Drake Tax vs TaxCycle (2026): which should you pick?

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 TaxCycle if

• Fits if your firm prepares Canadian T1 and T2 returns on Windows machines
• Makes sense if you are moving a practice over from ProFile, Cantax, Taxprep or DT Max

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use a Mac or work in a browser, as it is Windows only
• Pricey if you need several modules, since each is licensed per user per tax year and extra users cost $238 to $944 each
• Watch out: the Suite prices on the page are sale prices until about December 17, and the page does not name the currency
• Watch out: refunds apply to first purchases of the current-year product and may be prorated or declined after February 28

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.

TaxCycle

• Runs on Windows 11 and Windows Server only; the system requirements page lists no Mac or browser version.
• Prices are per tax year and per module, with extra users priced separately; the page does not name the currency.
• The page shows the Suite and bundles on sale until about December 17; the plans above list the regular prices.
• Refunds apply to first-time purchases of the current-year product; after February 28 they may be prorated or declined.

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.

TaxCycle

Tax modules by return type

Separate modules cover personal T1, Québec TP1, corporate T2, trusts T3, charities T3010, partnerships T5013 and the T4, T5 and NR4 slips.

Carry forward from other software

The trial page says returns from Intuit ProFile, Cantax, Taxprep and DT Max can be carried forward into TaxCycle.

TaxFolder client portal

TaxFolder adds e-signatures and a client portal. It is licensed until the end of 2027 and sold on its own or bundled with the suite.

DoxCycle document management

DoxCycle handles scanned and captured client documents and extracts data from them. It needs a TWAIN or WIA scanner for scanning.

Client Manager and Template Editor

Included in the Complete Tax Suite and Tax Basics bundles: a client list for the practice and an editor for letter and engagement templates.

EFILE and integrations

The product pages list EFILE for returns, plus links to Xero, Caseware, Docusign, Gmail, Microsoft 365 (Outlook) and Remitian.

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.

TaxCycle

• Tax Basics 2026$1,680

  for 1 user, per tax year, regular price

  T1, T2, CO-17, T4, T4A, RL-1, RL-2, T5 and RL-3, with Client Manager and Template Editor. Sale price $1,655 now.

• Complete Tax Suite 2026$2,800

  for 1 user, per tax year, regular price

  Every tax module plus DoxCycle, Client Manager and Template Editor. $2,700 during the current sale; extra users $756 each.

• Suite + TaxFolder 2026$3,102

  for 1 user, per tax year, regular price

  Complete Tax Suite plus the TaxFolder client portal with e-signatures. $2,852 during the sale; extra users $944 each.

• TaxCycle T1 2026$618

  for 1 user, per tax year

  Federal personal tax returns only. Extra users $238 each; the Québec TP1 add-on is $198 for a site license.

• TaxCycle T2$1,102

  for 1 user, per tax year

  Corporate returns, including AT1 and CO-17. Extra users $248 each.

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.

TaxCycle

• Other savings

  Seasonal sale on the TaxCycle Suite

  The pricing page shows up to $350 off the Suite until about December 17, and a 12-month payment plan available only during the sale.