• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The College Investor

Student Loans, Investing, Building Wealth

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Save For College
      • How To Start

      • How To Save For College
      • How To Pay For College
      • What Is the Average Cost of College?
      • What Is A 529 Plan and Where to Open One in Your State
      • How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age
      • How To Use A 529 Plan For Private Elementary And High School
      • What Are Qualified Expenses For A 529 Plan (And What Doesn’t Count)?
      • The Best Brokers To Open A 529 Plan
      • Tools + Accounts

      • 529 Plans: The Ultimate College Savings Plan
      • 529 Plan Contribution Limits
      • Prepaid Tuition Plans | What To Know
      • Understanding And Using 529A ABLE Accounts
      • Using A Roth IRA To Save And Pay For College
      • FAFSA Deadlines for Financial Aid
      • CollegeBacker Review
      • Upromise Review
      • UNest Review
      • Other Options

      • Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State
      • The Guide To Military And VA Education Benefits
      • How To Fill Out The FAFSA
      • How To Find College Scholarships
      • The Best College Scholarship Search Websites
      • How To Find Grants To Pay For College
      • Pell Grants: What They Are And How To Qualify
      • Understanding Federal Work-Study
      • How To Use A 529 Plan If Your Child Doesn’t Go To College
  • Student Loans
      • Borrowing

        • How Student Loans Work
        • How To Apply For A Student Loan
        • Best Student Loans And Rates In January 2023
        • 10 Best Private Student Loans Of January 2023
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Graduate School
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Medical School
        • Parent Loans To Pay For College
        • No-Cosigner Student Loan Options
        • Guide To Income Sharing Agreements (ISAs)
        • Best International Student Loans
      • Get Out Of Debt

        • Best Student Loan Refinance Companies In January 2023
        • Best Student Loan Repayment Plans
        • Best Student Loan Refinancing Bonuses And Promotional Offers Of January 2023
        • Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)
        • The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State
        • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
        • Top Student Loan Scams
        • Average Student Loan Monthly Payment
        • Average Student Loan Debt By Year
      • Reviews

        • Credible Review
        • Splash Review
        • Ascent Review
        • Citizens Bank Review
        • Commonbond Review
        • Earnest Review
        • ELFI Review
        • Laurel Road Review
        • LendKey Review
        • SoFi Review
  • Investing
      • How To Start

        • How To Start Investing in High School
        • How To Start Investing In College
        • How To Start Investing In Your Twenties For 22 – 29 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing In Your 30s For 30 – 39 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing With $100 Or Less
        • How To Give Kids The Gift Of Stock
        • What Is Dividend Growth Investing
        • IRA Rollover Chart
      • Tools + Accounts

        • Best Online Stock Brokers
        • The Best Traditional And Roth IRA Accounts
        • The Best Robo-Advisors
        • The Best Investing Apps
        • The Best Places to Trade Options
        • The Best Places To Open A Health Savings Account
        • The Best Solo 401k Providers
        • The Best Self-Directed IRA Providers Of 2023
        • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges
      • Reviews

        • Vanguard Review
        • Fidelity Review 2023
        • M1 Finance Review
        • TD Ameritrade Review 2023
        • Charles Schwab Review
        • Robinhood Review
        • Webull Review
        • Betterment Review 2023
        • Wealthfront Review
  • Earn More Money
      • Extra Income

        • 20 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2023
        • 53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money Fast
        • 100 Ways To Make Money In College
        • 80 Ways To Make Money From Home In 2023
        • 5 Quick Money Making Ideas (That Take Less Than 1 Hour)
        • 10 Interesting Ways You Can Make Money Driving
        • High-Paying Side Gigs That Earn $1,000 or More Per Month
        • The 10 Best Money-Making Apps
        • Paid Surveys: Earn Money For Giving Your Opinion Online
        • 10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of
      • Build Wealth

        • 40 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2023
        • 3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income
        • How To Become A Real Estate Investor With Just $500
        • 15 Best Online Business Ideas
        • Residual Income: 7 Super Smart Ways to Build It
        • The Most Common Multiple Income Streams
        • How To Become A Real Estate Mogul With Only $10,000
      • Reviews

        • Fundrise Review
        • RealtyMogul Review
        • FarmTogether Review
        • AcreTrader Review
        • Swagbucks Review
        • Survey Junkie Review
        • TopCashback Review
        • DoorDash Review
  • Personal Finance
      • Banking

