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• Trust & Estate Planning

Best Online Will Makers of June 2024

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust is our top pick because it's comprehensive and affordable

An online will maker is a service that helps an individual create a will from the comfort of their home, potentially for less than an estate attorney would charge. Online will makers work with attorneys and other legal professionals to generate a will based on the information you provide, which (so long as it's accurate and executed correctly) is just as legally binding as a standard will. If you have a relatively simple estate, an online will maker can be an affordable way to ensure your affairs are in order and your loved ones will be taken care of.

According to our research, Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust is the best overall online will maker due to its downloadable software, free software updates, and access to a catalog of estate planning documents. We researched 13 companies and evaluated them on several factors, including company history, price, availability in all states, offerings for online resources, ease of use, compatibility with various devices, and whether it was easy to make updates.

The 6 Best Online Will Makers of June 2024

• Best Overall: Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust
• Best Value: U.S. Legal Wills
• Best for Ease of Use: Trust & Will
• Best Comprehensive Estate Plan: TotalLegal
• Best for Free: Do Your Own Will
• Best for Making Changes: Rocket Lawyer
• Our Top Picks
• Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust
• U.S. Legal Wills
• Trust & Will
• Do Your Own Will
• Rocket Lawyer
• See More (3)

The Bottom Line

• Compare Providers

How to Write a Will

Pros and cons of having a will, alternative to a will, why you should trust us.

• Methodology

Best Overall : Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust

• Price : Starting at $99
• Legal support : No
• Free trial : No
• Update period : One year of software updates included

Customers get access to a large number of estate planning documents with this Nolo product, and the software itself is easy to use. You’re not required to have an internet connection except to download and update the software.

Get comprehensive estate planning documents for a flat rate

Free software updates for version year

Downloadable software

Estate planning documents aren’t valid in Louisiana

Must meet minimum operating system requirements

Downloadable software not available for Starter price tier

Nolo, which is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, started by publishing DIY legal guides back in 1971. It was one of the first websites to provide online legal assistance and information. It's branched out into other products, like its Quicken WillMaker & Trust software tools.

You can download the program for $99 to $209, depending on the version. They include key estate planning documents like a legal will, a living trust , a financial power of attorney (POA) , a healthcare directive, final arrangements, and a letter to survivors, in addition to other types of personal finance and home and family management documents.

The software is compatible with both Mac and Windows, and it's easy to use. It allows you to create customized legal documents using a simple interview survey to fill out forms. You can then save your information and download completed documents in PDF format. You can update your will at any time and receive legal and technical updates via the internet.

There's a legal manual to help you answer common questions within Quicken WillMaker & Trust, and you can contact technical support for additional help. Louisiana residents won’t be able to use this software because it doesn’t address the estate planning requirements for this state.

Best Value : U.S. Legal Wills

 US Legal Wills

• Price : Starting at $49.95
• Legal support : Yes
• Update period : Unlimited

U.S. Legal Wills is one of the most affordable will options we've seen. It offers 40% off forms for partners or spouses, and it also has an add-on service to get an attorney to review your estate plan. It’s one of the only websites that accommodates affordable wills for expats and those who have personal property or other assets located outside the U.S.

Free unlimited updates

Includes forms for assets outside the U.S. and for expats

Discounts for documents for your spouse or partner

No living revocable trust available

Website not as intuitive as other competitors

Signup process for spouses can be clunky

Formed in 2000 and based in New York City, U.S. Legal Wills is operated by PartingWishes Inc., an independent organization that works with U.S.-based lawyers to create legal documents, without being tied to a particular law firm. Services are available in all U.S. states (except Louisiana) and provide some of the best values and discounts of all the websites we reviewed.

Starting at $49.95 for a last will and testament, U.S. Legal Wills customers also get free storage for their documents on the company's secure servers, in addition to unlimited updates. You can pay annually or opt for the lifetime feature if you want to keep storing your documents with U.S. Legal Wills, which is only $129.95. It's a more economical choice if you plan on storing your will on its servers for more than a few years. Spouses or partners can get mirror wills (plus additional documents) for 40% off.

You can create a variety of estate planning documents on the U.S. Legal Wills website, then designate what the company calls Keyholders. These are people who have access to your documents, such as trusted family members or the individual you've named as executor .

Members can receive additional support by submitting a ticket through the customer service portal.

Best for Ease of Use : Trust & Will

 Trust & Will

• Price : Starting at $199
• Update period : One year

Customers can create their estate planning documents quickly and simply with Trust & Will. The company offers an easy way to decide which option is best through the "Get Started" section of its site. You can then fill in relevant details using an interview-style format.

We also like that Trust & Will makes it easy for you to make your documents legally binding by mailing you your completed documents for free and providing complete instructions.

Comprehensive learning center

Choose from three options so you can feel less overwhelmed

The website is intuitive to use

Only one year of unlimited updates available

Doesn’t offer free upfront legal consultations

Founded in 2017, Trust & Will aims to modernize the estate planning process by providing an easy and secure way to create your estate plan online. Document creation is seamless using its user-friendly website and its step-by-step path to getting started. The process can take as little as 15 minutes, and the company even mails your completed documents to you for no extra charge, along with instructions to make sure everything is legally binding.

The fintech expert's state-specific trusts offer pretty much everything you'll need, including a living will’s schedule of assets and a revocable living trust to help your loved ones avoid probate. It's one of the only do-it-yourself companies to offer this option.

Trust & Will has a flat fee for wills of $199 for an individual and $299 for couples. A customized trust costs $499, or $599 for couples. This includes unlimited updates for a year. You'll pay $19 annually after the first year for unlimited updates for wills and $39 for trusts.

Best Comprehensive Estate Plan : TotalLegal

Total Legal

• Price : Starting at $19.95 or $99 per year
• Update period : 60 days

TotalLegal is one of the only companies that provides comprehensive legal services that include do-it-yourself business and estate planning documents plus free and discounted access to attorneys through its TotalLegal™ plan.

