TurboTax vs Wealthsimple Tax (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Wealthsimple Tax grades higher than TurboTax: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
TurboTax grades higher on platforms. Wealthsimple Tax grades higher on value for money and the free plan. 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.
TurboTax
US personal and business tax filing, self-serve or with an expert
Wealthsimple Tax
Canadian personal tax filing with a pay-what-you-want basic plan
Which one is for you
Pick TurboTax if
- Fits if your return is a simple Form 1040 and you don't want to pay
- Works for people who want an expert to check or file their return
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you itemize or sell stock, as Free Edition excludes that
- Watch out: online prices aren't shown until you're filing
- Watch out: desktop state e-file is $25 a state, and each extra state download is $45
- Watch out: paying from your refund, early deposit and Audit Defense cost extra
- Not for you if you're outside the US, since it's US tax only
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
| 2.8GPATurboTaxGood | 3.0GPAWealthsimple TaxVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BDesktop Deluxe is $84 a tax year, under a year of the $20 middle, but it's a yearly price and states cost extra. Online prices aren't published. | 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 Edition is $0 to file federal and state, and about 37% of filers qualify. Itemizing, 1099-NEC, stocks, crypto and rentals are out. | 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 | BGuided filing, document import, expert help and refund options. Nothing in the core job of filing is missing. | 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 | CNo rating read. Guided, but you gather forms and documents first. | CA web app with no store rating on record, and you still enter your own figures. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb and iOS, plus downloadable desktop editions. No Android app listed. | CWeb only, and no integrations are listed. |
| Best for | US tax returns filed yourself | 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: TurboTax and Wealthsimple Tax. How we grade
Where they differ
- Wealthsimple Tax also covers forms.
At a glance
| TurboTax | Wealthsimple Tax | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $84 per tax year (TurboTax Desktop Deluxe, state e-file extra) | CA$40 + tax per tax year (Plus); Basic is pay what you want, including $0 |
| Free plan | Free Edition: $0 federal, $0 state and $0 to file, for simple Form 1040 returns only (about 37% of filers qualify). | 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 | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Intuit | Wealthsimple |
| Price read from | turbotax.intuit.com | wealthsimple.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
TurboTax
- Online prices are not published on the pages read; they depend on the forms and the service level, and are shown while filing.
- Free Edition excludes itemized deductions, 1099-NEC income, stock and crypto sales and rental income.
- Desktop state e-file costs $25 per personal state return, except New York and Washington, and Live Tax Advice is $60.
- Paying fees out of the refund, early deposit and Audit Defense ($45 to $60) cost extra.
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
TurboTax
- Three ways to file
- Do It Yourself uses guided software, Expert Assist adds on-demand experts, and Expert Full Service has an expert prepare and file.
- Free Edition
- Simple Form 1040 returns file at $0 federal, $0 state and $0 to file; the page says roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify.
- Expert help
- Experts answer by phone, chat or one-way video and can see a read-only copy of the return, with SSNs masked.
- Document import
- Tax documents can be imported from employers and financial institutions, or photographed and uploaded.
- Guarantees
- The site lists a 100% accurate calculations guarantee, a maximum refund guarantee and audit support guidance.
- Refund options
- Refund Advance offers up to $4,000 as a loan at 0% APR and $0 loan fees, subject to approval; paid early deposit is also offered.
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
TurboTax
Free Edition$0
Simple Form 1040 returns only: W-2 income, standard deduction, EITC, child tax credit and student loan interest.
Desktop Deluxe$84
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $84, marked down from $94; covers one state download, with each extra state at $45.
Desktop Premier$119
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $119, marked down from $129; one state download included, each extra state $45.
Desktop Home & Business$134
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $134, marked down from $144; one state download included, each extra state $45.
Desktop Business$194
per tax year, downloaded software
Listed at $194, marked down from $204; state downloads are $55 each.
Online paid tiersCustom
Do It Yourself, Expert Assist and Expert Full Service; the price depends on return complexity and is shown while filing.
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
TurboTax
No public discounts listed.
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, TurboTax or Wealthsimple Tax?
As of Nov 13, 2026, TurboTax starts at $84 per tax year (TurboTax Desktop Deluxe, state e-file extra), 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, TurboTax or Wealthsimple Tax?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both TurboTax and Wealthsimple Tax have a free plan.
Which platforms do TurboTax and Wealthsimple Tax run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only TurboTax lists an iOS 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.