The verdict
TaxAct takes it, 5–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, TaxAct takes 5 of 8 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose TurboTax if…
- • You want TurboTax's edge on state return on the free tier and what each state return costs
Choose TaxAct if…
- • You want TaxAct's edge on what customers say on trustpilot and how many people qualify for free
Round by round
- Round 1What customers say on TrustpilotTaxAct winsTurboTax5/10
1.2 out of 5
TrustScore from 1,321 reviews on Trustpilot
- 1.2 out of 5, against 4 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
TaxAct wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2Who files federal freeTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 3How many people qualify for freeTaxAct winsTurboTax5/10
~37% of filers qualify
TurboTax Online Do It Yourself (Free Edition, Deluxe, Premium) / Expert Assist / Expert Full Service, price per federal return, state additional; late-season prices shown Oct 2026
- ~37% of filers qualify, against ~40% of TaxAct filers qualified
Source: turbotax.intuit.com ↗
TaxAct8/10~40% of TaxAct filers qualified
TaxAct Online (Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed), price per federal return, state per state filed; regular prices (new-customer $70 flat offer on homepage ignored)
Source: taxact.com ↗
TaxAct wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 4State return on the free tierTurboTax winsTurboTax8/10
$0 state on Free Edition
TurboTax Online Do It Yourself (Free Edition, Deluxe, Premium) / Expert Assist / Expert Full Service, price per federal return, state additional; late-season prices shown Oct 2026
Source: turbotax.intuit.com ↗
TaxAct5/10$54.99 per state on Free
TaxAct Online (Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed), price per federal return, state per state filed; regular prices (new-customer $70 flat offer on homepage ignored)
- $54.99 per state on Free, against $0 state on Free Edition
Source: taxact.com ↗
TurboTax wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 5What it costs to startTaxAct winsTurboTax5/10
$79 Deluxe (federal, per return)
TurboTax Online Do It Yourself (Free Edition, Deluxe, Premium) / Expert Assist / Expert Full Service, price per federal return, state additional; late-season prices shown Oct 2026
- $79 Deluxe (federal, per return), against $59.99 Deluxe (federal, per return)
Source: turbotax.intuit.com ↗
TaxAct8/10$59.99 Deluxe (federal, per return)
TaxAct Online (Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed), price per federal return, state per state filed; regular prices (new-customer $70 flat offer on homepage ignored)
Source: taxact.com ↗
TaxAct wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6What each state return costsTurboTax winsTurboTax8/10
Up to $64 per state (paid tiers)
TurboTax Online Do It Yourself (Free Edition, Deluxe, Premium) / Expert Assist / Expert Full Service, price per federal return, state additional; late-season prices shown Oct 2026
Source: turbotax.intuit.com ↗
TaxAct5/10$64.99 per state (Deluxe)
TaxAct Online (Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed), price per federal return, state per state filed; regular prices (new-customer $70 flat offer on homepage ignored)
- $64.99 per state (Deluxe), against Up to $64 per state (paid tiers)
Source: taxact.com ↗
TurboTax wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 7Filing as self-employedTaxAct winsTurboTax5/10
$139 Premium (federal)
TurboTax Online Do It Yourself (Free Edition, Deluxe, Premium) / Expert Assist / Expert Full Service, price per federal return, state additional; late-season prices shown Oct 2026
- $139 Premium (federal), against $109.99 Self-Employed (federal)
Source: turbotax.intuit.com ↗
TaxAct8/10$109.99 Self-Employed (federal)
TaxAct Online (Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed), price per federal return, state per state filed; regular prices (new-customer $70 flat offer on homepage ignored)
Source: taxact.com ↗
TaxAct wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 8Getting a live tax expertTaxAct winsTurboTax5/10
Expert Assist Basic $59 (simple)
TurboTax Online Do It Yourself (Free Edition, Deluxe, Premium) / Expert Assist / Expert Full Service, price per federal return, state additional; late-season prices shown Oct 2026
- Expert Assist Basic $59 (simple), against Xpert Assist from $45 (Free + expert)
Source: turbotax.intuit.com ↗
TaxAct8/10Xpert Assist from $45 (Free + expert)
TaxAct Online (Free, Deluxe, Premier, Self-Employed), price per federal return, state per state filed; regular prices (new-customer $70 flat offer on homepage ignored)
Source: taxact.com ↗
TaxAct wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- About 37%, against About 52%
- $79 Deluxe (federal, per return), against $65 Deluxe (federal, per return)
- Up to $64 per state (paid tiers), against $49 per state (Deluxe)
- $139 Premium (federal), against $130 Self-Employed (federal)
- $54.99 per state on Free, against $0 state on Free Edition
- $64.99 per state (Deluxe), against Up to $64 per state (paid tiers)
- ~40% of TaxAct filers qualified, against About 52% of filers qualify
- $54.99 per state on Free, against $0 per state on Free Online