Hurdlr vs TaxAct (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Hurdlr grades higher than TaxAct: 2.8 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Hurdlr grades higher on value for money and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Hurdlr
Mileage, expense and tax tracking app for freelancers
TaxAct
Online and downloadable tax filing for individuals and businesses
Which one is for you
Pick Hurdlr if
- Fits if you are a US freelancer or gig worker who needs mileage and expenses logged
- Works for people who want a free tracker before they decide on Premium
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want automatic mileage and finance tracking for free, because both are Premium
- Not for you if you are outside the US, as annual tax filing is a US feature
- Watch out: the help-centre price articles are dated 2023 and 2024 and the main site has no pricing page, so check prices in the app
- Watch out: subscriptions bought directly from Hurdlr are non-refundable under its terms
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
| 2.8GPAHurdlrGood | 2.4GPATaxActFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APremium is $100 a year, about $8.34 a month, under 60% of the $14 where the cheaper quarter of accounting tools starts. Pro is $200 a year. | 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 | BThe free version has semi-automatic mileage tracking, manual income and expense entry, real-time tax estimates and report exports, with no trial needed. Automatic tracking is Premium. | 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 | CMileage, expenses, tax estimates, invoicing, reports and US tax filing. The filing is a US feature, and it is a freelancer tool, not full accounting. | 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. You connect bank accounts and set up rules before it runs on its own. | CNo store rating on record. A guided interview, but you still have to collect your own tax documents. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iOS and Android, with 5 integrations on record. No desktop program. | CWeb only on the listing, with no integrations on record. |
| Best for | a freelancer tracking mileage and expenses in a phone app | 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: Hurdlr and TaxAct. How we grade
Price against what you get
Hurdlr starts at $8.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3 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.
Hurdlr scores higher, and starts $4.58 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 Hurdlr 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
- Hurdlr also covers invoicing, reports, bookkeeping and expense tracking.
- TaxAct also covers documents and calculator.
At a glance
| Hurdlr | TaxAct | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $8.34 per month, billed annually ($100 a year; $9.99 billed monthly) | $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra |
| Free plan | Unlimited semi-automatic mileage tracking, manual income and expense tracking, real-time tax estimates and report exports. | 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 | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Hurdlr, Inc. | TaxAct |
| Price read from | university.hurdlr.com | taxact.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Hurdlr
- Pro is priced at $200 a year; the help page read shows no monthly Pro price.
- Annual tax filing is a US feature and is not included on enterprise accounts.
- Subscriptions bought directly from Hurdlr are non-refundable under its terms; app-store purchases follow Apple's or Google's refund rules.
- The help-center pricing articles read are dated 2023 and 2024, and the main site has no pricing page, so recheck prices in the app.
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
Hurdlr
- Mileage tracking
- Free accounts get semi-automatic tracking; automatic trip detection comes with Premium.
- Income and expense tracking
- Links to bank and credit card accounts and to Square, Stripe, Shopify, PayPal and Uber, with rules for categorizing expenses.
- Tax estimates
- Real-time federal, state and self-employment tax estimates with payment reminders; Premium adds detailed calculations and payment tracking.
- Invoicing
- Branded invoices with credit card payment collection, on the Pro plan.
- Accounting and reports
- Pro adds double-entry accounting, a chart of accounts, journal entries and statements such as the income statement and balance sheet.
- Annual tax filing
- Pro includes annual tax filing for US users, covering federal plus one state, unless the account is provided through an employer or tax professional.
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
Hurdlr
Free$0
Semi-automatic mileage tracking, manual finance tracking, tax estimates and exports.
Premium$8.34
per month, billed annually ($100 a year; $9.99 billed monthly)
Adds automatic mileage and finance tracking, custom expense and mileage rules, detailed tax estimates, tax payment tracking and work hours.
Pro$200
per year
Premium plus invoicing, general ledger, journal entries, accountant invites and annual tax filing (federal plus one state) for US non-enterprise users.
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
Hurdlr
- Annual discount
Annual Premium plan
Premium is $100 a year, against $9.99 a month on the month-to-month plan.
TaxAct
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Hurdlr or TaxAct?
As of Nov 12, 2026, TaxAct is cheaper to start with: $3.75 a month when paid by the year, against $8.33 a month when paid by the year for Hurdlr. Hurdlr starts at $8.34 per month, billed annually ($100 a year; $9.99 billed monthly), and TaxAct starts at $44.99 per tax year (download); online from $59.99, states extra.
Which has a free plan, Hurdlr or TaxAct?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Hurdlr and TaxAct have a free plan.
Which platforms do Hurdlr and TaxAct run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Hurdlr lists iOS and Android apps. 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.