Tax · June 2026
ReturnReady vs. TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA & the rest
Most online tax software follows the same playbook: federal is the loss-leader and the real money is in per-state fees and upsells. Here’s how the major self-filer options price out for the 2025 tax year (2026 filing season), and where ReturnReady fits.
| Service | Federal | Per state | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReturnReady | $0 | $14.99 | Free federal incl. official PDF + e-file; flat per-state fee |
| Cash App Taxes | $0 | $0 | Free, but limited situations & no multi-state |
| FreeTaxUSA | $0 | $15.99 | Free federal for all situations; small support add-ons |
| TaxAct | $0–$$ | ~$39.99 | Free tier (~44% qualify), then paid tiers |
| H&R Block | $0–$$ | ~$36.99 | Free tier (~52% qualify); upsell to Tax Pro Review |
| TurboTax | $0–$129 | $39–69 | Free simple only; Deluxe/Premium tiers + heavy upsells |
Representative pricing; promotional rates change through the season and rise near the deadline.
Where ReturnReady fits
ReturnReady is built for the self-filer who wants a clean, honest price: your federal 1040 is free — including the official IRS PDF and the e-file data export — and each state return is a flat $14.99, with no end-of-flow surprises or refund-skimming fees. It’s built by a practicing CPA, so the computations follow the same rules a preparer would apply.
Which should you pick?
- •Simplest free return: Cash App Taxes, if your situation fits its limits.
- •Lowest all-situations price: ReturnReady ($14.99/state) or FreeTaxUSA ($15.99/state).
- •Most hand-holding (at a premium): TurboTax or H&R Block.
Try ReturnReady free — prepare and file your federal 1040 at no cost, and add a state only if you need one.
Pricing for other services is from their public pages and may change. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the named companies.