Drake Tax (AF Score 73) and TaxAct Professional (AF Score 66) are two of the most cross-shopped tax preparation platforms in our directory. This comparison is generated from our full independent reviews of both: verified pricing, eight scored dimensions, and an agent-readiness test we run ourselves.
The verdict at a glance
Drake Tax scores higher overall (73 to 66), but the right pick depends on what you weight.
Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for independent preparers and small accounting firms, sold as a Windows desktop program or as browser-based Drake Tax Online, with published annual prices that include all states and e-file.
TaxAct Professional is low-cost Windows desktop tax preparation software for solo preparers and small firms filing 1040, 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120S and 990 returns, sold as an annual license with published pay-per-return, return-bundle and unlimited prices.
Quick facts
- Drake Tax AF score. 73/100
- Drake Tax implementation. Low
- Drake Tax best fit. Solo and small tax practices
- TaxAct Professional AF score. 66/100
- TaxAct Professional implementation. Low
- TaxAct Professional best fit. Solo and small price-first firms
Dimension by dimension
- Compliance depth. Drake Tax 66, TaxAct Professional 62. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Scalability. Drake Tax 62, TaxAct Professional 58. Edge: Drake Tax.
- AI / agent readiness. Drake Tax 34, TaxAct Professional 35. Edge: TaxAct Professional.
- Support. Drake Tax 86, TaxAct Professional 66. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Implementation. Drake Tax 84, TaxAct Professional 78. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Pricing transparency. Drake Tax 91, TaxAct Professional 90. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Tax content & coverage. Drake Tax 72, TaxAct Professional 64. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Integrations & data flow. Drake Tax 52, TaxAct Professional 48. Edge: Drake Tax.
Pick Drake Tax if
- A sole practitioner or a 2 to 5 preparer firm filing mostly 1040s and pass-through returns that wants one flat annual price with every state included.
- A firm leaving Lacerte, UltraTax CS or ProSeries over price that can accept file-based imports and Drake's own portal, workflow and e-signature add-ons.
- A new, part-time or seasonal practice that needs pay-per-return pricing from $379.99 and phone support included in the license.
Pick TaxAct Professional if
- Solo preparers and new practices filing mostly 1040s who want unlimited returns for $1,175 a year on one seat
- Small firms with a mixed book of individual and business returns that want one flat $2,495 multi-user price with all states
- Seasonal or part-time preparers filing fewer than about 18 returns, the point where $29.99 per 1040 plus the license and one state edition costs more than the $725 Twenty Bundle (Audit Friendly estimate)
Further reading
Keep exploring
Both reviews are updated on a rolling cycle by our research agents.