CloudTax is a mobile-first Canadian tax app with a native iOS and Android app, a free tier for simple employment returns and, above it, a mix of a low-cost Plus plan and expert-assisted tiers. This review covers what each tier includes, where the free tier stops, and how it compares with the other free options. It is one of our Canadian tax software reviews.
Quick overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | Free (2 returns) / Plus $39/year (20 returns) / paid expert-assisted tiers for self-employment, rental, and more complex situations |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android (mobile-first) |
| Mobile experience | ✅ Excellent, native app |
| CRA Auto-fill | ✅ |
| NETFILE | ✅ |
| Quebec returns (TP-1) | Paid tiers only; confirm current support |
| Self-employment (T2125) | Paid, expert-assisted tier |
| Rental income (T776) | Paid, expert-assisted tier |
| Interview style | ✅ Guided conversational (free/Plus) |
Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Price/value (free tier) | ★★★½ |
| Mobile experience | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of use | ★★★★½ |
| Feature completeness (free) | ★★½ |
| Self-employed support (as pure DIY) | ★★ |
| Overall | ★★★½ |
CloudTax gets full marks for its mobile app and scores well on ease of use, but its free tier covers so little and its self-employed support is so limited as pure DIY that its value and completeness scores pull the overall down. The rating method behind these scores is the same for every review.
Pricing
CloudTax’s pricing structure has changed substantially from a simple “Free vs Pro” model to a tiered lineup that separates pure self-file plans from expert-assisted ones. As of this review:
| Plan | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| CloudTax Free | $0 (pay-what-you-want) | Up to 2 returns; employment and pension income; step-by-step guidance; AI slip scanning |
| CloudTax Plus | $39/year | Up to 20 returns; everything in Free, plus unlimited personalized tax support, crypto tax support, customized tax tips, and audit protection |
| Review & File: Basic | Expert-assisted, paid per return | Short consultation with a tax expert; employment and pension income; audit protection |
| Review & File: Premium | Expert-assisted, paid per return | Adds rental income (T776), foreign income, crypto, and work-from-home expenses |
| Review & File: Business | Expert-assisted, paid per return | Adds self-employment and business income (T2125) |
| Done-For-You tiers | Paid per return, priced above Review & File | A CloudTax tax expert prepares and files your return from start to finish |
Confirm exact current prices at cloudtax.ca/pricing before choosing a plan. CloudTax’s per-return and per-year prices for the Review & File and Done-For-You tiers change and are frequently discounted, and are not stable enough to quote reliably here (see why prices need checking).
Free vs Plus: What You Get
| Feature | Free | Plus ($39/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of returns | 2 | 20 |
| T4 employment income | ✅ | ✅ |
| RRSP / PRPP | ✅ | ✅ |
| T5 dividend and interest income | ✅ Basic | ✅ |
| Audit protection | ❌ | ✅ |
| Self-employment income (T2125) | ❌ (requires paid expert-assisted tier) | ❌ (requires paid expert-assisted tier) |
| Rental income (T776) | ❌ (requires paid expert-assisted tier) | ❌ (requires paid expert-assisted tier) |
| CRA Auto-fill | ✅ | ✅ |
CloudTax vs Wealthsimple Tax: Free Tier Comparison
| Feature | CloudTax Free | Wealthsimple Tax (Basic) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $0 (pay-what-you-want) |
| Return limit | 2 | Unlimited |
| Self-employment | ❌ (paid, expert-assisted) | ✅ Free, self-serve |
| Rental income | ❌ (paid, expert-assisted) | ✅ Free, self-serve |
| Quebec provincial | Paid tiers only | ✅ Free (Basic/Plus plans) |
| Native mobile app | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ (web-responsive) |
| Interview style | Guided | Guided |
| Suits | Mobile T4-only filers | Anyone wanting full self-serve features free |
Verdict on free tier: Wealthsimple Tax wins decisively on breadth of free, self-serve features: it covers self-employment, rental income, and Quebec at no required cost, all self-file, none of which CloudTax’s free or Plus tiers currently offer without paying for expert assistance. CloudTax’s advantage is its native mobile experience and AI slip scanning for simple employment returns.
CloudTax vs StudioTax for simple returns
Against StudioTax, the free Windows program, CloudTax trades a smaller return limit for a guided, mobile experience:
| Feature | CloudTax Free | StudioTax Free |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile app | ★★★★★ | ❌ No mobile |
| Interview style | Guided | Form-based |
| Ease for first-time filers | ★★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Return limit | 2 | 20 |
| Quebec | Paid tiers only | ❌ Not available |
Who CloudTax suits
| Profile | CloudTax fit |
|---|---|
| Young professional, T4 only, filing on phone | ✅ Excellent: mobile-first, free (within the 2-return limit) |
| Student filing a simple return | ✅ Free tier handles it easily |
| Filing more than 2 simple returns | ⚠️ Plus ($39/year) needed for up to 20 |
| Self-employed with business expenses | ⚠️ Requires a paid, expert-assisted tier; Wealthsimple Tax offers this free and self-serve |
| Investor with T3 slips and capital gains | ⚠️ Limited on free tier |
| Wanting expert review of a simple return | ✅ Review & File Basic tier is built for this |
Bottom Line
CloudTax’s free tier is well-designed for the simplest mobile filing scenario: a T4 employee with pension income, filing up to 2 returns from a smartphone. Beyond that, CloudTax has moved toward an expert-assisted model: self-employment, rental income, and more complex situations are no longer handled as a flat-fee self-serve upgrade, but through paid tiers that pair you with a tax professional. If you want free, fully self-serve filing for self-employment, rental income, or Quebec returns, Wealthsimple Tax remains the stronger fit. Choose CloudTax if you primarily file a simple return on your phone, or if you specifically want an affordable way to get expert eyes on a more complex return.
Security and privacy
CloudTax stores your tax data on Canadian cloud servers and uses encryption for data in transit. Your SIN and financial information are handled under CRA’s NETFILE Privacy Policy, which requires all certified software providers to meet minimum security standards.
Key privacy considerations:
| Feature | CloudTax practice |
|---|---|
| Data storage | Canadian servers |
| CRA data sharing | Only the NETFILE transmission, not ongoing |
| Account deletion | Available on request |
| Third-party data sharing | Marketing preferences configurable |
As with all tax software, your return is transmitted to CRA via NETFILE over an encrypted connection. CloudTax has been CRA NETFILE-certified for a number of years running, indicating it meets CRA’s ongoing technical and security standards; confirm current-year certification on the CRA’s certified software list before filing.
Annual update timeline
CloudTax typically releases its updated software for each new tax year in January–February, shortly after CRA publishes final form updates. Check the CloudTax changelog or App Store release notes to confirm your version reflects the most recent forms, and confirm current pricing at cloudtax.ca, before filing.
Related reading
- Best free tax software in Canada, where CloudTax Free sits among the free options
- GenuTax review, a free Windows program with no return limit
- Best tax software in Canada, free and paid picks by situation