FreeWill vs Trust & Will: Which Is Better for Your Estate Plan?

FreeWill and Trust & Will solve different problems. FreeWill is a genuinely free way to write a basic last will. Trust & Will is a paid, more guided estate-planning platform that bundles related documents and offers a real living trust. This guide compares pricing, wills, trusts, ease of use, and the cases where neither is enough and a lawyer is.

FreeWill vs Trust & Will at a Glance

Pricing and features change. Always confirm current details on each provider’s website before purchasing.

What Each Service Is Best At

Both produce legally valid, state-specific documents. The honest difference is scope, depth, and price.

Pricing and Cost

The pricing gap is the clearest difference. FreeWill is $0 for a basic will. Trust & Will starts in the low $100s for the will plan and several hundred dollars for the trust plan. “Free” doesn’t automatically mean “best fit” — it depends on what you actually need.

Pricing changes regularly. Confirm current numbers on each provider’s site before buying. For typical attorney pricing, see how much a will costs.

FreeWill vs Trust & Will for Wills

Both produce a valid, state-specific last will and testament. The deciding factor is what comes with the will and how much guidance you want.

• FreeWill is the better pick when you want a basic last will with no cost, no subscription, and no bundle. It works well for a single adult, a couple with a simple estate, or anyone who needs something valid in place quickly.
• Trust & Will is the better pick when you also want a power of attorney and healthcare directive, prefer a more guided experience, or want couples pricing on a complete will plan.
• If you want optional attorney access or broader legal documents, neither is the best fit — see LegalZoom vs Trust & Will.

New to this? Start with how to make a will or how to make a will without a lawyer. There’s also a downloadable free will template if you want to see what one looks like first.

FreeWill vs Trust & Will for Trusts

Trusts are the easiest call on this page. FreeWill does not offer a real living-trust product. Trust & Will does. If you actually need a revocable living trust, Trust & Will is the better fit between the two.

• Trust & Will presents the trust as a complete plan — trust, pour-over will, healthcare directive, POA, and funding instructions. Built around someone setting up a first-time living trust.
• FreeWill is built around basic wills. Treat it as a will tool, not a trust tool.
• For complex trust planning — irrevocable trusts, special-needs trusts, asset protection, Medicaid planning — neither platform is the right tool. See revocable vs irrevocable trust.

Not sure if you need a trust at all? Read will vs trust first, then how to make a trust.

Ease of Use and Setup Experience

Both platforms guide you through a structured questionnaire and assemble your documents based on your answers. Based on how each service positions itself and structures its flow:

• FreeWill tends to feel shorter and lighter because the scope is narrower. Many users finish a basic will in one sitting.
• Trust & Will tends to feel more guided because the will plan includes more documents and the trust plan covers more ground.
• Both require you to sign correctly. Documents are only valid once they are signed, witnessed, and (where required) notarized according to your state’s rules. Many users delay this step.

Who FreeWill Is Best For

• Adults with a simple estate who want a valid will in place without paying.
• Younger families who need to name a guardian quickly and can revisit the plan later.
• Anyone budget-constrained who would otherwise put off estate planning entirely.
• People who already give to charity and don’t mind the nonprofit-funded model.

Who Trust & Will Is Best For

• Couples or families who want a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive in one bundle.
• Homeowners setting up a first revocable living trust to avoid probate.
• Parents of young children who want a more guided experience than a basic free will.
• People who want a more polished, structured flow and are willing to pay for it.

Who Should Skip Both

Online platforms are useful for many straightforward situations, but they are not designed for these:

• Complex estates with significant or multi-state assets.
• Blended families with stepchildren, especially where conflict is likely.
• Estates likely to owe estate or inheritance tax. See inheritance tax by state.
• Special-needs beneficiaries who require a special-needs trust to preserve government benefits.
• Business owners — operating agreements, buy-sell provisions, and succession need an attorney.
• Asset-protection planning, Medicaid planning, or irrevocable trusts.
• Anyone expecting a contest — disinherited heirs, hostile siblings, or a complicated marriage history.

Pros and Cons

When a Lawyer Is the Better Choice

Online document platforms are useful for many straightforward situations. They are not replacements for tailored legal advice. The reason is simple: an attorney asks the questions you didn’t know to ask. Online services produce solid documents based on what you tell them.

For blended families, business owners, taxable estates, special-needs beneficiaries, multi-state assets, or any expectation of a family dispute, the cost of an estate-planning attorney is much smaller than the cost of getting it wrong. See how to find an estate-planning attorney.

Our Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

Both platforms are credible. The right answer depends on what you actually need.

• Choose FreeWill if you want a basic, valid last will at no cost and your situation is simple. It’s the smartest pick when budget is the deciding factor.
• Choose Trust & Will if you want a more guided plan, a will bundled with POA and healthcare directive, or a real living trust.
• Skip both and hire an attorney if you have a blended family, a business, special-needs beneficiaries, a likely taxable estate, multi-state assets, or any expectation of a dispute.

Still deciding between the documents themselves? Read will vs trust and do I need a will. Already have one? Use our estate planning checklist and how to update your will guides.

Frequently Asked Questions