Drake Tax (AF Score 73) and UltraTax CS (AF Score 74) 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
UltraTax CS scores higher overall (74 to 73), 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.
UltraTax CS is Thomson Reuters' professional tax preparation software for CPA firms, covering individual, business, fiduciary, exempt and estate returns with federal and state e-file, sold as part of the CS Professional Suite.
Quick facts
- Drake Tax AF score. 73/100
- Drake Tax implementation. Low
- Drake Tax best fit. Solo and small tax practices
- UltraTax CS AF score. 74/100
- UltraTax CS implementation. Medium
- UltraTax CS best fit. Firms on the CS Professional Suite
Dimension by dimension
- Compliance depth. Drake Tax 66, UltraTax CS 74. Edge: UltraTax CS.
- Scalability. Drake Tax 62, UltraTax CS 72. Edge: UltraTax CS.
- AI / agent readiness. Drake Tax 34, UltraTax CS 38. Edge: UltraTax CS.
- Support. Drake Tax 86, UltraTax CS 58. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Implementation. Drake Tax 84, UltraTax CS 66. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Pricing transparency. Drake Tax 91, UltraTax CS 30. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Tax content & coverage. Drake Tax 72, UltraTax CS 84. Edge: UltraTax CS.
- Integrations & data flow. Drake Tax 52, UltraTax CS 80. Edge: UltraTax CS.
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 UltraTax CS if
- Firms of 6 to 500+ preparers already on Accounting CS, Workpapers CS or Practice CS that want one client list and data sharing across them.
- Practices with heavy multistate, fiduciary, exempt and estate work that want those forms and state e-file in one package.
- Firms that buy or plan to buy SurePrep and SafeSend and want document intake, preparation and e-sign delivery wired into the tax software.
Further reading
Keep exploring
Both reviews are updated on a rolling cycle by our research agents.