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Fabric by Gerber offers something rare in estate planning: a completely free will. No credit card required, no trial period — just a real will you can create in about 10 minutes. The catch? Fabric is primarily a life insurance platform backed by the legendary Gerber Life Insurance Company. Their free estate planning tools exist to acquire customers for their term life insurance products.
But "it's a loss leader" doesn't mean "it's bad." We created a complete Fabric estate plan and tested their documents, user experience, and life insurance offerings. Here's the full picture — including whether the free will is actually worth using.
Fabric by Gerber at a Glance
Best free option for young families who need a basic will, guardian nomination, and life insurance in one place
Estate planning
Free
Free Will
Guardian Nomination
Healthcare Directive
Financial POA
Term Life Insurance
Mobile App
All 50 States
Fabric is the best choice for young families who need a quick, free starting point for estate planning — especially if they also need term life insurance. The free will is real and valid, though limited. For comprehensive estate planning (living trust, detailed customization, lifetime updates), Trust & Will or LawDepot are better choices. Fabric excels as an entry point; plan to upgrade as your estate grows.
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Fabric Score Breakdown
What Does Fabric's Free Plan Actually Include?
The Free Estate Planning Documents
- Last Will & Testament — simple, valid will covering asset distribution and guardian nomination
- Guardian Nomination — designates guardian(s) for minor children
- Healthcare Directive — basic advance directive covering key end-of-life decisions
- Financial Power of Attorney — grants an agent authority over finances
- HIPAA Authorization — allows medical providers to share your health information with designated people
What's Missing vs. Paid Services
- No living trust option — only a simple will
- Limited customization (can't specify unequal distributions, add conditions, or include specific personal property bequests in detail)
- No trust funding guidance
- No attorney review
- No lifetime updates guarantee
Is the Free Will Actually Good?
Short answer: Yes, for what it is.
Fabric's will is a genuine, legally valid will when properly signed and witnessed. It covers all 50 states and handles the core estate planning needs of most young families: who gets what, who cares for the kids, and who manages the estate.
The limitations become relevant when you have more complexity: significant assets, multiple properties, specific bequests to multiple beneficiaries, a need to avoid probate, or complex family situations. For a 30-year-old parent with a mortgage, a retirement account, and two kids — Fabric's free will is perfectly adequate.
The execution requirements are the same as any other will: typically two adult witnesses and, in some states, notarization. Fabric provides state-specific signing instructions.
Fabric's Life Insurance: The Real Product
Fabric's primary business is term life insurance through Gerber Life. The integration between estate planning and life insurance is genuinely useful:
- Apply for term life insurance within the same app where you create your will
- Your estate plan and insurance are coordinated — beneficiaries align
- Gerber Life is a financially strong insurer (AM Best rating: A stable)
- Coverage amounts: $100,000–$5,000,000
- Terms: 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years
- Simple application — many policies issued immediately
The life insurance pricing is competitive for term policies. For young, healthy parents — exactly Fabric's target market — rates are often better than standalone insurance companies. The convenience of having life insurance and estate planning in one app is genuinely valuable for busy parents.
The Mobile App Experience
Fabric's mobile app is a standout feature. Unlike desktop-first competitors, Fabric was designed mobile-first — and it shows. The app is clean, fast, and genuinely enjoyable to use. You can create your will, update beneficiaries, and manage your life insurance policy all from your phone.
For parents who've been putting off estate planning because they "never have time," the ability to create a will during your lunch break on your phone removes the primary barrier. Fabric has lower completion rates among users who start than some competitors, but the gap between "started" and "done" is smaller because the process is so fast.
Pros and Cons of Fabric by Gerber
✅ Pros
- Completely free estate planning — no credit card required
- Best mobile experience of any estate planning service
- Integrated life insurance is genuinely useful for families
- Guardian nomination specifically designed for parents
- Fast — complete will creation in under 15 minutes
- Backed by Gerber Life (73 years of insurance history)
- All 50 states covered
❌ Cons
- No living trust — can't avoid probate
- Limited customization compared to paid services
- Clearly designed to upsell life insurance
- Less comprehensive than Trust & Will or LawDepot
- No attorney access
- May not be sufficient for complex estates or significant assets
- Document quality less robust than dedicated estate planning services
Who Should Use Fabric?
- New parents who need a will and guardian nomination but haven't started estate planning
- Young adults with simple estates who want basic documents at no cost
- Anyone who also needs term life insurance — the integrated experience is unmatched
- Mobile-first users who want to manage estate planning from their phone
- Budget-constrained families who can't afford paid alternatives right now
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Homeowners who want to avoid probate — you need a living trust, which Fabric doesn't offer
- Larger estates ($150,000+) where probate avoidance saves real money
- Complex family situations — blended families, special needs dependents, business interests
- Those who want comprehensive estate plans — Trust & Will or LawDepot provide significantly more
The Verdict: Use It as a Starting Point
Fabric is not a replacement for a comprehensive estate plan — but it's an excellent starting point, especially if you have no estate planning at all. A free valid will with guardian nomination is infinitely better than no will. If Fabric gets millions of young parents to finally create a will, that's a net positive for American families.
Our recommendation: Use Fabric to create a basic will now, especially if you have children. Plan to upgrade to a more comprehensive service (Trust & Will or LawDepot) within 1–2 years as your estate grows and you can afford a more complete plan.
Want a More Complete Estate Plan?
Compare Fabric to Trust & Will, LawDepot, and other top services — see which gives you the best plan for your situation.
See Full Comparison →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fabric by Gerber's free will actually legally valid?
Yes — Fabric's free will is a real, legally valid will when properly signed and witnessed according to your state's requirements. The document is state-specific and covers the essential elements of a valid will: distribution of assets, appointment of executor, and guardian nomination for minor children. It would hold up in probate court. The limitations are in customization and comprehensiveness, not legal validity.
What does Fabric by Gerber actually cost?
Fabric's core estate planning tools — will, healthcare directive, POA, and HIPAA authorization — are genuinely free. No credit card, no trial period. Fabric's revenue comes from life insurance products. Life insurance premiums vary based on your age, health, and coverage amount. The estate planning is a customer acquisition tool, but that doesn't diminish its value — it's free and it's real.
What's the catch with Fabric's free will?
The main limitations: (1) No living trust — you can't avoid probate with Fabric, (2) Limited customization — basic distribution options only, (3) No attorney review or access, (4) The platform is designed to upsell life insurance, so expect those prompts. The will itself is real and valid, but it represents the minimum viable estate plan. If you own real estate or have a complex estate, you'll outgrow Fabric quickly.
Who is Fabric by Gerber best for?
Fabric is best for: young parents who need guardian nomination for their children, families who also need term life insurance, budget-conscious individuals who want basic documents at no cost, and mobile-first users who want to manage everything from their phone. It's not ideal for homeowners wanting probate avoidance, larger estates, or complex family situations — those cases need Trust & Will or LawDepot.
How does Fabric compare to Trust & Will?
Fabric's free plan provides a basic will + guardian nomination. Trust & Will's paid plans ($199+) include comprehensive wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and lifetime free updates. Fabric is for families who want the bare minimum at no cost; Trust & Will is for families who want a complete, professional-grade estate plan. The right answer often depends on your asset level — under $150,000 in assets, Fabric may be fine; over that, Trust & Will is worth the investment.