For a simple will, FreeWill is a legitimate free choice and many people won't need more. Trust & Will costs from $199 for a will and $499 for a trust, and suits people who want a trust, a paid guided plan, or attorney support. FreeWill's living trust is California-only.
Both services let you build estate planning documents online. The difference is mostly price, how far the product goes beyond a will, and what kind of help you get. This page compares them using each company's published information and official legal sources, and tells you plainly when free is good enough.
FreeWill says it works with more than 2,400 nonprofits and businesses that support its mission, which is how it keeps the tools free for users. There is no credit card requirement, and the company says it doesn't sell your personal data.
The "catch" is the charitable-giving prompt. FreeWill is built to make leaving a gift to a charity easy, and it reports that one in six users include a charity in their will. You can say no. Leaving a gift is optional, and the documents work the same either way.
Beyond the will, FreeWill's site lists free advance healthcare directives (living wills), durable financial powers of attorney, and beneficiary designation tools. It also offers a revocable living trust for California residents only.
FreeWill also tells users that online planning isn't right for everyone. Its site says it will point out where an attorney may be a better fit and gives you a printable summary to take to a lawyer.
| Feature | FreeWill | Trust & Will |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no credit card | Will $199 (couples $299); Trust from $499 (couples $599) |
| What's included | Will, healthcare directive, financial POA, beneficiary designations | Will plan: will, living will, HIPAA authorization, POA. Trust plan adds trust documents and a funding guide |
| Trusts? | Revocable living trust, California only | Revocable living trust plan with pour-over will |
| Attorney access | No attorney included; points you to an attorney for complex needs | Attorney support listed as an optional add-on (+$299 on the Trust Plan page) |
| Updates | Edit from your account and reprint, per FreeWill | $49/year membership listed; check current update terms |
| Customer support | Support team available | Weekday support (Mon–Fri) listed |
| Best for | Simple estates, budget-conscious users, charitable givers | People who want a trust or paid guidance in most states |
Sources: FreeWill and Trust & Will published pages. Prices checked October 2026; confirm before buying.
Trust & Will is a paid service with two main plans:
Some older pages on this site list lower Trust Plan prices. The figures above reflect Trust & Will's own pages as checked in October 2026, and plans can change, so check the current price before you buy. Our Trust & Will review goes deeper on the product.
Note that membership is separate from validity. Per FreeWill's comparison, you don't need a membership for a signed document to stay legal. It matters if you want to log in and update later.
Only for Californians. If you live elsewhere and want a revocable living trust, FreeWill isn't an option today. A funded revocable trust can let assets pass without probate, but only for assets actually retitled into the trust, and probate rules differ by state. Our guides on what a living trust is and living trust vs will explain when one is worth it.
Yes. FreeWill lists naming a guardian for your children, and a pet caretaker, as things a will can do. Trust & Will lists guardian nominations too. A guardian nomination in a will is a request that a court considers, so choose carefully and talk to the person first. Complicated family situations, like blended families or disputes between parents, are where a lawyer's advice is most valuable.
This is the clearest gap. FreeWill is self-service with a support team. Trust & Will offers weekday customer support and optional attorney support for an extra fee. Neither company's software gives you personalized legal advice on its own. If you want a lawyer to review your plan, compare costs in our online will vs lawyer-drafted will guide.
FreeWill says you can come back, edit your will and generate a new one. You must print and sign the new version in front of two witnesses. Trust & Will lists a $49 yearly membership, and FreeWill's comparison says updates are free for the first year and need membership after. Confirm that on Trust & Will's site before assuming either way.
Whichever you choose, review your will after big life events like marriage, divorce, a new child, or a move to another state.
Making a will online is legal. What makes a will valid is how it's signed, not how it was drafted. FreeWill says its wills are valid for property in the 50 states and DC, and Trust & Will describes its plans as state-specific. Each state sets its own execution rules, so what's valid in one state can differ in another.
In general, a will has to be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed. Vermont's statute, for example, requires a signature in front of two or more credible witnesses who sign in front of you and each other (14 V.S.A. § 5). Louisiana is different: FreeWill says Louisiana requires two witnesses and a notary public. Some states also allow a "self-proving" affidavit signed in front of a notary to make probate smoother.
If you move, your will isn't automatically void, but it's smart to have it checked against the new state's rules.
Both services produce documents you finalize yourself. FreeWill gives you a PDF to print with an instructions page for signing and witnessing. Trust & Will says you can download and print, or have your documents shipped, and you still sign and witness them.
A will that's printed but never witnessed correctly may not be valid. This is the most common place free and paid users alike go wrong.
See Trust & Will's current plans →
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. For simple wills, free wins on price.
See an attorney if you own a business, have a blended family, expect a taxable estate, have a child with special needs, or own property in several states. Our estate planning cost guide shows what lawyers typically charge.
Fabric, Nolo, LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer and Willful also sell or give away will products, though we don't link to them here. LawDepot is another paid alternative with a document library; check its current pricing since plans are subscription-based. For broader lists, see our best free will makers, free online will makers and best online will maker pages, or head-to-head LegalZoom vs Trust & Will.
Not sure what you need? Try our 60-second quiz, and see how we evaluate services.
Yes. FreeWill says its tools are 100% free, with no credit card required, and that it is supported by nonprofit partners. It will prompt you to consider leaving a charitable gift, but you are not required to include one.
FreeWill says a will is valid once you print it and sign it in front of two witnesses, and that Louisiana requires two witnesses plus a notary public. Rules vary by state, so confirm the requirements where you live.
Yes. Trust & Will lists a Will Plan at $199 for an individual or $299 for couples, and a Trust Plan from $499 (couples $599). It also lists a $49/year membership and an optional attorney-support add-on. Prices checked October 2026; check current pricing before you buy.
FreeWill currently offers a revocable living trust only to California residents. In other states it offers wills, healthcare directives, financial powers of attorney and beneficiary designations.
People who want a trust, a more guided paid experience, or access to attorney support may find a paid plan worth it. Those with large, blended-family, business or out-of-state assets should consider an estate planning attorney instead.
Not always. Many people with simple situations use online wills. If your estate is complex or your family situation is contested or unusual, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.
FreeWill says you can edit and regenerate your will from your account, then print and sign it again. Trust & Will lists a $49/year membership, and FreeWill's own comparison says updates require it after the first year, so confirm Trust & Will's current update terms.
Often not. If your estate is simple and you are comfortable with a questionnaire, a free will signed correctly can do the job. Paying makes more sense when you want a trust or extra support.
Not legal advice. This article is general information, not legal advice, and no document guarantees any outcome. Laws differ by state; consult a licensed attorney about your situation.
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