TaxDrop vs Ownwell (2026): Fees, Coverage and Who Each Fits

TaxDrop and Ownwell differ mainly in how you pay and who does the work. TaxDrop One is a flat $129 per property per tax year, refunded if there's no reduction. You file the appeal yourself using TaxDrop's evidence package, and it's available in parts or all of Texas, California, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey and Maryland. TaxDrop Pro is full service in 17 Texas counties at 1% of the assessment reduction. Ownwell is full service. Its local consultants file and handle hearings for 25–35% of the tax savings, depending on the state (25% in Texas), and nothing if it doesn't save you money. Choose TaxDrop One if you expect a meaningful reduction and want to keep all of it. Choose Ownwell if you want someone else to handle everything outside Texas, own property in a state TaxDrop doesn't serve, or expect only a small reduction.

Ownwell details come from ownwell.com as of September 24, 2026. TaxDrop details come from the TaxDrop pricing and state pages the same day. Check Ownwell's pricing page for your address, because its rate varies by jurisdiction.

Side-by-side comparison

Price: when each one costs less

TaxDrop One vs Ownwell. A flat $129 costs less than Ownwell's 25% once your annual tax savings go above $516, and less than a 35% rate above about $369. Below those amounts, Ownwell costs fewer dollars. TaxDrop One is refunded if there's no reduction, so the flat fee isn't a bet on the outcome.

TaxDrop Pro vs Ownwell (Texas). The two fees are measured differently. Pro charges 1% of the reduction in assessed value. Ownwell charges 25% of the tax dollars saved. They come out equal at a 4% combined tax rate. Here's an example: a $40,000 value reduction at a 2.2% rate saves $880 in tax. Pro's fee would be $400, and Ownwell's 25% would be $220. At rates under 4%, which is the case in this example, Ownwell's percentage costs less. Run your own numbers before you choose between the two full-service options.

See TaxDrop pricing.

Who does the work

• Ownwell manages the whole process. According to its FAQ, it verifies ownership, analyzes the property, files before the deadline, escalates to a formal appeal if the informal one doesn't settle, and has local consultants handle hearings. You can upload photos and documents in its portal.
• TaxDrop Pro is similar in Texas: agent registration, filing, comparable sales and equity analysis, negotiation, and presentation at the review board.
• TaxDrop One puts you in charge. TaxDrop prepares the case and the scripts, and you file and present. You decide whether to take an informal offer, and you keep the evidence file for future years.

If you don't want to attend a hearing, choose a full-service option: TaxDrop Pro in its Texas counties, or Ownwell.

Coverage: where each one works

• Only TaxDrop: New Jersey and Maryland. Ownwell's FAQ doesn't list either state for appeals.
• Only Ownwell: Washington, Illinois, New York, Colorado and Pennsylvania.
• Both: Texas, California, Georgia and Florida. Outside Texas, TaxDrop offers One (self-serve) only, and in California and Georgia only in select counties.

State pages: Texas · California · Georgia · Florida · New Jersey · Maryland

Risk of filing

Neither company charges a fee without a result. Ownwell's pricing FAQ says there's no risk to appealing in Texas, California, New York and Florida, and that in Washington and Georgia a property's taxable value can go up, so it reviews market data before filing. In New Jersey, which Ownwell doesn't serve, appeals are decided using the Chapter 123 ratio, and TaxDrop discloses that risk before you file. New Jersey also charges a county filing fee of $5–$150, depending on assessed value.

Who each one fits

Choose TaxDrop One if:

• You own in one of its covered counties and expect a reduction worth more than about $516 a year.
• You're comfortable filing and attending an informal review or hearing with a prepared packet.
• You're in New Jersey or Maryland, where Ownwell doesn't list appeals.

Choose TaxDrop Pro if:

• You're in one of its 17 Texas counties and want TaxDrop's licensed team to handle everything. Compare its fee against a savings-based fee using your own tax rate first.

Choose Ownwell if:

• You want full service outside Texas.
• You own in Washington, Illinois, New York, Colorado or Pennsylvania.
• Your likely savings are small, so a percentage costs less than $129.

Switching

If a case is already open this year, let it finish. Ownwell's FAQ says it can't take a property that already has an appeal filed for the current tax year, and the same timing applies when you move away from it. Plan the switch before next year's notices go out, using our deadlines by state. For a one-page version of this comparison, see TaxDrop One vs Ownwell. For other firms, see Ownwell alternatives by state and protest companies compared.

FAQ

Is TaxDrop cheaper than Ownwell?

It depends on your savings and which TaxDrop plan you use. TaxDrop One's $129 flat fee costs less than Ownwell's 25% once annual savings go above $516. TaxDrop Pro's 1% of the assessment reduction costs more than Ownwell's 25% of tax savings whenever your combined tax rate is below 4%.

Does TaxDrop One charge if my appeal doesn't win?

No. TaxDrop's pricing page says TaxDrop One is $129 per property per year and is refunded if there's no reduction. The analysis and savings estimate are free before you pay.

Does Ownwell go to hearings for you?

Yes. Ownwell's FAQ says its local property tax consultants handle all hearings and negotiations with the appraisal district or assessor's office on your behalf.

Which states do TaxDrop and Ownwell cover?

TaxDrop covers parts or all of Texas, California, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey and Maryland. Ownwell handles appeals in Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, New York, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

Is TaxDrop Pro available outside Texas?

No. TaxDrop Pro is Texas-only, in 17 counties. In the other five states, TaxDrop offers TaxDrop One.

Can I use both for different properties?

Yes. Each property is a separate appeal. For example, a landlord could use TaxDrop One for a New Jersey rental and Ownwell for a property in a state TaxDrop doesn't serve. See handling multiple rentals.