IRS Free File vs Jackson Hewitt: what AI actually recommends
The same buying questions, run after run, to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity: the record of which of these two they name first. No opinions, no scores we invented: what the models said.
AI currently favors IRS Free File. Ahead in 1 of 1 shared category on consensus rank.
That is the latest close, not a verdict for all time. The model-by-model board below shows where they agree, where they split, and how both brands moved.
At the latest close, IRS Free File leads 1 and Jackson Hewitt leads 0 across the 1 category they both appear in.
Beyond this pairing, IRS Free File is ranked in 1 category; Jackson Hewitt is ranked in 1 category. The board below is the shared slice, where the four models place these two side by side.
The record, category by category.
Consensus rank · latest close- #7IRS Free FileNew entry at the last closespread 10PPLX#7
- #8Jackson HewittNew entry at the last closespread 9Gemini#7
On consensus rank, IRS Free File leads here, #7 to Jackson Hewitt's #8. Every model that separates the two ranks IRS Free File ahead. IRS Free File is new to the board at this close.
What the models actually said.
The ranking is the answer; these are the words behind it. Every quote is from a recorded model answer — follow the category to read it whole.
IRS Free File
IRS Free File partner software — If your 2025 AGI was $89,000 or less, start here before paying anyone: the IRS lists eight guided-software partners, though each has its own age, income, state, and return-type eligibility rules.
ChatGPT
Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt Online — Worth considering mainly when you want a hybrid of online filing and the backup of a retail preparer, but I would generally choose H&R Block first for that use case.
ChatGPT
Where the models split.
Across the 1 category IRS Free File and Jackson Hewitt share, the models line up cleanly in 0 and split in the 0 that remain.
Model by model, Perplexity is IRS Free File's strongest backer, placing it ahead in 1 of the 1; Gemini leans the other way, favoring Jackson Hewitt in 1.
- ChatGPTsplit 0-0
- Claudesplit 0-0
- Geminifavors Jackson Hewitt 1-0
- Perplexityfavors IRS Free File 1-0