Low annual or monthly fee

Premium members have access to free and discounted legal services

Ability to create a wide variety of documents

Customers who purchase one-off documents have limited update period

No living trusts available

No online access for executors

TotalLegal is part of Pro Se Planning Inc., which provides self-guided legal products, including estate planning and business formation documents. Pro Se Planning was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Customers can purchase and complete individual estate planning documents starting at $19.95 for a last will and testament, which remains available in your online account for 60 days, then offers unlimited updates.

The biggest advantage of TotalLegal is its yearly subscription plan. You get access to legal services for $99 a year, including a consultation, attorney-reviewed documents, and a will with free updates each year. All this provides the most comprehensive resources for those who need some guidance.

Document creation is simple. You’ll go through a series of questions to inform and complete your document, which can then be downloaded and printed. TotalLegal’s help center provides extensive information, and you can always call or email customer support if you have any additional questions.

There are discounted services that include creating a simple will with a trust. You'll also get access to its document storage digital vault service, where there are no storage limits.

Best for Free : Do Your Own Will

 Do Your Own Will

• Price : Free
• Free trial : N/A

This free option offers one of the widest varieties of forms without paying for extras. There's no need to create an account or hand over any credit card details. You can download your documents instantly.

No need to sign up for an account to get access to documents

Available to residents of all 50 states

Ability to save your will as either a PDF or Word document

No legal support

You must check state laws yourself

Do Your Own Will is a completely free way to make a last will and testament, POA, or a living will. Beyond the unbeatable price, one of the major perks is that it’s simple to use. There's no need to sign up for an account, but you'll have to provide your email address if you want to make updates or changes later.

Users complete forms online by filling in details such as marital status, information on your dependents, how you want your assets to be divided, and who you want to name as your executor. Download the document as a PDF or Word document, then you can sign it.

Originally founded in 1999, Do Your Own Will is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It’s available nationwide, but there's one caveat: There's no legal support, so make sure you do your own research to ensure your will is legally binding.

Best for Making Changes : Rocket Lawyer

 Rocket Lawyer

• Price : Starting at $39.99 per month by subscription
• Free trial : Yes
• Update period : Unlimited with subscription

You get access to all Rocket Lawyer's estate planning documents for one monthly price and you can make updates whenever you like. What makes Rocket Lawyer stand out is its ability to get legal advice for new legal issues and the ability to sign your documents securely online. This allows any changes you make to go into effect immediately.

Offers a wide variety of legal and estate planning documents

A free seven-day trial to try out its services

Ability to pay a low monthly fee for premium access

Monthly membership pricier than other options

You must provide credit card information even for a free trial

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Rocket Lawyer offers online legal services that include documents and attorney services. Rocket Lawyer provides customers with two monthly subscription models, which cost $39.99 per month or $239.88 per year, depending on the membership chosen. You get unlimited access to all its legal documents, including the ability to make updates and attorney services. The price also includes a free 30-minute consultation on new legal matters, an “ask a lawyer” option for your legal questions, and other professional services.

You can download wills, trusts, and powers of attorney immediately after you complete all the required information online, and then you'll receive instructions to make the documents legally binding. They can be securely signed online, plus you can invite others to sign them digitally as well. This allows you to make updates and changes quickly. You can also contact customer service by email, online chat, or calling its hotline.

We’re a fan of Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust because you can make your will or trust and other documents with one download for one flat price. But you may want to choose another option if you want additional help from a live lawyer. Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust is an option with great features for your estate planning forms if you're computer savvy.

Compare Online Will Makers

While writing your own will may seem like an intimidating task, the actual complexity will depend on the nature of your estate. You may be better served hiring an estate planning attorney if you possess an intricate web of assets. If your estate is relatively uncomplicated, then you can follow the steps below to put a will together yourself (though it may still be a good idea to have a lawyer review the finished document).

• Catalog your assets : Before you start writing your will, take an inventory of every asset you own/have in your name that you are legally permitted to bequeath in your state. You'll want to be as detailed as possible when you list these assets in your will to avoid any confusion about what a beneficiary should receive.
• Find a template : You can certainly write a will from scratch, but you can also make things easier on yourself by utilizing a free online template from a reputable source. This will reduce the amount of time you'll spend writing and minimize the chances of making any errors. Ensure the template you choose includes any additional clauses important to you, such as what powers your executor should have or how assets not assigned to any beneficiaries ought to be handled.
• Start with your name and address : While the exact identifying information you'll need in your will may vary based on the template, you'll typically have to include your full legal name, city (and possibly county), and state. Make sure your template includes a sentence revoking any prior wills you may have had.
• Name your executor(s) and guardian(s) (if applicable) : In your will, you'll need to identify the executor administering your will (as well as their successor if your first choice is unavailable) and the guardian (plus their successor) you're granting custody of your minor children (if you have any). You'll also likely have to include the mailing address and Social Security number (SSN) of each individual you name in your will. Be sure to first communicate with each individual you want to name as an executor or guardian to ensure they're willing to accept their respective roles.
• Choose your beneficiaries and the asset(s) they will receive : As with your executor(s) and guardian(s), you'll have to name the beneficiaries receiving your assets, in addition to potentially providing their mailing addresses, SSNs, and relations to you. You'll then need to specify which asset(s) each person or organization will be given.
• Sign and date your will : Once you've finished writing your will, the final step is signing it before the witnesses required by your state. If you don't complete this step, then your will won't be legally binding.

After making copies of your completed will, store the original somewhere safe and inform your executor(s) of where they can find it. You'll also want to review and revise your will every few years and after any major upheavals in your life.

