UFile and TurboTax are two of Canada’s most established paid tax software brands, both serving Canadian filers since the 1990s. The choice between them mostly comes down to who is filing: UFile’s pricing favours households and Quebec filers, while TurboTax’s favours single filers who want the most guidance. This comparison covers price, feature differences, Quebec support and investment handling; each product has its own full review, the UFile review and the TurboTax Canada review, and both sit among our other tax software reviews and comparisons.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | UFile | TurboTax |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $20.95, declining per-person rate for additional family members | $0–$70 per return (Do It Yourself), flat per return |
| Quebec TP-1 | ✅ Included free | ⚠️ Extra add-on fee |
| Interface style | Guided but form-leaning | Full guided interview |
| First-timer friendliness | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Mobile app | ✅ Functional | ✅ Better |
| Expert review add-on | ❌ | ✅ (Expert Assist / Full Service) |
| Audit protection | ❌ | ✅ Add-on |
| CarryForward import | ✅ | ✅ |
| CRA Auto-fill | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self-employment (T2125) | ✅ | ✅ (more guided) |
| Rental income (T776) | ✅ | ✅ |
| T3 / T5 investments | ✅ | ✅ |
| Capital gains guidance | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ Premier |
Pricing: Where UFile Tends to Win for Families
| Scenario | UFile cost | TurboTax cost (Do It Yourself) |
|---|---|---|
| Single filer, T4 only | From $20.95 | $0 Free (limited) |
| Single filer, investments | From $20.95 | $30 Deluxe |
| Single filer, self-employed | From $20.95 | $70 Self-Employed |
| Additional family member (spouse/dependant) | Lower per-person rate on same purchase | Full per-return price again |
| Quebec return (add-on) | $0 | Extra add-on fee |
For single filers, TurboTax’s Free or Deluxe tier can be similar to or cheaper than UFile’s base rate depending on your exact tax situation. For households with more than one filer, UFile’s declining per-person pricing on one purchase is typically the cheaper path, since TurboTax charges the same full tier price for every additional family member’s return.
Beyond these scenarios, UFile also sells a Premium plan (from $32.95) with extra support and a Windows desktop version, and TurboTax sells Expert Assist and Expert Full Service as separate, higher-priced products for filers who want an expert’s help or a fully prepared return. Each company’s full plan list is in its review, and both adjust prices during the tax season, so current prices need checking on ufile.ca and turbotax.intuit.ca.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | UFile | TurboTax Free | TurboTax Deluxe | TurboTax Premier | TurboTax Self-Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T4 employment | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| RRSP / FHSA | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| T5 interest / dividends | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| T3 trust income | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Capital gains (ACB guidance) | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Guided | ✅ Guided |
| Rental income (T776) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self-employment (T2125) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Guided |
| Quebec TP-1 | ✅ Free | Extra add-on fee | Extra add-on fee | Extra add-on fee | Extra add-on fee |
| CRA Auto-fill | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Prior year CarryForward | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Audit protection | ❌ | ❌ | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| Expert review | ❌ | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
User Experience: TurboTax Wins on Polish
TurboTax’s guided interview walks you through your return with plain-language questions, which suits anyone unfamiliar with which CRA line numbers correspond to what. In-app explanations, context-sensitive help, and its Expert Assist option (live expert help while you self-file) make TurboTax the most beginner-friendly paid option.
UFile uses a hybrid approach: it provides guided navigation but the interface is slightly more form-leaning. Experienced filers find it efficient; first-timers may have a steeper learning curve.
| UX factor | UFile | TurboTax |
|---|---|---|
| Conversational interview | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| In-app explanations | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Mobile experience | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Expert access | ❌ | ✅ Expert Assist / Expert Full Service |
| Audit protection | ❌ | ✅ Add-on |
| Live help | Email/chat | Phone, expert chat, Full Service |
Investment Handling
Both UFile and TurboTax support T3, T5, capital gains, and foreign income. The key difference is TurboTax Premier’s enhanced guidance for adjusted cost basis (ACB) calculations and step-by-step handling of multiple disposition events.
| Investment type | UFile | TurboTax Premier |
|---|---|---|
| T5 dividends and interest | ✅ | ✅ |
| T3 trust distributions | ✅ | ✅ |
| Capital gains: simple disposals | ✅ | ✅ |
| ACB step-by-step calculator | ⚠️ Adequate | ✅ Guided |
| Multiple trades guidance | ⚠️ Manual | ✅ More guided |
| T1135 foreign income | ✅ | ✅ |
| Crypto (capital gains treatment) | ✅ | ✅ |
For buy-and-hold investors with a few T3s and T5s, UFile is entirely adequate. Active traders with many ACB calculations will appreciate TurboTax Premier’s extra guidance.
When to Choose UFile
| Situation | UFile advantage |
|---|---|
| Family of 3+ filers | Declining per-person rate on one purchase, vs TurboTax’s flat per-return pricing |
| Quebec resident | TP-1 included free |
| Self-employed couple | Each additional return costs less than TurboTax’s flat Self-Employed price |
| Experienced filer who knows forms | Efficient form-based navigation |
| Want a desktop Windows option | UFile for Windows available |
When to Choose TurboTax
| Situation | TurboTax advantage |
|---|---|
| First-time filer wanting full guidance | Best interview UX in Canadian market |
| Investor with complex ACB calculations | TurboTax Premier’s guided ACB tool |
| Want an expert to review or prepare your return | Expert Assist / Expert Full Service options |
| Need audit protection | Available as add-on |
| Prefer best mobile app experience | TurboTax app rated higher |
Bottom Line
Choose UFile if you’re filing for a family, filing in Quebec, or are a self-employed household: the per-person pricing on one purchase is usually cheaper than TurboTax’s flat per-return price once you’re filing for more than one person, and Quebec is included free.
Choose TurboTax if you’re a single filer who values a polished, hand-held experience and may want access to expert help or audit protection. Compare TurboTax’s current Free/Deluxe/Premier/Self-Employed price against UFile’s current base rate for your specific situation, since both companies adjust pricing during the tax season.
Related reading
- Wealthsimple Tax vs TurboTax vs H&R Block, TurboTax against Wealthsimple Tax’s free plan and H&R Block’s in-person option
- Best tax software in Canada, free and paid picks by situation
- CloudTax review