Originally published: August 27, 2018 | Last updated: January 15, 2026
TL;DR: USLegalWills.com offers Will writing services at half the cost of LegalZoom because their prices start at $49.95 instead of $69 and they provide additional features with extended update access for one year instead of 30 days. USLegalWills.com provides users with pet trusts and lifetime interest trusts and mirror Will tools and charitable bequest options which LegalZoom does not offer. USLegalWills.com operates as the most complete estate planning system because it combines four additional tools which include MyLifeLocker and MyVault and MyMessages and MyKeyholder. LegalZoom established its major brand recognition through $800 million venture capital investments which funded its advertising efforts instead of offering an improved product. The company USLegalWills.com functions as a private business which does not require customers to sign up for automatic payments while maintaining transparency about its pricing structure.
Why Use an Online Will Service?
Only 28% of American adults have an up-to-date Will. The two main barriers are cost (estate planning attorneys charge $700-$2,000 for a simple Will) and inconvenience (requiring appointments during business hours, coordinated with a spouse). Online Will services which LegalZoom and USLegalWills.com introduced in 1999 and 2001 respectively offer solutions to these two problems.
How Do the Services Compare Overall?
| Feature | USLegalWills.com | LegalZoom |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 1999 |
| Specialization | Estate planning only | Business, IP, estate planning, and more |
| Will price | $49.95 | $69+ |
| Complete estate plan | $89.85 | $149 |
| Update period included | 1 year unlimited | 30 days |
| Updates after initial period | $14.95/year unlimited | $29.95 per change |
| Pet trusts | Included | $39 extra |
| Mirror Will tool | Yes (40% discount on 2nd Will) | No |
| Lifetime interest trusts | Yes | No |
| Charitable bequest types | Cash, percentage, or specific asset | Cash only |
| Different guardians per child | Yes | No |
| Automatic subscriptions | Never | Yes (must manually cancel) |
| Google review rating | 5 stars | Mixed reviews |
How Does Pricing Compare?
Individual Documents
| Document | USLegalWills.com | LegalZoom |
|---|---|---|
| Last Will and Testament | $49.95 | $69+ |
| Financial Power of Attorney | $29.95 | $35+ |
| Living Will | $19.95 | $39+ |
| Complete estate plan | $89.85 | $149+ |
Mirror Wills for Couples
Two-thirds of USLegalWills.com users are married or in a relationship. USLegalWills.com provides a data transfer tool which exports Will information between partners to prevent users from needing to re-enter their data. The second document receives a 40% price reduction which results in a $29.97 cost for a Will. USLegalWills.com charges $143.76 for a complete estate plan but LegalZoom demands $298 for the same service.
Ongoing Updates
USLegalWills.com customers log into their accounts an average of 3.4 times per year. Update subscription pricing at USLegalWills.com:
| Period | USLegalWills.com | LegalZoom |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $14.95 (unlimited updates, all documents) | $29.95 per change |
| 5 years | $29.95 | $29.95 per change |
| 10 years | $44.95 | $29.95 per change |
| Lifetime | $59.95 | $29.95 per change |
At USLegalWills.com, there are no automatic subscriptions and nothing to cancel. You choose when to renew.
How Does the Will-Writing Service Compare?
The USLegalWills.com website presents ten sections which users can navigate through in about thirty minutes. The five-step process at LegalZoom shows 70% of users complete their tasks within 15 minutes but it reduces their ability to customize their experience.
Alternate Beneficiary Planning
LegalZoom requires users to type their children names twice during the process because the system does not automatically fill in this information. When setting up alternate plans (e.g., if a child predeceases you), you must manually type instructions. This is error-prone. At USLegalWills.com, names are automatically carried through every relevant section, preventing typos and inconsistencies.
Trusts for Minor Beneficiaries
LegalZoom decides the fractions distributed at each age (one-third, one-half of the remainder). USLegalWills.com lets you choose the exact percentages and ages for each child individually.
Other Key Differences
- Charitable bequests: LegalZoom allows only cash sums. USLegalWills.com allows cash, a percentage of your estate, or a specific asset.
- Guardians: LegalZoom requires one guardian for all children. USLegalWills.com allows different guardians for different children.
- Pet trusts: $39 extra at LegalZoom; included free at USLegalWills.com.
What Additional Estate Planning Tools Does USLegalWills.com Offer?
