LegalZoom vs Swyft Filings
Choose LegalZoom if you want business formation alongside dedicated estate-planning products; choose Swyft Filings if a $0 corporation filing service or faster published LLC processing times matter more. Both offer $0 basic LLC formation services plus state fees, with paid options for documents, attorney access, and ongoing business support. Compare the services included in each package, not just the starting price.
Last updated October 31, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | LegalZoom | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|
| C corporation formation | Starts at $149 plus state filing fees | Basic: $0 service fee plus state fees |
| Registered agent | $249 per year | Starts at $149 per quarter |
| Estate planning | Will and living-trust plans | Personal legal forms |
| LLC processing | Timing varies by package and state | 7–10, 3, or as little as 1 business day by package |
| Basic LLC formation | $0 plus state filing fees | $0 service fee plus state fees |
| Paid LLC packages | Pro $249; Premium $299, plus state fees | Standard $169; Premium $269 promotional prices, plus state fees |
| Attorney access with LLC packages | 30 days with Pro or Premium; renews at $49 per month | Legal Suite access: 1 month with Basic or Standard; 2 months with Premium |
| Operating agreement and EIN | Included with Pro and Premium LLC packages | Included with Standard and Premium LLC packages |
| Legal documents | 150+ customizable forms for 1 year with Pro or Premium LLC | 250+ documents through introductory Legal Suite access |
| Ongoing compliance | Annual-report filing and compliance services | ComplianceGuard at $199 per year after a 14-day trial |
| Other formation services | Corporation, nonprofit, and DBA | C corporation, nonprofit, and DBA |
| Customer support | Chat and phone for LLC packages | Phone and chat; Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. CT on its LLC page |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose LegalZoom if
- Founders who also want a will or trust plan
- LLC buyers who want a year of legal-form and eSignature access in a paid package
- Buyers who prefer an annually billed registered agent
Choose Swyft Filings if
- Founders seeking a $0 basic C corporation formation service, plus state fees
- LLC buyers comparing stated processing timelines
- Buyers who prefer quarterly registered-agent billing
The verdict
LegalZoom is the better fit if you expect to buy a will or trust plan as well as form a business, or want its Pro LLC package with a year of legal-form and eSignature access. Swyft Filings is the better fit if you want its $0 basic C corporation service, published processing timelines, or a registered agent billed quarterly. The deciding factor is which additional services you need and what they cost after introductory access ends.
LegalZoom vs Swyft Filings: common questions
- Can I form an LLC for $0 with LegalZoom or Swyft Filings?
- Yes. LegalZoom and Swyft Filings each advertise a $0 basic LLC formation service, but state filing fees and any selected extras still apply.
- Which has a lower advertised starting price for a C corporation?
- Swyft Filings advertises a $0 Basic C corporation formation service plus state fees. LegalZoom advertises corporation formation starting at $149 plus state filing fees.
- How do the paid LLC packages compare?
- LegalZoom lists Pro at $249 and Premium at $299, plus state fees. Swyft Filings currently displays promotional prices of $169 for Standard and $269 for Premium, plus state fees; its page also shows higher regular prices.
- Do either company's LLC packages include attorney access?
- LegalZoom includes a 30-day attorney-plan subscription with Pro and Premium LLC packages, with a stated $49 monthly renewal. Swyft Filings lists introductory Legal Suite access with its LLC packages: one month for Basic or Standard and two months for Premium.
- Which publishes faster LLC processing?
- Swyft Filings states processing times of 7–10 business days for Basic, 3 for Standard, and as little as 1 for Premium after receiving a complete order. These are Swyft Filings processing times, not guarantees of state approval.
- How much do their registered-agent services cost?
- LegalZoom lists registered-agent service at $249 per year. Swyft Filings lists its registered-agent plan starting at $149 per quarter; it says separate subscriptions are required for each entity and state filing.
- Can I use either service for a will or trust?
- LegalZoom sells dedicated will and living-trust plans. Swyft Filings publishes personal legal forms, but its business-formation offerings are not a like-for-like comparison with LegalZoom's estate-planning plans.
- Should I expect recurring charges?
- Check the terms for any optional subscription before purchasing. LegalZoom states that the attorney subscription included with its Pro and Premium LLC packages renews after 30 days unless canceled. Swyft Filings states that ComplianceGuard renews annually after its 14-day trial unless canceled.