Drake Tax vs TaxAct (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, TaxAct grades higher than Drake Tax: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Drake Tax grades higher on features and platforms. TaxAct grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Drake Tax
Professional tax preparation software for tax firms, desktop and web
TaxAct
Online and downloadable tax filing for individuals and businesses
Which one is for you
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
Pick TaxAct if
- Fits if you have a simple return and want to file federal for free
- Works for self-employed filers who file once a year and want to pay by the return
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you have investment, rental or self-employment income and want to stay free, as the free edition excludes all three
- Tight if you file in a state, since returns cost $54.99 on Free and $64.99 on Self-Employed
- Watch out: Xpert Assist is $45 on the pricing cards but $60 in the FAQ
- Not for you if you want bookkeeping or invoicing, as it only prepares and e-files taxes
How we grade them
| 2.2GPADrake TaxFair | 2.4GPATaxActFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | DDrake Tax Online is $299.99 a tax year, about $25 a month, in line with accounting's middle. That price comes with $49.99 per individual return and $74.99 per business return after the first batch, and the desktop editions sit at $1,895 to $3,295. | BBasic download is $44.99 a tax year and online starts at $59.99, with Self-Employed at $109.99. State returns add $54.99 to $64.99 each. |
| Free plan and trial | CA free trial download with sample clients and test returns, and a trial of the online version. The listing does not say a card is needed, but you cannot file real returns on it. | BFree federal filing for simple Form 1040 returns, with the vendor saying about 40% of filers qualified. Investment income, itemised deductions, rental income and self-employment income are excluded. |
| Features | BIndividual and business returns, with other products around them. Portals, Workflow, E-Sign and Drake Pay cost extra, which is a price matter, not a gap in the core job. | CIt prepares and files taxes, with business returns and expert help on top. A smaller job than bookkeeping, and it is not bookkeeping or invoicing software. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Setting up a tax office, EFIN and client files takes real learning. | CNo store rating on record. A guided interview, but you still have to collect your own tax documents. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows desktop program plus a web version, with 4 integrations on record. No Mac program; the vendor points Mac users to the online version or cloud hosting. | CWeb only on the listing, with no integrations on record. |
| Best for | a tax firm preparing client returns | filing a simple US federal return for free |
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: Drake Tax and TaxAct. How we grade
Price against what you get
Drake Tax starts at $25 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. TaxAct starts at $3.75 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0.
Drake Tax scores higher, and starts $21.25 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other accounting and invoicing tools on the chart, 3 score higher than Drake Tax for less, and 3 score higher than TaxAct 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
- Drake Tax also covers file sharing.
- TaxAct also covers documents and calculator.
At a glance
| Drake Tax | TaxAct | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $299.99 per tax year, first user included (Drake Tax Online) | $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra |
| Free plan | None | Free edition: $0 federal filing for simple Form 1040 returns (W-2, unemployment and retirement income, common credits, dependents). The vendor says about 40% of filers qualified. State returns extra. |
| Free trial | Free trial download of Drake Tax with sample clients and test returns; a free trial of Drake Tax Online is also offered. | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Drake Software | TaxAct |
| Price read from | drakesoftware.com | taxact.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
TaxAct
- State returns are charged separately: $54.99 each on the Free edition and $64.99 each on Self-Employed.
- Free federal filing excludes investment income, itemized deductions, rental income and self-employment income.
- Xpert Assist is shown at $45 on the pricing cards but $60 in the page's FAQ.
- It prepares and e-files taxes only; it is not bookkeeping or invoicing software.
Key features
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.
TaxAct
- Guided federal and state filing
- The online editions walk through a return step by step, import W-2 or 1099 data, and e-file with direct deposit.
- Free federal edition
- Simple Form 1040 returns with no attached forms or schedules can be filed federally at no cost; investment, rental and self-employed income need a paid edition.
- Business returns
- Editions exist for partnerships, S-corporations, C-corporations, sole proprietors, and estates and trusts, with uploaded forms such as Schedule K-1 sorted into the return.
- Xpert Assist
- An add-on that gives unlimited calls or chats with credentialed tax experts while you file, available on the consumer 1040 editions.
- Xpert Full Service
- Experts prepare and file the return for you, from $99 plus $69 for all states. The page said the service was at full capacity when read.
- Tax calculators
- The tax resources section offers an income tax calculator and other estimators for working out a refund or credits.
Plans
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.
TaxAct
Free (online)$0
Federal filing for simple returns with no forms or schedules attached. A state return is $54.99 each.
Basic (download)$44.99
per tax year, includes 5 federal e-files
Downloadable software; state returns are an additional charge. The download page does not state which operating systems it supports.
Deluxe (online)$59.99
per federal return
Adds home ownership, child and dependent care, and HSA contributions. State returns are extra.
Premier (online)$99.99
per federal return
Adds selling stocks or crypto, selling a home and rental income. State returns are extra.
Self-Employed (online)$109.99
per federal return
Adds contract, freelance, rideshare and sole-proprietor income. A state return is $64.99 each.
Business (online)$159.99
per return, Partnerships (Form 1065)
S-corporations (1120-S) and C-corporations (1120) are $169.99 each. State returns are extra.
Ways to pay less
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.
TaxAct
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Drake Tax or TaxAct?
As of Nov 12, 2026, TaxAct is cheaper to start with: $3.75 a month when paid by the year, against $25 a month when paid by the year for Drake Tax. Drake Tax starts at $299.99 per tax year, first user included (Drake Tax Online), and TaxAct starts at $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra.
Which has a free plan, Drake Tax or TaxAct?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only TaxAct has a free plan. Drake Tax does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Drake Tax and TaxAct run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Drake Tax lists a Windows app. Both list a web 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.