StudioTax vs Wealthsimple Tax (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, StudioTax and Wealthsimple Tax share a 3.0 GPA, both have a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on whether you care more about ease of use and platforms, where StudioTax grades higher, or the free plan and features, where Wealthsimple Tax does.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
StudioTax
Canadian personal tax software for desktop and mobile
Wealthsimple Tax
Canadian personal tax filing with a pay-what-you-want basic plan
Which one is for you
Pick StudioTax if
- Fits if you file Canadian returns for your own household on a computer or phone
- Works for people under $20,000 of income who want to file free
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you prepare clients' returns, as CRA rules bar it and a separate Enterprise edition exists
- Watch out: the Mac version lists no Revenu Québec certification
- Tight if you file every year, as a new license is needed each tax year, per computer
- Watch out: licenses are refundable within 30 days only if not activated
Pick Wealthsimple Tax if
- Fits if you file a Canadian return for yourself and one more person
- Works for people who want to pay what they choose
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you file outside Canada, as it covers Canadian returns only
- Tight if you file more than 2 returns, as Basic stops there and Plus allows 8
- Watch out: Pro is not available in Quebec or in French
- Watch out: Plus and Pro are free only for qualifying Premium or Generation clients
- Watch out: prices are in Canadian dollars plus tax
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAStudioTaxVery good | 3.0GPAWealthsimple TaxVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$17.50 per tax year covers 10 returns on a computer, under a year of the category's middle subscription, and it is free for low incomes. | ABasic is pay what you want including $0, and Plus is CA$40 a tax year, so it is free and substantial. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree for income under $20,000 and for residents of NT, YT and NU, but everyone else needs the $17.50 license before printing or filing. | AFree outright at $0 for up to 2 returns with every form and income type, which a person filing for themselves does not outgrow. |
| Features | CNETFILE, ReFILE, linked returns and wide coverage do the job, but Mac has no Revenu Québec certification listed. | BCRA auto-fill, a credits search, a max-refund guarantee and audit protection do the whole job of a Canadian personal return. |
| Ease of use | BA program you install and start with nothing to set up, and no store rating on record. | CA web app with no store rating on record, and you still enter your own figures. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, iOS and Android, with no integrations listed. | CWeb only, and no integrations are listed. |
| Best for | Canadian personal returns on your own computer | Canadian personal tax filing 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: StudioTax and Wealthsimple Tax. How we grade
Where they differ
At a glance
| StudioTax | Wealthsimple Tax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $17.50 per tax year for a license covering 10 returns | CA$40 + tax per tax year (Plus); Basic is pay what you want, including $0 |
| Free plan | Free for total income (line 15000) under $20,000 and for residents of NT, YT and NU; versions for 2019 and earlier are free. | Basic: pay what you want, including $0, for up to 2 returns, with every form and income type available. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | BHOK IT Consulting | Wealthsimple |
| Price read from | studiotax.com | wealthsimple.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
StudioTax
- A new license is needed for every tax year; it is per computer, covers 10 returns, and the 2025 license also works for 2020 to 2024 versions.
- The Mac version does not have Revenu Québec certification listed; Windows, iOS and Android do.
- Tax preparers cannot use it for clients' returns under CRA rules; a separate Enterprise edition exists at studiotax.ca.
- Licenses are refundable within 30 days only if not activated.
Wealthsimple Tax
- Prices are in Canadian dollars plus tax; Wealthsimple Tax serves Canadian returns only.
- Pro is not available to Quebec residents or in French, and expert availability is only guaranteed if booked before April 6, 2026.
- Basic allows 2 returns and Plus 8 per account; the page lists Pro as 9+ in one place and up to 20 in its FAQ, 20 being the CRA's NETFILE limit.
- Plus and Pro are free only for Wealthsimple clients who qualify as Premium or Generation.
Key features
StudioTax
- Runs on your device
- The site says returns are saved on your own drive and no information leaves your computer.
- NETFILE and ReFILE
- Windows, Mac, iOS and Android versions carry CRA certification for NETFILE, ReFILE and Auto-fill my return.
- Wide coverage
- Covers simple returns through self-employment and rental income, with a restrictions page listing uncommon situations it does not handle.
- Linked returns
- Returns for couples can be linked and prepared together.
- One version
- A single edition has all features, with the CRA's maximum of 20 returns.
Wealthsimple Tax
- Pay-what-you-want filing
- The Basic plan lets you choose what to pay, down to $0, and the page says there are no limits on the income types or deductions it covers.
- CRA auto-fill
- Tax slips can be imported from the CRA or Revenu Québec, and existing Wealthsimple clients have personal details carried over.
- Credits and deductions search
- The software searches over 400 possible credits and deductions and, for couples, works out who should claim what.
- Maximum refund guarantee
- If a competitor's software finds a larger refund on identical information before December 31, 2026, Wealthsimple refunds the competitor's price up to $50 CAD or any payment you made, whichever is greater.
- Audit protection
- Plus and Pro include help if the CRA or Revenu Québec reviews or audits a return.
- Expert session
- Pro includes a one-on-one 30-minute consultation with a tax expert, followed up by email.
Plans
StudioTax
Free$0
For income under $20,000 (combined $40,000 for linked returns) and residents of the northern territories.
License$17.50
per tax year, for up to 10 returns, per computer
Needed before printing or filing; a second license covers 10 more returns, CRA allows 20 per computer.
Wealthsimple Tax
Basic$0
Pay what you want, even $0; up to 2 returns, max-refund guarantee and standard (3-day) email support.
PlusCA$40
per tax year, plus tax, in Canadian dollars
Up to 8 returns, audit protection and priority (1-day) email support; free for Premium clients.
ProCA$80
per tax year, plus tax, in Canadian dollars
Everything in Plus plus a 30-minute one-on-one session with a tax expert; free for Generation clients; not available in Quebec or in French.
Ways to pay less
StudioTax
- Other savings
Free for income under $20,000
Individuals with line 15000 income under $20,000 and residents of NT, YT and NU need no license.
Wealthsimple Tax
- Other savings
Free Plus or Pro for Premium and Generation clients
Wealthsimple clients who qualify as Premium or Generation get the Plus or Pro plan at no charge.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, StudioTax or Wealthsimple Tax?
As of Nov 13, 2026, StudioTax starts at $17.50 per tax year for a license covering 10 returns, and Wealthsimple Tax starts at CA$40 + tax per tax year (Plus); Basic is pay what you want, including $0.
Which has a free plan, StudioTax or Wealthsimple Tax?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both StudioTax and Wealthsimple Tax have a free plan.
Which platforms do StudioTax and Wealthsimple Tax run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only StudioTax lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps and only Wealthsimple Tax lists 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.