AvalaravsH&R Block Self-Employed
Unbiased side-by-side comparison of verified reviews, user ratings, features, and pros/cons to help you decide which software fits your business needs.
Quick answer: Avalara vs H&R Block Self-Employed
In our 2026 comparison of Avalara and H&R Block Self-Employed, H&R Block Self-Employed comes out ahead overall (weighted score 91% vs 12% for Avalara). H&R Block Self-Employed is rated 4.5/5 from 113 user reviews. H&R Block Self-Employed starts at $4.99/month.
Last updated
| At a glance | Avalara | H&R Block Self-Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Tax Preparation | Tax Preparation |
| User rating | No reviews yet | 4.5/5 (113 reviews) |
| Starting price | Not listed | $4.99/mo |
| Listed features | — | 13 |
| Integrations | — | 5 |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Ease of use | — | 4.5/5 |
| Customer support | — | 4.5/5 |
Avalara
Starting Price
Contact Vendor
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
No pros extractedCons
No cons extracted
H&R Block Self-Employed
Starting Price
Paid
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- CNET's top-rated tax software for 2026, praised for striking the best balance between price, ease of use, and depth of features for self-employed filers with 1099-NEC income and business deductions .
- Allows you to snap photos of 1099-NEC forms with your phone and upload them directly—huge time-saver for freelancers juggling multiple 1099s from various clients .
- Paid DIY tiers (including Self-Employed) include unlimited access to tax experts (CPAs, enrolled agents, or trained associates) via chat or video at no additional cost—blurring the line between software and professional preparation .
Cons
- More expensive than competitors like TaxSlayer—Self-Employed tier costs approximately 85–130 for federal returns plus 37–49 per state, though still cheaper than TurboTax Self-Employed .
- Not all H&R Block tax professionals are CPAs or enrolled agents; many are seasonal employees who completed a 40–81 hour training course rather than a four-year accounting degree or CPA exam .
- Constant nudges to upgrade to higher tiers can be annoying and disruptive during the filing process, even when you're already on the Self-Employed plan .
Product Overview
What each platform does and who it's for
Primary Category
The main classification for each product
Editorial Quality Rating
Independent expert panel ratings and quality validations
Avalara
Expert Score
H&R Block Self-Employed
Expert Score
Integration Ecosystem
Compare supported third-party apps and services
Avalara Integrations
No top integrations listed
H&R Block Self-Employed Integrations
Platform Support
Supported platforms across each product
Avalara
H&R Block Self-Employed
Sentiment & Feedback
Real-world pros and cons from verified users
Avalara Feedback
User sentiment analysis
H&R Block Self-Employed Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- CNET's top-rated tax software for 2026, praised for striking the best balance between price, ease of use, and depth of features for self-employed filers with 1099-NEC income and business deductions .
- Allows you to snap photos of 1099-NEC forms with your phone and upload them directly—huge time-saver for freelancers juggling multiple 1099s from various clients .
- Paid DIY tiers (including Self-Employed) include unlimited access to tax experts (CPAs, enrolled agents, or trained associates) via chat or video at no additional cost—blurring the line between software and professional preparation .
- Unique nationwide network of approximately 9,000 physical offices means you can start online and escalate to in-person help if your situation gets complicated—no other major tax software offers this at scale .
- More expensive than competitors like TaxSlayer—Self-Employed tier costs approximately 85–130 for federal returns plus 37–49 per state, though still cheaper than TurboTax Self-Employed .
- Not all H&R Block tax professionals are CPAs or enrolled agents; many are seasonal employees who completed a 40–81 hour training course rather than a four-year accounting degree or CPA exam .
- Constant nudges to upgrade to higher tiers can be annoying and disruptive during the filing process, even when you're already on the Self-Employed plan .
