Nolo WillMaker is estate planning software, while LegalZoom is a guided online service that offers optional attorney review on some packages. If you are comfortable filling in a self-serve program and want to compare its documents yourself, WillMaker is worth a look. If you want a guided questionnaire with attorney support available, LegalZoom may suit you better. For a simple estate, either can produce a will; neither replaces an attorney for a complex one.
| Nolo WillMaker | LegalZoom | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Estate planning software from Nolo (its listing says it includes over 35 documents and 2 eBooks) | Online guided service; you answer questions and it creates your documents |
| Starting price for a will | Not verified: Nolo blocked automated access to its pricing page on October 27, 2026. See willmaker.com for current pricing. | Will estate plans "start at $129" per LegalZoom's will page, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Attorney help | Documents are drafted by lawyer-editors, per Nolo; no attorney review is described on the pages we could read | Packages with attorney review by phone are offered, depending on the package you pick |
| State coverage | Nolo states its estate planning documents are not valid in Louisiana, U.S. territories or Canada | LegalZoom says its estate planning documents have been accepted in all 50 states |
| Living trust | Listed among its documents | Offered as a separate estate plan option |
| Better fit | Self-serve users who want software and many forms | People who want a guided process and an attorney option |
LegalZoom price checked on its official page October 27, 2026. Nolo details come from Nolo's own product listing; we could not load its pricing page. Plans and prices change, so confirm on each site before you buy.
LegalZoom walks you through plain-language questions (who should be your executor, who should get what, who should be guardian for minor children) and builds your documents from the answers. Nolo's WillMaker is software that also uses a question-and-answer approach, with a broader menu of documents beyond the will. Neither tool tells you whether your plan is the right one for your family, so read the finished document closely.
LegalZoom says that depending on the package, you review on your own or with a lawyer over the phone. That can be useful if you have a question about guardians, blended families or out-of-state property. For WillMaker, we found no attorney-review option described on the pages we could read; check Nolo's site for current support options.
Yes. Will-signing rules, including witness requirements, are set by state law. Nolo says its estate planning documents are not valid in Louisiana, U.S. territories or Canada, so anyone living in those places should look elsewhere or talk to a local attorney. Whichever service you use, the will generally only becomes valid once it is signed with the formalities your state requires (see handwritten wills and codicil vs new will).
It depends on what you need. If you want a complete estate plan with a will and trust documents, Trust & Will is the service we link to; check its current pricing on its own site. For free or low-cost templates, LawDepot is another option. For a larger or more complicated estate, a local estate planning attorney is the safer route.
Read our full Nolo WillMaker review, the LegalZoom review, and the LegalZoom pricing guide, or see the best online will maker guide.
Neither is better for everyone. WillMaker is software with many documents; LegalZoom is a guided service with an optional attorney review depending on the package. Pick based on how much help you want.
LegalZoom's will page said on October 27, 2026 that will estate plans start at $129. Prices vary by package and can change, so check its site.
We could not verify Nolo's current price because its pricing page blocked automated access on October 27, 2026. Check willmaker.com for the current figure.
Some packages include attorney review by phone; others are review-it-yourself. Check what your package includes before you buy.
Nolo states its estate planning documents are not valid in Louisiana, U.S. territories or Canada.
Most states require a will to be signed in front of witnesses. Follow the signing instructions for your state, or ask an attorney.
Both services list trust options. Compare what is included in each plan, and see an attorney if your estate is complex.
Sources: LegalZoom last will page (checked October 27, 2026); Nolo product listing at store.nolo.com (summary seen in search results; the page itself blocked automated access). State rules vary.
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