CryptoTaxCalculator (CTC) has built a well-deserved reputation for DeFi transaction detection — if your portfolio is heavily on-chain, it is genuinely one of the best tools available. But if your history is primarily exchange-based or you want to see your HMRC gain before paying anything, the alternatives below may be a better fit.
When CryptoTaxCalculator is the right choice
CTC excels when your portfolio involves significant on-chain activity: multiple DeFi protocols, unusual token types, yield farming positions, cross-chain bridges, and transaction types that simpler tools misclassify. It was built with blockchain categorisation as a core competency rather than an add-on, and this shows in edge-case handling. If you have spent significant time in DeFi and other tools have been producing obvious errors, CTC is worth the subscription cost.
When to consider an alternative
CTC's free tier requires payment to generate reports — you cannot see your full taxable gain number without committing to a plan. For investors whose history is primarily exchange-based (CSV or API imports), the DeFi depth that makes CTC distinctive is not something they are paying for. The subscription model also means an annual cost even in years where your gain is below the £3,000 allowance. And as an Australian-origin tool, UK HMRC is one supported jurisdiction among many rather than the primary design focus.
The best CTC alternatives for UK investors
Polyconomic
Try freeBuilt exclusively for UK HMRC reporting — all three matching rules are the default and only mode. The free tier shows your complete taxable gain for all tax years without payment or transaction caps, which is meaningfully different from CTC where you need a paid plan to see the report. Standard is £49/year for full reports covering all tax years. Covers Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Bybit via API, with CSV for everything else. The right tool for most UK investors with exchange-based history who do not need CTC's DeFi depth.
Best for: UK investors with primarily exchange-based history who want to see their gain before committing.
Koinly
A closer functional equivalent to CTC than Polyconomic — broad DeFi support, large exchange integration library, subscription-based. UK HMRC is well-supported. Better choice than Polyconomic if you need more DeFi coverage but prefer not to use CTC specifically. Subscription pricing is similar to CTC, with a slightly larger integration library.
Blockpit
Good if you have European assets alongside UK and want a single tool for both. CTC's multi-jurisdiction support is reasonable but Blockpit's European tax handling is more mature. If you do not have European obligations, Blockpit offers no specific advantage over other alternatives for UK-only use.
Quick comparison: top 3 options
| Feature | CryptoTaxCalculator | Polyconomic |
|---|---|---|
| Primary market | Australia/Global | UK-only |
| Free to see full gain | No — paid plan required | Yes — all years, no cap |
| Report pricing | ~£49/yr subscription | £49/yr Standard · £99/yr Pro |
| DeFi support | Excellent | Standard |
| Exchange integrations | Very broad | Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, Bybit + CSV |
| UK HMRC focus | One of many countries | UK-only |
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptoTaxCalculator the best tool for Ethereum DeFi specifically?
CTC is generally regarded as one of the best tools for complex Ethereum DeFi, with strong support for Uniswap, Aave, Compound, and many other protocols. For multi-chain DeFi (Solana, Arbitrum, Polygon), its coverage is broad but not exhaustive. Always test your specific protocols before committing.
Can I switch from CTC to Polyconomic and get the same HMRC figures?
For exchange-based history, yes — importing from the same exchange CSVs or APIs should produce the same results if the HMRC matching rules are correctly applied. For DeFi-heavy portfolios, some transaction categorisations may differ between tools. The most reliable approach is to compare the Section 104 pool balance for your main assets after importing.
Does CTC handle the HMRC 30-day bed-and-breakfasting rule correctly?
CTC implements the 30-day rule as part of its UK HMRC mode. As with all tools, edge cases matter — particularly for tokens where multiple transactions occur in close succession. Test any 30-day scenarios you know about in your history to verify the matching is correct.
What is the main reason UK investors choose Polyconomic over CTC?
The ability to see the full taxable gain for free before deciding whether to pay. For investors whose gain turns out to be below £3,000, Polyconomic charges nothing. CTC charges annually regardless of outcome.
My portfolio is split — half exchange, half DeFi. Which tool should I use?
For portfolios with significant DeFi activity alongside exchange trades, the decision depends on how complex the DeFi portion is. Standard staking and simple protocol interactions can be handled by Polyconomic. Complex multi-protocol positions, unusual token types, or frequent DeFi trading may warrant CTC or Koinly.
Are there any free CryptoTaxCalculator alternatives for UK users?
Polyconomic is free to see your complete gain calculation for all tax years. CTC, Koinly, and Blockpit all require payment to access their tax reports. If you only need to see whether you have a liability before deciding whether to file, Polyconomic's free tier gives you a complete answer rather than a preview.
Tool information accurate at time of writing.