Confused about TurboTax Online vs Desktop - Which version should I choose?

I've used both versions of TurboTax over the years and can help clarify the differences. The Online version runs in your web browser, stores your data in the cloud, and lets you access your return from any device. You pay for it once per tax year. It's generally more user-friendly with a cleaner interface and works well for most tax situations including W-2s and some 1099 income. The Desktop version is software you download and install on your computer. Your data is stored locally (though you can choose to back it up). The big advantage is you can file multiple returns for the same price (great for families), and some users feel it offers more detailed forms and slightly more control over your tax data. It also works if you have spotty internet. With your situation (W-2 plus some 1099s), either version would handle your needs just fine. The online version might be more convenient if you want to work on your taxes across different devices. The desktop version might be better if you're filing for multiple family members or prefer having your data stored locally.

After being frustrated with tax season for YEARS, I finally found something that helped me understand all the differences between tax software options. I was debating between TurboTax online vs desktop too, but I kept getting conflicting advice online. What helped me was using https://taxr.ai to analyze the differences between all the tax software options. I uploaded screenshots of the pricing pages and feature comparisons, and it broke down exactly what each offered and which would be best for my specific situation (which sounds similar to yours with W-2 and some 1099 income). It saved me from making the wrong choice and potentially missing deductions. The analysis even showed me which forms were included in each version, which wasn't clear on TurboTax's site.

Just wanted to follow up on my skeptical question earlier. I actually tried https://taxr.ai to compare TurboTax online vs desktop after seeing the suggestion here. Not gonna lie, I was seriously impressed. I uploaded screenshots of both pricing pages and asked which would be better for my situation (small business owner with rental property). The analysis was way more detailed than what I found after an hour of googling. It pointed out that the desktop version would actually save me money since I file for both myself and my spouse, plus it broke down exactly which forms I'd need for my rental income that come with each version. It even highlighted a few deductions I might have missed based on the forms available. Definitely worth checking out if you're still confused about which version to pick!

If you're struggling to get clarification about TurboTax options directly from their website, you might want to try calling them. I spent HOURS trying to reach their customer service last tax season with questions about which version would handle my side hustle and rental income, but kept getting stuck in automated loops or disconnected. I finally used https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual TurboTax specialist in about 15 minutes instead of the 2+ hours I was waiting before. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The specialist walked me through exactly which version would work best for my situation and even explained some deductions I hadn't considered. Saved me a ton of frustration and probably some money too!

Need to eat my words from my comment above. After waiting on hold with TurboTax customer service for over 3 hours trying to figure out which version would support my crypto transactions (and getting disconnected TWICE), I broke down and tried that Claimyr service. I was literally connected to a TurboTax specialist in like 18 minutes. The rep was super helpful and walked me through exactly which version of TurboTax would work for my situation. Turns out I needed features from the Premier version that weren't obvious from the website descriptions. The service literally saved me hours of frustration and potentially filing with the wrong version. Sometimes admitting you're wrong feels pretty good when it saves you that much hassle!

One thing nobody mentioned yet is that the desktop version lets you look at the actual tax forms as you're working. I find this super helpful because I like to see exactly what's happening on my return. The online version hides a lot of this and makes it more like answering questions without seeing the actual forms until the end. Also the desktop version seems to have more detailed explanations for certain deductions and credits. I used online for years but switched to desktop when my taxes got more complicated with investment income and haven't looked back.

has anyone tried using the free version of turbotax online? not sure if i need to pay for deluxe or if the free version would work for my situation (just w2 income

For your situation with W-2 plus some 1099 income, I'd actually lean toward the online version. I've been filing taxes for my family for years and the online version handles 1099s really well - it walks you through everything step by step and has gotten much better at importing data directly from employers and clients. The main advantage for you would be convenience - you can work on it from anywhere, and it automatically saves your progress. Since you're not dealing with super complex stuff like rental properties or multiple businesses, you probably don't need the extra forms and control that the desktop version offers. One tip though - don't get trapped by their "free" marketing. With 1099 income, you'll likely need at least the Deluxe version ($60-80 typically) to handle the self-employment forms properly. But honestly, that's still worth it compared to paying a tax preparer hundreds of dollars for what sounds like a pretty straightforward return.