Navigating the legal world without the help of an attorney can be stressful, time-consuming, and expensive—especially for small business owners, freelancers, and individuals unfamiliar with legal processes. Whether you’re trying to form a business, write a will, register a trademark, or simply create a basic contract, getting reliable legal help can feel out of reach. Fortunately, online legal services have made it easier than ever to access affordable and convenient legal support without setting foot in a lawyer’s office.

Two of the most well-known platforms in this space are Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom. Both companies have helped millions of people tackle legal tasks from the comfort of their homes, offering everything from customizable legal documents to business formation services and access to licensed attorneys. While they share a similar mission—making legal help accessible—they go about it in different ways.

Rocket Lawyer uses a subscription-based model that gives members unlimited access to legal documents and on-demand attorney consultations for a monthly or annual fee. This makes it ideal for people who need legal support more than once or on a regular basis.

LegalZoom, on the other hand, follows a pay-per-service model, where you only pay for the specific legal task you need. This approach is great for people who want a one-time service—like forming an LLC or creating a will—without committing to ongoing costs.

In this guide, we’ll break down how Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom compare in terms of pricing, features, services, customer support, ease of use, and customer feedback. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which platform best fits your legal needs, whether you’re starting a business, planning your estate, or simply looking to simplify legal tasks.

1. Foundational Overview

Rocket Lawyer

• Established: 2008
• Ideal For: People or businesses needing ongoing or recurring legal help
• Core Concept: Monthly or annual subscription gives unlimited access to legal documents, attorney consultations, and discounts on legal services

Rocket Lawyer is built for consistent users—those who expect to draft contracts, seek legal advice regularly, or require document updates over time. Its subscription model bundles many services together so you don’t pay per item.

LegalZoom

• Established: 2001
• Ideal For: Users who want specific legal services like forming a business, registering a trademark, or preparing a will without subscribing
• Core Concept: Pay per service with clear, upfront pricing; subscription plans are available but more limited

LegalZoom is geared toward those who need a single (or occasional) legal task completed efficiently. Think of it like a legal a la carte menu: choose what you need, pay for it, get it done.

2. Pricing Structures

Here’s how both platforms break down their costs:

Rocket Lawyer

• Monthly Plan: $39.99
• Annual Plan: $239.99 (about $20 per month)
• Included:
  • Unlimited creation & editing of legal documents
  • Free 30‑minute attorney consultations
  • Unlimited legal Q&A access
  • Discounts on attorney services and more

Non‑subscribers can use the platform, but must pay per document or service—often making it fail to compare favorably to the subscription unless you need just one item.

LegalZoom

• Pay-per-Service:
  • LLC formation: from $79 plus state fees
  • Trademark registration: from $249
  • Will creation: from $89
  • Other services vary based on complexity
• Subscription Plan:
  • Business Advisory Plan: $31.25/month
• Other Fees:
  • Registered Agent Service: $249/year

LegalZoom’s prices depend on your specific needs. Subscriptions are available but mainly enhance standby support for selected business services.

3. What Services Are Offered

Rocket Lawyer

1. Document Library

Hundreds of customizable legal templates—LLC operating agreements, lease contracts, employment contracts, wills, trusts, NDAs, etc. Subscribers use virtually unlimited, non‑subscribers pay a per‑document fee.

2. Attorney Consultations

Subscribers receive free 30‑minute calls or online chats with licensed attorneys. Perfect for quick questions or understanding legal use.

3. Business Formation

Helps form LLCs, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and more. Services include filing paperwork, drafting operating agreements, obtaining EINs, and compliance bundles.

4. Ongoing Legal Support

The platform facilitates real-time legal Q&A, advice, and some complex legal services (e.g., court representation or contract review) at discounted rates.

LegalZoom

1. Entity Formation

Strong in LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, DBA registrations; offers add-ons like EIN registration, compliance monitoring, and startup kits.

2. Estate Planning

Tools for creating wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and family estate bundles.

3. Intellectual Property

Trademark registration, copyright filing, and some help with provisional patents. Less DIY, more attorney-guided.

4. Other Legal Documents

Agreements such as business contracts, leases, power-of-attorney forms, and more.

5. Ongoing Support (via subscription)

Business Advisory Plan includes access to attorney calls and legal Q&A, but more limited than Rocket Lawyer’s offering.

4. Customer Support & Legal Assistance

Rocket Lawyer

• Support: 24/7 by phone and email for billing, how-to questions, and document help.
• Attorney Access: Free 30‑minute consultations (online or phone) for subscribers, plus discounted rates for additional help.
• Reputation: Widely praised for responsiveness and expertise, especially for small business owners and individuals with recurring needs.

LegalZoom

• Support: Phone and email during business hours.
• Attorney Access: Included in certain packages or available on request for an added fee. Unlimited calls are available with the Business Advisory Plan, though not as robust as Rocket Lawyer.
• Reputation: Helpful, knowledgeable, and patient staff, though some users report delays when attorney appointments are needed.