        • 10 Best High Yield Savings Accounts Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Money Market Accounts Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Free Checking Accounts In January 2023
        • Best Bank CD Rates Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Business Checking Accounts In January 2023
        • Best Online Banks Of January 2023
        • Best Credit Unions Nationwide Of January 2023
        • Best College Student Checking Accounts Of January 2023
      • Insurance

        • Best Life Insurance Companies
        • Renters Insurance
        • Car Insurance
        • Pet Insurance
        • Umbrella Insurance
        • Disability Insurance
        • Tuition Insurance
        • Travel Insurance
      • Credit Tools

        • Best Budgeting Apps
        • Cash Advance Apps
        • How To Get A Free Credit Score Report
        • Best Credit Monitoring Services For 2023
        • Debt Settlement: Inside The Secret World
        • Credit Repair Explained: Should You Pay For Help?
        • Best Personal Loan Companies And Lenders
        • Online Loan Companies To Borrow From Home
      • Tax

        • Best Tax Software
        • Free Tax Software
        • IRS Tax Refund Calendar
        • Common IRS Questions and Errors
        • Federal Tax Brackets
        • Capital Gains Tax Brackets
        • 401k Contribution Limits
        • IRA Contribution Limits
        • HSA Contribution Limits
  • Forum
  • Search
Home » Taxes » Best Tax Software » Tax Software Alternatives » H&R Block Alternatives: 5 Other Savvy Options

H&R Block Alternatives: 5 Other Savvy Options

Updated: January 17, 2023 By Robert Farrington

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Email
Print

H&R Block Alternatives

H&R Block is one of the most popular tax filing software options today, but is it right for you?

H&R Block allows self-employed individuals and business owners to file their tax returns online.

Moreover, it offers filers an option to have a tax expert review their return before submission.

H&R Block’s interface is straightforward and easy to use; one of its remarkable features is that it gives you step-by-step guidance as you file your taxes.

You can access the software from any device, and you can even visit one of the 12,000 H&R Block offices to have your file reviewed by a tax professional.

H&R Block is a great option, but other tax software may be more advantageous depending on your needs! This is what to look for in H&R Block alternatives.

Read on to see how H&R Block competes with the other best tax software to make the call for yourself.

Table of Contents
Comparing H&R Block To Other Tax Software Products
Breaking Down H&R Block Tax Software
H&R Block vs. TurboTax
H&R Block vs. TaxAct
H&R Block vs. Tax Slayer
H&R Block vs. FreeTaxUSA
H&R Block vs. Cash App Taxes
Which Alternative to H&R Block Is Right For You?

Comparing H&R Block To Other Tax Software Products

Despite its great features, H&R Block may not suit your specific needs.

Fortunately, there are numerous alternative software options you can try. They include:

  1. TurboTax
  2. TaxAct
  3. TaxSlayer
  4. FreeTaxUSA
  5. CashApp Taxes

Before we dive deeper into what each of these software options has to offer, here's a quick overview:

H&R Block

TurboTax

TaxSlayer

TaxAct

FreeTaxUSA

Cash App Taxes

Free Version Details

Robust free tier with W2, Social Security, Unemployment, and more.

Only free for W2 and Social Security Income.

Free tier only include W2 income and educational credits.

Only free Federal filing this year, and limited to W2, Social Security, and unemployment income.

100% Free Fed

100% Free Fed and State

Prices

$0 - $84.99

$0 - $199

$0 - $47.95

$0 - $94.95

$0 - $22.98

$0

Live Support

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Limited

Audit Support

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Breaking Down H&R Block Tax Software

H&R Block offers four pricing options for federal tax filing, namely:

  • Free Version - $0
  • Deluxe - $54.99
  • Premium - $74.99
  • Self-Employed - $114.99

You'll also pay $44.99 per state tax return you need to file.

The major difference between H&R Block's plans is the tax situations considered during tax return filing.

Here’s a look at some of the features you'll get with H&R Block:

  • W-2 import
  • Limitless tax advice
  • Access to past returns, up to six years
  • Stride integration to enable form importation

The software supports the following tax situations, depending on the package you use:

  • Child credit expenses
  • Earned income credit
  • Retirement plan income
  • Child tax credit
  • Social security income

In comparison to all the alternatives, H&R Block has the most robust free online tax filing option.

