

No public discounts listed.

Drake Tax

• Other savings

  Discounted prices through November 30

  The pricing page shows reduced prices on Drake Tax Pro and 1040 packages (up to $150 off) through November 30, with the listed retail price taking effect December 1.

• Other savings

  Bundle and save 40%

  The Practice Essentials Bundle (Drake Portals, Workflow and E-Sign) is priced from $599, listed as 40% off, for customers who buy Pro, 1040 or Drake Tax Online with 25 or more returns.