Best Tax Software in Canada: NETFILE Options Compared
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The best tax software in Canada is the one the CRA has certified for the year you are filing, that handles your situation, and that charges a fair price for it. For 2025 returns, the CRA lists 17 NETFILE-certified products, and several of them let you file for $0. This comparison covers six widely available options, with prices checked on each publisher's own site as of October 20, 2026.
If you have never filed before, our guide on how to file taxes in Canada explains the steps before you pick a tool. All our tax content is in the Ratesopedia taxes section.
What NETFILE certification means
NETFILE is the CRA service that lets you send your personal return electronically from tax software. Only software the CRA has certified for a given tax year can use it. The CRA publishes the list each season on its page of certified tax software, with each product's pricing model and platforms.
For the 2025 tax year, NETFILE opened on February 23, 2026 and stays open until January 29, 2027. You can still use it to file a late 2025 return, or a return for any year from 2018 to 2025. The CRA's ReFILE service, available in most certified products, lets you send changes to a return for 2022 to 2025.
Certification is about the electronic transmission, not about quality or price. It tells you the software produces a return the CRA can accept. It does not tell you whether the program handles self-employment income, rental income, or a Quebec return.
Best tax software in Canada at a glance
The table below compares the six products we reviewed. Prices are those displayed on each publisher's site on October 20, 2026, and apply to 2025 returns unless the site says otherwise.
| Software | Free option | Paid prices | Platforms | Quebec return (TP-1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wealthsimple Tax | Basic: pay what you want, $0 possible | Plus $40 + tax; Pro $80 + tax | Online | Yes, with Basic and Plus (Pro not offered in Quebec) |
| TurboTax | Free: $0 for simple returns | Deluxe $30; Premier $50; Self-Employed $70 per return; expert services $70 to $315 | Online, desktop download, mobile app | Yes |
| H&R Block | Free: $0 for straightforward T4 returns | Deluxe $29.99; Premier $49.99; Self Employed $69.99 per return | Online | Yes (H&R Block Online) |
| UFile | $0 if total income is $20,000 or less | $20.95 first family member; $16 spouse; $10 per dependant, plus taxes | Online, Windows download | Yes |
| StudioTax | Mobile apps free; desktop free under $20,000 of income or in NT, YT, and NU | $17.50 desktop licence, up to 10 returns of the same year | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Yes |
| GenuTax Standard | Free (donations welcome) | None | Windows download | No |
How we compared the software
We started from the CRA's list of products certified for the 2025 tax year, then selected six: Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax, and H&R Block, which sell tiered plans, plus UFile, StudioTax, and GenuTax Standard, which focus on low-cost filing. For each one, we read the publisher's own pricing page on October 20, 2026 and, where needed, the product's details page on canada.ca. The reviews below are not a ranking: pick the one that fits your situation.
We looked at four things: what the free version covers, what the paid tiers cost, which platforms are available, and whether the product can file a Quebec return. When a publisher does not display a price, we do not estimate one.
Our picks by situation
Each product below is certified by the CRA for 2025. We note what sets it apart and who it suits best.
Wealthsimple Tax
Wealthsimple Tax runs entirely online. Its Basic plan is pay what you want, including $0, and it covers every income source: employment, investment, and self-employment income. Paid tiers add audit protection and help from tax experts.
- Basic: pay what you want
- Plus: $40 plus tax, with audit protection and priority email support
- Pro: $80 plus tax, with year-round access to tax experts and a 30-minute consultation
Wealthsimple says Quebec residents can use Basic and Plus, but the Pro plan is not available in Quebec. It suits most filers who are comfortable entering their own slips and want a free option that does not lock self-employment behind a paywall.
TurboTax
TurboTax offers the widest range of formats: online, desktop download, and a mobile app. Its online tiers rise with complexity, and its expert services cost more. For tax year 2025, TurboTax displays these do-it-yourself prices per return:
- Free: $0, for simple returns
- Deluxe: $30
- Premier: $50
- Self-Employed: $70
TurboTax also sells Expert Assist from $70 to $150 per return and Expert Full Service from $120 to $315 per return. It suits filers who want guided interviews and the option to hand the file to an expert.
H&R Block
H&R Block's online software follows a similar ladder. On October 20, 2026, its site displayed these prices per return:
- Free: $0, for straightforward returns with T4 income
- Deluxe: $29.99
- Premier: $49.99
- Self Employed: $69.99
The Self Employed tier adds business expense and deduction calculators and covers rental income. It suits filers who want a step-by-step interview at prices close to TurboTax's.
UFile
UFile, sold as ImpôtExpert in French, offers UFile ONLINE and a Windows version. Its help page lists these UFile ONLINE prices, plus applicable taxes:
- First family member: $20.95
- Spouse: $16.00
- Each dependant: $10.00
UFile charges nothing to individuals or families with total income of $20,000 or less, measured at line 15000 of the return. It suits families who file together and want one bill for the household.
StudioTax
StudioTax runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The mobile apps are free. The desktop version asks for a $17.50 licence that covers up to 10 returns of the same tax year. StudioTax stays free on desktop for users with total income under $20,000 and for residents of the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut.
It suits filers who prefer software installed on their own computer and who prepare several returns for relatives.
GenuTax Standard
GenuTax Standard is free, and its publisher welcomes donations. It is a Windows download that can prepare returns for up to 20 people per tax year, for 2025 and earlier years back to 2003. The CRA notes that it does not produce the Quebec TP-1 return.
