What each one actually does, and what it costs a representative sub-$1M seller with nexus in 5 states filing monthly. No affiliate spin — just the shape of the market.
Costs are representative annual estimates from published pricing, sized to one seller profile: under $1M in revenue, nexus in 5 states, 60 filings a year. Real quotes vary by volume, state mix, and negotiation.
| Tool | Type | Files returns? | Best fit | Representative annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NexusRadar | monitor-only | No — hands you a per-state summary | Sub-$1M Shopify / Amazon / Stripe sellers | ~$348 |
| Quaderno | calc-only | No | Sellers who want automated tax calculation | ~$1,188 |
| TaxCloud | full-service | Yes (some plans) | Budget full-service seekers | ~$2,100–2,600 |
| TaxJar | full-service | Yes (AutoFile) | Multi-state sellers wanting calc + filing | ~$4,270 |
| Numeral | full-service | Yes | Growing DTC brands (+ ~$750 first-yr registration) | ~$4,500 |
| Anrok | full-service | Yes | SaaS / digital-goods companies | ~$6,000 |
| Avalara | full-service | Yes | Enterprise / high-volume, multi-channel | $7,400+ |
Representative estimates. Quote-based vendors (notably Avalara) vary widely; NexusRadar and Quaderno list flat published prices. Figures reflect 2026 pricing where known.
The price ladder isn't really about margin — it tracks how much of the work each tool does for you. Three tiers explain almost all of it:
Monitor-only tells you where you've crossed economic nexus and what rate to collect, then leaves filing to you or your bookkeeper. That's NexusRadar, and it's why it's flat and cheap — no per-filing machinery. Calc-only computes the correct tax on each transaction but doesn't file. Full-service both calculates and files returns; that filing automation, charged per return per state, is what pushes those tools into the thousands.
So the real question isn't "which is cheapest," it's "do I want to pay for automated filing?" If you file in a handful of states and have a bookkeeper — or the returns are quick portal forms — you're often paying full-service prices for a chore you barely have. If you file across many states and want zero involvement, the automation earns its premium.
Monitors economic nexus across all states, alerts you before or when you cross a threshold, and gives the rate to collect. It doesn't file — it hands you a clean per-state summary. Built for Shopify, Amazon and Stripe sellers under $1M.
See pricing →Choose these when you need automated filing across many states, real-time checkout calculation, exemption-certificate handling, or ERP integration — and you'd rather pay to stay hands-off than manage filing yourself.
Read the Avalara comparison →Shopping to leave a specific vendor? These go into the switch math in detail.
The honest cost comparison for sellers leaving TaxJar, the monitor-only tradeoff, and who should and shouldn't switch.
Read it →For the small seller quoted enterprise pricing. Fair on where Avalara is genuinely strong, clear on where it's overkill.
Read it →What changed, when, and the four options — a plain reference before the 1 October 2026 legacy-pricing deadline.
Read it →See where you've triggered nexus before you pick a tool. Browser-only, nothing leaves the page.
Open it →