Drake Tax vs ProSeries Tax
Drake Software publishes package prices, says e-filing costs nothing extra and includes all states. ProSeries is Intuit's forms-based package, bought as a licence fee plus per-return charges or bundles, with no amounts on the page we read. Drake's pay-per-return package starts at $379.99 for 10 individual returns. Only ProSeries has optional Intuit hosting, whereas Drake's cloud product is the separate Drake Tax Online.
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Choose Drake Tax ifyou prepare returns for clients, want prices visible on the web, and want e-filing and every state covered by the package.
Choose ProSeries Tax ifyou favour forms-based entry where a click opens the calculation details, and want Intuit hosting and a client portal alongside.
Drake Tax and ProSeries Tax side by side
| Drake Tax | ProSeries Tax | |
|---|---|---|
| Our tax preparation software rank | #1 of 16 | #8 of 16 |
| Established in | United States | United States |
| List price, 2 November 2026 | Pay-Per-Return: $379.99 covers 10 individual returns, then $49.99 per individual and $74.99 per business return. Pro, unlimited multi-user: $3,145 until 30 November, then $3,295 retail from 1 December. Tax year 2026. | Licence fee plus per-return charges, or bundles; no amounts on the page we read |
| Free tier | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Self-hostable | — | — |
| Built for | Small US preparer firms that want published prices and every state included | Small preparer firms that like forms-based entry and want Intuit hosting |
| Not for | Individuals filing only their own return, or anyone outside the US | Households filing alone or firms wanting cloud-first software |
Both are reviewed in full in our tax preparation software ranking: Drake Tax and ProSeries Tax.
Where they differ
Drake Tax 3 · ProSeries Tax 2 · open 0- 01
Prices on the page
Drake lists Pay-Per-Return at $379.99 for 10 individual returns, then $49.99 per extra individual return and $74.99 per business return, and Pro at $3,145 for unlimited multi-user ahead of a $3,295 retail price from 1 December. The ProSeries page we read shows no amounts. Only Drake can be budgeted without a call.
Edge: Drake Tax
- 02
State and e-file fees
Drake's FAQ states there are no additional e-filing fees and all states are included. ProSeries requires the Fast Path licence fee for pay-per-return buying, with bundles including it, but states nothing about state or e-file charges. Drake is clearer.
Edge: Drake Tax
- 03
Cloud and hosting
ProSeries says hosting is available for access from anywhere. Drake's cloud option is a separate product, Drake Tax Online, at $299.99 with the first user included and $99 per extra user, while Drake Tax itself stays on the desktop. Remote access within one ProSeries product is possible as an option.
Edge: ProSeries Tax
- 04
Trying it first
Drake's FAQ says a free trial exists. ProSeries offers a trial on tax year 2025 for new customers only; the desktop trial neither files nor prints, and the hosted trial keeps no data. Drake's trial terms were not detailed on the page we read, so the edge is small.
Edge: Drake Tax
- 05
Practice tools around the return
ProSeries bundles Intuit Sign signatures, the Intuit Link client portal, Fixed Asset Manager and Quick Employer Forms. Drake sells the Practice Essentials Bundle, with Drake Portals, Drake Workflow and Drake E-Sign, as an add-on from $599. The ProSeries base offer includes more.
Edge: ProSeries Tax
When neither fits
A very large form library, or a quote-based enterprise suite, points to Lacerte or UltraTax CS instead. Both target firms bigger than a two-person shop.
Drake Tax or ProSeries Tax: questions
3 answersDoes Drake charge extra to e-file?
Its FAQ says no additional e-filing fees, all states included. Returns beyond the package are charged individually, for individual and business returns alike.
What does Drake Tax cost for a handful of returns?
$379.99 buys 10 individual returns under Pay-Per-Return; each further individual return is $49.99 and each business return $74.99.
Does ProSeries publish prices?
Not on the page we read. It says returns are bought one by one on top of a licence fee, or in bundles, and refers you to its pricing options.
Sources
Checked 2 November 2026- Drake pricing: package prices, per-return fees, discount dates, Drake Tax Online price, Practice Essentials Bundle.
- Drake Tax product: free trial, e-filing fees, state coverage, US address.
- ProSeries overview: forms-based entry, licence fee, trial limits, hosting, Intuit Sign and Intuit Link, Fixed Asset Manager, Quick Employer Forms.