Control over how your assets are distributed

Ensure your loved ones are cared for

Probate process can take a long time

Won't take effect in the event of incapacitation

Becomes a public record after your death

Pros of Having a Will

• Control over how your assets are distributed : Perhaps the greatest benefit of having a will is that it ensures your assets are distributed to your beneficiaries according to your wishes (unless you have outstanding debt, in which case your estate would be used to pay off whatever you owe). Without a will, your estate will typically be subject to intestate succession, wherein your state's intestacy laws will determine how your assets are distributed.
• Ensure your loved ones are cared for : In addition to ensuring your loved ones are cared for financially, having a will allows you to control who will look after your dependents (any minor children, pets, etc. for whom you're the primary caregiver) in the event of your passing. If you don't have this outlined in a will, the courts will appoint a guardian for your dependents.

Cons of Having a Will

• Probate process can take a long time : Perhaps the biggest downside of a will is that the probate process, wherein the courts review the deceased's assets and either determine inheritors or validate the will, can take a considerable amount of time. Depending on how complex your estate is and where you live, probate can take several months to over a year. This process can drag on for even longer if you have property in multiple states, as your beneficiaries will have to go through probate in each one.
• Won't take effect in the event of incapacitation : In the event that you're still living but become physically or mentally unable to manage your affairs, an advance directive (also known as a living will) will be required to designate someone who can make medical decisions on your behalf. At the same time, you will need a living trust for you to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs. Since a last will and testament only goes into effect when you pass away, you cannot use it for either of these purposes.
• Becomes a public record after your death : Your will is considered a confidential document while you're still alive. After you pass away and the will goes through probate, it becomes a public document. A will becomes a public record so that anyone not included in your will can have a chance to file a claim against your estate.

The primary alternative to a will is a living trust . The latter is a legal arrangement wherein an individual designates assets that are transferred to a trust account, which is managed by a trustee of the account opener's choosing. A living trust is created when the account opener signs a trust agreement, which typically specifies the trust's purpose, what kinds of assets it holds, the trustee's duties and responsibilities, and which assets each beneficiary will receive after the grantor dies.

Wills and living trusts share many similarities, but there are a few key differences that set them apart from one another:

• A will is a straightforward document that only details how the testator's assets should be distributed after their passing. Meanwhile, a living trust is a complicated arrangement wherein the grantor sets aside specific assets to fund a trust account while they're alive.
• A will doesn't go into effect until after the testator dies, whereas a living trust is in effect as soon as it's signed.
• In most cases, a will goes into probate after the testator dies, and a trust avoids the probate process entirely.
• A will becomes part of the public record, whereas a living trust's details will only be known to the grantor, trustee, and beneficiaries.

Although a living trust can be considered an alternative to a will, they aren't mutually exclusive. If you want to have an especially comprehensive estate plan , you can have both a will and a living trust. However, if your estate isn't particularly complex, then a will by itself may be sufficient.

Investopedia collected and analyzed several key data points from over 13 companies to identify the most important factors for readers choosing an online will maker. We used this data to review each company for price, availability, compatibility with various devices, and other features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right financial decisions for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999, and has been helping readers find the best online will makers since 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are online wills legitimate.

Online wills are legitimate as long as they comply with federal and state laws. Online will companies hire licensed attorneys and legal professionals to carefully word their estate planning documents so that each is legally binding, but you'll want to make sure that your final documents will carry the same weight as one that an attorney creates. Check the fine print of the online will company to make sure it’s compliant in your state.

Is Paying for an Online Will Maker Worth It?

Using a free online will service can suffice if your estate is simple and straightforward: You don’t have any children, your only beneficiary is your spouse, and your estate is very small. But you'll probably benefit from using a paid service if you have a larger estate or a more complex situation, or if you want a legal professional to help you work through your documents and other financial affairs.

Who Should Draw Up a Will?

It's a good idea for anyone with assets that multiple heirs can legitimately claim. Not dividing up assets can cause litigation among family members, creating resentment and heartache after the individual passes.

Should an Individual Write Their Own Will?

It's inadvisable to write your own will without any sort of legal guidance unless you have an up-to-date background in and knowledge of estate law. Otherwise, it's too easy to inadvertently sidestep a rule or law in your state that you didn't even know about. This could result in your final wishes not being carried out, throwing your estate into chaos as the court looks for alternate solutions. Always touch base with a legal professional before writing and finalizing your own will.

What Should You Avoid Putting in a Will?

Your will is not a private document after your death, so don't include anything that you don't want to become a matter of public record. Forming a living trust is a much more private estate-planning alternative. It will avoid airing out all the most intimate details of your life in probate court. A will must pass through probate in order for your estate to be settled.

What Is the Best Site to Create a Will?

According to our research, Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust website offers the best online will maker. However, depending on your needs, you may be better suited with another company. Do Your Own Will, for example, is a great free option, so long as you're confident in your ability to create a legally binding will without any legal support.

Are Wills Really Necessary?

In most cases, a will is an indispensable part of an estate plan. If you pass away without a will, then you risk your assets being distributed to different persons or parties than you might have wished for. Having a will in place can give you the peace of mind that this won't come to pass. There are a few cases where a will isn't strictly necessary, such as if you lack sufficient assets or any beneficiaries.

How Do You Make an Online Will?

When creating a will online, you can follow the steps outlined below to ensure you won't overlook anything crucial.

• First, shop around for the best online will maker to suit your needs.
• Next, take stock of your assets, such as any real estate in your name.
• You should then choose your beneficiaries and how you'll want your assets divided between them.
• After that, you'll need to pick an executor you trust to distribute your assets to the correct beneficiaries.
• Finally, fill out the template provided by your will maker and store a physical copy somewhere safe.

It would likely be a good idea to hire an attorney to review your will to ensure it's legally binding. Don't forget to also ensure that the beneficiary designations for any of your assets with death benefits (such as bank accounts, retirement accounts, or a life insurance policy) are aligned with your new estate plan.

