StudioTax review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Canadian personal tax software for desktop and mobile
Black Friday: is there a StudioTax sale?
StudioTax report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for Canadian personal returns on your own computer
StudioTax is Canadian personal tax software for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. It is free under $20,000 of income and $17.50 a tax year otherwise, but the Mac version does not list Revenu Québec certification.
Who StudioTax is for
- 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
Who StudioTax is not for
- 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
Why StudioTax gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for money$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.
- BFree plan and trialFree 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.
- CFeaturesNETFILE, ReFILE, linked returns and wide coverage do the job, but Mac has no Revenu Québec certification listed.
- BEase of useA program you install and start with nothing to set up, and no store rating on record.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWindows, Mac, iOS and Android, with no integrations listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from StudioTax's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/studiotax#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/studiotax.svg" alt="StudioTax: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where StudioTax stands among accounting and invoicing tools
StudioTax's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 118 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 111 of 127) and worst on features (C, above 7).
Its paid plans start at $1.46 a month when paid by the year for each person, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 0 of the 90 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 128 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. StudioTax’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 111 of 127, level with 16
- BFree plan and trialAbove 93 of 127, level with 25
- CFeaturesAbove 7 of 127, level with 78
- BEase of useAbove 116 of 127, level with 4
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 127, level with 92
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 101 accounting and invoicing tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep StudioTax, or make your own?
Keep it
The plain part of StudioTax you could make: calculator and forms. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 118 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade. It costs $17.50 a year.
What you could make
- Calculator and forms: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
What this rests on. StudioTax’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is StudioTax?
StudioTax is Canadian personal income tax software installed on Windows, Mac, iPhone/iPad or Android rather than run online. One version covers all returns, with a license of $17.50 needed to print or file once income is above $20,000. Data is kept on your own device.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
StudioTax pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, StudioTax has a free plan, and paid plans start at $17.50 per tax year for a license covering 10 returns.
- Starts at
- $17.50 per tax year for a license covering 10 returns
- 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.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | For income under $20,000 (combined $40,000 for linked returns) and residents of the northern territories. |
| License | $17.50per 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. |
Read from studiotax.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with StudioTax before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savingsFree for income under $20,000
Individuals with line 15000 income under $20,000 and residents of NT, YT and NU need no license.
Stated on studiotax.com
StudioTax alternatives
- StudioTax vs UFile
Free plan · from $20.95
- StudioTax vs Wealthsimple Tax
Free plan · from $40/yr
- StudioTax vs TurboTax
Free plan · from $84/yr
- StudioTax vs TaxAct
Free plan · from $44.99/yr
Common questions
Does StudioTax have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. StudioTax is listed for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Is StudioTax open source?
StudioTax is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does StudioTax work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.