Choosing tax software as a student or freelancer in the USA comes down to pricing, support for 1099/self-employment income, free filing options, and ease of use. Students usually need low-cost or free filing with education credit support, while freelancers need Schedule C, expense tracking, and estimated tax tools.
Best overall
Why choose it:
one of the most beginner-friendly tax platforms in the USA. It works especially well for freelancers with 1099 income, side hustles, and deductions, though it is usually more expensive than competitors.
Best budget option
Best for users who want lower pricing than TurboTax plus access to tax professionals or office support.
Best for freelancers needing premium features
This version is more suitable for freelancers, gig workers, and side hustlers than basic student filers.
Best premium desktop option
Desktop users may prefer this if they want offline filing plus more advanced tax handling.
Best simple paid option
| Feature | Intuit TurboTax Business 2024 Email Delivery Federal Return | H&R Block 2024 Deluxe + State Tax Software | H&R Block Tax Software Premium 2025 | TurboTax Premier Desktop Edition 2025 Federal & State Tax Re | Intuit TurboTax Deluxe Federal Tax Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Freelancers | Students + freelancers | Self-employed | Advanced tax needs | Simple returns |
| Ease of use | Excellent | Very good | Very good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Self-employment support | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Basic |
| Price level | High | Medium | Medium-High | High | Medium |
Final recommendation:
- Students: H&R Block Deluxe or TurboTax Deluxe
- Freelancers: TurboTax Business or H&R Block Premium
- Advanced users: TurboTax Premier Desktop