How We Pick the Best Online Will Makers

Our goal is to make sure our recommendations are ones we would share with our family and friends when looking to choose an online will maker company. We looked at 13 companies before choosing the top providers. Factors we looked at include company history, price, availability in all states, offerings for online resources, whether the product was simple to use, compatibility with various devices, and whether it was easy to make updates.

Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by the payment we receive from advertisers.  Click here to learn more about our review process.

Investopedia / Zoe Hansen

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Nolo. " About Us ."

Quicken Willmaker & Trust 2024. " A Powerful Estate Planner Without the High Costs ."

US Legal Wills. " About Us ."

United States Legal Wills. " Prices ."

Trust & Will. " Founding Story ."

Trust & Will. " Pricing for Our Estate Planning Products ."

LinkedIn. " Pro Se Planning, Inc ."

TotalLegal. " Prices ."

CBInsights. " DoYourOwnWill.com ."

Rocket Lawyer. " Rocket Lawyer Introduces Rocket Tax ."

LinkedIn. " Rocket Lawyer ."

Rocket Lawyer. " Memberships and Pricing ."

Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Advice. " Debts and Deceased Relatives ."

Cornell Law School: Legal Information Institute. " Intestate Succession ."

National Council on Aging. " Last Will and Testament Guide for 2024 ."

California Courts: The Judicial Branch of California. " Wills, Estates, and Probate ."

Cornell Law School: Legal Information Institute. " Ancillary Probate ."

Cornell Law School: Legal Information Institute. " Incapacitated ."

Family Caregiver Alliance. " Legal Planning for Incapacity ."

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. " What Is a Revocable Living Trust? "

NYCourts.gov. " Last Will and Testament ."

National Council on Aging. " Living Trust vs. Will: Key Differences ."

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. " How Does a Revocable Trust Avoid Probate? "

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The 5 Best Online Will Makers of 2024

• An online will maker service for your estate planning needs costs anywhere from $0–$299.
• You can create a legally binding will for free in a few hours when you use Rocket Lawyer.
• Our top choice for online will makers of 2024 is Trust & Will because of its impressive customer service, easy-to-use platform, and helpful explanations.

Our  Reviews Team  is made up of credentialed attorneys who researched and used the online will-making services we reviewed so we can help you decide which is best for you. We selected our top choices based on:

• 200+ hours of research
• 100+ hours of estate law education
• Eight brands reviewed
• Five brands selected
• Four experts consulted
• 500+ third party reviews referenced

To better explain our research, we’ve listed pros and cons, best uses, and rankings of common features.

Creating a will can be an overwhelming and expensive process, which might be why only 46% of all American adults have one, according to a Gallup poll . [1] Gallup.com. How Many Americans Have a Will? June 23, 2021. Found on the Internet at https://news.gallup.com/poll/351500/how-many-americans-have-will.aspx Miranda M. Riva, Esq. headshot Miranda M. Riva But it is possible to create a long-lasting will for an affordable price. If an attorney isn’t in your budget, an online will-making service can be a good alternative.

Online will-making services ask a series of questions to help you generate your will document, and use your responses to generate a state-specific form you can download and print. Experienced estate attorneys design or review the state-specific forms. As long as you provide accurate information and execute your will in accordance with your state’s laws, your online will should be legally acceptable.

While an online will is a viable option for most people, the following circumstances might be better handled with the help of an attorney:

• Complex financial situation (for example, large amounts of debt)
• Complicated family structure (for example, questions of disinheritance)
• Undecided wishes (for example, how to divide your estate)

Our Reviews Team researched and tested the best online will-making services. In this article, we summarize our experience and compare and contrast picks for the best will-making services on the internet.

A quick look at the best online will maker services

• Trust & Will : Editor’s Pick
• Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust : Best Value
• LegalZoom : Best for Legal Assistance
• Rocket Lawyer : Most Affordable
• U.S. LegalWills : Best for Lifetime Unlimited Updates

Comparison of best online will makers, as of May 2024

*Feature is an additional fee **Create a will for free during the seven-day trial period.

The best online will maker services of 2024

Best overall: trust & will.

Trust & Will earned our “Best Overall” status for two main reasons: the site gave helpful explanations and tips throughout the will-creation process, and it provided thorough and well-researched resources for additional information on estate planning topics. Each time we asked a question using any of the provided channels of contact, our Legal Reviews Team received an accurate answer within two hours. Compared with other companies on this list that took at least one day to respond, the quick turnaround time is impressive. We felt this was the closest experience to hiring a lawyer.

• Cost:  $199
• Promotions:  $10 off with code Gimmie10
• Document storage:  Yes, with annual Trust & Will membership
• Access to an attorney:  Yes, for an additional cost (currently only available in 17 states)
• Unlimited updates:  Free for the first year, then $19 per year
• Satisfaction guarantee:  30-day full refund

Trust & Will Estate Planning Package

Trust & Will currently only offers a single package for creating an online will.

Will-based estate package ($199):

Last will and testament

• Power of attorney
• Living will
• HIPAA authorization form A HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) authorization form is important when you execute a living will or advance health care directive because it gives the person in charge of medical decisions access to your medical history.

For more information about this online will service, read our in-depth Trust & Will review.

Trust & Will was founded in 2017 and has quickly become established in the online estate planning industry. The company offers a free year of unlimited updates with your $199 purchase. To make changes to your documents after the year has passed, you can become a member for $19 per year, and you can make unlimited updates for as long as you retain membership. Trust & Will also offers do-it-yourself probate tools executors of a will (those who carry out the will) can purchase if they need state-specific assistance when entering   probate Probate is the legal procedure your estate goes through after you pass away.  court.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for when completing your estate documents, you can use the chat function at the bottom of the page,  send an email , or  fill out an inquiry form  to get help from an expert. You can use the chat function to connect with someone  during business hours  or find out more information about a topic. find recommended resources, and connect to an expert if you need help.

