Wealthsimple Tax vs TurboTax vs H&R Block: Price, Features and Fit

For most Canadians, tax software is the fastest, cheapest way to file, and the three biggest names are Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax and H&R Block. The practical difference comes down to how much hand-holding you want and how much you’re willing to pay for it. Wealthsimple Tax’s Basic plan gives you every core feature for $0, making it the default recommendation for the large majority of filers with straightforward T4 income, RRSP contributions, and standard credits. TurboTax’s interview-style Q&A justifies its price mainly for nervous first-timers or those who want a live expert to review their return. H&R Block fills the niche for people who prefer an in-person conversation; in-person filing costs considerably more than DIY, and the extra pays for comfort rather than accuracy. Each product has its own full review (Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax, H&R Block), and the rest of our tax software reviews and comparisons cover the other options.

Quick Comparison

What a return costs on each

The price depends on what your return contains, because TurboTax and H&R Block charge by tier while Wealthsimple Tax’s Basic plan covers every core form:

Wealthsimple Tax’s paid plans mostly add returns and support (Plus covers up to 8 returns, Pro 9 or more), not forms. The full tier lists are in each product’s review, and like all tax software these prices and plan names change each season.

Feature Comparison

Filing Experience

Income Types Supported

Deductions and Credits

Who Should Use Which

Choose Wealthsimple Tax If

Choose TurboTax If

Choose H&R Block If

When an accountant fits better

The three aren’t built for an incorporated business’s T2 return, multi-year tax planning, a departure from Canada, or representation in a CRA audit or reassessment, and complex estate or trust returns and very high incomes often justify a professional’s fee. The trade-offs are set out in when to hire an accountant vs doing your own taxes, and corporate owners can start with the CCPC tax planning guide.

Accuracy and Error Checking

Other free options

Wealthsimple Tax’s Basic plan isn’t the only way to file for nothing: free desktop programs, free tiers of other products, CRA SimpleFile and volunteer tax clinics are compared in our best free tax software in Canada guide. For a two-way look at TurboTax against UFile, a rival priced for households, see UFile vs TurboTax.

Our Recommendation

Bottom line

Wealthsimple Tax’s Basic plan is the natural starting point for most filers: it’s free, NETFILE-certified, and handles self-employment, rental income, investments and Quebec’s TP-1 without up-charges. TurboTax earns its price when you want guided walk-throughs or expert help, and H&R Block when you want someone sitting across a desk from you. For anything involving a corporation, international tax or a CRA dispute, no software replaces a qualified CPA.