ProConnect vs Drake Tax: Pro Tax Software Pricing

Last verified 2026-10-15. Based on vendor-published facts, third-party reviews, and practitioner reports.

Verdict

Pick Drake if price per return matters most: Drake Tax 1040 is $2,445 for unlimited individual returns and Pro is $3,295 for unlimited individual and business returns, or $379.99 for 10 pay-per-return returns. Pick ProConnect if you want cloud software tied to QuickBooks Online Accountant, at $82.46 per individual return plus a $210 user license or bundles from $2,478/year.

Choose Intuit ProConnect if you are…

QuickBooks Online Accountant firms
Firms that want browser-based software with no install

Choose Drake Tax (AI SmartExtract) if you are…

Price-sensitive small and mid-size practices
Firms filing high return counts on one license

	Intuit ProConnect	Drake Tax (AI SmartExtract)
Price	Pay-per-return: $82.46/individual, $97.48/business, plus $210/user access license. Bundles from $2,478/yr (50 returns)	Pay-per-return $379.99 (10 returns); 1040 multi-user $2,445; Pro multi-user $3,295
Pricing model	Pay-per-return or annual bundles	Annual license or pay-per-return package
Free trial	—	Free trial download with sample 1040 and business returns
Best for	Firms already on QuickBooks Online Accountant	Small and mid-size practices wanting affordable pro software
Integrations	QuickBooks Online Accountant	—
Key features	Cloud 1040 and business returns, 5,700+ forms SmartReturn for low- to medium-complexity 1040s Intuit Tax Advisor planning Intuit Sign e-signatures included Unlimited 1099/W-2 filing in bundles QuickBooks Online Accountant integration Easy Start prior-year data conversion Works with AI prep tools such as Juno and Avalon	1040 and business returns, all states included Federal and state e-file 4,300+ forms and hundreds of diagnostics DoubleCheck review and LookBack prior-year comparison Client Status Manager and document manager Tax Planner AI SmartExtract (limited beta) Integrations with GruntWorx and Drake Pay
Pros	No install; works anywhere Tight QuickBooks Online integration Pay-per-return option for low volume Supported by many AI prep tools	Lower price than most pro software Free US-based support Free trial download Wide support from AI prep tools
Cons	Per-return prices are high at volume $210 per-user access license on top Price increases year to year are common Less flexible than desktop software for some users	SmartExtract is limited beta Desktop-centric for import features Annual license with no monthly plan Add-ons (hosting, payments) cost extra
Full profile	Intuit ProConnect →	Drake Tax (AI SmartExtract) →

Before you sign

Confirm the tool integrates with the tax software you file in.
Ask for the SOC 2 report and data-retention terms (IRS Pub 4557), and plan for 7216 consent.
Get per-return or credit definitions in writing. Several r/taxpros users report credit costs changing mid-contract.

Sources

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