How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- FreeWill is the best free starting point, with a will, healthcare directive and power of attorney at no cost and unlimited free updates.
- Trust & Will is the strongest guided option for homeowners, with a will plan from $199 and a trust plan from $499.
- Quicken WillMaker suits people who prefer desktop software and a broad document library for a one time style purchase from $109.
- Rocket Lawyer is the pick when ongoing attorney access matters, with membership from $149 per year billed annually.
- Online tools fit straightforward estates, while blended families, business owners and large taxable estates should talk to an estate attorney.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Trust & Will | Guided wills and trusts for homeowners | $199 (will plan) | No |
 LegalZoom | Estate plans with attorney access options | See website | No |
 Quicken WillMaker | Desktop software with many documents | $109 (Starter) | No |
 Rocket Lawyer | Membership with attorney Q&A | $149 per year | Free trial (7 days) |
 FreeWill | Free wills and directives | Free | Yes |
 USLegalWills | Low cost wills with no auto renewal | $49.95 (will) | No |
 Everplans | Organizing and sharing estate documents | Free (base app) | Yes |
 Mama Bear Legal Forms | Wills and powers of attorney for families | $89 (college power of attorney package) | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best estate planning software
Starting price$199 (will plan)
Free planNo
Trust & Will is the most polished guided experience in this list. A questionnaire walks you through guardians, beneficiaries, healthcare wishes and asset distribution, then generates state specific documents you can print, sign and notarize under your state rules. The will plan at $199 for an individual ($299 for couples) covers the core documents, while the trust plan at $499 ($599 for couples) adds a revocable living trust designed to keep a home and other assets out of probate.
The platform now adds a dashboard for plan strength, asset lists and sharing with guardians and executors, which helps a family actually find and use the plan when it matters. The honest catch is attorney help: it is not included in the base price, and ongoing updates sit behind a membership after the initial period. For a straightforward estate with a home, Trust & Will is the easiest route to a complete plan.
What we like- Guided questionnaire with state specific documents
- Trust plan helps homeowners avoid probate
- Digital vault and sharing with trusted contacts
Watch out for- Attorney support is a $299 add on, not included
- Membership fees apply for ongoing updates after the first period
#2LegalZoom
Best for: Estate plans with attorney access options3.1/5 on
G2 (16 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit legalzoom.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
LegalZoom suits buyers who want estate planning inside a larger legal platform. Will and trust bundles come in tiers, with premium tiers adding attorney review of completed documents and a year of attorney consultations. That access matters when a question arises mid questionnaire, such as how to handle a blended family or a property in another state, and it is the main reason to pay more than the basic tier.
The drawback is tier complexity. Published comparisons show will tiers from around $129 to $299 and trust bundles higher, with attorney access renewing at a separate rate after the included period on some plans. Read the bundle contents at checkout, confirm what renews and at what price, and keep the attorney consultation window in mind. For a buyer who may need other legal documents later, LegalZoom's breadth is a genuine advantage.
What we like- Wide legal platform beyond estate planning
- Premium tiers include attorney review and consultations
- Clear tiered bundles for wills and trusts
Watch out for- Pricing and tiers change often, so the checkout total needs a close read
- Attorney access renews separately on some tiers
Starting price$109 (Starter)
Free planNo
Quicken WillMaker, from Nolo, is the choice for people who prefer software they own rather than a subscription website. Starter at $109 covers wills and healthcare directives for up to five family members, while Plus at $149 and All Access at $219 add a living trust, transfer on death deed and Everplans vault storage. The legal manual explains each choice in plain language, which helps a careful DIY planner understand what they are signing.
There are limits to note. No tier includes attorney review, documents are not valid in Louisiana, and the online and downloadable versions do not share data, so pick one workflow and stay with it. Updates after the first year cost $39.99 per year on published comparisons. For a self directed planner who wants many documents for one price, WillMaker remains the best value in this list.
What we like- Broad document library including trusts, directives and deeds
- Downloadable software plus online access
- Detailed legal manual and explanations
Watch out for- No attorney consultation at any tier
- Documents are not valid in Louisiana
- Online and downloadable versions do not sync
Starting price$149 per year
Free planFree trial (7 days)
Rocket Lawyer is a legal membership first and an estate planning tool second, and that distinction decides whether it fits. Standard membership at $149 per year billed annually (shown as $12.41 per month on its homepage) includes unlimited documents, 12 attorney questions and access to premium add ons. Plus and Pro tiers raise attorney questions to 36 and unlimited, with live consultations added.
