What is the best free tax software in Canada?

Wealthsimple Tax is the best free option — it uses a pay-what-you-want model (you can file for $0). It handles most tax situations including employment income, RRSP/TFSA, investments, rental income, and self-employment. StudioTax is another free option but has a less modern interface.

Is Wealthsimple Tax really free?

Yes. Wealthsimple Tax uses a pay-what-you-want model. You can complete and NETFILE your return for $0. They suggest a contribution but it is optional and does not affect functionality. All features are available regardless of what you pay.

Is TurboTax worth the price in Canada?

TurboTax is worth it if you need hand-holding (step-by-step interview), have a very complex situation, or want live expert access. For most Canadians with straightforward T4 income, RRSP contributions, and standard deductions, Wealthsimple Tax does the same job for free.

Which tax software is best for self-employed Canadians?

Wealthsimple Tax handles self-employment well at no cost. TurboTax Self-Employed ($50+) offers more guidance for business deductions. H&R Block Online Premium ($30+) is a middle ground. For complex businesses, consider an accountant instead.

Wealthsimple Tax vs TurboTax vs H&R Block 2026

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 gives you every feature for $0, making it the default recommendation for the roughly 95 % of filers with straightforward T4 income, RRSP contributions, and standard credits. TurboTax’s interview-style Q&A justifies its $23–$60 + price tag 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 — though at $100–$300 + per visit, you’re paying more for comfort than accuracy. If your income tops $250 K or you have a corporate return, skip software entirely and hire an accountant.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Wealthsimple Tax	TurboTax	H&R Block
Price	Pay what you want ($0+)	$0-$50+	$0-$30+
NETFILE	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto-fill (CRA)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mobile app	Yes	Yes	Yes
RRSP/TFSA optimizer	Yes	Yes (paid tiers)	Limited
Self-employment	Yes	Yes ($50+ tier)	Yes ($30+ tier)
Rental income	Yes	Yes ($50+ tier)	Yes ($30+ tier)
Investments/capital gains	Yes	Yes	Yes
Expert review	No	Yes ($60+)	Yes (in-person or online)
Satisfaction	Very high	High	Moderate-High

Pricing Breakdown

Wealthsimple Tax

Tier	Price	Features
All features	Pay what you want ($0+)	Every feature included
Suggested contribution	$10-$20	Supports development
Priority support	Wealthsimple Premium members	Faster support response

TurboTax Canada

Tier	Price	Best For
Free	$0	Simple returns (T4 only, RRSP, donations)
Standard	~$23	T4, investments, basic deductions
Premier	~$40	Rental income, detailed investments
Self-Employed	~$50	Business income, expenses
Live Assist	~$60+	Expert review of your return
Full Service	~$100+	Expert prepares the whole return

H&R Block Canada

Tier	Price	Best For
Free (online)	$0	Simple returns
Deluxe	~$20	Employment income, deductions
Premium	~$30	Self-employment, rental income
In-person (office)	$100-$300+	Complex returns, in-person help
Tax Pro Review	~$80+	Expert reviews online return

Feature Comparison

Filing Experience

Feature	Wealthsimple Tax	TurboTax	H&R Block
Interface style	Form-based (fill in fields)	Interview-based (Q&A walkthrough)	Hybrid
CRA Auto-fill	Yes	Yes	Yes
Carry forward prior year	From most software	Yes (from TurboTax)	Yes (from H&R Block)
Multiple returns	Unlimited	Depends on tier (up to 8)	Depends on tier
Couple filing	Side-by-side optimization	Linked returns	Linked returns
Bilingual	English + French	English + French	English + French
Overall UX	Modern, clean	Polished, guided	Standard

Income Types Supported

Income Type	Wealthsimple Tax	TurboTax (Free)	TurboTax (Paid)	H&R Block
T4 (employment)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
T5 (investments)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
T3 (trusts)	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
T4A (pension/other)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Self-employment (T2125)	Yes	No	Yes ($50+)	Yes ($30+)
Rental income (T776)	Yes	No	Yes ($40+)	Yes ($30+)
Capital gains/losses	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Foreign income (T1135)	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Crypto transactions	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Deductions and Credits

Deduction/Credit	Wealthsimple Tax	TurboTax	H&R Block
RRSP optimization	Yes (shows optimal contribution)	Yes (paid tiers)	Basic
Medical expenses	Yes	Yes	Yes
Charitable donations	Yes	Yes	Yes
Moving expenses	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tuition (T2202)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Home office (T777)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canada Training Credit	Yes	Yes	Yes
Disability Tax Credit	Yes	Yes	Yes
CCA (depreciation)	Yes	Yes (paid)	Yes (paid)
RRSP/TFSA/FHSA	Yes	Yes	Yes

Who Should Use Which

Choose Wealthsimple Tax If

Situation	Why
Any income level/complexity	All features are free
Self-employed	Free, handles T2125
Rental income	Free, handles T776
Students	Free, handles tuition credits
Comfortable filling in tax forms	Form-based interface
Want to save money	Best value = free
Most Canadians	It does what 95% of people need

Choose TurboTax If

Situation	Why
First time filing (nervous)	Interview format guides you step-by-step
Want expert review	Live Assist and Full Service options
Very complex situation	Comprehensive guidance
Prefer guided experience	Don’t want to interpret form fields
Already used TurboTax before	Easy carry-forward and familiarity

Choose H&R Block If

Situation	Why
Want in-person help	1,000+ offices across Canada
Complex return + want a human	In-person tax professionals
Senior/not comfortable online	Walk-in service available
Audit protection	Optional add-on
Moderate price sensitivity	Cheaper than TurboTax, more guidance than Wealthsimple

Choose an Accountant Instead

Situation	Why Software Isn’t Enough
Incorporated business	Corporate returns (T2) need professional
Complex tax planning	Multi-year strategy, income splitting
Non-resident/departure	International tax rules
CRA audit or reassessment	Need professional representation
Estate/trust returns	T3 returns can be complex
Over $250K income	Tax planning saves more than CPA costs

Accuracy and Error Checking

Feature	Wealthsimple Tax	TurboTax	H&R Block
Real-time error checking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Review before filing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Accuracy guarantee	No specific guarantee	100% accuracy guarantee	Accuracy guarantee
Will pay penalties if error?	No	Yes (on paid tiers)	Yes (on paid tiers)
Audit support	No	Basic (paid tiers)	Optional add-on

Other Free Options

Software	Price	Notes
Wealthsimple Tax	Pay what you want	Best free option
StudioTax	Free (desktop)	Reliable but dated interface
GenuTax	Free (Windows)	Solid alternative
NETFILE (CRA)	Free	Basic, no optimization
Community volunteer clinics	Free	For low-income, basic returns

Our Recommendation

Situation	Best Choice	Cost
Most Canadians	Wealthsimple Tax	$0
Nervous first-time filer	TurboTax Standard	$23
Want a human	H&R Block office	$100-$300
Self-employed (basic)	Wealthsimple Tax	$0
Self-employed (complex)	Accountant	$200-$500
Retirees (simple)	Wealthsimple Tax	$0
Very complex (business, foreign)	Accountant	$300-$1,000+

Bottom Line

Start with Wealthsimple Tax — it’s genuinely free, NETFILE-certified, and handles self-employment, rental income, and investments without up-charges. Switch to TurboTax only if you need guided walk-throughs you can’t get elsewhere, or to H&R Block if 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.

→ Back to: Complete Canadian Tax Guide