Our experts answer readers' tax questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess tax products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.
- H&R Block is best known for in-person tax services, but also offers highly rated online-filing options.
- TurboTax is also a top option, especially if you use QuickBooks as a self-employed person.
- Both have high-quality user interfaces and offer access to experts.
- See Personal Finance Insider's picks for the best tax software.
There are many different tax software programs to choose from during the 2023 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. H&R Block has long been known for providing in-person tax preparation services. Today, both offer online tax preparation, tax software, and two levels of tax assistance.
Here's how TurboTax and H&R Block compare on product offerings, costs, and user experience.
You might prefer TurboTax if you use QuickBooks. Intuit makes both apps, and you can quickly transfer your financial data from QuickBooks to your tax forms.
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 across, 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
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| Editor's rating | 4.2 / 5 |
| Review summary | TurboTax is the most expensive option 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. |
| Cost of DIY filing | $0 - $129 +$59 per state return |
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| Free version covers | W-2 income; unemployment income; retirement distributions; interest and dividend income; earned income tax credit; child tax credit |
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 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.
TurboTax allows you to scan 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 TurboTax complete your return for you.
If you're worried that you won't know how to access all the extra goodies 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
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| Editor's rating | 4.5 / 5 |
| Review summary | H&R Block offers products comparable to TurboTax at a lower price. Across all versions, the user interface is modern and easy to use. The free version is more comprehensive than free plans from other services. |
| Cost of DIY filing | $0 - $114.99 +$44.99 per state return |
| Details |
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Free version covers | W-2 income; unemployment income; retirement distributions; interest and dividend income; tuition and fees deduction; student loan interest deduction; earned income tax credit; child tax credit |
H&R Block's online interface is stripped down, compared to 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 upfront 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.
Both H&R Block and TurboTax offer free tax filing with no income limits. (The IRS also offers free online filing to people earning less than $73,000.)
If you opt for the free online version of TurboTax for simple tax returns, expect to get bombarded with persistent offers to upgrade to a paid plan (not all taxpayers qualify). Your income can include W-2, unemployment, retirement distributions, and some types of 1099 interest and dividends. If you need to file a state return, that can be free as well. You can also apply for the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit using the free version.
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. However, H&R Block's free version has one significant advantage over TurboTax: It lets you include deductions for student-loan interest and tuition and fees.
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 versions don't allow you to take some of the most common deductions or report certain types of income.
In the paid versions, 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's what you would pay to file with different types of deductions and income:
| Income type or deduction | H&R Block | TurboTax |
| Student deductions | Free — $0 | Deluxe — $69 |
| Mortgage interest deduction | Deluxe — $55 | Deluxe — $69 |
| Health savings account | Deluxe — $55 | Deluxe — $69 |
| Itemized deductions | Deluxe — $55 | Deluxe — $69 |
| Rental income | Premium — $75 | Premium — $129 |
| Freelance income under $5,000 | Premium — $75 | Premium — $129 |
| Freelance income over $5,000 | Self-employed — $110 | Premium — $129 |
| One state tax return | $37 | $59 |
These prices do not include discounts.
The more income streams you have, the more expensive it becomes
The amount you pay depends on your circumstances. If you need to file multiple state returns, that could get pricey with TurboTax. For those with a small side-hustle that brought in less than $5,000, you can use H&R Block Premium for $54 less than TurboTax Premium. However, if you earned more than $5,000 as a freelancer, the price difference between your online choices is just $19, so cost might not be your deciding factor.
Both also offer full-service tax preparation, where a professional prepares and files your taxes for you. The price for that tops out out at $409 with TurboTax, while H&R Block's full-service options have open-ended pricing. 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.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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