Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving H&R Block.
Want the closest match?
ZeroTax.aiMost similar to H&R Block in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens ZeroTax.ai in a new tab)Need a free plan?
JupidHas a free plan, rated 4.0 out of 5.
Visit (opens Jupid in a new tab)Want to pay less than H&R Block?
Smart ClerkFrom $29/mo, against from $65/mo for H&R Block.
Visit (opens Smart Clerk in a new tab)Want the best rated?
PortfolioPilotRated 4.3 out of 5 in our review, against 3.8 for H&R Block.
Visit (opens PortfolioPilot in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than H&R Block, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 H&R BlockBaseline | 3.8 | $65/mo | Yes | Tax preparation company whose AI Tax Assist answers filers' tax questions conversationally inside its online software, built on Azure OpenAI and backed by H&R Block's Tax Institute. | |
| ZeroTax.ai | 3.3−0.5 | Free | Yes | AI question-and-answer service for United States federal tax questions, with an optional review by licensed tax professionals. | vs H&R Block |
 Deduction | 3.7−0.1 | $41.58/mo$23.42 less | No | An AI tax accountant that files US personal returns and answers tax questions year-round by call, text, or chat. | vs H&R Block |
 Ledger IQ | 3.9+0.1 | Free | Yes | Trial balance and tax workpaper software that maps accounts for CPAs automatically. | vs H&R Block |
 BlackOre | 4.1+0.3 | Not listed | No | Tax Autopilot automates tax preparation for CPA firms, with adoption across top-20 firms. | vs H&R Block |
 Onesta | 3.5−0.3 | Free | Yes | Ask OnestaBot a finance question and get an answer, then search a database of financial advisors verified against their actual SEC registration data - not just self-reported credentials. | vs H&R Block |
| PortfolioPilot | 4.3+0.5 | Not listed | No | SEC-registered AI investing coach from Global Predictions that tracks net worth, taxes and retirement planning, with a free tier and three paid subscription levels. | vs H&R Block |
| Smart Clerk | 3.9+0.1 | $29/mo$36 less | Yes | Reads bank statements in any format and produces a P&L and balance sheet from them. | vs H&R Block |
| Jupid | 4.0+0.2 | Free | Yes | Bookkeeping over WhatsApp with CPA-reviewed tax filing and an MCP server. | vs H&R Block |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches H&R Block.
ZeroTax.ai
3.3Free
vs H&R Block−0.5
AI question-and-answer service for United States federal tax questions, with an optional review by licensed tax professionals.
- Plain-English answers to US federal tax questions in seconds
- 5 free questions a month, per the site
- Optional review of AI answers by licensed tax professionals, per listings
A human review option from licensed professionals
Available only to visitors in the United States
Deduction
3.7$41.58/mo
vs H&R Block$23.42 less−0.1
An AI tax accountant that files US personal returns and answers tax questions year-round by call, text, or chat.
- Taylor CPAI agent that organizes documents and finds deductions automatically
- Licensed CPA review of every AI-prepared return before filing
- Conversational access by phone call, text, chat, or email, with no app required
Human CPA review of every filing adds accountability an AI-only tax tool lacks
young company (2025 launch) with a thin public track record through a full tax season
Ledger IQ
3.9Free
vs H&R Block+0.1
Trial balance and tax workpaper software that maps accounts for CPAs automatically.
- QuickBooks trial balance import
- Suggested tax line mappings
- Working trial balance with adjusting entries
Exports into the tax software practices already run
Suggested mappings need review, since an error is a filing error
BlackOre
4.1Not listed
vs H&R Block+0.3
Tax Autopilot automates tax preparation for CPA firms, with adoption across top-20 firms.
- Automated preparation of tax returns for CPA firms
- Reported 99% accuracy and 98% time saving
- Adoption across 40% of the top 20 accounting firms
Adoption by large firms implies it survived rigorous evaluation
Accuracy claims carry liability and warrant firm-level verification
Onesta
3.5Free
vs H&R Block−0.3
Ask OnestaBot a finance question and get an answer, then search a database of financial advisors verified against their actual SEC registration data - not just self-reported credentials.
- OnestaBot AI assistant for finance, investing, budgeting, and tax questions
- Financial advisor search filtered by fee-only, fiduciary, and credential status
- SEC registration data (Form ADV) processing for advisor background checks
Advisor verification is grounded in actual SEC filing data, not self-reported claims
Free tier capped at just 10 questions per month
PortfolioPilot
4.3Not listed
vs H&R Block+0.5
SEC-registered AI investing coach from Global Predictions that tracks net worth, taxes and retirement planning, with a free tier and three paid subscription levels.
- AI chat assistant for investing, tax and planning questions grounded in current data
- Continuous tax-loss-harvesting and hidden-fee detection
- Unlimited-account net worth tracking across 401k, brokerage, crypto and real estate
A real SEC-registered adviser rather than an unregulated calculator
Full AI assistant access and most planning tools require a Gold plan or higher
Smart Clerk
3.9$29/mo
vs H&R Block$36 less+0.1
Reads bank statements in any format and produces a P&L and balance sheet from them.
- Live feeds from 10,000-plus US and Canadian banks
- Statements accepted in any format, language or country
- AI transaction categorisation that learns
Handles statements from banks outside the integration list
The 99 percent accuracy figure is the vendor's own
Jupid
4.0Free
vs H&R Block+0.2
Bookkeeping over WhatsApp with CPA-reviewed tax filing and an MCP server.
- AI bookkeeper over WhatsApp and iMessage
- Plaid, Stripe and Deel bank integrations
- Vendor memory and transaction learning
Messaging is the interface freelancers will actually answer
Plan rates are not published beyond the free tier
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is H&R Block free?
H&R Block has a free plan, and paid plans start from $65/mo.
What is the best free alternative to H&R Block?
Jupid is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.0 out of 5). Other free options: Ledger IQ, Smart Clerk, Onesta.
What is the cheapest alternative to H&R Block?
Among paid plans, Smart Clerk has the lowest starting price (from $29/mo). If you need it free, start with Jupid.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.