Feature Comparison
Detailed side-by-side capability checklist
Avalara
0/13 features
- Easy navigation
- Navigation
- Expert help available
- User-friendly interface
- Interview-style process
- AI-powered invoice creation
- Accounting
- Create invoices
- Customizable invoices
- Invoice generation
- Quick invoice generation
- Tax Preparation
- Financial Reporting
H&R Block Self-Employed
13/13 features
- Easy navigation
- Navigation
- Expert help available
- User-friendly interface
- Interview-style process
- AI-powered invoice creation
- Accounting
- Create invoices
- Customizable invoices
- Invoice generation
- Quick invoice generation
- Tax Preparation
- Financial Reporting
Pricing & Plans
Compare plans, features, and starting points side-by-side
Avalara Pricing
SUBSCRIPTIONH&R Block Self-Employed Pricing
PaidUnlimited bypass.
Community Intelligence
Real-time crowdsourced comparison feedback and buyer signals.
Community Matchup Voting
Real-time crowdsourced buyer signals
Community vs. Editorial Alignment
Agreement between algorithmic rating & user voting
H&R Block Self-Employed
Calculated by features, pricing, support & ratings.
Awaiting Votes
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Promote Your Tool to Avalara vs H&R Block Self-Employed Buyers
Feature your software prominently in the sidebar & pricing pages of Avalara vs H&R Block Self-Employed to capture high-intent Tax Preparation evaluators.
Head-to-Head Winner Analysis
Data-backed performance comparisons across pricing, features, usability, and support
Matchup Scoreboard
At-a-glance scorecard results
Weighted Overall Scorecard
Normalized composite performance scores
Smart Recommendation Matrix
Head-to-head decision matrix based on your business workflow
- Teams evaluating Avalara for their primary Tax Preparation workflow
- Organizations looking for a reliable, verified Tax Preparation solution
- Users wanting a streamlined, user-friendly workspace interface
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
- Buyers relying on extensive peer validation and battle-tested industry adoption
Avalara
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Avalara is a runner-up with a composite score of 12%.
Pricing: SUBSCRIPTION (No Free Trial), a less accessible entry point than the leader.
Offers 0 features (fewer than the category leader).
No data available for this product on this dimension yet.
No data available for this product on this dimension yet.
Tied on platform availability (1 Platform: Web).
H&R Block Self-Employed
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
H&R Block Self-Employed wins overall with a weighted score of 91% based on user rating, pricing, features, usability, and support.
H&R Block Self-Employed has the most accessible pricing ($4.99/mo (No Free Trial)).
H&R Block Self-Employed lists the most features (13 features).
Not enough data on the other product(s) to rank this dimension fairly.
Not enough data on the other product(s) to rank this dimension fairly.
Tied on platform availability (1 Platform: Web).
Final Verdict:H&R Block Self-Employed
H&R Block Self-Employed scores higher across 3 of 11 key dimensions with a 79-point lead in our weighted analysis.
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Frequently asked questions: Avalara vs H&R Block Self-Employed
Which is better: Avalara or H&R Block Self-Employed?
H&R Block Self-Employed scores higher across 3 of 11 key dimensions with a 79-point lead in our weighted analysis. The best choice still depends on your team's workflow, budget and required integrations — use the side-by-side sections above to check the details that matter to you.
How do users rate Avalara and H&R Block Self-Employed?
H&R Block Self-Employed is rated 4.5/5 from 113 user reviews. Ratings come from approved user reviews on SoftwareHope.
How much do Avalara and H&R Block Self-Employed cost?
H&R Block Self-Employed starts at $4.99/month. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site, as plans change.
Which platforms do Avalara and H&R Block Self-Employed support?
Avalara supports Web; H&R Block Self-Employed supports Web.
Most Helpful Reviews
Community-voted helpful feedback from verified users
H&R Block Self-Employed collaboration productivity hub maintains platform
Using H&R Block Self-Employed saved our team significant time every week. The features run smoothly without lag or complicated setup steps.
Highly reliable software with great performance. Essential tool for professionals looking for efficiency and clean organization.
H&R Block Self-Employed analytics tracking manager optimizes performance
Highly reliable software with great performance. Essential tool for professionals looking for efficiency and clean organization.
H&R Block Self-Employed real-time processing engine ensures real
Using H&R Block Self-Employed saved our team significant time every week. The features run smoothly without lag or complicated setup steps.
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