Happily -- thanks to the emergence of online tax prep tools -- filing taxes no longer has to be a grueling ordeal. Tax software can radically reduce the amount of time and energy it takes to file, and many online versions offer free and affordable options for singles, business owners and everything in between.

To help you choose the right online tax software for your unique circumstances, budget and preferences, we've compared the three best online tax services available in 2017 below.

TurboTax Online Review

For the last three years, industry experts, bloggers and individual reviewers have named TurboTax their tax software of choice. The tax preparation service wins over critics with its bright, friendly interface and plain-English instructions.

Pros: TurboTax guides filers through the process with simple questions and prompts, making the experience feel more like filling out an online dating profile than filing taxes. Throughout the process, users can contact TurboTax experts via chat to get their questions answered in real time. Filers can snap a photo of their W-2 form to input information directly into their return, and returning users can transfer relevant information from previous returns onto their 2016 form to streamline the process.

Cons: Unless you have a very basic tax situation, TurboTax is one of your priciest options. Free state and federal filing are available for 1040EZ and 1040A filers. Otherwise, packages start at $34.99 with an additional $36.99 for state returns.

At a glance:

-- Federal price: $0 to $89.99
-- State price: $0 to $36.99 per state filed.
-- Free edition: Absolute Zero. This package offers free federal and state filing for 1040EZ and 1040A filers.
-- Imports data from last year's competitor returns: Yes, H&R Block and TaxAct.
-- Imports W-2 forms: Yes.
-- Live customer support: Yes.
-- Audit support: Yes.
-- Office location: No.
-- Mobile app: Yes.

H&R Block Online Review

One of the most recognized companies in accounting, H&R Block shines when it comes to customer service. Like TurboTax, H&R Block online software features a straightforward, intuitive interface that enters data directly onto the tax form based on users' answers to simple questions. But H&R Block sets itself apart from its competitors with its unlimited live professional tax advice and free audit support.

Pros: Staffed by a huge team of tax professionals, H&R Block gives online users the option to have their return double-checked by a tax expert before e-filing for a fee. And with thousands of H&R Block locations nationwide, users can take comfort in knowing that they won't have to go far to speak to a tax expert in person.

Cons: Though less expensive than TurboTax, H&R Block is still on the pricier end of online tax preparation services.

At a glance:

-- Federal price: $0 to $54.99.
-- State price: $0 to $36.99 per state filed.
-- Free edition: The H&R Block More Zero package offers free federal and state filing for 1040EZ, 1040A and1040 with Schedule A filers.
-- Imports data from last year's competitor returns: Yes, TurboTax and TaxAct.
-- Imports W-2 forms: Yes.
-- Live customer support: Yes.
-- Audit support: Yes.
-- Office location: Yes.
-- Mobile app: Yes.

TaxAct Online Review

With packages priced well below competitors' offerings, TaxAct's main appeal is its affordability. Beyond the bargain pricing, TaxAct features a clean interface and easy-to-follow instructions.

Pros: TaxAct offers low-priced packages for self-employed individuals, freelancers, contractors and other filers with complex tax situations. The service also includes a Price Lock Guarantee, ensuring that filers pay the price listed when the return is created, no matter when filing is completed. TaxAct online software includes all the essentials, including W-2 import, on-demand support and intuitive navigation tools.

Cons: None of the three TaxAct packages included audit defense. Users have the option to purchase a membership to external company Tax Audit Defense.

At a glance:

-- Federal price: $0 to $30.
-- State price: $0 to $25 per state filed.
-- Free edition: The TaxAct free edition offers free federal and state filing for 1040EZ and 1040A filers.
-- Imports data from last year's competitor returns: Yes, TurboTax and H&R Block.
-- Imports W-2 forms: Yes.
-- Live customer support: Yes.
-- Audit support: No.
-- Office location: No.
-- Mobile app: Yes.