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Top LegalZoom Competitors & Alternatives

Advertiser Disclosure Updated: Mar 31, 2024, 6:09pm

Top LegalZoom Competitors & Alternatives (2024)

Q: Can I be my own registered agent?

You can be your own registered agent , but you must provide a physical address within the state at which you will always be available during business hours. You can also pay a registered agent service to do it for you.

Katherine HaanContributor

Katherine Haan is a small business owner with nearly two decades of experience helping other business owners increase their incomes.

Cassie BottorffEditor

Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.

Katherine Haan,

Katherine HaanContributor

Katherine Haan is a small business owner with nearly two decades of experience helping other business owners increase their incomes.

Cassie Bottorff

Cassie BottorffEditor

Contributor, Editor

Brette Sember, J.D.contributor

Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that include estates, probate, finance, business, bankruptcy and more. Her website is www.BretteSember.com.

Reviewed

Brette Sember, J.D.

Brette Sember, J.D.contributor

contributor

Reviewed

Updated: Mar 31, 2024, 6:09pm

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

LegalZoom is one of the most popular online legal service providers, but it isn’t for everyone. While people flock to it for its convenience, excellent customer service and low cost, its add-ons can get pricey and the upsells are relentless. LegalZoom competitors provide similar services at a comparable price, with some even offering money-back guarantees. If you’re considering using an online legal service but aren’t sure about LegalZoom, read Forbes Advisor’s rundown of the best LegalZoom competitors.

Best Of

Featured Partners

ZenBusiness

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

ZenBusiness

On ZenBusiness’ Website

LegalZoom

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

LegalZoom

On LegalZoom’s Website

Northwest Registered Agent

$39 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

Northwest Registered Agent

On Northwest Registered Agent’s Website

Show Summary

The Best LegalZoom Competitors and Alternatives of 2024

ZenBusiness: Best for accuracy guarantees
Northwest Registered Agent: Best for customer support
Rocket Lawyer: Best for legal advice
Swyft Filings: Best for fast filings
Filenow: Best for a free registered agent
BetterLegal: Best for no upsells
Inc Authority: Best for free business formation
Bizee: Best for corporate reports

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Small Business

The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

We reviewed online legal service providers using an impartial scoring methodology to help you find the eight best LegalZoom alternatives. Our ratings consider factors that include service and support, customer reviews, pricing and general features such as online document access, mobile app availability and more. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Best for Accuracy Guarantees

ZenBusiness

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

On ZenBusiness' Website

Yes

Editor's Take

ZenBusiness is one of the newest online legal service providers, but it has quickly become a favorite among customers for its low-cost, high-quality services. ZenBusiness has a penchant for accuracy; if you use it to form your LLC or corporation and it makes a mistake on your filing, reach out and it will be sure to fix the errors before filing is completed. It also prides itself on its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

LegalZoom also provides a guarantee if you’re not satisfied, and states you have 60 days of purchase to request a refund.

Learn more: Read our ZenBusiness review.

Who should use it:

ZenBusiness is a great option for anyone who wants the peace of mind of an accuracy guarantee.

Pros & Cons

Varied extra features
Registered agent services available
Fast turnaround

Limited website builder
Expensive EIN service

Best for Customer Support

Northwest Registered Agent

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

On Northwest's Website

Yes

Editor's Take

With its Corporate Guides, Northwest Registered Agent goes beyond to provide excellent customer support. These guides are designed to help you understand the process of forming a corporation or LLC in your state, and they’re full of useful information, whether you’re a first-time filer or an experienced business owner. They’re business experts, many of whom have professional designations and licenses, such as lawyers, paralegals, accountants and entrepreneurs.

Learn more: Read our Northwest Registered Agent review.

Who should use it:

Anyone who wants comprehensive customer support should consider using Northwest Registered Agent.

Pros & Cons

Great customer service
Commitment to transparency
Protects privacy

Extra features are pricey
Not BBB accredited

Best for Legal Advice

Rocket Lawyer

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

On Rocket Lawyer's Website

Yes

Editor's Take

Rocket Lawyer is one of the most popular online legal services providers, and for good reason. In addition to offering LLC and corporation formation packages, Rocket Lawyer provides access to a network of attorneys who can give you legal advice on a variety of topics via phone, email or chat. If you need to hire an attorney, it offers a discount to do so. Rocket Lawyer stands behind its work—so much so that if a document it creates for you is found to not be legally enforceable, you will receive $10,000.

