Drake Tax vs TaxCalc (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Drake Tax grades higher than TaxCalc: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Drake Tax grades higher on the free plan and platforms. TaxCalc grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on features and 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
TaxCalc
UK tax return and accounts software for accountancy practices
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 TaxCalc if
- Fits if you run a UK practice with up to 150 clients
- Works for sole practitioners who need a cheap band for 12 clients
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you work outside the UK, as it files to HMRC
- Tight if you grow past 1,000 clients, as larger practices are sold through sales
- Watch out: the page does not say whether prices include VAT
- Watch out: accounts production, VAT and MTD filers are separate products, and cloud hosting is a paid add-on
How we grade them
| 2.2GPADrake TaxFair | 2.0GPATaxCalcFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | C£187 a year for up to 12 clients is about $17 a month, which sits in the typical 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. | DA trial exists for Tax Return Production, but its length is not stated, and there is no free plan. |
| 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. | BIndividual, partnership, corporation and trust returns with an HMRC connection cover the whole job of a UK tax practice. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Setting up a tax office, EFIN and client files takes real learning. | CDesktop software with client bands and modules to set up, and 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. | CA program for computers only (Windows, Mac and Linux), with no integrations listed. |
| Best for | a tax firm preparing client returns | UK tax return software for small practices |
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 TaxCalc. 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. TaxCalc starts at about $20.88 a month and scores 2.3.
Drake Tax scores higher, and starts $4.12 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other accounting and invoicing tools on the chart, 4 score higher than Drake Tax for less, and 19 score higher than TaxCalc 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.
- TaxCalc also covers forms and reports.
At a glance
| Drake Tax | TaxCalc | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $299.99 per tax year, first user included (Drake Tax Online) | £187 per year (Tax Return Production, up to 12 individual clients) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free trial download of Drake Tax with sample clients and test returns; a free trial of Drake Tax Online is also offered. | Trial available for Tax Return Production; length not stated on the pages read. |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Drake Software | TaxCalc |
| Price read from | drakesoftware.com | taxcalc.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.
TaxCalc
- Prices are in pounds, UK only, banded by client numbers; practices above 1,000 clients are sold through sales.
- The pricing page does not say whether prices include VAT; the product page says 'per year'.
- Mixed tax return bundles are sold through sales; accounts production, VAT and MTD filers are separate products.
- CloudConnect cloud hosting is a paid add-on; Windows, Mac and Linux support comes from the page's structured data, not a visible requirements page.
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.
TaxCalc
- Return types
- Prepares and files individual, partnership, corporation tax and trust returns, going back to 2012-13.
- HMRC connection
- Pulls client information from HMRC and files electronically.
- Check & Finish
- Validates entries before submission and links to errors.
- Multi-window working
- Several clients' returns can be open at once.
- Related products
- Shares a database with Accounts Production and AML Centre; CloudConnect cloud hosting is a paid add-on.
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.
TaxCalc
Individual 12£187
per year, for up to 12 clients
1 user. Individual returns only.
Individual and Partnership 12-1£204
per year, for up to 12 clients
1 user included; adds partnership returns.
Individual and Partnership 30-2£235
per year, for up to 30 clients
2 users included.
Individual and Partnership 150-15£481
per year, for up to 150 clients
2 users included; 250 clients £573, 500 £723, 1,000 £919.
Corporation Tax 12£235
per year, for up to 12 clients
1 user; 50 clients £306, 150 £361, 1,000 £965.
Trust 150£246
per year, for up to 150 clients
2 users included; single SA900 trust return £57.
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.
TaxCalc
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Drake Tax or TaxCalc?
As of Nov 13, 2026, TaxCalc is cheaper to start with: about $20.88 a month, 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 TaxCalc starts at £187 per year (Tax Return Production, up to 12 individual clients).
Which has a free plan, Drake Tax or TaxCalc?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Drake Tax nor TaxCalc has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Drake Tax and TaxCalc run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Drake Tax lists a web app and only TaxCalc lists macOS and Linux apps. Both list a Windows 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.