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There are many different tax software programs to choose from during the 2024 tax season. Two that land near the top of our editor's ratings are well-established names in the industry: H&R Block and TurboTax.
TurboTax pioneered tax preparation software. has long been known for providing in-person tax preparation services and has roughly 9,000 brick-and-mortar locations throughout the US. Today, both offer online tax preparation, tax software, and two levels of tax assistance. TurboTax in 2024 also began offering in-person tax assistance.
See Personal Finance Insider's picks for the best tax software >>
Here's how TurboTax and H&R Block compare on product offerings, costs, and user experience.
Is TurboTax or H&R Block Better?
You might prefer TurboTax if you use QuickBooks or Credit Karma. Credit Karma members and QuickBooks Online customers can prepare and file their taxes for 2023 through TurboTax within the Credit Karma and QuickBooks Online product experiences, using the personal and financial data already present in those products.
You might choose H&R Block if you want a premium experience for a lower price. H&R Block's DIY filing options are less expensive than TurboTax's, and the company edged out TurboTax in our overall ratings.
While TurboTax offers an engaging user experience, H&R Block's online tax interface is more straightforward, cleaner, and less distracting.
Tax-Filing Options With TurboTax
TurboTax
On TurboTax's website
Insider’s Rating
4.2/5
Perks
Offers a high-quality user interface and access to experts and is especially valuable for self-employed filers who use QuickBooks integration.
Fees
$0 for Free Edition (~37% of filers qualify. Form 1040 and limited credits only), $69 for Deluxe, $129 for Premium
Pros
- Can be good for relatively complex tax situations that may require help navigating deductions and forms
- Offers step-by-step guidance
- Ability to upgrade for instant access to an expert
Cons
- Not all users will qualify for a $0 filing option
- Most expensive option for many tax situations
- No brick-and-mortar locations to meet with a tax pro
Insider’s Take
TurboTax is among the most expensive options for filing taxes online, but offers a high-quality user interface and access to experts. It's especially valuable for self-employed filers who use QuickBooks integration.
TurboTax Tax Software review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Tell TurboTax about your life and it will guide you step by step. Jumpstart your taxes with last year’s info.
- Snap a photo of your W-2 or 1099-NEC and TurboTax will put your info in the right places.
- CompleteCheck™ scans your return so you can be confident it’s 100% accurate.
- You won’t pay for TurboTax until it’s time to file and you’re fully satisfied.
- TurboTax is committed to getting you your maximum refund, guaranteed.
TurboTax's online platform works the same on any computer, and you can even fill out your taxes on your phone with the TurboTax app.
The DIY TurboTax service walks you through all your possible tax deductions and income sources. For the nervous among us, the journey through the TurboTax universe feels reassuringly guided and knowledgeable. If you need even more of a shoulder to lean on, you can pay extra to speak to a tax advisor. This year, TurboTax has also begun providing access to verified tax pros who users in most states can choose through the TurboTax website and connect with in person.
TurboTax allows you to import or upload your tax documents, which can reduce the risk of errors and makes it easy to enter your data quickly. You can stop working and return to the spot where you left off later. And, if you've had enough, you can pay to have a TurboTax expert complete your return for you.
If you're worried that you won't know how to access all the extra features that TurboTax has to offer, don't be. The app will prompt you to upgrade to a higher level package so often that you might begin to feel bombarded.
TurboTax's guided tax journey can feel like a slog, with many questions that don't relate to your situation. Skipping around is no simple matter — you might have to hunt for the section you want to fill out next if you feel confident that you know your way around your taxes.
Tax-Filing Options With H&R Block
H&R Block Tax Software
On H&R Block's website
Perks
Pull up a chair in H&R Block's office or stay put on your couch. They have all the tax filing options you need. And any way you file, you’ll always get your max refund. Guaranteed.
Fees
Plans start at $0
Pros
- Seamless data entry when you upload tax documents (PDF or photo of paper document)
- Interface is modern and easy to navigate
- Instructions are clear and helpful
- Company doesn't try to upsell you while preparing a return
- Ability to save your spot and return later
- Offices in all 50 states where tax professionals can prepare your return in person or virtually
Cons
- Cost
- $0 option does not include itemized deductions
- $0 plan does not offer on-demand chat or phone support
Insider’s Take
H&R Block has something for everyone, whether you're filing online yourself, looking for expert advice, or want to hand it off to a professional. While it doesn't offer the lowest prices you'll find for tax software, the quality of the overall user experience can justify the higher cost.
