Filing taxes as a freelancer is fundamentally different from filing a simple W-2 return. You’re dealing with Schedule C, self-employment tax, quarterly estimated payments, multiple 1099 forms, and a long list of deductions that generic tax software often handles poorly. Here’s how the top options compare for self-employed filers specifically.
Note: Pricing changes each tax season and often varies by promotion or filing date. Always confirm current prices directly on each provider’s website before choosing.
Quick Comparison
| Software | Self-Employed Tier (Federal) | State Filing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTax Premium | ~$139-150 | ~$40-64/state | Most polished, guided experience |
| H&R Block Self-Employed | ~$85-130 | ~$37-49/state | Balance of features + in-person backup option |
| TaxSlayer Self-Employed | ~$53-75 | ~$45-48/state | Best value with full feature set |
| FreeTaxUSA | $0 federal (all situations) | ~$16/state | Best budget option |
| TaxAct Self-Employed | ~$85-100 | Varies | Solid mid-priced alternative |
TurboTax Premium (formerly Self-Employed)
Best for: Freelancers who want the most hand-held, interview-style experience.
TurboTax remains the most widely recognized name in the space, and its self-employed tier walks users through Schedule C line by line in plain English — business income, home office deductions, vehicle expenses, health insurance premiums, and retirement contributions are all covered through guided questions rather than blank form fields. It also includes a deduction-finder feature that scans for commonly missed write-offs specific to different freelance industries, along with mileage tracking and an integrated quarterly estimated tax calculator.
The trade-off is price: TurboTax’s self-employed tier is consistently the most expensive option on this list, and adding a state return or live CPA access pushes the total higher still. It’s a strong choice if you value polish and hand-holding over saving money, but freelancers on a tight budget will likely find better value elsewhere.
H&R Block Self-Employed
Best for: Freelancers who want the option of in-person help.
H&R Block’s self-employed tier covers similar ground to TurboTax — guided Schedule C preparation, expense categorization, and self-employment-specific deduction guidance — at a somewhat lower price point. Its biggest differentiator is H&R Block’s network of physical offices: if your return gets complicated or you’d simply rather have a human review it, you can walk into a local office, something none of the fully online competitors offer.
Live chat and screen-sharing support with a tax professional is included on paid tiers at no extra cost, which is often an upsell with other providers.
TaxSlayer Self-Employed
Best for: Best value with a full self-employed feature set.
TaxSlayer’s self-employed tier includes Schedule C guidance, self-employment tax calculation, and access to tax professionals for questions — all at roughly half the price of TurboTax’s equivalent tier. It doesn’t have quite the same polished interview flow or industry-specific deduction database as TurboTax, but for freelancers with a straightforward single-business situation, it covers the essentials without the premium price tag.
FreeTaxUSA
Best for: Budget-conscious freelancers who don’t need extra hand-holding.
FreeTaxUSA is the outlier on this list: federal filing is free regardless of tax complexity, including full self-employment income, Schedule C, and self-employment tax calculations. The only cost is state filing, priced far below what competitors charge. The trade-off is a less guided, more form-based experience — freelancers who already understand roughly what they’re doing (or who’ve used tax software before) tend to do well here, while first-time filers may prefer a more conversational walkthrough.
An optional low-cost add-on provides live chat support if you want a safety net without paying for a full premium tier elsewhere.
TaxAct Self-Employed
Best for: A middle-priced alternative to TurboTax and H&R Block.
TaxAct sits between the premium providers and the budget options — offering self-employment guidance, a maximum refund guarantee, and support for various business structures, at a price point below TurboTax and roughly comparable to H&R Block’s self-employed tier. It’s a reasonable pick if you want more structure than FreeTaxUSA provides without paying TurboTax’s premium.
What to Actually Look For as a Freelancer
Regardless of which provider you choose, make sure it covers:
- Schedule C guidance — not just support, but a genuinely clear walkthrough of business income and expense categories
- Self-employment tax calculation (Schedule SE) built in automatically
- 1099-NEC and 1099-K import, so you’re not manually re-entering totals from every client and platform
- A quarterly estimated tax calculator or worksheet, ideally one that carries forward into next year’s estimates
- Home office and mileage deduction tools, since these are among the most commonly miscalculated or skipped deductions
- State filing costs, which can meaningfully change the total price and are easy to overlook when comparing «starting at» prices
Free vs. Paid: When Free Actually Makes Sense
If your freelance situation is relatively simple — one or two income sources, straightforward expenses, no employees or contractors of your own — a free or low-cost option like FreeTaxUSA can handle everything a premium tier would, just with less guidance along the way. Where paid tiers earn their price is complexity: multiple business types, significant assets to depreciate, an S-Corp election, or simply wanting the reassurance of talking to a live tax professional.
The Bottom Line
There’s no single «best» tax software for every freelancer — the right choice depends on how much guidance you want versus how much you’re willing to pay for it. FreeTaxUSA is the strongest pick for confident filers watching their budget, TaxSlayer offers the best balance of price and features for most self-employed filers, and TurboTax or H&R Block are worth the premium if you want the most polished experience or the option of in-person support. Whichever you choose, confirm current-year pricing before you start, since promotions and tier structures shift throughout tax season.
This article is for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available pricing at the time of writing, which changes frequently. Always verify current prices and features directly on each provider’s website, and consult a licensed tax professional if your situation is complex.