Comparison

PlanFocus vs Alphatax

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PlanFocus

Manage your TIAA PlanFocus account on the go. Securely access participant information, approve or decline loans, and submit payroll. Stay informed with alerts and connect with your TIAA team.

Highlights
  • Participant information search
  • Loan approval/decline
  • Payroll remittance
  • TIAA team contact
  • Alert notifications
Features
Read full description

FOR TIAA INSTITUTIONAL CUSTOMERS AND EXISTING USERS OF TIAA PLANFOCUS - Experience your PlanFocus dashboard anytime, anywhere – right from your mobile device. Securely search and review participant information, review and approve or decline loans, remit payroll, contact your TIAA team, and receive alerts. Grow with us as we add new features and a wealth of information at your fingertips.

About

Alphatax

Features
Read full description

Introducing Alphatax : Your AI-powered tax conversation assistant! Think ChatGPT, but specifically trained for all things tax-related. FREE 3-DAY TRIAL Experience all premium features No credit card required Full access to AI tax assistant Unlimited questions during trial No auto-renewal - you decide when to subscribe! PRICING PLANS FREE TRIAL First 3 days completely FREE Full access to all features No commitment required → SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS Monthly Plan: $19/month Annual Plan: $199/year (Save 13%) No automatic renewal Cancel anytime Pay only when you choose to continue WHAT MAKES Alphatax SPECIAL? Advanced AI technology similar to ChatGPT Specialized in tax regulations and calculations Natural conversation-style interactions Real-time tax guidance Learns and adapts to your tax situation POWERFUL FEATURES AI-POWERED CONVERSATIONS Natural language processing Context-aware responses Personalized tax guidance SMART CALCULATIONS Instant tax estimates Deduction finder Refund projections PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE Remembers your tax situation Custom advice and tips Progressive learning SECURITY & RELIABILITY Bank-level encryption 24/7 availability Regular updates with latest tax information Consistent, accurate responses IMPORTANT: While Alphatax uses advanced AI to provide tax guidance, it should not replace professional tax advice for complex situations. Start your FREE 3-day trial now - no strings attached! Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PlanFocus4 screens
Alphatax4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PlanFocus at none against Alphatax's 2. Alphatax's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Alphatax sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. PlanFocus asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlanFocus ships an update every 2 months, Alphatax monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 3, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PlanFocus versus Alphatax: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlanFocusAlphatax
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTeachers Insurance and Annuity Association AmericaDataDigg

In-app purchases

None

PlanFocus

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Alphatax

Subscriptions2
  • AlphaTax Pro Monthly$19.991 Month
  • AlphaTax Pro$199.991 Year

Questions

Is PlanFocus free?
PlanFocus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Alphatax free?
Alphatax is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PlanFocus or Alphatax have ads?
Neither PlanFocus nor Alphatax shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlanFocus or Alphatax?
PlanFocus ships an update every 2 months, and Alphatax monthly. Most recently, PlanFocus was updated on June 3, 2026 and Alphatax on September 18, 2026.

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