Customer reviews

Trust & Will has 4.6 out of 5 stars on  Trustpilot  based on more than 3,400 reviews. Close to 90% of the reviews left by customers are 5 out of 5 stars. Customers called out the simplicity and clarity of the platform overall, as well as great customer service when issues or questions arose. Complaints focused on issues with the website timing out and no room for customizations when answering questions.

Our experience

At first glance, Trust & Will has one of the most visually organized website designs in the industry. The layout is intuitive and easy to navigate.

One thing our team didn’t like is its lack of a simple will option and overall inability to customize. While it offers high-quality documents, you may not need all four of the documents in the package.

The auto-response that appears when you ask a question leads to a number of related resources we found helpful. We waited five minutes to talk to an expert on chat, and the wait for an email response was a few hours.

Read more in our full  Trust & Will  review.

Customer service options

• Phone:  866-908-7878 available 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday; Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT
• Email:  [email protected]
• Contact on the website:   Submit a request

Best Value: Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust

Quicken WillMaker & Trust gets the “Best Value” label from our Reviews Team because it generates comprehensive and high-quality estate planning documents at a reasonable price. Although its starting cost ($99) is higher than most companies on this list, it stands apart by offering free unlimited updates for one year, a 30-day full refund, and wills for multiple family members. Since family members are meant to share the service, you can make separate wills for different people for no additional cost.

• Cost:  $99–$209
• Promotions:  25% off with code T1040
• Document storage:  Yes, with the top package through a partnership with  Everplans
• Access to an attorney:  Not through platform, but Nolo can connect you with a local attorney
• Unlimited updates:  Free for the first year, then cost varies based on package ($99–$209)

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust packages

Quicken WillMaker & Trust offers three different customized estate plan packages:

Starter ($99):

• Health care power of attorney
• Final arrangement forms

Plus ($139):

The plus package has all the starter package features and:

• Financial power of attorney
• Letters to survivors
• Living trust
• Transfer on death deed
• Estate planning tools available as downloadable software

All-access ($209):

The all-access package has all the starter and plus package features and:

• One year subscription to  Everplans  (document and information storage service)

If you can’t decide which package you want, our Reviews Team recommends beginning with the starter package. You can upgrade at any time in your dashboard.

Quicken WillMaker & Trust has been helping customers make their wills for the last 30 years. The online questionnaire format doesn’t require you to download anything, which keeps the process simple. But if you want to keep your personal information off the internet, the downloadable software guarantees your documents are only accessible through your personal device. Along with increased privacy, the software offers a high-contrast mode for people with  vision loss .

To make the process easy, Quicken WillMaker & Trust provides a checklist before starting the questionnaire. A “helpful information” box below the prompt will guide you if you are unsure of how to answer. Quicken WillMaker & Trust also provides an  extensive book (available online)  with detailed instructions and additional information to help create your will.

Quicken WillMaker & Trust has 4.5 out of 5 stars on  Trustpilot  based on more than 230 reviews. Of those reviews, 74% give the service 5 out of 5 stars, specifically mentioning how easy the product is to use and its inclusivity for people of all ages and backgrounds. Only 5% of users gave 1 out of 5 stars, mentioning never hearing back from customer service after making an inquiry and having technical issues with the software.

Quicken WillMaker & Trust was by far the easiest platform for our Reviews Team to purchase and use. The language throughout the questionnaire was clear, and the option for further information provided an extra layer of guidance. We were specifically impressed with the number of high-quality documents you can get for such an affordable cost.

We found it difficult to get in contact with the company, since you don’t have access to direct contact links or a chat feature on the website. But we were able to reach a representative within five minutes using the toll-free phone number. An email response took around one business day. Customer service can only help with service- and product-related issues. They cannot answer legal questions.

For more information about this online will service, read our in-depth  LegalZoom Review .

• Phone:  800-728-3555 available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday
• Email:   [email protected]
• Contact on the website:  N/A

Best for Legal Assistance: LegalZoom

LegalZoom was one of the first companies in online legal assistance. Since its founding in 2001, it has helped more than 3.5 million customers with their estate planning needs. Unlike its competitors, LegalZoom offers direct attorney assistance in several legal specialties, making it qualified to assist customers with a wide variety of legal needs and earning it our distinction of “Best for Legal Assistance.”

• Cost:  $89–$249
• Promotions:  N/A
• Document storage:  Yes, with LegalZoom account
• Access to an attorney:  Yes, with certain packages or membership
• Unlimited updates:  Free for 30 days
• Satisfaction guarantee:  60-day full refund

LegalZoom estate planning packages

LegalZoom offers three different estate planning packages, and each has varying access to attorneys.

Basic last will ($89):

• Unlimited updates for 30 days from the date of purchase

Comprehensive last will ($99):

The comprehensive package has all the basic package features and:

• Attorney Assist for 30 days from the date of purchase

Estate plan bundle ($249):

The estate plan bundle has all the comprehensive package features and:

• Unlimited updates for one year from the date of purchase
• Attorney Assist for one year from the date of purchase

The questionnaire to generate your will is easy to use. You can download the packet immediately, and it includes instructions for making your will valid under your state’s laws. Unlike other services with an annual or monthly membership and unlimited updates, LegalZoom doesn’t have a process for you to update your documents outside of the specified time period with your package. For example, if you purchase the basic last will for $89, but you wait to make changes until after the 30-day unlimited update window, you’ll have to pay $89 to make revisions.

Attorney Assist and Legal Assist plan membership

LegalZoom offers two types of direct attorney assistance—both allow users to make an over-the-phone appointment with attorneys in the LegalZoom network. The main difference is the topic of legal advice.