File your taxes with H&R Block >>

H&R Block Alternatives
Try H&R Block Here

H&R Block vs. TurboTax

Both H&R Block and TurboTax offer a free package, covering simple returns. This package also allows you  to file some additional forms and schedules.

With H&R Block’s free package, however, you can file more forms and schedules, including things like unemployment income and child tax credit.

You’ll also enjoy filing more state returns without paying a dime, while TurboTax’s free package only allows you to file one free state return.

For both providers, the Deluxe package includes deduction-finding tools, help with charitable donations, and access to tax professionals through online chat.

With TurboTax’s Deluxe package, you can file Schedule SE, Schedule C and Schedule C-EZ if you want to report your business income but don’t have any expenses to report.

Overall, TurboTax has the following pricing tiers:

  • $0 Free Tier
  • $59 Deluxe Tier
  • $89 Premier Tier
  • $119 Self-Employed Tier

You can also expect to pay $49 per state tax return.

TurboTax generally beats H&R Block in terms of user-friendliness both for the mobile app and desktop platform, but barely. TurboTax’s interview-style tax preparation will walk you through every step of the filing process with easy-to-understand questions, aiming to avoid tax jargon.

While H&R Block is also easy to use, its questions and explanations can sometimes be confusing.

If you want a a software that's a little easier to use than H&R Block, consider TurboTax. But H&R Block has better pricing in most cases.

The only real exception is crypto. TurboTax has the most cryptocurrency integrations and is the easiest to use when it comes to crypto and NFTs.

File your taxes with TurboTax >>

H&R Block Alternatives: TurboTax
Try TurboTax Here

H&R Block vs. TaxAct

H&R Block is slightly more expensive than TaxAct beyond the free version for Federal tax returns, but TaxAct is more expensive for state tax returns. Combining the two, you're pretty close on pricing.

Nonetheless, if you have to choose between their free versions, H&R Block’s free version may turn out to be a better choice - simply because it includes more options and a free state tax return, where TaxAct charges for a state filing.

It supports 1040 and Schedule A, while TaxAct’s free version supports only a simple tax return.

Related: Best Free Tax Software

TaxAct has the following pricing this year:

  • Free basic version
  • $46.95 deluxe version
  • $69.95 premier version, and
  • $94.95 self-employed version

They charge $54.95 per state, which is one of the highest in online tax software.

Both TaxAct and H&R Block are great options with intuitive interfaces that ensure everything runs well so you can spend as little time as possible doing your taxes.

From a customer support perspective, H&R Block would still be a better option, with over 12,000 physical offices across the country.

This can come in handy if you run into trouble and you want face-to-face customer support to get the issue resolved.

You should realize, however, that you’ll need to upgrade to H&R Block Deluxe or Premium to have access to in-person advice.

While TaxAct doesn’t have physical offices to offer face-to-face support, it has a comprehensive knowledge base to search for information about various tax issues. TaxAct also offers free phone and email technical and tax support on business days

Overall, TaxAct seems to offer a better deal, especially if you feel that its support options are adequate for your needs.

Nonetheless, you should take a closer look at H&R Block before you settle for TaxAct.

You may save some money while accomplishing more tasks with H&R Block’s free version thanks to its additional capabilities.

Also, if you need a lot of support, you may decide to pay more and have H&R Block.

File your taxes with TaxAct >>

H&R Block Alternatives: TaxAct
Try TaxAct Here

H&R Block vs. Tax Slayer

TaxSlayer may be within your budget when it comes to filing your tax returns because TaxSlayer offers access to all tax forms at the first price-point - Classic.

But you’ll have to sign up for TaxSlayer Premium to access features that other providers offer in their basic plans, such as audit support and advice.

Nonetheless, TaxSlayer can still get the job done. If you are self-employed or own a small business, TaxSlayer can help you work through deductions and common issues you might encounter.

At its lower price points, TaxSlayer offers basic services at a cheaper cost than its competitors.

TaxSlayer has the following pricing tiers:

  • Free version
  • $29.95 classic version
  • $49.95 premium version
  • $59.95 self-employed version

You can also expect to pay $39.95 per state.

That discounted service also comes with fewer bells and whistles, but if savings is what you're after, and if you're familiar with tax filing, you could do well with this software.

And if you do spend more and opt for the Premium version, you get access to features like audit support, identity theft recovery, and more extensive customer support.

