Koinly vs Taxfix
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Tax Software fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
59/100
Free tier
Crypto traders and investors in supported countries who need reliable, automated capital gains and income tax reports an
★ Best
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Free plan includes up to 10,000 transactions with unlimited tax reports, but only for hobby users with limited support.
Starting at $99 (tiered_fee)
Fee notes:
- Paid plans are annual only, but charged in a single payment for the year.
- Discounted packages available for professional use (e.g., accountants).
- Additional fee for multi-user or CPA-specific features.
- Some countries have tax-specific add-ons (e.g., UK property income) at extra cost.
⚠ Watch for:
- No hidden fees, but pricing is per tax year, not subscription monthly; you must pay full annual fee even if you sign up midway.
- If you exceed transaction limits, you must upgrade to a higher tier or pay for additional transaction packs (cost varies).
- International payment fees may apply depending on your bank or card.
🔧 Features
✓ Crypto Focus✓ 400 Exchanges✓ 20 Countries✓ Capital Gains✓ Tax Reports✓ Free Tier
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Auto-import from 400+ exchanges and wallets: Koinly's ability to automatically pull transaction data from a vast array of sources is its standout feature. This includes major exchanges like Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken, as well as hardware wallets like Ledger and software wallets like MetaMask. For users with a long trading history across multiple platforms, this saves dozens of hours of manual CSV export and formatting, making the initial setup significantly faster and less error-prone.
- Country-specific tax reports: Koinly generates tax reports tailored to the tax authorities of over 20 countries, including the US (IRS Form 8949/Schedule D), UK (SA108), Germany, and Australia (ATO). This is a major advantage for international users who need accurate, locally compliant reports. The software automatically applies correct cost basis methods (FIFO, LIFO, etc.) based on the country's regulations, reducing the risk of underreporting or penalties.
- Accurate handling of complex transaction types: Koinly correctly categorizes and calculates tax for various crypto events beyond simple trades, such as airdrops, hard forks, staking rewards, and mining income. This is crucial in a landscape where such activities are common and often overlooked by manual calculation. The platform also handles loans and margin trading, classifying them appropriately as income or capital gains, which is a nuanced area many competitors oversimplify.
- Tax-loss harvesting support: Koinly includes a tax-loss harvesting feature that identifies losing trades to offset capital gains, potentially reducing your tax liability. This is a valuable planning tool that sets it apart from some basic calculators, allowing users to minimize taxes legally. It also provides a clear overview of unrealized and realized gains, making it easier to strategize during the year.
- Free plan for tracking: While the free plan doesn't allow you to download tax reports, it does let you sync your transactions and view your portfolio's estimated gains and losses. This is useful for getting a high-level view of your tax situation without paying, and it can help you decide if the platform is right for you before committing to a paid plan.
⚠ Watch out for
- Cost escalates with transaction count: Koinly's pricing is based on the number of transactions, with the paid plans starting at $49/year for up to 1,000 transactions. For active traders with thousands of trades, the cost can quickly rise to $99/year (up to 10,000 transactions) or $199/year (up to 25,000 transactions). High-volume traders may find this pricing model expensive compared to some competitors that offer flat-rate subscriptions, though the automation often justifies the cost in saved time.
- Free plan lacks downloadable reports: The free plan only provides a summary of your portfolio performance; you cannot download the actual tax report forms needed for filing. This means you must upgrade to a paid plan to get your tax documents, which can be a disappointment for users who just want to estimate their taxes or have a small number of transactions.
- Manual adjustments for complex DeFi: While Koinly supports many DeFi protocols, some complex smart contract interactions—such as yield farming, liquidity provision, or multi-step swaps—may not be automatically recognized and could lead to incorrect calculations. Users may need to manually edit or categorize these transactions, which requires a learning curve and can be time-consuming. In some edge cases, the auto-import might even classify a transaction incorrectly, leading to a need for careful review.
- Limited customer support on lower tiers: Koinly's customer support is primarily via email and live chat, but live chat is only available on higher-tier plans. Free users and those on the Hobby plan may have to wait longer for email responses, and some users report slow resolution times for complex queries. The knowledge base is extensive, but if you're stuck, the premium support might feel like an additional cost to consider.
🎯 Best for
Crypto traders and investors in supported countries who need reliable, automated capital gains and income tax reports and want to import data from many exchanges without manual entry.
🚫 Who should skip
Users who only trade on centralized exchanges with simple buy/sell activity and want a completely free tax report, or those needing tax-loss harvesting optimization and investment advice.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — import data, review flagged transactions, and generate reports; the interface is straightforward, though understanding tax rules and fixing every invalid transaction may take time.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Koinly is a robust, user-friendly crypto tax calculator that excels at automation and international tax compliance. It's ideal for traders with multiple exchanges who want to save time and are willing to pay for ready-to-file reports. However, if you're a high-volume DeFi user or on a tight budget,
36/100
Free tier
German employees who want to file their annual tax return quickly and easily from their phone without understanding tax
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Taxfix offers a free check / preliminary assessment via the app, but full submission requires payment.
Starting at $40 (flat_fee)
Fee notes:
- Basic plan: €34.99 per tax year (approx $39.99 USD).
- Self-employed plan: €149.99 per tax year (approx $170 USD).
- Prices are charged once per tax season, covering one tax return.
- No extra charges for state (Bundesland) fees – included in plan.
⚠ Watch for:
- Additional services may incur extra fees (e.g., help with tax debt).
- If you purchase after the deadline, late-filing penalties may apply.
- Limited support if your tax situation is extremely complex – you may need a real tax advisor.
- No free plan for actual filing; free version only lets you see an estimate.
