Cash App Taxes vs TurboTax (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cash App Taxes grades higher than TurboTax: 3.2 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cash App Taxes grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
TurboTax
US personal and business tax filing, self-serve or with an expert
Which one is for you
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 TurboTax if
- Fits if your return is a simple Form 1040 and you don't want to pay
- Works for people who want an expert to check or file their return
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you itemize or sell stock, as Free Edition excludes that
- Watch out: online prices aren't shown until you're filing
- Watch out: desktop state e-file is $25 a state, and each extra state download is $45
- Watch out: paying from your refund, early deposit and Audit Defense cost extra
- Not for you if you're outside the US, since it's US tax only
How we grade them
| 3.2GPACash App TaxesVery good | 2.8GPATurboTaxGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree for federal and state, including sales of stock and bitcoin, so it is free and substantial. | BDesktop Deluxe is $84 a tax year, under a year of the $20 middle, but it's a yearly price and states cost extra. Online prices aren't published. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright with no tier above it, so nobody hits a cap. | BFree Edition is $0 to file federal and state, and about 37% of filers qualify. Itemizing, 1099-NEC, stocks, crypto and rentals are out. |
| Features | BFederal and state filing, many income types, accuracy and max-refund guarantees do the whole job for an individual US return. | BGuided filing, document import, expert help and refund options. Nothing in the core job of filing is missing. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and you must download Cash App and create an account first. | CNo rating read. Guided, but you gather forms and documents first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iOS and Android, but no integrations are listed. | BWeb and iOS, plus downloadable desktop editions. No Android app listed. |
| Best for | free US federal and state filing | US tax returns filed yourself |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cash App Taxes and TurboTax. How we grade
Price against what you get
Cash App Taxes has no paid plan and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. TurboTax starts at $7 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7.
They score the same, and Cash App Taxes starts $7 a month lower. Of the other accounting and invoicing tools on the chart, none scores higher than Cash App Taxes for less, and 2 score higher than TurboTax for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Cash App Taxes also covers forms.
At a glance
| Cash App Taxes | TurboTax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $84 per tax year (TurboTax Desktop Deluxe, state e-file extra) |
| Free plan | None | Free Edition: $0 federal, $0 state and $0 to file, for simple Form 1040 returns only (about 37% of filers qualify). |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Cash App Taxes, Inc. | Intuit |
| Price read from | cash.app | turbotax.intuit.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
TurboTax
- Online prices are not published on the pages read; they depend on the forms and the service level, and are shown while filing.
- Free Edition excludes itemized deductions, 1099-NEC income, stock and crypto sales and rental income.
- Desktop state e-file costs $25 per personal state return, except New York and Washington, and Live Tax Advice is $60.
- Paying fees out of the refund, early deposit and Audit Defense ($45 to $60) cost extra.
Key features
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.
TurboTax
- Three ways to file
- Do It Yourself uses guided software, Expert Assist adds on-demand experts, and Expert Full Service has an expert prepare and file.
- Free Edition
- Simple Form 1040 returns file at $0 federal, $0 state and $0 to file; the page says roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify.
- Expert help
- Experts answer by phone, chat or one-way video and can see a read-only copy of the return, with SSNs masked.
- Document import
- Tax documents can be imported from employers and financial institutions, or photographed and uploaded.
- Guarantees
- The site lists a 100% accurate calculations guarantee, a maximum refund guarantee and audit support guidance.
- Refund options
- Refund Advance offers up to $4,000 as a loan at 0% APR and $0 loan fees, subject to approval; paid early deposit is also offered.
Plans
Cash App Taxes
Free$0
Federal and state filing at no cost, including 1099 income, stock and bitcoin sales.
TurboTax
Free Edition$0
Simple Form 1040 returns only: W-2 income, standard deduction, EITC, child tax credit and student loan interest.
Desktop Deluxe$84
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $84, marked down from $94; covers one state download, with each extra state at $45.
Desktop Premier$119
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $119, marked down from $129; one state download included, each extra state $45.
Desktop Home & Business$134
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $134, marked down from $144; one state download included, each extra state $45.
Desktop Business$194
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $194, marked down from $204; state downloads are $55 each.
Online paid tiersCustom
Do It Yourself, Expert Assist and Expert Full Service; the price depends on return complexity and is shown while filing.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cash App Taxes or TurboTax?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cash App Taxes is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $7 a month when paid by the year for TurboTax. Cash App Taxes is free, and TurboTax starts at $84 per tax year (TurboTax Desktop Deluxe, state e-file extra).
Which has a free plan, Cash App Taxes or TurboTax?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cash App Taxes and TurboTax have a free plan.
Which platforms do Cash App Taxes and TurboTax run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Cash App Taxes lists an Android app. Both list a web app and an iOS app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.