The differentiator here is small business owners. You get access to all of TaxSlayer's forms at their Classic Plan, which can be a significant savings versus H&R Block's Premium or Self Employed Plans.

File your taxes with TaxSlayer >>

H&R Block Alternatives: TaxSlayer
Try TaxSlayer Here

H&R Block vs. FreeTaxUSA

FreeTaxUSA is a solid alternative to H&R Block because their pricing is competitive, and their features are just slightly behind H&R Block.

FreeTaxUSA offers the simple flat pricing: free federal filing and a flat $14.99 per state.

They also offer a Deluxe version for $7.99 which includes audit support.

The biggest drawback of FreeTaxUSA versus H&R Block Online is ease of use. H&R Block is very easy to use and navigate, while FreeTaxUSA is "close, but not quite the same". However, does that gap justify $40 to $100 or more in price difference? It's your call - but FreeTaxUSA is a competitive option to use instead of H&R Block.

File your taxes with FreeTaxUSA >>

H&R Block Alternatives: FreeTaxuSA
Try FreeTaxUSA Here

H&R Block vs. Cash App Taxes

Cash App Taxes is one of the newest tax software options, but it's also the only option that is truly free for both Federal and State tax returns.

Cash App Taxes is the lowest priced tax software because they offer truly free federal and state tax returns. However, you may be disappointed in what free gets you.

Cash App Taxes doesn't allow for tax filing in multiple states, and doesn't support any foreign earned income. There may be other tax situations that it doesn't support as well.

Compared to H&R Block, Cash App Taxes also doesn't support any bank or brokerage imports. You can only import your W2 if your company supports it. The support you can get from Cash App Taxes is also very limited. 

If you have any complexity in your tax return, H&R Block is probably the better choice. But for simple tax returns, Cash App Taxes is a compelling alternative. 

File your taxes with Cash App Taxes >>

H&R Block Alternatives: Cash App Taxes
Try Cash App Taxes Here

Which Alternative to H&R Block Is Right For You?

H&R Block is a solid tax filing software that gives you the chance to have your tax return reviewed by a real human in a physical office.

This can help you feel more confident, especially if you are nervous about filing your tax returns.

H&R Block’s pricing starts at $0, thanks to its free edition. Nonetheless, you may still want to look at what other tax filing software options have to offer.

TaxSlayer and FreeTaxUSA offer the best value depending on needs, especially if you run a charitable organization, own a small business, and file your own taxes.

TurboTax is another solid option, especially for investors who trade crypto. However, it is a little bit more expensive compared to other services in its class.

Cash App Taxes is a great choice for people with a simple tax return.

It can be a great option for you if you run a small business and mix your business and personal expenses.

Moreover, any self-employed individual who is serious about doing their taxes will find a handy tool in TurboTax Self-Employed.

Robert Farrington
Robert Farrington

Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page, or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.

He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared towards anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.

He has been quoted in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox, ABC, NBC, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.

H&R Block Alternatives: 5 Other Savvy Options

Editor: Claire Tak

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors'. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Subscribe
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of

I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Tax Resources

Featured Tax Reviews

>  H&R Block (recommended)
>  TurboTax (recommended)
>  Cash App Taxes
>  TaxSlayer
>  TaxAct
>  FreeTaxUSA

Tax Software

  • Best Tax Software 2023
  • Free Tax Software 2023
  • Best Crypto And NFT Tax Software For 2022

Tax Brackets

  • Federal Tax Income Brackets
  • Capital Gains Tax Brackets

More on Taxes

  • When To Expect My Tax Refund? The IRS Tax Refund Calendar 2023
  • Common IRS Where’s My Refund Questions and Errors
  • IRS Where’s My Refund Reference Codes
  • TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, And TaxSlayer Pricing Comparison
  • The Best Tax Software For Student Loan Borrowers
  • How To Find The Best Tax Software For Students And Recent Grads
  • The Most Common Tax Deductions
  • Stopping Tax Offsets Due To Student Loan Debt
  • Tax Resource And Help Center

Footer

Who We Are

The College Investor is an independent, advertising-supported financial media publisher, focusing on news, product reviews, and comparisons.

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Press & Media

About

  • About
  • Our Team
  • Podcast
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • How We Make Money
  • Archives

Social

Copyright © 2023 · The College Investor · Privacy Policy ·Terms of Service · DO NOT Sell My Personal Information

wpDiscuz