The first is the  Legal Assist plan membership , which is available to all users seeking legal advice on any topic, including those who purchase the basic will package. You can purchase a year-long membership for $199 or six months for $119. The membership offers unlimited 30-minute consultations on new legal matters. A new legal matter is completely unique from, and not at all related to, a legal matter you previously inquired about.

For example, you may be limited to a single 30-minute discussion about your will document. If you need to go over 30-minutes or make a second inquiry about it, it may not be considered a “new legal matter.” In that case, the attorney you’re connected with will give you their fee structure (which varies by attorney) and bill you for any additional time. You’re always connected with an attorney in your state, so that fee will vary based on your location and their firm’s billable hourly cost. If you’re a LegalZoom member, you’ll get  25% off  the firm’s standard rate for representation.

The second is called  Attorney Assist , and it’s only available with the comprehensive and estate bundle plans. With it, you’ll get on-demand legal advice from attorneys in the LegalZoom network who can answer unlimited questions about your estate plan and review your final estate documents. When you upgrade to the comprehensive plan you’ll have access for two weeks, and with the estate plan bundle you’ll have access for one year.

If you anticipate needing more than 30 minutes of legal assistance while completing your will, the attorney assist option that comes with the middle and top-tier packages might be a better option.

LegalZoom has 4.5 out of 5 stars on  Trustpilot  based on 3,300 reviews. More than 80% of reviewers gave it 5 out of 5 stars. Customers mentioned they were longtime subscribers and the service continues to meet their needs. We found 13% of all reviewers gave LegalZoom 1 out of 5 stars, complaining the website often directs to an error page and provides unclear descriptions of deadlines and fees.

The overall questionnaire process for completing a will was straightforward and in easy-to-understand language.

While it was easy to sign up and purchase a package, the cost of add-on services was hidden at the end of the process. We were impressed with the value of the middle tier, which is an extra $10 but comes with 30 days of on-demand attorney assistance.

When we asked questions through chat, a helpful response followed within five minutes. We reached a representative by phone within 10 minutes. An email response took around one business day.

• Phone:  888-379-0854 available 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, weekends
• Email:  [email protected]
• Contact on the website:   Contact us

Most Affordable: Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer is the only online will service we reviewed that generates a downloadable will for free, which is why we named it “Most Affordable.” It ties with U.S. LegalWills for the lowest starting price ($39), but it offers more forms with no extra cost and has attorneys available, unlike U.S. LegalWills.

• Cost:  $0–$19.99 per month
• Promotions:  Seven-day free trial followed by a month-long trial for $5
• Document storage:  Yes, with monthly Rocket Lawyer membership
• Access to an attorney:  Yes, unlimited 30-minute consultation on new legal issues
• Unlimited updates:  Free for seven days, $5 for the second month, then $39.99 per month
• Satisfaction guarantee:  No

Rocket Lawyer estate planning package

Rocket Lawyer doesn’t offer a specific estate package, but for the free seven-day trial and while you’re an active member paying the monthly $39.99 fee, you’ll get access to hundreds of other state-specific legal forms, and you’ll be able to make unlimited changes to your documents.

When you pay for the membership, you’ll also get one free 30-minute consultation with an attorney regarding any new legal matters (new and unrelated to previous inquiries) that arise.

Rocket Lawyer is known mostly for its quick and easy-to-use website with free legal forms and templates. It may be a good option if you’re about to have surgery and want to quickly get a will in place.

After you create an account and answer questions to create your will, you’ll need to put in your credit card information before you can download your document. You’ll have access to your will and any other legal form you can find on the Rocket Lawyer database for free during the initial seven-day trial. After your trial expires, Rocket Lawyer will automatically charge $39.99 per month, unless you cancel ahead of time.

While our team chose Rocket Lawyer as a great free option for creating your will, this service doesn’t provide extra assistance or guidance when completing the questionnaire. Additionally, if you forget to cancel the free trial, you may end up paying more for your documents than if you chose a different service.

Rocket Lawyer has 4.7 out of 5 stars on  Trustpilot  based on more than 7,000 reviews. More than 80% of reviewers gave it 5 out of 5 stars. Customers highlighted the free document feature and the range of legal forms available on the database. Only 4% of customers gave it 1 out of 5 stars, reporting difficulty canceling the subscription and issues connecting with an attorney.

Rocket Lawyer is a great resource for legal forms, especially for estate planning. We also like that you can get a custom-made will for free.

What we didn’t like is how you go through the questionnaire process before you’re asked to put in credit card information. It felt misleading at first, since it’s advertised as a free will but also asks for payment before you can view the finished document. If you call or email to cancel your subscription within the seven-day period you can complete and download whatever legal forms you want for free. When we emailed, we got a response back within five hours. When calling, it took about 15 minutes to connect with a representative.

Customer Service Options

• Phone:  877-881-0947 available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday
• Email:  N/A
• Contact on the website:  ( Contact us )

Best for Lifetime Unlimited Updates: U.S. LegalWills

What makes U.S. LegalWills stand out is the cost of unlimited updates, which is why we named it “Best for Lifetime Unlimited Updates.” Most notably, the lifetime deal costs a flat fee of $129.95. For other online will services, the cost to make unlimited updates ranges from $19 to more than $300 per year. Cost varies depending on how long you want to be able to make updates.

• Cost:  $39.95–$129.95
• Promotions:  When you join, your partner will get 40% off their membership; refer a friend, they get a 10% discount, and you get a $20 Amazon gift card
• Document storage:  Yes, with purchase
• Access to an attorney:  No
• Unlimited updates:  Yes, cost varies

U.S. LegalWills estate planning packages

Last will and testament ($39.95):

Premium last will and testament ($69.95):

The premium package has all the last will and testament package features and:

• Personalized messages and wishes
• Family access to your documents

Complete estate plan ($99.95):

The complete estate plan has all the premium package features and:

Premium estate plan ($129.95):

The premium estate plan has all the complete estate plan features and:

• My Life Locker
• Digital Vault

Unlimited updates:

• First year: Free
• Two years: $11.95
• Five years: $29.95
• 10 years: $39.95
• 25 years: $79.95
• Life: $129.95

U.S. LegalWills offers three different and affordable estate planning bundle packages. You can also choose a “build your own” option and add the documents you need, instead of paying for documents you don’t need. This makes U.S. LegalWills one of the most customizable will-making services we reviewed.

