If your return is simple, both platforms will get you filed for free. Once you add a 1099, a stock sale, or a Schedule C, the two diverge fast: HR Block Tax Software usually costs less at every paid tier and gives you a path into an actual office if you get stuck, while TurboTax charges more but hands you a smoother, more guided interview and stronger investment-import tools. The right pick depends less on brand loyalty than on how complicated your 2025 tax year actually is.
This guide breaks down pricing, free-filing eligibility, support options, and which filer type each platform genuinely fits — based on both companies’ current published pricing and independent 2026 testing from multiple reviewers.
Key takeaways
- H&R Block is generally the cheaper option at every paid tier, and its free tier covers a wider share of filers than TurboTax’s.
- TurboTax wins on interface and guidance — most reviewers rate its questionnaire flow and error-checking as the more polished experience, especially for first-time filers.
- Only H&R Block offers in-person help at physical locations if your return gets complicated mid-filing.
- Neither company participates in the IRS Free File program for 2026 — “free” on either platform refers to their own free tier, with its own eligibility limits, not the IRS’s income-based program.
- Self-employed filers should compare the total checkout price, not just the advertised starting price — state filing fees and add-ons close much of the price gap between the two.
HR Block Tax Software vs. TurboTax at a glance
| H&R Block | TurboTax | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier covers | W-2 income, standard deduction, EITC, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest | Simple Form 1040 only, similar credit coverage |
| Share of filers who qualify for free | Roughly half of all filers, per multiple 2026 reviews | Roughly a third of filers, per Forbes Advisor’s 2026 estimate |
| Paid tiers | Deluxe, Premium, Self-Employed | Deluxe, Premium (combines the old Premier and Self-Employed tiers) |
| In-person filing | Yes, at thousands of retail locations | No — phone/chat/video expert access only |
| Built-in AI assistant | AI Tax Assist, included free on paid online tiers | Intuit Assist, included across all tiers |
| Best known for | Lower cost, flexible support channels | Guided interview design, investment import tools |
Pricing comparison for 2026
Pricing on both platforms is tiered by tax situation, not by income — the form your return needs is what pushes you into a paid tier. Because both companies run seasonal promotions and adjust prices as the filing deadline approaches, treat the figures below as a starting range rather than a locked-in price, and confirm the number in your actual checkout screen before paying.
| Tier | H&R Block (federal) | TurboTax (federal) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
| Deluxe (itemized deductions, HSA) | Roughly $35–$55 | Roughly $39–$79 |
| Premium (investments, rental income) | Roughly $75–$90 | Roughly $89–$139 |
| Self-employed (Schedule C, gig income) | Roughly $85–$115 | Included in TurboTax’s combined Premium tier above |
| Additional state return | Roughly $37–$45 | Roughly $39–$64 |
These ranges reflect a cross-section of current 2026 pricing reviews and reviewer-verified checkout totals, including analysis from SmartAsset and The Pricer, since third-party trackers and the vendors’ own promotional pricing don’t always agree on an exact figure at any given moment in the season. What’s consistent across nearly every source: H&R Block comes in lower at every comparable paid tier, and the gap tends to widen once a state return is added.
Neither company is currently a participating provider in the IRS Free File Program, which offers guided free filing to taxpayers below a set income threshold through IRS-vetted partners — a distinction worth knowing before assuming either platform’s “free” tier is the same thing as IRS Free File.
Which platform gives more filers a free return
This is one of the more consistent findings across 2026 reviews: H&R Block’s free tier has a meaningfully wider net than TurboTax’s. Independent estimates put roughly half of all filers within H&R Block’s free-tier eligibility, compared to roughly a third for TurboTax’s Free Edition.
Both free tiers cover the same basic profile — W-2 income, the standard deduction, and a limited set of credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and student loan interest deduction. The moment your return needs a 1099, itemized deductions, investment income, or self-employment income, both platforms push you into a paid tier — the difference is simply how many taxpayers stay under that line.
If you’re not sure which tier you’ll land in, both platforms let you start for free and only charge at the point of filing, so there’s little downside to beginning with either and seeing where your actual situation lands you.
User experience: where TurboTax pulls ahead
Pricing favors H&R Block, but the experience of actually using the software is where TurboTax’s reputation comes from. Reviewers consistently describe TurboTax’s guided interview as more conversational and better at surfacing relevant deductions automatically as you answer questions — a meaningful advantage for a first-time filer who doesn’t already know which forms apply to them.
H&R Block’s interface has closed much of that gap in recent years and remains straightforward for anyone with a simple-to-moderate return, but it asks a filer to be a bit more proactive about knowing what applies to their situation. For a freelancer filing a Schedule C for the first time, that difference can matter more than the $20–$40 price gap.
Neither platform requires technical expertise, and both offer a look at your refund or balance due before you pay — a useful checkpoint for comparing your actual total cost between the two before committing.
