# PlanFocus vs Alphatax

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.

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

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

## The numbers

| Metric | PlanFocus | Alphatax |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planfocus/id1239539738/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 57 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association America](https://appshunter.io/developer/341447600) | [DataDigg](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447829224) |

## What reviewers say

### PlanFocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planfocus/id1239539738)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Alphatax

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphatax/id6737890059)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AlphaTax Pro Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| AlphaTax Pro | $199.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*