Five services worth considering, one clear winner for most people, and an honest answer for everyone else. The question isn't whether to write your will online — it's which service fits your situation. Below: who each one is for, who it isn't, and when to skip the whole category and call a lawyer.
Why you can trust this guide
We compared every service on the same five criteria — state-specific document quality, what's actually included (will, power of attorney, healthcare directive), how guided the process feels, pricing honesty, and access to support if you get stuck. We rank by fit, not by who pays the highest commission. Affiliate links are disclosed; they don't change the order. See full methodology ↓
The Quick Answer
Pick by your situation. The full reviews are below.
Best Paid
LegalZoom
Most guided paid experience. State-specific documents, optional attorney support, and easy to add a power of attorney or trust later.
Best Free
FreeWill
Genuinely $0 and state-specific. Best when budget is the deciding factor and your situation is simple.
The other three, in one line each:
- • Want the most included forms in one purchase? Nolo Quicken WillMaker.
- • Need several legal documents this year, not just a will? Rocket Lawyer.
- • Parent who just needs to name a guardian, fast? Tomorrow.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up. It doesn't change what you pay or which services we recommend.
How We Compared These Services
Most "best online will" lists rank by who pays the highest commission. We ranked these the way a friend with no skin in the game would: by how well each service serves a real adult sitting down to write a real will. We weighted five things, in this order:
- Will quality and state compliance — does it produce a clean, state-specific document that will hold up when it's signed and witnessed correctly?
- What you actually walk away with — just a will, or also a power of attorney and healthcare directive (the documents most people also need)?
- How guided the experience is — plain-language prompts and definitions, not just blank legal fields.
- Pricing honesty — flat fee vs subscription, and how aggressive the upsell is at checkout.
- Support and recourse — can you ask a real person (or attorney) a question if you get stuck?
Pricing and features change. We confirm details directly from each provider's website at publication and update the page when we notice major changes. Always confirm current pricing on the provider's site before purchasing.
🥇 #1 — LegalZoom: Best Paid Online Will Maker
Best for users who want a guided, well-supported experience and access to legal help.
| Best for | Most people who want structure, guidance, and brand confidence |
| Pricing style | One-time will plans, optional attorney support add-ons and subscriptions |
| Includes | Will, with options for power of attorney and additional estate documents |
| State-specific | Yes — all 50 states |
| Trust option | Yes — available as a separate plan |
| Attorney access | Available via add-on or subscription |
| Track record | One of the longest-established online legal services in the U.S. |
Strengths
- • Highly guided process — you're walked through each section with plain-language explanations
- • Broad support: help articles, customer service, and optional access to independent attorneys
- • Easy to expand later — wills, trusts, power of attorney, and other legal documents in one place
- • Long-established brand with mature processes and recognizable customer support
- • Strong fit if you want a paid experience that feels more like a service than a form
Weaknesses
- • Costs more than a free service — you're paying for guidance and brand
- • Some upgrades and ongoing access are sold via subscription rather than a single flat fee
- • You'll see add-on offers during checkout — easy to skip but worth reading carefully
✓ Choose LegalZoom if
You're a parent or homeowner, you want a will plus power of attorney and healthcare directive, or you'd feel safer with the option to escalate to attorney help before signing.
✗ Skip LegalZoom if
You're a single adult with a simple estate and no minor children — FreeWill does the same job for $0. Or if you want the most documents bundled into one flat purchase — Nolo's WillMaker is better value.
Affiliate link · We may earn a commission · Confirm pricing on LegalZoom's site
🥈 #2 — FreeWill: Best Free Online Will
The best truly-free option — $0, no credit card required.
| Best for | Adults with simple estates who want a basic will at no cost |
| Pricing style | Free — funded by nonprofit and charity partnerships |
| Includes | Will (POA and healthcare directive are not part of the basic free will) |
| State-specific | Yes |
| Trust option | No |
| Attorney access | No |
| Time | About 15–20 minutes |
Strengths
- • Truly free — no credit card, no upsell wall
- • State-specific legal language
- • Fast, simple, and approachable for first-time will makers
- • A strong "do it tonight" option when the alternative is no will at all
Weaknesses
- • No power of attorney or healthcare directive included with the basic free will
- • Less customization than paid services
- • You may be invited to leave a charitable bequest (you can decline)
Want to template the basics first? See our free will template guide to understand what a basic will should cover before you start.
Create a Free Will at FreeWillAffiliate link
#3 — Nolo Quicken WillMaker: Best for Software Depth
The veteran. Desktop software with the most included forms.
| Best for | Detail-oriented users who want lots of included forms and don't mind desktop software |
| Pricing style | One-time software purchase |
| Includes | Will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, basic living trust, executor guide, and additional legal forms |
| State-specific | Yes |
| Trust option | Basic living trust included |
| Attorney access | No |
| Track record | Nolo has published legal self-help resources for decades |
Strengths
- • One of the most comprehensive packages of included documents
- • One-time purchase with no subscription required
- • Long-established brand in self-help legal publishing
- • Includes practical extras like an executor guide
Weaknesses
- • Desktop software experience feels dated compared to modern web tools
- • Slower to complete because of the depth of options
- • Not the right fit if you want a guided, mobile-friendly process
Ideal user: People who like to read every option and want a complete document bundle in one purchase, especially if they're already comfortable with desktop software.