USLegalWills.com specializes exclusively in estate planning. The business has developed various tools which exceed standard Will creation capabilities although LegalZoom does not provide these features.
MyLifeLocker – The Executor Handbook
Your Will tells your Executor to distribute your estate, but how does your Executor know what you own? Users can record all their bank accounts and investment holdings and online accounts and subscription services and utility payments and their personal belongings through MyLifeLocker. The Federal and State governments hold more than $58 billion in unclaimed assets which MyLifeLocker prevents from growing through estate accumulation.
MyKeyholder – Trusted Access Management
You can establish your own special system which enables you to choose who will access particular areas of your account once you pass away but these people cannot access anything before that time. Your Executor can be named as a keyholder to access your MyLifeLocker, MyVault, and other services at the appropriate time.
MyVault – Secure Digital File Storage
Your account lets you upload all types of files including personal photos and your incomplete writing and recorded sounds and spreadsheet documents for passwords so your designated keyholders can access these files after your death.
MyFuneral – Document Your Funeral Wishes
A $19.95 service that goes beyond “buried or cremated” to cover every element of your funeral preferences. Your funeral requests need to exist outside your Will because the court process which handles Wills might not finish before your funeral takes place.
MyMessages – Posthumous Message Delivery
A modern version of the sealed envelope. Prepare messages for loved ones to be delivered after you pass away, unlocked by your keyholders. Common uses include practical instructions, sentimental messages, and reconciliation notes. This service is entirely free.
Expat Will Service
USLegalWills.com offers Will writing for the United States, Canada, and the UK – the only service that can create coordinated Wills for assets in multiple countries. If you possess assets in the United States and Canada you need to prepare separate Wills which function together to protect all your property.
How Does Customer Service Compare?
The USLegalWills.com customer service team operates with members who all work from North America and have stayed with the company for more than ten years. The team focuses exclusively on estate planning which allows them to answer detailed Will writing questions that other teams must handle alongside trademark applications and business incorporations and various legal services.
Both companies offer phone and email support. USLegalWills.com’s average email response time is just under one hour (including overnight emails).
Independent Review Ratings
| Platform | USLegalWills.com | LegalZoom |
|---|---|---|
| Google Reviews | 5 stars | Mixed |
| SiteJabber | N/A | 3.3 stars |
| Better Business Bureau | N/A | 1.2 stars |
Why Is LegalZoom Bigger If USLegalWills.com Is Better?
LegalZoom secured approximately $800 million in venture capital funding. The company operates with a vast marketing budget which allows them to run TV commercials and radio advertisements and social media promotions and podcast endorsements. LegalZoom is a brand built on marketing spend.
USLegalWills.com operates as a private business which did not receive any external funding. This means:
- No pressure to maximize revenues – pricing remains fair and transparent
- No automatic subscriptions – nothing to cancel, no hidden charges
- No customer data sales – your information stays private
- No upselling tactics – at LegalZoom, checkout defaults to a more expensive package that includes a free trial converting to a $14.99/month automatic subscription
USLegalWills.com provides customers with a complete range of products which they can obtain for less money than LegalZoom.
What About Hidden Fees and Automatic Subscriptions?
The checkout system at LegalZoom automatically switches your chosen basic package to the comprehensive package during the purchasing process although you started with the basic option. You must manually switch back. The comprehensive package includes a free trial that automatically converts to a $14.99/month subscription that continues until you call to cancel. Customer reviews frequently report long hold times (up to an hour) when trying to cancel.
Users at USLegalWills.com can enjoy their services without facing automatic subscription fees while the platform keeps all its charges visible to everyone. You will never be charged anything automatically.
Should You Try Both Services?
Yes. Create your documents at USLegalWills.com, then try LegalZoom. If you find LegalZoom’s documents superior, their service more intuitive, their customer service better, or their value for money greater – USLegalWills.com will refund your payment in full.
You can start writing your Will here by clicking “Try it Right Now.”
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- Digital Assets – Meet LifeLocker, the Essential Executor Tool
- Affiliate Opportunities at USLegalWills.com
He has over 20 years of experience helping people to write their Will and other estate planning documents. He has been interviewed by many of the major news media outlets, and has contributed to articles in The New York Times, NY Metro Parents, U.S. News & World Report, and other leading publications. He has also contributed to a number of financial planning books.
Throughout his career, Tim has written extensively on the subject of Will writing and estate planning.
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