Even though the tax agency's free pilot program is no longer available, there are other free tax filing options this season.

We compared the top free tax software options to help the do-it-yourself tax filers find the cheapest option in 2026.

CNBC Select has run more than a dozen tax software programs through their paces to find the best in a variety of categories.

Caren Weiner is the lead editor for consumer finance at Forbes Advisor. During her decades as a personal finance journalist, she has covered mutual funds, taxes, banking and health insurance ...