Drake Tax vs FreeTaxUSA
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
Free federal tax filing.
The verdict
Both Drake Tax and FreeTaxUSA are credible tax tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Drake Tax — Professional tax preparation.
Choose FreeTaxUSA if you'd rather have a lower starting price (free – $7.99 once) and a free plan to start on. Free federal tax filing.
Drake Tax vs FreeTaxUSA: side by side
| Dimension | Drake Tax | FreeTaxUSA |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom | Free – $7.99 onceWinner |
| Free plan | No | YesWinner |
| Pricing model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Best for | Tax Preparers, Small Firms | Individuals, Budget Filers |
| Platforms | Web, Windows | Web |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
Drake Tax key facts
- Vendor
- Drake Software
- Pricing
- Subscription — Custom
- Free tier
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Windows
- Best for
- Tax Preparers, Small Firms
- Editor rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Founded
- 1977
- Headquarters
- Franklin, NC, USA
FreeTaxUSA key facts
- Vendor
- TaxHawk
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $7.99 once
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Individuals, Budget Filers
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2001
- Headquarters
- Provo, UT, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Drake Tax better than FreeTaxUSA?
Neither is universally better — FreeTaxUSA edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Drake Tax or FreeTaxUSA cheaper?
FreeTaxUSA is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $7.99 once. Drake Tax starts at custom; FreeTaxUSA starts at free – $7.99 once.
Can Drake Tax replace FreeTaxUSA?
Yes for most teams — both are tax tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.