ProConnect vs Drake vs UltraTax: Tax Software Comparison

Choosing professional tax software isn’t just about forms; it’s about the workflow your firm lives in from January to October (and beyond). Below, we compare Intuit ProConnect Tax, Drake Software, and Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS through the lens that matters most to accountants: who each one fits best, how they handle compliance and workflow, where they integrate, and what to expect in terms of pricing and deployment in 2025.

Who is each platform best for?

Cloud-leaning firms that live in QuickBooks Online Accountant will feel at home in ProConnect, which combines remote access with built-in advisory services via Intuit Tax Advisor and a seamless books-to-tax workflow. ProConnect Tax (Intuit): Cloud-first firms that want anywhere access and deep QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) workflows (trial balance → return) and built-in advisory via Intuit Tax Advisor.

Value-focused firms that prize speed and straightforward diagnostics often gravitate to Drake; its desktop workhorse now has a modern, fully web-based option in Drake Tax Online for teams that want flexibility without sacrificing the Drake engine, plus solid client tools (Portals, E-Sign, Pay).

Firms of any size that want an integrated, end-to-end compliance workflow across tax, assets, practice, documents, portals, and research typically choose UltraTax CS, which anchors the broader CS Professional Suite (data collection → prep → review → e-file → delivery), with strong multistate and review tools.

What forms and coverage can you expect?

• ProConnect: 1040 (all states) plus 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120-S, 990, 709; ~5,700 forms and ~21,000 diagnostics.

• Drake: Full individual & business coverage in desktop; DTO (online) supports 1040, 1120-S, 1065 at launch with desktop handoff for additional types.

• UltraTax CS: Full federal/state/local line: 1040, 1041, 1120/1120C/1120S, 1065, 706, 709, 990, 5500 + 200+ state/local returns; robust multistate apportionment/allocation.

  
  

How do workflow and productivity features compare?

ProConnect leans on batch e-file, K-1 package delivery, prior-year comparisons, an AI-powered client briefing, in-product IRS transcripts, Import Hub, and the Intuit Link client portal to keep work moving. Drake emphasizes fast calculations, DoubleCheck, and LookBack/LinkBacks for accuracy, as well as organizers and client letters for client-facing polish, and in-app messaging in Drake Tax Online. A new Drake Workflow hub is emerging to centralize tasks. UltraTax CS focuses on “enter once, flow everywhere” data sharing (think K-1s into 1040s), real-time calculations, pre-submission diagnostics, instant checklists, data mining to surface opportunities, four-monitor synchronized views for review, and even applies system updates without requiring a logoff, which is particularly handy when deadlines loom.

Which integrations will your staff actually use?

ProConnect integrates deeply with QuickBooks Online Accountant for trial balance adjustments and a Prep for Taxes workflow, and connects to Intuit Tax Advisor, e-signatures, Pay-by-Refund, Google Drive/Dropbox, Ignition, Karbon, and Protection Plus. Drake embeds TheTaxBook WebLibrary (with its TaxBert AI research assistant), partners with GruntWorx for scan-and-populate services, offers Protection Plus for audit/ID-theft assistance, supports multiple bank product partners, and can be cloud-hosted by Rightworks. UltraTax CS sits inside the CS ecosystem, Practice CS, Planner CS, Fixed Assets CS, GoFileRoom, NetClient CS, and Checkpoint research, and plays well with SurePrep (1040SCAN/SPbinder), TaxCaddy, SafeSend Returns, Ledgible Crypto Tax Pro, and a KBA-enabled e-signature add-on.

How do deployment and security stack up?

• ProConnect: 100% browser-based, encrypted Intuit servers; data retention change (2025): current year + previous six years (older years removed, download PDFs as needed).

• Drake: Desktop or Rightworks-hosted cloud (Tier-4 DCs, MFA); Drake Tax Online runs in modern browsers with MFA and SOC-aligned hosting.

• UltraTax CS: Desktop/on-prem with precise system specs or hosted via Virtual Office CS for secure anywhere access, automatic backups, and reduced IT overhead; Thomson Reuters Authenticator for transmissions.

What does pricing look like in 2025?

ProConnect offers pay-per-return and package tiers; recent page snapshots display discounted per-return pricing by volume, along with packages like the “Essentials 50” bundle. New for 2025, ProConnect introduces a User Access license: firms with 10 or more users pay a flat fee to unlock e-file/print, reporting, transcripts, Intuit Link, Tax Advisor, and more. Drake is known for its transparent seasonal pricing: a full-suite desktop in the mid-$2,000 range, depending on the user tier, a lower-priced 1040-only edition, and a pay-per-return option that includes a starter set of individual returns. Hosting via Rightworks incurs an additional monthly per-user charge. UltraTax CS is quote-based, reflecting user counts, jurisdictions, and the breadth of CS Suite components you deploy. (As always, confirm current promos and terms at purchase.)

(All pricing examples are page snapshots as of September 2025; confirm current promos and terms.)

Which one wins for multistate and complex review?

If multistate returns are your daily bread or you manage complex entity reviews, UltraTax CS stands out with apportionment tools, advanced diagnostics, four-monitor flexibility, and cross-return data sharing that shortens review cycles. ProConnect handles mixed books well, especially when QBOA is your source of truth and advisory is part of your engagement. Drake delivers excellent speed-per-dollar for a broad base of 1040 and small-business work, with DTO adding remote flexibility.

How is onboarding and support handled?

ProConnect offers free data conversion from various competing products, “Easy Start” onboarding, and a comprehensive education center and community. Drake offers responsive phone/email support, manuals, quick-start guides, community forums, webinars, Update Schools, and the new PowerStart program with CPE. UltraTax CS includes free onboarding assistance, extensive help content, training (including e-filing courses), community forums, and a staffed support line.

Conclusion

Choose ProConnect Tax Online if you want a fully connected, browser-based Intuit stack with no servers to maintain. QBOA for trial balance, ProConnect for prep, Intuit Tax Advisor for planning, and Intuit Link for client data collection all work together. ProConnect can handle the vast majority of returns; for the most complex edge cases, UltraTax still has the advantage. Note that data-entry automation within ProConnect is still in its early stages; currently, Juno is the only meaningful option.

Choose Drake Tax if you want a fast and affordable workhorse that still handles complex returns. For remote access, you typically rely on hosting services (e.g., RightWorks). Drake also plays nicely with leading automation tools like Soraban and Juno, keeping total costs low without sacrificing speed.

UltraTax CS is the “Ferrari” for complexity. UltraTax scales from small teams to very large firms, with a still-approachable interface, deep multistate coverage, and powerful diagnostics. Deploy on-prem or with top hosts (e.g., RightWorks). It also features the broadest automation ecosystem, including Soraban, SurePrep, Juno, Magnetic, and more.

Contact Genwise today to get expert advice tailored to your business and confidently move forward with the right platform.