LegalZoom offers legal advice, too, through its network of attorneys that you must pay around $240 per year to access.

Learn more: Read our Rocket Lawyer review.

Who should use it:

Anyone who needs legal advice in addition to formation services would benefit from using Rocket Lawyer.

Pros & Cons

Great customer reviews
Direct lawyer contact
30-day money-back guarantee

Free trial requires credit card information
More expensive for non-members

Best for Fast Filings

Swyft Filings

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

On Swyft Filings' Website

Yes

Editor's Take

Swyft Filings is one of the fastest online legal service providers. In as little as ten minutes, you can process your online application, and some people get their business formed within 24 hours. While speed is its main selling point, Swyft Filings doesn’t sacrifice quality for speed. All of its formation packages come with a money-back guarantee, and it offers registered agent services in all 50 states.

With LegalZoom, you have to pay for the Premium package to get your business filed with the assistance of an attorney. This costs $299.

Learn more: Read our Swyft Filings review.

Who should use it:

Anyone who needs to form their LLC or corporation quickly would benefit from using Swyft Filings.

Pros & Cons

À la carte pricing
Fast turnaround
Most services have reasonable prices

Expensive registered agent service
Some upsells

Best for a Free Registered Agent

Filenow

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

Read Forbes' Review

Yes

Editor's Take

Filenow is one of the few on this list of online legal service providers that offers free registered agent service for the first year. This can save you up to $120 over the course of a year, which is significant if you’re on a tight budget. However, this is only available with its Premium package, which is on the higher end—double-check you’re actually saving money if you’re picking Filenow for its free registered agent for the first year.

Compared to LegalZoom, which charges $249 per year for a registered agent service, you’re saving money. The $249 cost is somewhat higher than most services with its competition.

Learn more: Read our full Filenow review.

Who should use it:

Filenow is a great option for anyone who wants to save money on registered agent services during the first year.

Pros & Cons

Money-back guarantee
Free EIN and year of registered agent service with
Premium option
24-hour order processing

Services generally more expensive than other alternatives
No direct lawyer access

Best for No Upsells

BetterLegal

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

On BetterLegal's Website

Yes

Editor's Take

BetterLegal is one of the few online legal service providers that doesn’t try to upsell you on unnecessary services or add-ons—something LegalZoom is notorious for. This can be a refreshing change if you’re used to being constantly bombarded with upsells and cross-sells. You’ll get your documents within two business days, and filing only takes five to ten minutes. One of the most notorious complaints about LegalZoom is its constant upsells, so if that’s what you want to avoid, choose BetterLegal.

Learn more: Read our full BetterLegal review.

Who should use it:

Anyone who wants to avoid being upsold would benefit from using BetterLegal.

Pros & Cons

No upselling
Great customer reviews
Transparent pricing

Expensive for full formation
No free trial or refunds

Best for Free Business Formation

Inc Authority

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

On inc Authority's Website

Yes

Editor's Take

Inc Authority is one of the few online legal service providers that offers free LLC and corporation formation. This can be a great option if you’re on a tight budget and don’t need any extras, such as registered agent service or a business bank account. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay state filing fees no matter which provider you go with. Compared to LegalZoom, you’re saving at least $79 to form an LLC.

Learn more: Read our Inc Authority review.

Who should use it:

Anyone who wants to form their LLC or corporation for free would benefit from using Inc Authority.

Pros & Cons

Free year of registered agent service
Available discounts for every package
Free LLC formation

Expensive for priority filing
Frequent upsells

Best for Corporate Reports

Bizee

Registered Agent Add-On

Yes

Online Document Access

Yes

On Bizee's Website

Yes

Editor's Take

Whether you need to file corporate annual reports or your annual LLC paperwork, you can do that with Incfile. This is a great option if you want to keep all of your business’s legal documents in one place. LegalZoom also offers this, but at a cheaper rate compared to Incfile. Other services include registered agent services, foreign qualification, amendments and free tax consultation.

Learn more: Read our full Incfile review.

Who should use it:

Anyone who wants to file their annual corporate reports or LLC paperwork would benefit from using Incfile.

