TurboTax Online is perfect for business owners who need full-service tax preparation and filing, while TurboTax Desktop is the go-to option for small businesses that prefer handling their own partnership and S-corp (S Corporation) tax returns.
We’ll compare these two versions head-to-head — exploring their customer service, helpful tools, ease of use, and unique features — to help you make an informed decision. Ultimately, the choice between TurboTax Desktop vs TurboTax Online depends on personal preferences, such as whether you want access to tax experts and the desired level of convenience and control.
- TurboTax Online is best for business owners who prefer a full-service tax preparation experience with professional assistance.
- TurboTax Desktop is ideal for small businesses that want to handle their own partnership and S-corp tax filings independently.
Over a decade of tax experience has made me a small business superfan. You’ll find me on the sidelines yelling “DEFENSE” (of your deductions), and “SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT” (by April 15, please). You’ll also find me avidly ranking tax products with the zeal of a sports commentator. My goal is to help you tackle tough topics without dropping the ball.
My articles adhere to the Fit Small Business Editorial Policy—and this approach prioritizes accuracy, clarity, authority, objectivity, and accessibility. The result is practical content that is reliable, straightforward, and unbiased. Each written feature is designed to take the pain out of research so that you can focus on running your business.
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Small Business Tax Expert at Fit Small Business
TurboTax Desktop vs TurboTax Online quick comparison
Use cases and pros & cons
Pros
- Cloud access means returns can be accessed from any device with an internet connection
- Automatic updates incorporate the latest tax laws and calculations
- No installation required, and data is saved automatically
Cons
- Subscriptions require payment per return, and additional costs may apply for add-ons.
- Your tax information is stored on Intuit’s servers, which raises hacking concerns for some users
- TurboTax Online doesn’t allow users to downgrade plans if they accidentally upgrade, leaving users stuck with higher fees for services they didn’t need
Use Cases
- Small businesses seeking full-service tax preparation and filing: Regardless of whether you have a Schedule C business, a partnership, or a corporation, you have access to a tax professional who will prepare and file your taxes. This service includes two meetings via videoconference — before the process begins and right before filing the tax return. TurboTax Desktop lacks full-service filing for both individual and business returns.
- Small business owners who often work remotely: TurboTax Online is accessible via the cloud, which means that you can access it from any device. It also offers a free mobile app for both iOS and Android users, which allows you to prepare and file your tax return.
- Self-employed individuals: Freelancers, gig workers, and sole proprietors with straightforward business income and expenses can use TurboTax Online’s self-employment features without the need for the advanced functionalities of desktop software.
Pros
- Pay once and use it for multiple returns without a subscription
- Reduced security risk by storing tax data locally on your computer, not in the cloud
- No internet connection required to prepare your return
Cons
- Higher initial cost compared to TurboTax Online
- Can only be used on the device where it is installed
- Transferring data between computers can be cumbersome
Use Cases
- Corporations and partnerships that want to file their own tax returns: Unlike TurboTax Online, TurboTax Desktop allows for DIY filing for Forms 1120, 1120S, or 1065. TurboTax Online users needing to file these forms must use either its assisted filing (available only in 14 states) or full-service filing.
- Self-employed business owners that need to e-file multiple tax returns: TurboTax Desktop lets you e-file up to five federal returns and one state return for free. Priced at $130, this is especially helpful for budget-minded businesses. Additionally, there is no limit as to the number of tax returns you can prepare.
- QuickBooks users seeking to export data to TurboTax: Only TurboTax Desktop can import data from QuickBooks — TurboTax Online does not. This feature makes it easier to ensure that your financial data is accurate across all platforms.
- Small businesses looking for inexpensive DIY online filing: H&R Block’s online DIY filing options are much less expensive than TurboTax in every category, including state filing fees. Read our review of H&R Block for more information about its features and pricing.
- Businesses that want to file both their individual and business returns online: Of all the tax software we’ve reviewed, TaxAct is the only one that allows you to file both individual returns (Form 1040) and business returns (Forms 1120, 1120S, and 1065) online.
- Freelancers who need free software to file an individual return with Schedule C: If you’re looking for a solution to filing both an individual and Schedule C return online for free, FreeTaxUSA is a great option.
Pricing: TurboTax Online wins
TurboTax Online offers services that aren’t offered with TurboTax desktop, which makes it the winner in certain categories by default since there is no competition. This also makes TurboTax Online more attractive for those seeking free simple filing or expert assistance. However, TurboTax Desktop is more cost-effective for state filings, particularly for complex returns.
