FreeTaxUSA vs TaxAct: which costs less for tax year 2025?
FreeTaxUSA is estimated to cost less in 3 of 6 common situations. In 3 more, we couldn't confirm one side's price. The answer depends on your forms and state, so here's the estimated total for each situation.
FreeTaxUSAFree federal, low-cost state
vsTaxActTiered self-filing with optional expert help
Estimated total by situation
Cheapest plan from each service that handles the return, with federal, state and required add-ons.
| Situation | FreeTaxUSA | TaxAct | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| W-2 employee in Illinois | $15.99 Free federal, do it yourself | $54.99 Free, do it yourself | FreeTaxUSA |
| Freelancer in California | $15.99 Free federal, do it yourself | Deluxe: Stock sales (Form 8949) support not verified | Can’t confirm |
| Family investing in New York | $15.99 Free federal, do it yourself | Deluxe: Crypto transactions support not verified | Can’t confirm |
| Crypto trader in Florida | $0 Free federal, do it yourself | $99.99 Premier, do it yourself | FreeTaxUSA |
| Family with kids in Georgia | $15.99 Free federal, do it yourself | Deluxe: Interest & dividends support not verified | Can’t confirm |
| Moved from New Jersey to New York | $31.98 Free federal, do it yourself | $189.97 Deluxe, do it yourself | FreeTaxUSA |
Estimates for a sample return in each situation. Yours may differ.
FreeTaxUSA or TaxAct for your return?
Answer a few questions to compare both, and every other major service, on your exact situation.
Compare filing costs