Product Details
- File your own taxes
- Step-by-step guidance
- Add expert tax help any time
- Real time results
H&R Block's online interface is stripped down, compared with TurboTax. However, it will collect all the information you need without a lot of fuss and upselling. There are fewer questions and options to choose from up front in H&R Block's online filing portal, but always an option to get more information if you need it. The company, which previously relied on foot traffic and appointments at its physical offices, has developed an excellent DIY tax-filing platform.
You can pay extra for access to a tax expert, and H&R Block is always available to prepare your tax forms for you. But you might just find the online tax prep portal so easy to use that you don't need help from a human. The software will save your place if you need to take a break. You will need to enter your data in a specific order, however. There is less ability to skip things and come back to them than in TurboTax.
The H&R Block software is less expensive than TurboTax and an excellent alternative.
TurboTax vs. H&R Block: Which Basic Version is Better?
Both H&R Block and TurboTax offer free tax filing with no income limits for qualified taxpayers. (The IRS also offers free online filing to people earning less than $73,000.)
If you qualify for the free online version of TurboTax for simple tax returns (about 37% of taxpayers qualify, Form 1040 + limited credits only), expect to get bombarded with persistent offers to upgrade to a paid plan. You can file your federal and state taxes for free with TurboTax Basic Edition. If you have Form 1040 and limited credits you can use TurboTax Basic Edition.
TurboTax's DIY Basic Edition includes: W-2 income; interest or dividends that don't require filing a Schedule B; IRS standard deduction; Earned Income Tax Credit; Child Tax Credit; and student loan interest deduction.
H&R Block's online forms will let you file a simple return for free that includes the same income types as TurboTax except for 1099 income, plus one or more state returns.
One other feature that's free with the online versions of TurboTax and H&R Block is e-file. E-filing saves you a stamp and ensures that your return won't get lost in the mail. If you're getting a refund, e-file will help the IRS process your payment more quickly.
TurboTax vs. H&R Block: Costs and Fees
Even when you consider discounts, H&R Block nearly always comes out cheaper than TurboTax for comparable products.
There are lots of reasons you might need to move up to a paid plan with TurboTax or H&R Block. The paid versions are, not surprisingly, easier to use. Besides, the free basic versions don't allow you to take some of the most common deductions or report certain types of income.
H&R Block and TurboTax both allow you to upload tax documents rather than manually entering the data, which can save you quite a bit of time if you have multiple W-2s and 1099s. The TurboTax mobile app will let you take a photo of a document right in the app, so advantage to TurboTax.
However, H&R Block's online software wins out on price in every category. Here are the base prices you would pay to file with different types of deductions and income:
| Income type or deduction | H&R Block Tax Software | TurboTax |
| Student deductions | Basic — $0 | Basic — $0 |
| Mortgage interest deduction | Deluxe — $35 | DIY — $39 |
| Health savings account | Deluxe — $35 | DIY — $39 |
| Itemized deductions | Deluxe — $35 | DIY — $39 |
| Rental income | Premium — $65 | DIY — $89 |
| One state tax return | $37 | $39 |
The more income streams you have, the more expensive it becomes
The amount you pay depends on your circ*mstances. If you need to file multiple state returns, that could get pricey with either TurboTax or H&R Block.
Both also offer full-service tax preparation, where a professional prepares and files your taxes for you. The price for that starts at $169 and tops out out at $359 with TurboTax, while H&R Block's full-service options have open-ended pricing, starting at $89 for a federal return. If you opt to have H&R Block complete your return for you, make sure you know the full cost upfront.
If cost is a primary consideration but you'd like a premium tax-filing experience, H&R Block comes out on top.
TurboTax vs. H&R Block: User Experience
A platform's ease of use is a subjective question. TurboTax's user interface has a lot going on, and that can be a bit distracting to some people. However, if you are patient enough to answer the questions methodically, you can finish knowing you have left no deduction unexamined.
H&R Block's user experience is simpler, with fewer choices to make along the way. The software won't let you skip back and forth until you've filled in the basics for each section — income first, then deductions. If you prefer a less cluttered interface, H&R Block will be easier for you to use.
How to Choose Between H&R Block and TurboTax
There's a lot to recommend both TurboTax and H&R Block online software. Both include guarantees against filing errors, strong encryption to keep your data safe, and the backing of an organization with a track record of tax preparation expertise. You won't go wrong with either choice.
Laura McCamy is a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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