A buyer who only needs one will and never expects another legal question will pay more over time than with a one time purchase from WillMaker or USLegalWills. A buyer who expects ongoing questions (a new business, a rental property, a family change) gets real value from attorney access at a flat annual price. The 7 day trial lets you test document creation before the membership starts, but set a reminder to review before it renews.
What we like- Attorney questions and live consultations included on paid tiers
- Unlimited documents and e-signatures
- 7 day free trial to test the service
Watch out for- Membership model suits repeat legal needs more than a one off will
- Higher tiers needed for unlimited attorney access
#5FreeWill
Best for: Free wills and directives4.9/5 on
G2 (18 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit freewill.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
FreeWill is the best free estate planning option in the United States, and its model is worth understanding. Nonprofit partners fund the service, so users create a will, advance healthcare directive, durable financial power of attorney and beneficiary designations at no cost, with unlimited updates and no credit card. The questionnaire takes about 20 minutes for a simple will, and documents are state specific with signing instructions.
The limits are clear. A revocable living trust is offered only in California, and there is no attorney review, though FreeWill points users with complex needs toward legal counsel and provides a summary to take to an attorney. Charitable bequests are offered as an option, never required. For a straightforward estate where cost is the barrier, FreeWill removes the excuse to delay.
What we like- Completely free will, healthcare directive and power of attorney
- Unlimited free updates, forever
- No credit card required
Watch out for- Revocable living trust only for California residents
- No attorney review included
Starting price$49.95 (will)
Free planNo
USLegalWills is the simplest low cost paid option. A will costs $49.95 with no other payments required, one year of unlimited updates, and no credit card kept on file for auto renewal. After the first year, continued online storage and updates cost $14.95 per year if wanted, or the printed signed will simply stands on its own. An optional attorney review costs $69 for users who want a professional eye on a custom distribution clause.
The trade off is breadth. USLegalWills focuses on wills, living wills and powers of attorney rather than full trust based planning, and its premium package at $99.95 adds funeral wishes and messages rather than a trust. For a buyer who wants a valid will at the lowest one time price without a subscription, it is the cleanest deal in this list.
What we like- One time $49.95 will price with no auto renewal
- One year of unlimited updates included
- Optional attorney review for $69
Watch out for- Narrower document set than full estate platforms
- No trust product in the core will price
Starting priceFree (base app)
Free planYes
Everplans plays a different role from the document creators above. It organizes the details of a life (estate documents, account lists, IDs, insurance, final wishes) in one secure place, shares selected items with trusted contacts, and sends reminders about dates that matter. The base app is free, with a Premium upgrade for fuller features. That organization step is where many estate plans fail in practice, since a perfect will locked in a drawer nobody can find helps no one.
Everplans does not replace a will maker: it stores and shares documents created elsewhere, including WillMaker plans that bundle Everplans access. Use it alongside Trust & Will, FreeWill or an attorney drafted plan to make sure executors and guardians can find everything. For families coordinating across states, the sharing and checklist features are worth more than another document template.
What we like- Central vault for wills, accounts, IDs and final wishes
- Secure sharing with trusted people
- Reminders for important dates and renewals
Watch out for- Does not draft wills or trusts itself
- Premium features sit behind a paid upgrade
Starting price$89 (college power of attorney package)
Free planNo
Mama Bear Legal Forms earns its place through a specific family need: parents of college students. Once a child turns 18, parents lose automatic access to medical and financial decisions, and the $89 college power of attorney package (health power, finance power, HIPAA release and FERPA waiver, plus forms for a second state) closes that gap. The will bundle at $159 ($90 to add a spouse will) covers a last will, health and finance powers and a HIPAA release, with an app for scanning and storing completed forms.
The platform is narrower than Trust & Will or LegalZoom, with no trust planning in its core bundles. For parents sending a child to college, or for a young family that needs a will plus powers of attorney without a larger platform, Mama Bear is the most focused and affordable route. Larger or trust based estates should start elsewhere in this list.