Pros & Cons

Affordable
Fast turnaround
Easy-to-use design

No legal form builder
Complaints about customer support

Forbes Advisor Ratings

Company	Forbes Advisor Rating	Best For	Registered Agent Add-On	Online Document Access	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text
ZenBusiness	4.9	Best for Accuracy Guarantees	Yes	Yes	Learn More	On ZenBusiness' Website
Northwest Registered Agent	4.7	Best for Customer Support	Yes	Yes	Learn More	On Northwest's Website
Rocket Lawyer	4.5	Best for Legal Advice	Yes	Yes	Learn More	On Rocket Lawyer's Website
Swyft Filings	4.4	Best for Fast Filings	Yes	Yes	Learn More	On Swyft Filings' Website
Filenow	4.2	Best for a Free Registered Agent	Yes	Yes	Learn More	Read Forbes' Review
BetterLegal	4.1	Best for No Upsells	Yes	Yes	Learn More	On BetterLegal's Website
Inc Authority	4.0	Best for Free Business Formation	Yes	Yes	Learn More	On Inc Authority's Website
Bizee	3.8	Best for Corporate Reports	Yes	Yes	Learn More	On Bizee's Website

Methodology

To determine the best alternatives to LegalZoom, Forbes Advisor looked at 14 factors including price, value-added features, customer support, ease of use, online document access and whether the company offers free business formation. We also considered a company’s reputation and customer reviews.

We assigned weighted scores to each of these factors and then tallied up the totals to come up with our final ranking. Each of the companies on our list offers a variety of services, so we’ve included a brief description of each one to help you choose the best provider for your needs. Here are some of the categories we used to rank the providers that made the top of the list:

Pricing

For pricing, we considered whether a legal provider offers a free trial and/or a free version of its online services as well as the affordability of its lowest and highest price tiers. This accounted for 25% of our weighted scoring.

General Features

While many of the features offered by legal services were constant among all of them, not all are available universally. The features we looked for include business name availability search capability, online document access, the availability of articles of organization, whether a registered agent add-on was included, and whether the company offers additional legal services such as trademarks. We weighted these features at 25% of our total score.

Customer Reviews

We researched reviews from real users to examine their opinion of each legal service. This entailed ranking both the overall score from customers and the number of reviews for these scores to give the fullest picture of reality and reduce bias. We analyzed reviews from sites such as the BBB, Trustpilot and G2 to account for 20% of the total score.

Expert Analysis

Finally, based on our market research and the categories listed above, we ranked additional criteria from customer reviews such as value for the money, popularity, ease of use and the quality of the features offered by the legal service. Together, these criteria make up 30% of the total score.

Featured Partners

ZenBusiness

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

ZenBusiness

On ZenBusiness' Website

LegalZoom

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

LegalZoom

On LegalZoom's Website

Northwest Registered Agent

$39 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

Northwest Registered Agent

On Northwest Registered Agent's Website

How To Choose an Online Legal Solutions Company

When it comes to legal services, you want a provider that’s going to be there for you when you need it. Here are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing an online legal solutions company:

Customer support: Does the company offer customer support? If so, what hours is it available? Will you speak to a live person or have to go through a phone tree?
Ease of use: Is the company’s website easy to navigate? Can you find what you’re looking for easily?
Online document access: Can you access your documents online? Are there storage limits?
Free business formation: Does the company offer free LLC or corporation formation? If not, what are its fees on top of the state filing fee?
Registered agent service: This service is required in most states if you want to form an LLC or corporation. You can be your own registered agent or hire one.

These are just a few of the factors you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing an online legal solutions company. Take your time and compare different providers to find the one that’s right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I be my own registered agent?

You can be your own registered agent, but you must provide a physical address within the state at which you will always be available during business hours. You can also pay a registered agent service to do it for you.

Is LegalZoom a trusted site?

LegalZoom is a trusted site. It provides a variety of legal services, including LLC formation, trademark registration and wills.

What is the best online legal service?

This depends on the needs of your business, as what works for one business might not work for another. However, if you’d like to see a comparison, you can check out Forbes Advisor’s analysis and ranking in our guide to the best online legal services.

Why should I subscribe to an online legal company?

If you’re a small business that’s just getting started, subscribing to an online legal service is a budget-friendly way to launch your business legally while having access to attorneys for additional business support. Often, it’s more affordable and just as effective to sign up for a legal service membership program than to work directly with an independent business attorney.

Next Up In Business

Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

Katherine Haan

Contributor

Katherine Haan is a small business owner with nearly two decades of experience helping other business owners increase their incomes.

Cassie Bottorff

Editor

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