Live assistance: TurboTax Online wins
When it comes to live assistance, TurboTax Online excels in all areas. Compared to TurboTax Desktop, which limits communication to product support by phone, TurboTax Online allows you to communicate via phone, live chat, or one-way videoconferencing. Tax pro assistance is available for individual returns and in limited states for business returns, and it also offers full-service filing for both business and individual returns.
TurboTax Online offers superior live assistance compared to TurboTax Desktop, which only provides phone support. With TurboTax Online, you can get help via phone, live chat, or one-way video conferencing.
Tax professionals are available for individual returns and, in some states, for business returns. It also offers full-service filing for both individuals and businesses. TurboTax online edges out the competition by offering real-time collaboration and prior year return filing.
Mobile app: TurboTax Online wins
The TurboTax mobile app is only compatible with TurboTax Online, and can be used for the free version. This version is for simple returns and excludes rental property owners and Schedule C businesses. However, it allows you to prepare and e-file your return, track your IRS refund, and scan and upload your W-2. You can even communicate live with a tax specialist, who will assist you with any questions you may have. Since these options are not available using TurboTax desktop, TurboTax Online wins this category.
Customer service and ease of use: TurboTax Online wins
TurboTax Online is user-friendly, cloud-based, and requires no downloads or manual updates. Users can access their tax returns from any device and switch seamlessly between them. It offers various support options, including live chat, phone assistance, videoconferencing, and a knowledge base.
Users can also choose full-service filing, where a tax professional helps prepare and file their returns. TurboTax Desktop, however, lacks tax filing assistance, offering only free product support by phone. Users can access help and support resources directly within the software and also opt for full-service filing, in which you’re paired with a tax professional who will work with you to prepare and file your return.
TurboTax Online input screen
TurboTax Desktop has a steeper learning curve than TurboTax Online and requires installation on a single device, limiting accessibility unless transferred. While the interface is intuitive, some users may find it less convenient than the online version. It only offers free product support by phone, so those needing tax filing assistance may prefer TurboTax Online.
TurboTax Desktop input screen
TurboTax Desktop vs Online: User Reviews
Third-party review sites rarely separate TurboTax Online from TurboTax Desktop, so we relied on reviews from Intuit’s website, which distinguishes between them. TurboTax Desktop has a 4.1 out of 5 rating from 15,426 reviews. Positive reviews highlight its ease of use, while negative ones mention installation issues and program crashes. The lack of installation makes TurboTax Online a clear advantage in this regard. Some users also found the Desktop version time-consuming due to irrelevant questions.
TurboTax Online has a higher rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 264,171 reviews. Like Desktop, it is praised for being user-friendly. However, many users find it expensive and report unexpected fees. Some complaints stem from automatic plan upgrades when additional tax forms are needed. This can be frustrating since TurboTax does not allow users to downgrade, even if the upgrade was due to a mistake.
How I evaluated TurboTax Online vs TurboTax Desktop
I compared TurboTax online and TurboTax desktop based on these criteria:
- Features: I considered product characteristics such as ease of data import, navigation, refund tracking tools, and in-product support.
- Pricing: I verified the availability of free trials and confirmed pricing for varying tax prep packages.
- Technical support: Being able to access help when needed is a primary concern for users, so I assessed the ease of access to product experts via phone, email, or chat options.
- Ease of use: Particularly with DIY software, it’s important that software be easy to navigate. I reviewed how easy it is to move around the product from inception to completion of the tax return.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, TurboTax Online is cloud-based, allowing you to access your tax returns from any device with an internet connection. It also offers a free mobile iOS and Android app that gives you access to your tax return.
TurboTax Online automatically updates to the latest version, so you don’t need to manually download updates. In contrast, TurboTax Desktop gives you control over updating the software and allows you to choose whether to install updates or not.
No, you can’t switch between TurboTax Online and Desktop once you have started your tax return. It’s important to choose the version that suits your needs before you begin the process.
Yes, TurboTax Audit Defense is available as an optional service for both TurboTax Online and Desktop. It provides professional representation in case of an audit.
Bottom Line
Both TurboTax Online and Desktop offer powerful tax preparation solutions, catering to different user preferences and needs. However, TurboTax online emerges as the winner, given that it is simply a more robust product.