TurboTax Self-Employed is purpose-built for freelancers, gig workers, and 1099 contractors. It walks you through every deduction category relevant to self-employment — vehicle use, home office, equipment, platform fees — and imports 1099s directly from Uber, Lyft, Etsy, and other major platforms. The interview-style interface makes it impossible to miss something important.
- Finds SE-specific deductions most software misses
- Imports 1099s directly from gig platforms
- Handles both Schedule C and Schedule SE automatically
- Year-round quarterly tax estimator included
- Audit support available
- More expensive than competitors
- Upsells throughout the process
- State filing costs extra
Best for: Freelancers and gig workers who want a guided, comprehensive experience and are willing to pay for quality software.
Keeper connects to your bank and credit card accounts and automatically scans your transactions for potential tax deductions throughout the year. It flags expenses you might have forgotten — software subscriptions, professional development, tools — and keeps a running tally of your deduction total. At tax time, it files your return directly.
- Automated deduction scanning is genuinely useful
- Average user saves $6,000+ in deductions
- Tax filing included in subscription
- Clean, easy-to-use mobile app
- Monthly cost adds up versus one-time filers
- Requires bank account access
Best for: Gig workers who want passive deduction tracking all year, not just at tax time.
Lili is a business checking account designed from scratch for freelancers and gig workers. Its killer feature: automatic tax buckets. Every time money comes in, Lili automatically sets aside a percentage into a tax savings bucket — so you're never caught short in April. The free tier is genuinely useful, and the Pro tier adds expense categorization and invoice tracking.
- Automatic tax bucket is excellent for gig workers
- No monthly fees on base tier
- Instant payment notifications
- Built-in expense tracking
- Easy account opening — no branch required
- Limited ATM network on free plan
- No physical checks
- Fewer integrations than traditional banks
Best for: Gig workers who want to automate tax saving and keep business finances completely separate.
Novo is a free business checking account with strong integrations — it connects to Stripe, QuickBooks, Shopify, and other tools freelancers commonly use. It also includes "Reserves," a feature that lets you create sub-accounts for taxes, savings goals, or specific projects, similar to Lili's tax bucket.
- Completely free, no hidden fees
- Excellent integration ecosystem
- Reserves feature for earmarking funds
- Physical debit card included
- No automatic tax bucket (manual setup)
- US-based only
Best for: Freelancers who use Stripe, QuickBooks, or Shopify and want seamless integration.
Stride is completely free and specifically designed for gig workers — Uber drivers, DoorDash delivery, Instacart shoppers, and anyone else who drives for work. It runs in the background and automatically detects and logs trips. At the end of the year it produces an IRS-ready mileage report. It also scans your expenses for additional deductions you might have missed.
- Completely free — no premium tier
- Automatic trip detection
- IRS-ready year-end report
- Also tracks other deductible expenses
- Works for any type of gig work
- Occasional missed trips if app is closed
- Fewer advanced features than paid options
Best for: Any gig worker who drives for work and doesn't want to pay for a mileage app.
FreshBooks is the gold standard for freelance invoicing and accounting. It handles invoices, expense tracking, time tracking, and generates the profit and loss reports you need at tax time. The interface is genuinely easy to use — most freelancers are up and running within an hour. Connects directly to your bank and categorizes transactions automatically.
- Best-in-class invoice design and sending
- Automatic expense categorization
- P&L reports ready for your accountant
- Time tracking built in
- 30-day free trial, no credit card needed
- Monthly cost is real
- Client limit on base plan
Best for: Freelancers who invoice clients regularly and want a professional, complete accounting solution.
Wave is completely free for invoicing, accounting, and expense tracking. You only pay when you use their payment processing feature. For a freelancer just starting out who doesn't want to pay for software, Wave is a serious and polished option — not a stripped-down free tier.
- Completely free accounting and invoicing
- Unlimited invoices and clients
- Clean, professional invoice templates
- Payment processing fees add up at volume
- Fewer automations than FreshBooks
- Support is limited on free plan
Best for: New freelancers who want professional invoicing without a monthly bill.