U.S. LegalWills also has advanced information storage available with  My Life Locker , which stores personal information, and  Digital Vault , which contains documents you want to upload for future use by your executor. These two storage options are only available with the highest tier package.

U.S. LegalWills has 4.6 out of 5 stars on  Trustpilot  based on more than 400 reviews. More than 80% of reviewers gave it 5 out of 5 stars. Customers highlighted how easy the process was and how quickly they were able to complete the forms.

Some customers complained the forms weren’t upheld in a court of law. To each of those reviews, a customer service representative defended U.S. LegalWills and gave citations to the law supporting the forms.

Despite the website platform appearing outdated, the questionnaire process was simple. The “try now for free” option at the bottom of the package prices was misleading. This is not the same as the free trial Rocket Lawyer offers. You’ll move through the will-creation process, but at the end, only a preview of the first page of your will is available to you. To see the rest, you’ll need to purchase the product. It took about 10 minutes to connect with a representative by phone, and an email response took around 10 hours.

• Phone:  888-660-9455 available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday
• Email:  [email protected]

What to look for in the best online will makers

Estate planning is a customizable experience, so flexibility is important. Most platforms offer some variation of the features below, whether in a bundle or as add-on services.

The most important document in the estate planning process is a last will and testament , often referred to as a “will.” This document specifies who will be responsible for distributing your estate and can give detailed instructions about which beneficiaries are entitled to certain items or sums of money. Many wills also include guardianship details if the will writer has minor children or pets.

When you create an online will, you’ll answer a series of personal and financial questions that will help create your final document. Each one of the services we’ve selected has state-specific forms created by estate planning experts. After finishing the questionnaire, you can download the completed documents, print them out, and execute them according to the instructions provided by your online will service.

Additional estate planning documents

Creating a simple will is important at any stage in your life, but you should consider additional documents as well. The most common estate documents, in addition to a will, are a power of attorney and a living will (also called a health care directive). Most online services offer these legal documents as an add-on feature, but some offer a package deal for all three. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to invest in a service that offers a bundle. Read our guide to learn how to make a will without a lawyer .

Unlimited updates

Celeste Robertson , Esq., a member of the Texas Bar Foundation and practicing attorney since 1994, advised “you should review your will and other estate planning documents every three to five years” and always “revisit these documents whenever significant life changes occur.” Robertson gave the following examples of significant life changes:

• Birth of a child [or grandchild]
• A substantial change in assets.

That means it’s important to note whether you can make changes to your documents in the platform you choose. Many services offer free, unlimited changes for at least the first 30 days after purchase. Others offer free changes for up to a year or without limits. With services that offer a membership, you’ll generally be able to make unlimited updates to your estate documents so long as you pay the monthly or annual subscription.

Document storage

While you should always have an original paper copy of all your important documents, it’s a great idea to have virtually accessible backup copies. Most of our top choices have a virtual storage space for your will and any other documents you completed using the service. Some even allow you to upload additional important documents, such as:

• Identification cards
• Real estate deeds
• Account numbers
• Life insurance policy
• Tax documents

When choosing a virtual storage base, security is a top concern. Each of the services on this list that offers document storage has one or two layers of encryption (converting information into a code to prevent unauthorized access) to protect sensitive information from anyone who doesn’t have authorization to access your account. Quicken WillMaker & Trust and Trust & Will both took an extra step by undergoing Type 2 Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2 Type 2) auditing ⓘ SOC 2 Type 2 is an exam used to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of a service organization’s controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. , which provides an independent, third-party assessment of a service organization’s security during a period of time.

Family plan

Some online services offer a second will for a discounted price. This is ideal if your spouse or close family member is also interested in creating a will. Even if spouses or partners own property and assets together, it’s common for them to create reciprocal wills. These are two separate wills, each making the other the beneficiary of the entire estate. For services that offer a family plan, you can often get the second will at a discounted price, and you can easily add it on at checkout.

Helpful hint: If this feature is essential for you, Quicken WillMaker & Trust allows you to make an unlimited number of wills with a single purchase of one of its products. In other words, you can get estate documents for the whole family for the cost of one package.

Attorney assistance

While most people creating a will online can do so without additional assistance, you might be interested in seeking general legal advice or having a lawyer look over your will, especially if you have a complex estate plan. Some services offer specialized legal assistance throughout the creation process—usually at a higher cost. If you anticipate needing an estate planning attorney to look over your documents at any point during the process, you should consider choosing a service that offers this as an add-on feature.

Helpful hint: If this feature is essential for you, you might consider one of the middle or top-tier packages with LegalZoom. You’ll have on-demand attorney access to ask whatever estate questions you have for 30 days after purchase. Other services cost more than $200 per year for this level of accessor limit your questions to “new legal matters” only.

Satisfaction guarantee

Many services are backed by a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. Some guarantees may come with limitations or will only apply refunds to certain services.

