FreeWill vs LegalZoom Estate Planning
Last updated July 2026
FreeWill
Free online wills funded by nonprofit partnerships
Advantages
- Wills are genuinely free, no upsell
- Advance healthcare directives and financial POA also free
- Straightforward flow for simple estates
- No credit card required to start
- State-specific templates across all 50 states
Drawbacks
- No trust package (only wills, POA, healthcare directive)
- No attorney access or chat
- Nonprofit-suggestion flow can feel pushy
- Not ideal for blended families or complex estates
LegalZoom Estate Planning
Estate planning bundled with LegalZoom's broader legal services
Advantages
- Recognized brand with attorney network access via LZ Attorney Network
- Wills start at $89; trust packages at $279+
- Living trust option that FreeWill doesn't offer
- Bundles with LegalZoom's LLC, trademarks, POA products
Drawbacks
- Costs $89+ where FreeWill is free
- Attorney access requires LZ Attorney Network subscription ($40/mo)
- Aggressive upsell during checkout
- Estate planning is one of many services, less specialized flow
FreeWill and LegalZoom Estate Planning both offer online estate documents but at very different price points. FreeWill offers free wills, POA, and healthcare directives funded by charitable partnerships. LegalZoom is a paid legal generalist with wills starting at $89 and trust packages at $279+. Free-with-nonprofit-suggestions versus paid-with-brand-recognition usually decides it.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | FreeWill | LegalZoom Estate Planning |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | Will $89; Trust $279+ |
| Product Lineup | Will, POA, Healthcare Directive | Will, Trust, POA, Healthcare Directive, plus other legal services |
| Attorney Access | None | LZ Attorney Network subscription ($40+/mo) |
| State Coverage | All 50 states with state-specific templates | All 50 states |
| Document Updates | Free updates as circumstances change | One year on some packages |
| Guided Flow | Yes, general-purpose estate-planning flow | Guided but general-purpose |
| Online Notary | Not available | Available in eligible states |
| Customer Support | Email support | Phone, email, chat |
FreeWill Wins
FreeWill wins for basic wills and POAs where you don't need a trust. LegalZoom wins when you need a living trust package or want an attorney add-on.
For an adult who only needs a will and healthcare directive, FreeWill delivers the same functional outcome as LegalZoom's paid product at zero cost. The moment you need a living trust (typical trigger: estate over $2M, real estate in multiple states, or specific probate-avoidance goals), FreeWill can't help and LegalZoom's $279+ trust package becomes the entry point. For deeper trust needs, Trust & Will is still a better product than either.
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