The Real Cost of 'Free' Tax Software
Sebastian, Founder
2025-01-12
7 min read
pricing
privacy
comparison
TurboTax markets itself as "free" but here's what you're actually paying:
Hidden Costs of "Free" Tax Software
1. Your Personal Data
Free tax software companies make money by:
- Selling your financial data to marketers
- Creating detailed consumer profiles
- Targeting you with financial products
- Sharing insights with data brokers
2. Upgrade Pressure
The "free" version is intentionally limited:
- Missing common deductions
- No optimization suggestions
- Limited support
- Constant upgrade prompts
3. Lock-in Effects
Once your data is in their system:
- Hard to switch providers
- Data used for future marketing
- Dependent on their ecosystem
True Cost Comparison
| Feature | TurboTax "Free" | TurboTax Paid | TaxCheckMe AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $0 | $60-200 | $20 |
| Data Storage | Forever | Forever | Deleted |
| AI Optimization | Basic | Limited | Advanced |
| Privacy | Poor | Poor | Excellent |
| Hidden Fees | Many | Some | None |
Our Transparent Pricing
$20. That's it. No hidden fees, no data harvesting, no upgrade pressure.
You get:
- ✅ Advanced AI analysis
- ✅ Complete optimization report
- ✅ Privacy protection
- ✅ Data deletion guarantee
Stop paying with your privacy. Try honest pricing instead.