Support options: AI tools, live help, and in-person locations
Both companies added AI-assisted help to their paid tiers: H&R Block’s AI Tax Assist and TurboTax’s Intuit Assist both answer plain-language questions about deductions, credits, and filing requirements as you work through your return. In practice, reviewers describe the two as roughly comparable for common questions — neither is a substitute for a licensed preparer once a return gets genuinely complex.
The clearer difference is in human support. H&R Block operates thousands of retail locations nationwide, so a filer who gets stuck mid-return has the option to walk into an office and finish with a tax professional — something TurboTax, which has no physical locations, can’t offer. TurboTax’s human support is limited to phone, chat, and video access to a credentialed expert, which works well for most situations but isn’t the same fallback as an in-person conversation.
If there’s a real chance your return will need professional judgment calls — a first-year small business, a complicated inheritance, a multi-state move — that in-person option is worth weighing against TurboTax’s smoother software experience.
Best for self-employed and freelance filers
This is where total cost adds up fastest, since self-employment income triggers the most expensive tier on both platforms. A freelancer filing one federal and one state return will typically land at a lower total cost on H&R Block’s Self-Employed tier than on TurboTax’s equivalent Premium tier, based on the ranges above — often by $30 or more once the state fee is included.
TurboTax’s advantage for this filer profile is import automation: stronger auto-import for 1099-NEC and 1099-K forms, and more mature cryptocurrency transaction handling for filers who also trade or hold digital assets. If your self-employment income is straightforward — one or two 1099s, standard business expenses — H&R Block’s lower price is hard to justify passing up. If you’re juggling multiple income streams, investment accounts, and crypto activity in the same return, TurboTax’s import tooling may save enough manual entry time to offset the higher price.
Common mistakes when choosing between the two
Comparing the advertised starting price instead of the checkout total. Both companies list an eye-catching low number for their entry tier, but state filing fees and any add-ons (audit defense, expert review, refund-advance products) can add $40–$100 before you actually file.
Assuming “free” means IRS Free File. As noted above, neither platform currently participates in the IRS’s own Free File Program — their “free” tiers are proprietary and have narrower eligibility rules than the IRS program’s income-based threshold.
Choosing based on brand recognition rather than return complexity. TurboTax’s stronger name recognition doesn’t make it the better fit for every filer — a straightforward W-2 return does just as well, for less money, on H&R Block.
Not checking whether your prior-year data will import. Both platforms support importing a prior return, but the fidelity of that import (especially from a competitor’s software) varies — verify before assuming a switch will be seamless.
Which one should you choose?
Use this as a quick decision framework:
- Simple W-2 return, no itemizing: Either platform’s free tier works. Start with H&R Block first — a slightly wider share of filers qualify.
- Itemizing deductions or claiming an HSA: H&R Block’s Deluxe tier is typically the lower-cost option for an equivalent set of forms.
- Investment income or rental property: Compare both Premium tiers directly against your actual forms — TurboTax’s import tools may be worth the premium if you have many transactions to reconcile.
- Self-employed with straightforward income: H&R Block’s Self-Employed tier is usually the better value.
- Return complexity you’re not confident handling alone: H&R Block’s in-person option is the deciding factor TurboTax can’t match.
- First-time filer who wants maximum hand-holding: TurboTax’s guided interview has the edge, and may be worth the extra cost for the reduced risk of a missed form.
Frequently asked questions
Is H&R Block or TurboTax better for a first-time filer?
TurboTax’s guided interview is generally considered more beginner-friendly, with more proactive prompts about which forms apply to your situation. H&R Block is still straightforward for a simple return, but a first-time filer with an unfamiliar tax situation may find TurboTax’s extra hand-holding worth its higher price.
Can I switch from TurboTax to H&R Block without losing my prior year’s data?
Yes — both platforms support importing a prior-year PDF, though the completeness of that import can vary depending on your return’s complexity. Review the imported figures carefully before filing rather than assuming a perfect transfer.
Does either H&R Block or TurboTax participate in IRS Free File?
No. As of the 2026 filing season, neither company is listed among the IRS’s current Free File partners. Their own “free” tiers are separate products with their own eligibility rules, not the IRS’s income-based Free File Program.
Which is cheaper for a freelancer with a single 1099?
H&R Block is typically the lower-cost option for a straightforward self-employment return, often by $30 or more once a state return is included. TurboTax may still be worth considering if you have multiple income streams or investment activity that benefits from its import tooling.
Do I have to pay before I see my final price on either platform?
No. Both H&R Block and TurboTax let you complete your return and see the calculated federal and state totals before you’re asked to pay, so you can compare your actual checkout price rather than relying on the advertised starting price.
If cost is your deciding factor and your return isn’t unusually complex, H&R Block is the more defensible default in 2026 – it’s cheaper at nearly every tier and gives you a real fallback option if you need in-person help.
TurboTax earns its premium through a smoother guided experience and stronger import tools, which matter more the more complicated your return gets. Before you commit to either, run your actual numbers through both platforms’ free start-and-see-your-price flow – the few minutes it takes will tell you more than any review, including this one.