A Clear Price Guide to the Best Online Will Service
Online will services look cheap at checkout, but LegalZoom’s $149 Pro Will reaches $1,024 over three years if you keep its $25-a-month attorney plan.
In This Article
How much an online will really costs in 2026
A valid online will can cost nothing. It can also quietly cost several times its sticker price once renewals start, so what matters is what you pay over three years, not what you pay at checkout.
Find your situation:
- Want the cheapest legitimate option? Start with the price table and the 3-year cost math.
- Own a home or have kids? Go to the will-vs-trust section.
- Larger or complicated estate? Jump to when an online service isn’t enough.
Before comparing plans, check which assets a will doesn’t control. That decides whether a will plan covers you at all.
ℹ️ Financial Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, investment, insurance, or lending advice, and estate law varies by state. Before creating or changing an estate plan, consult a licensed estate planning attorney, and consult a CPA for estate or gift tax questions.
Online will and trust prices side by side
For one person, online will plans range from $0 at FreeWill to $299 for LegalZoom’s Premium Will. Trust plans run from $149 to $549, based on each provider’s own pricing page as of September 2026.
Will plans for one person
| Provider & plan | Upfront price | Recurring cost | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreeWill | $0 | None | Funded by nonprofits; no credit card needed |
| Rocket Lawyer | $0 for 7-day trial | $39.99/month after trial | Trial converts to paid membership |
| Quicken WillMaker Starter | $109 | $39.99/year, optional | Not available in Louisiana |
| LegalZoom Pro Will | $149 | $25/month after 30 days | Includes financial and medical POA |
| Trust & Will Will Plan | $199 | $49/year membership, optional | Includes POA and living will |
| LegalZoom Premium Will | $299 | $199/year after year one | Annual attorney plan review |
Trust plans for one person
| Provider & plan | Upfront price | Recurring cost | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quicken WillMaker Plus | $149 | $39.99/year, optional | Living trust plus desktop software |
| LegalZoom Basic Trust | $399 | None listed | 30 days of revisions |
| Trust & Will Trust Plan | $499 | $49/year, optional | Includes a trust funding guide |
| LegalZoom Premium Trust | $549 | $199/year after year one | A year of attorney consultations |
Sources: provider pricing pages, checked September 22, 2026; FreeWill funding detail per CNBC Select. Prices change often, so confirm at checkout.
What each plan includes for the price
Price mostly tracks two things: how many companion documents come with the will, and how much attorney access you get.
Documents in the box
- Trust & Will: will, living will, HIPAA authorization, and power of attorney. Its Trust Plan adds the trust, a schedule of assets, and a funding guide.
- LegalZoom Pro Will: will, healthcare directive, medical and financial powers of attorney, and HIPAA authorization.
- WillMaker Starter: will, health care directives, and final arrangements. A financial power of attorney requires the $149 Plus plan.
💡 Expert Note: The person you name in a financial power of attorney takes on legal duties. The CFPB’s plain-language guides for financial caregivers explain those duties.
Couples pricing
LegalZoom adds $100 for a couple. Trust & Will lists $299 for a couple’s will and $599 for a couple’s trust. WillMaker covers immediate family at no extra charge, though each spouse signs a separate will.
The 3-year cost after renewals and add-ons
To find a plan’s real 3-year cost:
- Start with the upfront price.
- Add every renewal you’d keep for 36 months.
- Add any add-on you’d actually buy.
| Plan (one person) | Upfront | Renewals cancelled | Renewals kept 3 years | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreeWill | $0 | $0 | $0 | No renewal |
| WillMaker Starter | $109 | $109 | $188.98 | Two $39.99 extensions |
| Trust & Will Will Plan | $199 | $199 | $346 | Three years at $49 |
| LegalZoom Premium Will | $299 | $299 | $697 | Two $199 renewals |
| LegalZoom Premium Trust | $549 | $549 | $947 | Two $199 renewals |
| LegalZoom Pro Will | $149 | $149 | $1,024 | 35 months at $25 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $0 | $0 | $1,439.64 | $719.64 if billed yearly |
FinanceAuthorityHub calculation from the prices above. The Trust & Will figure assumes the membership starts at checkout; if year one is included, the total is $297.
🔍 How It Works: LegalZoom’s Pro Will includes 30 days of attorney consultations, then renews at $25 a month. Over 36 months that’s 35 paid months, so 35 × $25 = $875, plus $149 upfront, for $1,024. Cancel inside the first 30 days and you pay $149 total.
⚠️ Costly Mistake: Renewals pay for attorney access or editing rights, not for your will’s validity. If you never call the lawyer or edit the will, a “$149 will” can end up among the priciest options on this list.
Will plan or trust plan: when the extra $300 pays off
Upgrading to a revocable living trust costs $300 more at Trust & Will ($199 to $499) and $250 more at LegalZoom ($149 to $399). Whether that’s worth it depends on what you own.
