What Each Service Is
LegalZoom and LegalTemplates serve similar audiences — people who want legal documents without hiring an attorney — but they've built fundamentally different businesses.
The largest consumer legal services company in the U.S., known for business formation (LLC, Corporation), registered agent services, trademark registration, and attorney subscription plans. Document generation is one component of a larger platform.
A focused legal document platform with 349+ attorney-reviewed templates, e-signature, and PDF tools. Strong on contracts, leases, employment docs, and estate planning. Does not offer business formation services.
The key distinction: LegalZoom is a service provider that files your business documents and has attorneys on staff. LegalTemplates is a document platform that gives you the forms to file yourself.
Pricing Comparison
| Service / Plan | LegalZoom | LegalTemplates |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation — Basic | $0 + state fees | N/A (DIY templates only) |
| LLC Formation — Pro | $249 + state fees | N/A |
| LLC Formation — Premium | $299 + state fees | N/A |
| Document Subscription (Monthly) | Varies (per-document or attorney plan) | $39.95/month |
| Document Subscription (Annual) | Business Attorney Plan: ~$39/mo (12-mo commitment) | $119.88/year ($9.99/mo) |
| Registered Agent | $299/year | N/A |
| Trademark Registration | From $199 + USPTO fees | N/A |
| Attorney Consultation | Business Attorney Plan from $39/mo | Not available |
| Free Trial | Limited (varies by product) | 7-day (monthly plan only) |
LegalZoom's pricing varies significantly by product. The above reflects publicly stated prices as of May 2026. Always verify current pricing on each platform before purchasing. State filing fees are always additional for formation services.
Business Formation Services
This is where LegalZoom and LegalTemplates diverge most sharply.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom handles LLC and corporation formation end-to-end — preparing articles of organization, filing with the state, providing a registered agent for the first year (on some plans), and delivering digital formation documents. The Basic plan ($0 + state fees) covers the filing itself. Pro ($249) and Premium ($299) add operating agreements, EIN registration, and attorney consultations.
Turnaround varies by state and plan — standard processing is 7–14 business days depending on state agency workload; express filing is available for an additional fee.
LegalTemplates
LegalTemplates does not file your business formation documents for you. It provides attorney-reviewed templates (operating agreements, articles of organization) that you can download, complete, and file directly with your state. This is less convenient but significantly cheaper if you're comfortable with the DIY approach.
If you need someone to handle the formation process for you — filing, registered agent, EIN — LegalZoom is the appropriate tool. LegalTemplates only provides templates; you file everything yourself.
Contract Generation & Ongoing Documents
For ongoing contract needs beyond formation — service agreements, NDAs, employment contracts, leases — the comparison shifts.
| Document Type | LegalZoom | LegalTemplates |
|---|---|---|
| NDA / Non-Disclosure | Available (per-document or subscription) | Included in subscription |
| Employment Agreement | Available (subscription required) | Included in subscription |
| Service Contracts | Available | Included in subscription |
| Lease Agreements | Available | Included in subscription |
| Operating Agreement (LLC) | Available ($99 standalone, or included in formation) | Included in subscription |
| E-Signature | Yes | Yes (unlimited paid) |
| State-Specific Variations | Yes | Yes (all 50 states) |
| Cost for 10+ documents/year | High (per-document or attorney plan) | $119.88/year flat |
For businesses that generate multiple contracts per year, LegalTemplates' flat subscription is significantly more cost-effective than LegalZoom's per-document pricing. LegalZoom's strength is depth of services (attorney review, compliance guidance) rather than document volume at low cost.
Attorney Access & Legal Advice
Both platforms offer attorney access — but through different models and at different price points.
LegalZoom Attorney Plans
LegalZoom's Business Attorney plan starts at approximately $39.09/month on a 12-month commitment. This includes unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations, an annual legal review, and access to 150+ legal templates. For complex legal needs, LegalZoom's attorney network is more accessible than Rocket Lawyer's and more comprehensive than LegalTemplates' non-existent attorney access.
LegalTemplates
LegalTemplates does not include attorney consultation in any plan. Users who need legal advice must hire an attorney separately. This is the platform's primary limitation for businesses with complex or evolving legal needs.
Upsells to Watch For
Both platforms have upsell structures worth understanding before you commit.
LegalZoom Upsells
- Registered agent: $299/year (often presented as essential, but third-party agents cost $50–$150/year)
- Operating agreement: May be sold separately ($99) from basic formation plan
- EIN registration: Sometimes separate add-on (IRS provides EINs free at irs.gov)
- Attorney review: Upcharges apply if not on the attorney subscription plan
- Trademark services: Referrals to partner attorneys with additional fees
LegalTemplates Upsells
- Monthly vs annual gap: Monthly plan ($39.95) is 4× the effective annual rate ($9.99)
- Strict no-refund policy: All sales are final — no partial refunds on annual plans
- E-signature limits: Free tier limited to 5 sender-initiated signature requests
Pros & Cons
LegalZoom
- Full-service formation (LLC, Corp, Non-profit)
- Attorney consultation options
- Registered agent services
- Trademark and IP filings handled
- Strong brand recognition and trust
- Compliance calendar and alerts
- Expensive relative to DIY alternatives
- Aggressive upsells (registered agent, add-ons)
- Mixed reviews on customer service responsiveness
- Registered agent at $299/yr is above market rate
- Not ideal for high-volume document needs
LegalTemplates
- Most affordable for multi-document users ($9.99/mo annual)
- 349+ attorney-reviewed templates, all 50 states
- E-signature integrated (unlimited paid)
- Multiple export formats (Word, PDF, Excel)
- Simple, intuitive document builder
- No business formation services
- No attorney consultation included
- Strict no-refund policy
- No registered agent or compliance filing
- Requires DIY for all government filings
Verdict: Which Should You Use?
If you're forming an LLC or corporation and want someone to handle the filing process, LegalZoom is built for exactly that. The Basic plan ($0 + state fees) gets you filed. Be skeptical of the registered agent upsell — you can get a registered agent for significantly less elsewhere.
For businesses that need to generate multiple contracts, agreements, or leases per year, LegalTemplates' $119.88/year flat rate is hard to beat. If you're comfortable with DIY and don't need attorney consultation, it covers the full range of business document types.
Many small businesses use LegalZoom once for formation (then leave), and a platform like LegalTemplates for ongoing contract generation. These platforms serve different moments in a business's lifecycle — formation vs. day-to-day legal documentation.