A detailed comparison of Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom by analyzing their business formation and registered agent services, document creation, turnaround time, customer support, reputation and trustworthiness, and pricing.
Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom – Quick Comparison
| Rocket Lawyer | LegalZoom | |
| Business Filing Services | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Agent Service | Yes | Yes |
| Access to Attorneys | Free 30-minute consultations included in the membership | Yes, for users of the Business Advisory Plan |
| Operating Agreement | Yes | Yes |
| EIN (Tax Number) | Yes | Yes |
| Refund Policy | 30 days | 60 days |
| Customer Support | Phone, chat, email | Phone, chat, email |
Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom – In-Depth Comparison
Both Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom offer a range of legal services, including document preparation services, business formation assistance, estate planning, and even online assistance with divorce or bankruptcy filings.
As online legal service providers, they both have registered agent services, which enable businesses to receive documents around the clock, without needing to maintain an office in the area where they conduct their business.
And while they do share many similarities, they also have differences, the key being cost and pricing models. Rocket Lawyer can be considered more affordable and offers subscription-based pricing plans, while LegalZoom is potentially pricier but has more pricing options based on specific services. Here’s how they stack up in terms of services.
Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom for Business Formation
From LLCs and nonprofits to sole proprietorships and partnerships, LegalZoom supports a wide range of business formations, including simple procedures like obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN). And more complex, like assistance with legal documents necessary for loaning money or filing for bankruptcy.
The setup process is simple and very easy to follow, regardless of the type of business you want to establish. Requiring zero experience, it’s ideal for both experienced and inexperienced customers.
If you choose to file an LLC, with the Basic package, which is the most affordable option, you get business filing, articles of incorporation, a name check service, and a customizable website—all processed within 20 days. Plus, LegalZoom reviews all your LLC documents before submitting them to ensure there are no mistakes.
With the exception of bankruptcy and money lending documents, Rocket Lawyer offers the same business formation services as LegalZoom. It also offers members more access to company services but, in return, requires that the user does some work on their own. So, if you want to establish a business via Rocket Lawyer but don’t know what type, and what legal documents you require, you will have to first find all the answers on your own.
For people who know exactly what they need, Rocket Lawyer is a great option as it allows new members to get all services related to business formation for the first LLC free of charge. The downside is that RocketLawyer limits you to paying a subscription to get the service for free. If you don’t subscribe, you’ll end up paying a full fee for everything, including simple legal documents.
Another aspect to consider when choosing between Rocket Lawyer or LegalZoom is that the latter offers robust intellectual property offerings like trademark and copyright registration, and patent applications.
LegalZoom vs Rocket Lawyer Registered Agent Service
Both LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer offer their registered agent services as optional add-ons or as part of their business formation packages.
In choosing LegalZoom as your RA, you will use their address as your registered office address and be notified of all important deadlines or compliance requirements. You’ll also get unlimited cloud storage for all your documents and have LegalZoom handle all the paperwork with your state and cover any fees.
Rocket Lawyer’s registered agent service is nearly identical to LegalZoom’s. By choosing the company as your RA, you will authorize them to handle all the legal paperwork. The difference is that for customers enrolled in Rocket Lawyer’s membership program, the service comes with a 25% discount.
Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom for Document Creation
Rocket Lawyer allows customers to use the platform as a centralized storage place for all legal paperwork. It also offers online access to all paperwork, including business formation documents or any other legal work you do via Rocket Lawyer.
Naturally, access to the database of premium documents is only possible for Rocket Lawyer members or non-members for a fee.
LegalZoom allows much easier access to all legal document templates and secure document storage and retrieval services. It has more than 150 business legal forms, which are easily customizable and can be filed online or printed, stored, or shared.
Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom Turnaround Time
How quickly you can expect documents and services to be completed ultimately depends on the number of filings and the complexity of the service requested. However, unlike other companies in the industry that base the turnaround time on the state the client is doing business in, which may take from a few days to a few weeks, LegalZoom bases its formation speeds on how much you spend on their services.
On the other hand, Rocket Lawyer’s formation speed is based on the actual turnaround time of the respective state. With Rocket Lawyer, you get a range of turnaround times, from as little as two days to as many as seven days or more for complicated services.
Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom Customer Support
The most significant benefit of LLC formation services is that they offer the option to contact their customer service representatives to help solve any problems you may have.
Both LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer provide customer support by phone, chat, and email. And according to online reviews and our own experience, both companies provide fast, high-quality phone support and somewhat slower email support.
LegalZoom’s customer service team is available from Mondays to Fridays from 5 AM to 7 PM (PT), including Saturdays from 7 AM to 4 PM (PT).
In comparison, Rocket Lawyer’s support network can be reached Mondays to Fridays from 6 AM to 6 PM (PT).
LegalZoom or Rocket Lawyer in Terms of Reputation and Trustworthiness
Since 2008, Rocket Lawyer has grown into a reputable brand and has been recognized by over 20 million businesses and individuals for its services. In addition to ratings from multiple review sites, which confirm the company’s trustworthiness, yet another confirmation is that it recently announced a $223 million round of funding from venture capital firms and industry leaders.
LegalZoom is more than a well-established brand for legal services and, over the past 20 years, has helped millions of customers start their online businesses, grow awareness of the importance of structuring finances and protect intellectual property. It’s also a publicly traded company with a market cap of $2.05 billion.
Rocket Lawyer vs LegalZoom Pricing
Rocket Lawyer offers a monthly membership cost with the option to cancel the service anytime. Non-members can purchase services à la carte.
If you sign up as a member, Rocket Lawyer lets you receive a free filing service for your first LLC though you will incur the state filing fees, which range between $50 to $500. You also get access to legal forms at no extra charge and can consult with an attorney via the website’s forum.
If you prefer to talk to an attorney over the phone, you can use the 30-minute consultations for any new legal matter. Members can save 40% on hiring a lawyer and 25% on registered agent services.
LegalZoom offers different pricing options based on specific services. Users can choose individual services at fixed prices or opt for bundled packages for more comprehensive legal needs.
LegalZoom also has a free plan that includes articles of organization, name check service, and a digital welcome packet with a step-by-step guide for the client to follow once they’ve registered their LLC. An excellent addition is the Wix-powered customizable website for your business.
The Pro and Premium plans offer everything from the Basic plus EIN, a comprehensive guide to business licenses for your specific state and industry, and insurance and tax consultations. The bonus with the Premium plan is that you get a 24-hour processing time and prioritization within the Secretary of State’s queue.
Rocket Lawyer Pricing Plans
| Membership | $39.99 per month + state filing fees |
| Non-member (pay per-service) | – Business formation: $99.99 + state fees – Registered agent service: $149.99 – Legal documents: $39.99 per form – Ask-a-Lawyer: $49.99 per question – 30-minute consultation: $59.99 |
LegalZoom Pricing Plans
| Basic | $0 + state filing fees |
| Pro | $249 + state filing fees |
| Premium | $279 + state filing fees |
Which is better, Rocket Lawyer or LegalZoom?
Overall, LegalZoom has a slight advantage over Rocket Lawyer thanks to its longer standing on the market, the variety of plans and services catering to different needs, as well as the longer customer support hours.
Learn more about it in our detailed LegalZoom review.