Wealthy PotTurboTax vs H&R Block (2026)
The two biggest names, and close rivals. Both offer strong free tiers and expert help, but H&R Block usually costs less for similar features and adds the unique fallback of nationwide physical offices; TurboTax counters with a slightly smoother interface and imports. Pick H&R Block for value and office access, TurboTax for the most polished DIY experience.
By Wealthy Pot · Last updated September 2026
| Feature | TurboTax | H&R Block |
|---|---|---|
| Free federal | Free Edition $0 (simple Form 1040 only) | Free Online $0 |
| Free for whom | Simple returns only (~37% of filers); rolls to paid if you add most other forms | Simple returns incl. EITC, CTC, student-loan interest (~52% of filers) |
| Paid federal | Deluxe $79; Premium $139 | Deluxe $65; Premium $105; Self-Employed $130 |
| Per state | State additional (shown at checkout) | $49 per state (paid tiers) |
| Expert help | Expert Assist $59–$209; Full Service from $129 | Unlimited expert help + AI Tax Assist included on paid tiers; Tax Pro Review add-on |
| Best for | Filers who want the smoothest guided experience and easy expert access | DIY filers who want the fallback of a physical office or human review |
Where TurboTax wins
- The smoothest, most polished guided experience
- Best-in-class W-2/1099 import and prior-year import
- Easy access to live experts (Assist or Full Service)
- Strong accuracy and max-refund guarantees
Where H&R Block wins
- One of the more generous free tiers
- Unlimited expert help bundled on paid tiers
- Nationwide physical offices as a fallback
- Imports competitor returns
Which should you use?
The two biggest names, and close rivals. Both offer strong free tiers and expert help, but H&R Block usually costs less for similar features and adds the unique fallback of nationwide physical offices; TurboTax counters with a slightly smoother interface and imports. Pick H&R Block for value and office access, TurboTax for the most polished DIY experience.
Compare these against every option in our tax software comparison.
We summarize each product's published pricing and features, not user reviews. Tax-software prices are promotional and change through the season; they are re-checked against each product's official page. Some outbound links may be affiliate links — that never affects our comparisons. Nothing here is tax advice.