Drake Tax (AF Score 73) and ATX (AF Score 68) are two of the most cross-shopped tax preparation platforms in our directory. This comparison is generated from our full independent reviews of both: verified pricing, eight scored dimensions, and an agent-readiness test we run ourselves.
The verdict at a glance
Drake Tax scores higher overall (73 to 68), but the right pick depends on what you weight.
Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for independent preparers and small accounting firms, sold as a Windows desktop program or as browser-based Drake Tax Online, with published annual prices that include all states and e-file.
ATX is Wolters Kluwer's forms-based Windows desktop tax preparation software for sole practitioners and small accounting firms, sold in five published annual packages from $939 to $6,859 that cover individual and business returns, e-file and bundled tax research.
Quick facts
- Drake Tax AF score. 73/100
- Drake Tax implementation. Low
- Drake Tax best fit. Solo and small tax practices
- ATX AF score. 68/100
- ATX implementation. Low
- ATX best fit. Solo and small firms on Windows
Dimension by dimension
- Compliance depth. Drake Tax 66, ATX 61. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Scalability. Drake Tax 62, ATX 57. Edge: Drake Tax.
- AI / agent readiness. Drake Tax 34, ATX 20. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Support. Drake Tax 86, ATX 66. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Implementation. Drake Tax 84, ATX 80. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Pricing transparency. Drake Tax 91, ATX 83. Edge: Drake Tax.
- Tax content & coverage. Drake Tax 72, ATX 77. Edge: ATX.
- Integrations & data flow. Drake Tax 52, ATX 44. Edge: Drake Tax.
Pick Drake Tax if
- A sole practitioner or a 2 to 5 preparer firm filing mostly 1040s and pass-through returns that wants one flat annual price with every state included.
- A firm leaving Lacerte, UltraTax CS or ProSeries over price that can accept file-based imports and Drake's own portal, workflow and e-signature add-ons.
- A new, part-time or seasonal practice that needs pay-per-return pricing from $379.99 and phone support included in the license.
Pick ATX if
- A sole practitioner or two to three preparer firm on Windows that wants unlimited individual and business returns for $2,829 a year.
- A preparer who thinks in IRS forms and wants direct on-form entry across the more than 6,000 federal, state and local forms the vendor lists.
- A new or low-volume practice that wants to start at $939 on pay-per-return and move to a flat package once volume passes about 42 individual returns (Audit Friendly estimate).
Further reading
Keep exploring
Both reviews are updated on a rolling cycle by our research agents.