FastnEasyTax vs TurboTax Canada 2026

An honest, side-by-side comparison of Canada’s two most popular online tax filing options — so you can choose with confidence.

Choosing the Right Canadian Tax Software in 2025

When it comes to filing your Canadian income tax return online, two names come up most often: TurboTax and FastnEasyTax. Both are NETFILE-certified by the Canada Revenue Agency. Both let you file electronically and get your refund in about 10 business days. But beyond those basics, they differ in meaningful ways — price, complexity, target user, and philosophy.

This page gives you an honest, feature-by-feature comparison to help you decide which platform is right for your situation. We’ll cover pricing, ease of use, supported tax situations, support options, and value for money.

Spoiler: if you’re filing a personal income tax return without self-employment income, FastnEasyTax is the simpler, more affordable choice for the vast majority of Canadians.

At a Glance: FastnEasyTax vs TurboTax Canada

Pricing: The Biggest Difference

Let’s talk about money — because the price difference between FastnEasyTax and TurboTax Canada is significant.

FastnEasyTax Pricing

• Single personal return: $12.99 flat (all income types supported except self-employment)
• Family return (two adults): $19.99 flat
• Free: If your total income is under $20,000
• No upsells, no add-ons, no ‘plus’ tiers

TurboTax Canada Pricing (2025)

• TurboTax Free: $0 (very simple returns only — limited credits, no investment income)
• TurboTax Standard: ~$20.99 (covers most personal returns)
• TurboTax Premier: ~$34.99 (adds investments, rental income)
• TurboTax Self-Employed: ~$49.99 (adds self-employment income)
• TurboTax Assist & Review: Add $49.99 for a live expert review

For a typical Canadian personal return with employment income, RRSPs, and maybe some investments, FastnEasyTax at $12.99 versus TurboTax Standard at $20.99 represents a 38% savings — and you avoid the upsell prompts that TurboTax is known for showing throughout the filing process.

For a couple filing together, FastnEasyTax charges $19.99 total. TurboTax would charge at minimum $20.99 per person — over $40 for the same two returns.

Ease of Use

FastnEasyTax is built on a philosophy of radical simplicity. The interface asks one question at a time, uses everyday language, and hides the complexity of the tax system in the background. Users consistently describe the experience as ‘surprisingly fast’ and ‘nothing like what I expected tax software to be.’

TurboTax is also easy to use and has a polished, well-designed interface. It offers a few different filing approaches (interview-style, form-based) which gives experienced users more flexibility. However, the presence of multiple product tiers, upsell prompts, and optional expert upgrades can make the experience feel less straightforward, particularly for first-time filers.

Verdict: For first-time filers, seniors, newcomers, and students, FastnEasyTax’s simpler experience is a genuine advantage. For power users who want more control over their return, TurboTax’s additional flexibility may be worth the higher price.

Supported Tax Situations

What FastnEasyTax Handles Excellently

• Employment income (T4)
• RRSP contributions and withdrawals
• Rental income (T776)
• Investment income, dividends, capital gains (T5, T3, T5008)
• Pension income, CPP, OAS (T4A, T4A(P), T4A(OAS))
• RRIF withdrawals
• Newcomer part-year returns
• Student tuition credits (T2202)
• Senior credits (Age Amount, Pension Income Amount, pension income splitting)
• Medical expenses, charitable donations, home accessibility
• Prior year returns back to 2011

What FastnEasyTax Does NOT Handle

• Self-employment / business income (T2125) — use TurboTax Self-Employed or a professional accountant
• T2 corporate returns — not in scope for either platform (requires specialized software)

What TurboTax Adds

• Self-employment income and business expenses (T2125)
• Farming income (T2042)
• Fishers (T2121)
• Live CPA review (paid add-on)

For the approximately 85% of Canadian tax filers who have personal income only (employment, pension, investments) without self-employment income, FastnEasyTax covers everything needed at a lower price.

Prior Year Filing: FastnEasyTax Has a Clear Advantage

If you need to file late or catch up on missed tax years, FastnEasyTax has been NETFILE-certified since 2011 and can file returns going back to 2011 — further back than most other online options. TurboTax’s online platform typically supports returns going back to 2017, and older years often require downloading software or visiting a H&R Block office.

For newcomers who need to file their first return, students who missed a year or two, or anyone catching up on unfiled returns, FastnEasyTax’s long certification history is a meaningful advantage.

Support and Help

FastnEasyTax offers email and ticket-based support with a commitment to responding within 24 hours. The platform has extensive help text throughout the filing experience, with explanations for each entry field in plain English.

TurboTax offers similar community forums and help articles, plus the option to add a live CPA review at checkout — useful if you have a complex situation and want a professional to review your return before submission.

Verdict: If you want a live human expert to check your work, TurboTax’s Assist & Review option (at an extra cost) is a differentiator. For most personal returns, the built-in help in FastnEasyTax is sufficient.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose FastnEasyTax if you…

• Have employment income, pension income, investments, or rental income
• Want the simplest, fastest filing experience possible
• Are a newcomer, student, or senior filing for the first time or unfamiliar with tax software
• Want a flat, all-inclusive price with no upsells
• Need to file prior year returns going back to 2011
• Are filing as a couple and want a single affordable price for both returns

Choose TurboTax if you…

• Have self-employment income or business income to report
• Want the option to have a live CPA review your return
• Prefer more hands-on control over the form-by-form filing experience

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