Signs a will is enough
- Your main goal is naming a guardian for minor children, which requires a will.
- You don’t own real estate, and you want the lowest upfront cost now.
Signs a trust is worth it
- You own a home and want it to pass without probate court.
- You want privacy and someone ready to manage assets if you’re incapacitated.
Compare both paths in our guide to whether you need a trust or just a will. If you plan to name a trustee, the CFPB’s guides for trustees of living trusts show what that job involves.
✅ Action Step: Before buying a trust plan, ask a licensed estate planning attorney: “Given my assets and my state’s probate process, would a funded revocable trust save my family meaningful time or money?”
When an online will service isn’t enough
Online plans are built for straightforward estates, and several providers say so themselves.
Estates near the federal threshold
📊 Data Point: The federal estate and gift tax basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000 for 2026, set by Public Law 119-21. — Source: IRS, frequently asked questions on estate taxes, 2026
Federal estate tax generally applies only above that amount, so for most online-will buyers it won’t drive the choice. Some states tax estates at lower levels, which a CPA can check for you.
Special-needs, blended-family and business cases
Trust & Will refers customers to an attorney in four situations: a child with special needs, an estate of $15 million or more, a business with three or more employees, or a blended family with complex dynamics. WillMaker similarly warns against using its will to leave money directly to someone with special needs, because doing so doesn’t protect their benefit eligibility. See our breakdown of an online will vs. hiring a lawyer.
✅ Action Step: Ask an estate attorney: “Do I need a special needs trust or business succession plan that an online template can’t draft?”
Three mistakes that make a cheap plan expensive
Most plans fail after checkout, not at it.
Unfunded trusts
🔍 How It Works: A living trust controls only the assets titled in its name. Until you retitle your home and accounts, they can still go through probate. Our guide to retitling assets into your living trust covers each asset type.
Retitling bank accounts into a trust also changes how deposit insurance is calculated. The FDIC covers trust accounts up to $1,250,000 per owner at each bank when there are five or more beneficiaries.
Signing formalities
Trust & Will tells customers to sign and notarize their plans. WillMaker notes that wills are generally signed and witnessed, while living trusts are notarized. Check who can witness your will before signing day.
Forgotten auto-renewals
⚠️ Costly Mistake: LegalZoom’s Pro Will attorney plan renews at $25 a month after 30 days, and Rocket Lawyer’s trial converts to $39.99 a month after 7 days. If you won’t use the service, set a reminder two days before each deadline.
Frequently asked questions about online will services
1. Is FreeWill really free?
Yes. FreeWill’s will costs $0 because nonprofits fund the platform, and it doesn’t require a credit card.
2. How much does Trust & Will cost?
Trust & Will’s Will Plan costs $199 and its Trust Plan $499 for one person, plus an optional $49 yearly membership.
3. How much is a LegalZoom will?
A LegalZoom will costs $149 for the Pro Will or $299 for Premium for one person. Couples add $100.
4. Does LegalZoom auto-renew?
Yes. LegalZoom’s attorney access renews at $25 a month after 30 days on the Pro Will, or $199 yearly on Premium.
5. Is an online will legally valid?
An online will is legally valid once it’s signed under your state’s rules, which generally means signing in front of witnesses.
6. Is a trust worth it over a will?
A trust costs $250–$300 more than a will plan and avoids probate only for assets you retitle into it. Ask an estate attorney whether your state’s probate process justifies the cost.
7. Do online trusts avoid probate?
Online trusts avoid probate only for funded assets. Until you retitle your home and accounts, those assets can still go through probate.
8. How much is a couples plan?
A couples plan costs $100 extra at LegalZoom and $299 for a Trust & Will couple’s will. WillMaker covers family members free.
9. When should I use an attorney instead of an online will?
Use an attorney for a special-needs child, a business with three or more employees, a complex blended family, or an estate over $15 million. An estate attorney can confirm which documents a template can’t handle.
10. Do I have to pay yearly to keep my will valid?
No. Renewals pay for editing or attorney access. A will already signed under your state’s rules doesn’t depend on a subscription.
11. Does the estate tax affect which online will I choose?
Only for large estates. The 2026 federal basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000 per person, and federal estate tax generally applies only above it. A CPA can check whether your state taxes smaller estates.
Choosing the online will service that fits
Most readers fit one of three routes:
- Basic will today: FreeWill costs $0.
- Will plus financial and healthcare documents: $149–$199 covers it, if you track renewals.
- Homeowner who wants to skip probate: a trust plan pays off only once you fund it.
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Informational disclaimer
The content on Finance Authority Hub is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized financial, investment, tax, legal, or professional advice. Financial decisions depend on your individual goals, income, risk tolerance, location, and regulatory situation. Before acting on any information, strategy, estimate, or calculator result, consult a qualified licensed professional who can evaluate your specific circumstances.