It suits Windows users outside Quebec who want a no-cost program and do not need online storage.
Online, desktop, or mobile
Online software runs in your browser and stores your return on the publisher's servers. You can start on one computer and finish on another, and you do not install anything. Wealthsimple Tax, H&R Block's software, and UFile ONLINE work this way.
Desktop software installs on your own computer and keeps the file there. It suits people who prepare several returns for relatives or who prefer to keep their data offline. GenuTax Standard, the StudioTax desktop versions, UFile for Windows, and TurboTax's download versions fall in this group. TurboTax and StudioTax also offer mobile apps for filers who want to work from a phone.
Filing a Quebec return
Quebec residents file two returns: the federal T1 with the CRA and the TP-1 with Revenu Québec. Revenu Québec keeps its own list of software authorized for individuals, and a product certified for NETFILE does not automatically appear on it.
On October 20, 2026, Revenu Québec's list of authorized software for individuals included Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax, H&R Block Online, UFile, StudioTax, TaxTron, and FastnEasyTax. GenuTax does not appear on it.
Other certified options
The CRA list for 2025 also includes these products. Most offer free filing for some tax situations and paid versions for others:
- AdvTax
- Better Tax (free)
- CloudTax (free, with optional paid services)
- EachTax
- FastnEasyTax
- FutureTax
- myTaxExpress
- Tax Chopper
- TaxFreeway
- TaxTron
- WebTax4U.ca
Check each product's details page on the CRA list before you start. It lists the forms the software cannot send electronically, which matters for less common situations.
How to choose your software
Start from your tax situation, then compare price. Every product above can handle a simple return with a T4 and a few credits.
- Simple return with a T4 and a few credits: any of the free options, such as Wealthsimple Tax Basic, TurboTax Free, or H&R Block Free.
- Self-employment income: Wealthsimple Tax Basic, or a dedicated tier such as TurboTax Self-Employed ($70) or H&R Block Self Employed ($69.99).
- Quebec resident: a product on Revenu Québec's list, such as Wealthsimple Tax (Basic or Plus), TurboTax, H&R Block, UFile, or StudioTax.
- Family filing together: UFile's family pricing, or StudioTax's desktop licence that covers up to 10 returns.
- Total income of $20,000 or less: UFile ONLINE, and StudioTax on desktop under $20,000, charge nothing.
- You want an expert to review or file: TurboTax Expert Assist or Expert Full Service, or Wealthsimple Tax Pro outside Quebec.
Before you file, gather your slips and last year's notice of assessment. If you expect a refund, our guide on how long a tax return takes explains the CRA's processing times. To check your result, run the numbers through our income tax calculator.
Software for self-employed filers
If you earn business income, you report it on Form T2125 and pay both halves of your CPP or QPP contributions. Wealthsimple Tax includes self-employment income in its free Basic plan. TurboTax and H&R Block each sell a dedicated self-employed tier, at $70 and $69.99 per return. UFile and StudioTax also support self-employment returns.
Good bookkeeping makes any of these easier. We compare the best bookkeeping software for self-employed Canadians, and our guide to QuickBooks for business tax returns covers the hand-off to tax time.
Conclusion
You do not need to pay much to file a correct return in Canada. Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax Free, H&R Block Free, and the StudioTax mobile app all offer a $0 path, and UFile is free below $20,000 of income. Pay for a higher tier only when your situation needs it, and in Quebec, confirm the product appears on Revenu Québec's list. Prices change each season, so check the publisher's site before you start: the figures above are as of October 20, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions about tax software in Canada
What is the best free tax software in Canada?
Several certified products offer a $0 option for 2025 returns. Wealthsimple Tax lets you pay what you want, including $0, and covers self-employment income in that plan. GenuTax Standard is free on Windows, and the StudioTax mobile apps are free. TurboTax and H&R Block offer free tiers for simple returns. Read our guide on how to file taxes in Canada before you start.
Is Wealthsimple Tax really free?
Its Basic plan is pay what you want, and you can choose $0. Paid tiers cost $40 plus tax for Plus and $80 plus tax for Pro, and they add audit protection and expert help. Wealthsimple says the Pro plan is not available to Quebec residents. Basic still covers employment, investment, and self-employment income.
Can I use any tax software to file in Quebec?
No. You need software certified by the CRA for your federal return and authorized by Revenu Québec for your Quebec return. Revenu Québec's list on October 20, 2026 included Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax, H&R Block Online, UFile, StudioTax, TaxTron, and FastnEasyTax. GenuTax does not produce the Quebec TP-1. Our Quebec tax calculator helps you estimate both levels of tax.
Which tax software is best for self-employed people?
Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax, H&R Block, UFile, and StudioTax all state that they handle self-employment income. Wealthsimple Tax includes it at no required cost, while TurboTax and H&R Block charge $70 and $69.99 per return for their self-employed tiers. Pair your software with a bookkeeping tool from our comparison of bookkeeping software.
Can I still file my 2025 return online?
Yes. NETFILE accepts 2025 returns until January 29, 2027, along with returns for 2018 to 2024. If you owe tax, interest has applied since the April 30, 2026 payment deadline, so file and pay as soon as you can. Our article on tracking your tax return explains what happens after you file.
When will software for the 2026 tax year be available?
The CRA publishes a new list of certified software each tax season. For the 2025 tax year, NETFILE opened on February 23, 2026. Expect the 2026 list to appear on the CRA's certified software page before the next filing season opens. Bookmark our taxes section for updates.
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