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Most buyers should pick TaxJar.
Choose Avalara if you need more than U.S. sales tax: its plans cover AvaTax, nexus monitoring, managed returns and exemption management, while Custom includes broader services and integrations. Choose TaxJar for a lower advertised entry price and a 30-day trial, but check its 200-order monthly cap and AutoFile credits. Avalara starts at $58.25 per state/month on annual billing; TaxJar starts at $39/month, with exact annual rates not published.
01Side by side
| Avalara | TaxJar | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $58.25/state/month, annual billing | $39/month; annual rate not published |
| Free plan | No free plan | No free plan; 30-day trial |
| Best for | Businesses needing broader tax compliance | Growing businesses automating sales tax |
| Core strength | Tax calculation, returns, cross-border compliance | Sales-tax calculations, reports, automated filing |
| Learning curve | Review ease score: 5/10 | Review ease score: 7/10 |
| Integrations and data | 1,400+ partner integrations on Custom | Up to 3 or 10 integrations by plan |
| Team and seat costs | Per state; seat pricing not published | Monthly plan; seat pricing not published |
| Support | Custom has 1-hour SLA; review score 3/10 | Phone on Professional; review score 5/10 |
Avalara Choose Avalara if
- Choose Avalara if you need multiple tax types beyond sales tax.
- Choose Avalara if you need managed returns and exemption management.
- Choose Avalara if Custom’s broader services and integrations fit.
TaxJar Choose TaxJar if
- Choose TaxJar if you want the lower advertised starting price.
- Choose TaxJar if a 30-day trial matters.
- Choose TaxJar if 200 monthly orders fit your volume.
02Pricing compared
TaxJar has the lower advertised starting price: $39/month for Starter, versus Avalara’s $58.25 per state/month for qualified sellers on annual Core Compliance + SST Services. Avalara’s annual rate is an equivalent monthly price; the plan lists $69 per state/month with monthly billing. Core Compliance is $66.58 per state/month annually or $79 monthly. The pricing units differ, so these aren’t direct equivalents.
TaxJar Starter includes 200 orders/month, up to 3 import integrations and 2 AutoFile credits/year. Professional costs $99/month, with the same order cap, up to 10 integrations and 4 credits. Extra credits cost $50 on Starter and $55 on Professional; Flex fees apply for temporary higher order volumes, but the amount isn’t published. TaxJar has a 30-day trial. Its exact annual rates aren’t published; Avalara lists no free trial.
03Features and depth
Avalara covers more than U.S. sales tax. Its listed capabilities include sales and use tax, VAT, property tax and other taxes, plus returns and reporting, exemption certificates, e-invoicing, cross-border compliance and business licensing. Core Compliance includes AvaTax across 12,000+ U.S. tax jurisdictions, nexus monitoring across all 50 states, managed returns, filing and remittance, and exemption management. The SST plan adds no-cost services in up to 25 states for qualified sellers.
TaxJar is more focused on sales tax workflows across sales channels: real-time calculations, economic nexus tracking, aggregated reports and automated return filing. It also lists AI categorization. Starter includes 2 AutoFile credits per year; Professional includes 4, so check whether those limits fit your filing needs. Avalara’s Custom plan includes its full range of products and services, multi-entity management, consolidated reporting and 1,400+ signed partner integrations. For broader tax and compliance needs, Avalara has more listed scope; for sales-tax automation, TaxJar offers a more focused package.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The published product details don’t establish which platform is easier to use, so we wouldn’t pick on that basis alone. TaxJar’s plans are easier to compare by listed limits: Starter supports up to 3 data import integrations, while Professional supports up to 10 and includes dedicated onboarding and a Customer Success Manager. Both plans list email support; Professional also lists phone support.
Avalara’s per-state pricing and wider set of tax services may take more planning to scope, particularly if you need its Custom offering for multi-entity management. Core plans include compliance support, while Custom lists dedicated support with a 1-hour response SLA. TaxJar lists guaranteed response times for email support, but does not publish the exact timing here. Confirm support terms and setup requirements before switching.
Questions people ask
Who is Avalara’s biggest competitor?
The published information doesn’t rank Avalara’s competitors, so we can’t name a definitive biggest one. TaxJar is a direct alternative for sales tax calculation, nexus tracking, reporting and filing. Avalara’s listed scope extends further into areas such as VAT, e-invoicing, cross-border compliance and business licensing.
What does TaxJar do?
TaxJar automates sales tax compliance across sales channels. Its listed features include real-time tax calculations, economic nexus tracking, aggregated reports and automated return filing. Plans also include a limited number of AutoFile credits, while Professional adds phone support, dedicated onboarding and a Customer Success Manager.
How much does Avalara cost per month?
Avalara’s listed Core Compliance price is $79 per state/month with monthly billing, or $66.58 per state/month on annual billing. Qualified sellers can get Core Compliance + SST Services for $69 per state/month monthly or $58.25 per state/month annually. Custom pricing isn’t published.
What is the best sales tax compliance software?
There’s no single best fit in the published information. TaxJar starts at $39/month and offers a 30-day trial, but its listed plans cap orders at 200/month. Avalara costs more per state, but lists wider tax coverage and compliance services. Compare your tax needs, order volume and filing limits.