What we like- College power of attorney package for $89, a niche other tools ignore
- Will bundle at $159 with health and finance powers
- App for scanning and storing forms
Watch out for- Narrower focus than full estate platforms
- No trust product in the core bundles
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, product documentation and public reviews, and we opened each homepage to confirm the product exists and matches its name. We favored tools that serve US residents with state specific documents, and we mixed free, one time and membership models so different budgets are represented. Prices reflect published pages and comparison sources checked in October 2026, and tools with unpublished or conflicting prices are marked See website rather than given an invented figure. Two tools were replaced during checks: GoodTrust, whose homepage now shows an unrelated food site, and LawDepot, whose homepage could not be fetched for verification.
Choosing the right plan
Start with the shape of your estate, not the price. A will based plan suits renters, young parents and anyone whose main goals are guardianship and simple asset distribution. A trust based plan suits homeowners and anyone who wants to avoid probate, control distribution over time, or keep affairs private. Powers of attorney and healthcare directives belong in every plan, regardless of size, since incapacity planning matters while you are alive.
Read the renewal terms before you buy
One time purchases, annual memberships and free services differ sharply after year one. Trust & Will and Rocket Lawyer renew memberships, WillMaker charges for updates after the first year, and FreeWill and USLegalWills avoid auto renewal in different ways. Note the renewal price and date at purchase, and confirm whether updates, vault storage and attorney access continue or stop. An estate plan that lapses unnoticed is worse than a simple plan kept current.
Signing matters as much as drafting
An unsigned or wrongly witnessed will is not a valid will, no matter how good the software is. Follow your state signing, witness and notarization instructions exactly, keep a self proving affidavit where your state accepts one, and tell your executor where the original lives. Review the plan after marriage, divorce, a birth, a property purchase or a move to another state, since each can change what the documents should say.
When to hire an attorney instead
Online tools fit straightforward estates, but some situations call for a licensed estate attorney in your state. Blended families, children with special needs, business ownership, property in multiple states, large taxable estates and contested family dynamics all benefit from tailored advice. An attorney drafted plan costs more up front, often $200 to $1,000 for a simple will in published guides and more for a trust, but it can prevent far costlier disputes later. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is an online will legally valid?
Yes, in most states, provided the document follows state law and is signed, witnessed and notarized as your state requires. Online tools generate state specific forms, but validity depends on correct execution, not on the software brand. Keep the signed original somewhere your executor can find it, and follow the signing instructions that come with your documents.
Do I need a will or a trust?
A will is enough for many people: it names guardians, distributes assets and appoints an executor, but it goes through probate after death. A revocable living trust avoids probate, offers more privacy and control over timing, and suits homeowners and larger estates. Trusts cost more and require funding (retitling assets into the trust), so the choice depends on your assets and your tolerance for probate.
How much does estate planning software cost?
Costs range from free with FreeWill to $49.95 for a USLegalWills will, $109 for WillMaker Starter, $149 per year for Rocket Lawyer, $199 for a Trust & Will will plan and $499 for its trust plan. Attorney review, membership renewals and vault storage can add to those figures. For a trust based plan with attorney help, budget several hundred dollars rather than the headline will price.
What documents should a complete estate plan include?
A complete basic plan usually includes a last will, a durable financial power of attorney, an advance healthcare directive, and beneficiary designations for retirement accounts and life insurance. Homeowners often add a revocable living trust and a transfer on death deed where available. Final arrangement wishes and a letter to survivors help family, though they are not legally binding in the same way.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review your plan after any major life event (marriage, divorce, birth, death, property purchase, move to another state) and at least every three to five years otherwise. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance override a will, so update those separately and keep them consistent. A plan that no longer matches your family or assets can cause the disputes it was meant to prevent.
Can I use estate planning software if I live outside the US?
Most tools in this list are built for US state law, and several do not cover Louisiana, US territories or other countries. WillMaker notes its documents are not valid in Louisiana, US territories or Canada, and FreeWill trusts are California only. If you live abroad or hold assets abroad, use a tool built for your jurisdiction or consult a local attorney.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.trustandwill.com/pricing
- https://www.legalzoom.com/pricing
- https://www.willmaker.com/pricing
- https://www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing
- https://www.freewill.com/pricing
- https://www.uslegalwills.com/pricing
- https://www.everplans.com/pricing
- https://www.mamabearlegalforms.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.