Drake Tax vs TaxBandits (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Drake Tax and TaxBandits share a 2.2 GPA, and only TaxBandits has a free plan.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Drake Tax grades higher on the free plan. TaxBandits grades higher on value for money. 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.
Drake Tax
Professional tax preparation software for tax firms, desktop and web
TaxBandits
Online e-filing for 1099, W-2, 94x and ACA tax forms
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 TaxBandits if
- Fits if you file a few dozen 1099s or W-2s a year and want to pay per form
- Works for small businesses that already keep their books in QuickBooks or Xero
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you file outside the US, as it covers US federal and state forms only
- Tight if you file more than 2,000 1099s and W-2s or 1,000 94x forms, as above that you contact sales
- Pricey if you need recipient mailing from $1.85 a form or online access at $0.50 a form, since both are extra
- Watch out: corrections are free only when the original 94x return was filed with TaxBandits
- Watch out: the pricing page text would not load here, so the per-form prices are from the listing
How we grade them
| 2.2GPADrake TaxFair | 2.2GPATaxBanditsFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CPay per form: $2.75 each for the first 10 federal 1099s and W-2s, falling to $0.80 past 500. Per-form pricing sits outside the category's monthly figures, so it lands mid-range. |
| 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. | DState filing alongside a federal return and the first 10 W-9 requests are free, but there is no free plan or trial for the federal filing itself. |
| 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. | BFederal and state e-filing, import and validation, recipient copies, TIN matching and W-9 collection cover the whole job of filing information returns. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Setting up a tax office, EFIN and client files takes real learning. | CA web app where you upload or key in each form, with no store rating on record. |
| 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. | BWeb only, but it links to QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Zoho Books and Zapier. |
| Best for | a tax firm preparing client returns | e-filing 1099 and W-2 forms |
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 TaxBandits. How we grade
Where they differ
- Drake Tax also covers file sharing.
- TaxBandits also covers forms and payroll.
At a glance
| Drake Tax | TaxBandits | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $299.99 per tax year, first user included (Drake Tax Online) | $2.75 per form for the first 10 federal 1099/W-2 forms |
| Free plan | None | State filing alongside a federal return, USPS address validation and the first 10 W-9/W-8 requests are free. |
| 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 | SPAN Enterprises LLC |
| Price read from | drakesoftware.com | taxbandits.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
TaxBandits
- Covers US federal and state forms only; it is not general bookkeeping software.
- Volume pricing stops at 2,000 forms for 1099 and W-2, and at 1,000 for 94x, above which you contact sales.
- Add-ons are charged separately: recipient mailing from $1.85 a form and online access at $0.50 a form.
- Corrections are free only when the original 94x return was filed with TaxBandits.
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.
TaxBandits
- Federal and state e-filing
- Files 1099, W-2, 94x, ACA, 1042 and 5500 series forms with the IRS. State filing is free when it goes with the federal return in the combined filing program.
- Data import and validation
- Accepts CSV upload and API integration, with validation checks and USPS address validation (free). Smart Extraction pulls form data from documents at $0.35 a page.
- Recipient copies
- Online access to recipient copies is $0.50 a form; domestic postal mailing is $1.85 a form and international mailing $4.99.
- TIN matching
- Checks names and taxpayer ID numbers before filing, at $0.35 per TIN, or $99 for a bulk file.
- W-9 and W-8 collection
- A W-9 Manager requests and stores W-9 and W-8 forms from payees. The first 10 requests are free, and the page names it a free W-9 manager.
- Corrections and retransmission
- The Bandit Commitment promises no-cost corrections, free retransmission when a return is rejected, and a money-back guarantee, with terms.
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.
TaxBandits
1099 / W-2 federal e-file$2.75
per form for the first 10 forms
Falls to $1.75 per form for 11-100, $1.15 for 101-250, $1.00 for 251-500 and $0.80 for 501-2,000. Also covers 1098, 5498 and 480.
94x payroll forms$5.95
per form for the first form
Forms 940, 941, 943, 944 and 945: $5.25 for 2-4 forms, $4.75 for 5-25, down to $3.00 for 501-1,000. Amendments are free.
941 bundle$21.42
for 4 quarters of Form 941
Four quarters of Form 941 after a 10% bundle saving from $23.80. A Complete 94x bundle with Form 940 is $26.77.
W-9/W-8 requests$0.35
per request after the first 10, which are free
Requests sent by text cost $0.50 each. TIN matching is $0.35 per TIN.
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.
TaxBandits
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Drake Tax or TaxBandits?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Drake Tax starts at $299.99 per tax year, first user included (Drake Tax Online), and TaxBandits starts at $2.75 per form for the first 10 federal 1099/W-2 forms.
Which has a free plan, Drake Tax or TaxBandits?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only TaxBandits has a free plan. Drake Tax does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Drake Tax and TaxBandits run on?
As of Nov 13, 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.