Torn between Nolo’s software and LegalZoom’s guided web flow? See our Nolo vs LegalZoom for wills comparison.
#4 — Rocket Lawyer: Best for Ongoing Legal Needs
Subscription-based — strong if you'll use multiple legal documents over time.
| Best for | Small business owners, landlords, and anyone who needs ongoing access to legal documents |
| Pricing style | Monthly subscription, with a higher one-off rate for non-members |
| Includes | Will, library of legal templates, and attorney Q&A while subscribed |
| State-specific | Yes |
| Trust option | Yes (within subscription) |
| Attorney access | Brief consultation included with membership |
Strengths
- • Includes attorney access while you're subscribed
- • Strong value if you'll genuinely use multiple legal documents
- • Clean, modern interface
Weaknesses
- • Subscription cost adds up if you only need a will
- • One-off pricing for non-members is less competitive than dedicated will services
- • Easy to forget to cancel after your documents are done
Ideal user: People who need a will and several other legal documents in the same year. Less ideal if you only need a one-time will.
#5 — Tomorrow: Simple Free Alternative
Free and quick — best when speed and simplicity matter more than depth.
| Best for | Young parents who want to name a guardian quickly |
| Pricing | $0 |
| Includes | Basic will and guardian designation |
| State-specific | Yes |
| Trust option | No |
| Attorney access | No |
| Time | About 10–15 minutes |
Strengths
- • Free and very fast
- • Useful for the single goal of naming a guardian
Weaknesses
- • Limited scope — no power of attorney, healthcare directive, or trust
- • Less complete than FreeWill for general use
- • Tied to insurance lead-generation, so expect related offers
Ideal user: Parents who want a basic will with a guardian designation tonight and plan to do something more comprehensive later.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | LegalZoom | FreeWill | Nolo WillMaker | Rocket Lawyer | Tomorrow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Guided paid setup | Free basic will | Software depth | Multiple legal docs | Quick & free |
| Pricing style | One-time + add-ons | Free | One-time software | Subscription | Free |
| Attorney access | Add-on | Included | |||
| Ease of use | Very guided | Simple | Detailed | Modern UI | Very simple |
| Good for simple will | |||||
| Good for more support | |||||
| Main downside | Costs more than free options | No POA / directive | Dated desktop UX | Subscription cost | Very limited scope |
| Our rating |
Top paid pick
LegalZoom
- Best for
- Guided paid setup with attorney option
- Pricing
- One-time + add-ons
- Watch out for
- Costs more than free options
Top free pick
FreeWill
- Best for
- Simple, free state-specific will
- Pricing
- Free
- Watch out for
- No POA or healthcare directive
Most included forms
Nolo Quicken WillMaker
- Best for
- Depth — most forms in one purchase
- Pricing
- One-time desktop software
- Watch out for
- Dated desktop UX
Subscription
Rocket Lawyer
- Best for
- People who need multiple legal docs
- Pricing
- Monthly subscription
- Watch out for
- Costly if you only need a will
Simple & free
Tomorrow
- Best for
- Parents who just need a guardian named
- Pricing
- Free
- Watch out for
- Limited scope, insurance-funded
Confirm current pricing and features on each provider's site before purchasing.
Which Online Will Maker Is Right for You?
Skip the comparison and pick by what matters most to you:
Best paid guided option
"I want a guided experience and the option to talk to an attorney."
→ LegalZoom — the strongest paid pick for most adults.
Start with LegalZoom →Best free option
"I want a real will tonight without paying a cent."
→ FreeWill — genuinely $0 and state-specific.
Try FreeWill →Best DIY software
"I want the most included forms in a single purchase."
→ Nolo Quicken WillMaker — desktop software with the deepest document set.
Read the Nolo review →Best subscription option
"I'll need several legal documents this year, not just a will."
→ Rocket Lawyer — subscription with attorney access included.
Read the Rocket Lawyer review →Simplest beginner option
"I just need a basic will and to name a guardian — fast."
→ Tomorrow — free and quick for the essentials.
Read the Tomorrow review →Not sure yet
"I'm not even sure if I need a will."
→ Start with the basics before picking a service.
Do I need a will? →Helpful next reads:
Top Paid Pick: LegalZoom
Guided online will from one of the most established legal services in the U.S., with optional attorney support if you want extra confidence in what you sign.
Start Your Will With LegalZoomAffiliate link · We may earn a commission · Confirm current pricing on LegalZoom's site