5. Platform Usability

Rocket Lawyer

The dashboard is intuitive and organized. You can easily:

• Browse legal templates by category
• Access and edit existing documents
• Start live chats or schedule attorney consultations
• Review support resources and progressive help guides

The subscription model keeps everything accessible, reducing friction for frequent users.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom’s user interface is clean and approachable—especially for one-off services. Features include:

• Guided step-by-step menus for each legal transaction
• Clear progress indicators
• Helpful FAQ and legal glossary support

While primarily built for stand‑alone services, support tools are well‑integrated for ease of use.

6. Customer Reviews & Feedback

Rocket Lawyer

Strengths:

• Excellent value for frequent users
• Legal Q&A and attorney access seen as major benefits
• Appreciated for small‑business support

Weaknesses:

• Limited scope for complex legal issues
• Light variability in attorney availability by region

Common User Sentiment:

“The subscription gave me peace of mind knowing I could ask questions anytime.”
“Too basic for advanced corporate legal needs.”

LegalZoom

Strengths:

• Clear pricing and structured legal forms
• Great for trademarks, LLCs, wills
• Support staff praised for clarity and friendliness

Weaknesses:

• Document processing delays
• Service cost can pile up with add‑ons or rush options

Common User Sentiment:

“Helpful for setting up my LLC in hours.”
“Got slowed down waiting for trademark processing.”

7. Making Your Choice: Which One Is Best?

Your choice depends on your legal needs:

Go with Rocket Lawyer if:

• You foresee needing legal documents or advice regularly (business owners, consultants, landlords, etc.)
• You prefer an all-in-one legal hub
• You want free consultations and ongoing attorney access
• You want to control costs by avoiding per-item fees

Choose LegalZoom if:

• You need only one or two legal services (e.g., forming an LLC, estate planning document)
• You want clear pricing for each service
• You aren’t looking for continuous support—just one-time solutions
• You’re okay with add-on or rush fees for faster processing

8. Side-by-Side Summary

Feature	Rocket Lawyer	LegalZoom
Pricing Model	Subscription ($39.99/mo or $239.99/yr)	Pay‑per‑service + optional Business Plan ($31.25/mo)
Document Library	Unlimited for members, fee for non‑members	Individual documents for specified fees
Attorney Consultation	Free 30‑minute sessions for members	Included in some packages or ad‑on charges
Business Formation	Included in subscription + discounts	Starter packages + paid add-ons
Estate Planning	Wills, trusts, POAs included	Full estate planning available
Intellectual Property	Basic support + attorney access	Trademark, copyright, some patent services
Support Access	24/7 phone, email, legal chat	Office‑hour phone and email support
Ease of Use	Centralized dashboard for ongoing use	Guide‑based, streamlined for single tasks
Ideal Customer	Frequent users needing ongoing legal help	Users needing specific legal documents or filings
Typical Cost	~$20/month with annual plan	Varies per service; $79+ for LLC, $249+ for trademark, etc.
Pros	Unlimited docs, attorney access, subscription value	Clear pricing, strong specialty services, good support
Cons	May lack depth for highly complex matters	Costs add up; delays sometimes reported

Final Verdict

Here’s a clearer breakdown of which platform to choose based on different scenarios:

Scenario 1: You own a small business…

If you frequently need contracts, want ready-made legal docs, and want help navigating legal questions—all while keeping costs predictable—Rocket Lawyer is the clear choice. The subscription provides a broad toolkit for ongoing use.

Scenario 2: You just want to form an LLC and stop there…

LegalZoom is likely better for you. You pay one fixed fee, get the documents filed, and you’re done—no ongoing subscription required.

Scenario 3: Estate planning is your main focus…

Rocket Lawyer offers a streamlined bundle with attorney help included. LegalZoom also does this well, but expect to pay per document.

Scenario 4: You need to register a trademark…

LegalZoom leads here in pricing and streamlined process, though Rocket Lawyer still provides support through its attorneys.

Scenario 5: You want to handle multiple legal needs…

Rocket Lawyer wins again: subscription gives unlimited documents, Q&A, lawyer access, and the flexibility to add services as needed.

FAQ’s

Do both services give access to a lawyer?

• Rocket Lawyer: Yes—one free 30‑minute consultation per legal issue for subscribers.
• LegalZoom: Yes—through certain packages or add-on services; not automatically included in basic document orders.

Which one is better for forming an LLC?

• Rocket Lawyer: Offers LLC formation plus legal guidance and documents included in subscription.
• LegalZoom: Offers tiered packages; cost-effective but add-ons may increase price.

What about estate planning?

Both offer wills, trusts, and POAs. Rocket Lawyer includes this in its subscription, while LegalZoom may charge per document.

Are these platforms easy to use without legal experience?

Absolutely. Both provide guided forms, helpful explanations, and intuitive layouts. Rocket Lawyer is ideal for frequent users, while LegalZoom suits single-use needs better.

Can I get continuous legal help with LegalZoom?

Only with its Business Advisory Plan, which is more limited than Rocket Lawyer’s subscription package.