🔧 Features
✓ Mobile App✓ Chat Interface✓ German Focus✓ Employee Tax✓ Auto Refund Calc✓ Free Tier
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Chat-based interface: The conversational flow breaks down the tax form into manageable, everyday language questions. It feels like texting a tax advisor. This is particularly valuable for expats and first-time filers who are unfamiliar with German tax jargon. You don't need to know which form to fill or what a 'Anlage N' is; Taxfix asks you directly about your work expenses, such as commuting costs or work equipment.
- Automatic refund calculation: As you progress through the interview, the app calculates your refund estimate in real-time. This gives immediate feedback and encourages you to continue. For example, if you enter your commuting distance, you see the refund update instantly. This feature is accurate for simple cases, making it a strong motivator for users who might otherwise procrastinate.
- Purpose-built for German employees: Unlike generic tax software, Taxfix is specifically designed for the German tax system. It understands all the common allowances, such as the 1,000-euro Werbungskostenpauschale, and automatically applies them. It also handles special cases like home office deductions and retirement contributions. This local expertise ensures you don't miss out on potential savings.
- Mobile-first convenience: You can complete your entire tax return on your phone, even while commuting or waiting in line. The app is well-optimized for small screens, with large buttons and clear prompts. You can also save your progress and continue later, making it flexible for busy schedules.
- User-friendly for non-native speakers: The app offers multiple language options, including English, which is a lifesaver for expats. The questions are translated accurately, and the explanations are easy to understand. This is a significant differentiator in a market where most tax software is only in German.
⚠ Watch out for
- Limited to German tax returns: Taxfix is only for residents who file German taxes. If you have tax obligations in another country, you can't use it. Even if you live in Germany but also own property abroad, the app may not handle that complexity. For non-residents, it's completely useless.
- Self-employed coverage is immature: While Taxfix now supports self-employed users, the features are basic. It asks for your business income and expenses but lacks the depth needed for proper bookkeeping. There's no inventory management, no depreciation schedules, and no handling of VAT (Umsatzsteuer) in detail. Freelancers with simple incomes might manage, but those with more complex businesses will be frustrated.
- No web or desktop version: Being mobile-only can be a drawback. Typing long descriptions of work-related expenses on a phone is tedious. Reviewing your full tax return on a small screen is also harder. Some users prefer the comfort of a big computer screen and a physical keyboard. If you don't like mobile typing, this is a deal-breaker.
- Limited to certain income types: Taxfix is best for straightforward employee income. If you have rental income, capital gains, or foreign income, you might find the app inadequate. It does have sections for some of these, but they are not as comprehensive as dedicated tax software. For complex portfolios, you'll likely need professional advice or a more robust tool.
- Pricing can be confusing: The subscription model charges $39.99 per month, but you only pay after submitting. This might be unclear upfront. Also, if you have multiple tax years to file, you'll pay per return. There's no free tier for simple returns, unlike some competitors. This may feel expensive for a basic filing.
🎯 Best for
German employees who want to file their annual tax return quickly and easily from their phone without understanding tax forms.
🚫 Who should skip
Self-employed individuals, freelancers with complex income, or people looking for a desktop/cloud solution with comprehensive tax scenarios.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the chat interface guides you step by step, so even a first-time filer can complete a return in under 30 minutes.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Taxfix is the go-to for German employees who want stress-free tax filing on their phone. Its chat interface and instant refund estimates make it a standout for first-timers and those with simple finances. However, freelancers and taxpayers with complex investments should look elsewhere, as the app's
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseKoinlyTaxfix
US Tax Filing (IRS)95—
Koinly supports US tax laws, generates IRS-compatible reports, and integrates wi
UK Tax Reporting (HMRC)92—
Koinly provides HMRC-compatible capital gains and income tax reports, including
High-Volume Exchange Auto-Import90—
With 400+ exchange integrations and API auto-import, Koinly reduces manual data
DeFi and Staking Income Reporting88—
Koinly handles staking rewards, airdrops, and DeFi income as taxable events, mak
Non-Resident Crypto Tax Reporting85—
Koinly supports tax laws for over 20 countries, making it useful for expats or f
Filing simple employee tax returns in Germany—95
The app is purpose-built for this, with a guided interview that covers all usual
Getting a quick refund estimate—90
Auto-refund calculation is a core feature, letting users see their expected refu
First-time tax filers—92
The chat-style interface removes jargon and makes the process approachable witho
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Koinly if...
- You are: Crypto traders and investors in supported countries who need reliable, automated capital gains and income tax reports an
- 👍 Auto-imports transactions from 400+ exchanges and wallets, saving hours of manual CSV work.
- 👍 Supports tax reporting for 20+ countries with country-specific forms and calculations.
- 👍 Accurately handles capital gains, income tax, and various transaction types including forks, airdrop
- 💰 From $99/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: The free plan does not include downloadable tax reports, so you must pay to actu
Choose Taxfix if...
- You are: German employees who want to file their annual tax return quickly and easily from their phone without understanding tax
- 👍 Chat-based interface makes tax filing approachable, even for people who know nothing about German ta
- 👍 Automatic calculation saves you from manual arithmetic and reduces error risks.
- 👍 Purpose-built for German employees, so it understands local deductions and allowances.
- 💰 From $39.99/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Limited to German tax returns; not useful for taxpayers outside Germany.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Koinly cost?
Koinly offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting around $49 for tax reports, with pricing depending on the number of transactions and plan tier. The exact price varies by country and transaction volume, so you'll need to check the website for current quotes.
What are the limitations of Koinly's free plan?
The free plan lets you track transactions and see preliminary totals but does not include exportable tax reports. You need a paid plan to access full capital gains and income tax reports.
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