How we reviewed online will-making services

The Reviews Team curated a scoring system for online will-making services that considers the value for money, ease of use, customer support, features, and customer satisfaction. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Value for money (35% of total score): We rated the value of every online will maker’s basic package. We also considered whether the service offered free or unlimited will revisions and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.
• Ease of use (25% of total score): We looked at whether we could navigate the website successfully and where the roadblocks, if any, came up. Did we have trouble adding features or signing into our account? We compared our experiences before and after account setup.
• Customer support (20% of total score): We reviewed each company’s customer service offerings through email, phone, and chat, and gave a score based on timeliness and accuracy of responses.
• Features (15% of total score): We looked at the essential estate planning features and add-on services the company offers and whether the packages are customizable.
• Customer satisfaction (5% of total score): We looked at customer ratings across trusted third-party review sites, like Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, and rated our own satisfaction with the process.

Bottom line

After hundreds of hours researching, our Reviews Team found the above online will maker companies to be the top five in the market. We found Trust & Will is our best overall because of its combination of excellent customer support, user-friendly creation process, and affordable prices.

If you’re looking for high-quality documents and affordable ongoing support, Quicken WillMaker & Trust would be your best option. If you want to have an attorney review your will and answer questions along the way, LegalZoom is our top pick for legal assistance. With its free will option, Rocket Lawyer is best for those on a budget. If making unlimited lifetime updates is high on your priority list, U.S. LegalWills is a great option.

For more resources about planning for the future:

• Visit NCOA’s Age Well Planner
• Read our guidance on managing someone else’s legal, financial, and medical decisions
• Be informed about estate recovery , how it works, and how it can affect you or a loved one

Frequently asked questions

Yes, it’s completely legitimate to use an online service to create your will. As long as you execute the document in accordance with your state’s laws, your online will is legally binding.

Among those reviewed services, Trust & Will was our number one “Editor’s Pick.” Next, we chose LegalZoom, Quicken WillMaker & Trust, followed by Rocket Lawyer, and U.S. LegalWills.

The main pros of online wills are they’re more affordable than hiring an estate attorney, they can be created from home, and they’re easier than writing a will from scratch.

The main cons of online wills are that an attorney review is not available with all services, they might not be the best option for those with a complicated estate, and unlimited updates not available with all services (requiring re-purchase to make updates).

The price to create a simple online will range from $0–$89. Some packages offering several documents, in addition to a will, can cost up to $299.

While an online will is designed to be legally binding if you provide accurate information and follow your state’s laws, its validity could be contested if someone has reason to believe it wasn’t written properly.

In some circumstances, such as complex financial situations, complicated family structures, or undecided wishes, it’s best to consult an attorney.

Have questions about this review? Email us at [email protected] .

• Gallup.com. How Many Americans Have a Will? June 23, 2021. Found on the Internet at https://news.gallup.com/poll/351500/how-many-americans-have-will.aspx

Best online will makers, compared

More financial advice, best online will makers.

Learn how you can save money and secure your estate with these quality options.

Joe Van Brussel

Contributor

Joe Van Brussel is a freelance writer for CNET Money, where he deciphers obfuscatory credit card offers and breaks them down so consumers actually know what belongs in their wallet. He also covers other aspects of personal finance, from life insurance and loans to tax software and the impact of broader economic trends on individuals. Joe believes the United States will win the World Cup in his lifetime, and wishes New York City apartments came standard with thick, noise-reducing windows.

CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.

• Best for frequent updates Nolo Quicken WillMaker and Trust See at WillMaker
• Best for customization LegalZoom See at LegalZoom
• Best for young families Fabric See at Fabric
• Another worth considering Trust & Will See at Trust & Will
• Best for first-timers Rocket Lawyer See at Rocket Lawyer
• Best for simple wills DoYourOwnWill See at Trial Data
• Another worth considering LawDepot See at LawDepot

Nolo Quicken WillMaker and Trust

A will might not benefit you much in the here and now, but it’s one of the best things you can do for your loved ones in the future. The last thing you want to do is to die “intestate,” or without a will to explain what to do with your property and personal items.

A will is a legal document that specifies the directions for  planning your estate  after your death, including to whom your property will be directed and who will take care of your children and pets. It also names an executor, or person in charge of enacting your plan, and gives them directions.

Creating a will with a lawyer will cost you somewhere between $200 and $1,000, depending on its complexity and your lawyer’s hourly rate. Making one yourself online will generally cost between $40 and $100. Some online software services will even let you do it for free.

Online will makers usually provide all the basic forms, such as power of attorney, living will and health care directives. Some let you create your will using software alone, while others supply remote legal guidance and assistance along the way.

We evaluated online will makers for price, attorney access, quality of the legal document guidance and user interface, and the inclusion and accessibility of all relevant forms. Read on to find our top picks for online will makers.

This solid legal document software package from Nolo, available for Windows and Mac, provides all of the estate planning forms and documentation you’ll need for $100. The legal forms software, which takes into account state-specific laws and processes, is regularly updated by a team of legal experts. And once you buy it, you own it, so you can create new forms or documents whenever you please.

The main drawback is that Nolo doesn’t include access to attorneys for legal advice -- so there’s no legal professional to review your documents or answer questions. As such, Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker and Trust is best suited to those who come to the table with an understanding of how to draft wills and have a game plan for their estate. The upside is that you can review your will and other estate planning documents periodically and make changes without having to repurchase the software. (Still, each time you make a significant change, you will need to execute the will again -- usually, with two witnesses and possibly a notary, too -- and destroy any past copies.)

Writing up a will took about 25 minutes, a bit longer than with the other will makers. But Nolo Quicken WillMaker and Trust was by far the most thorough of all of the ones we tried, with an extensive library of templates, tools and resources. The software looks a little dated, but it’s easy enough to navigate.

LegalZoom’s offering is fairly similar to Rocket Lawyer -- but it’s more expensive. For $89, LegalZoom will help you create a last will and testament, and you can add another $10 for two weeks of access to professional legal advice. Or you can shell out $179 for the Legal Zoom estate plan bundle, which includes everything you need to create a living will and assign financial power of attorney in consultation with an independent attorney. You can also buy access to individual forms -- including a pet protection agreement and a living will -- for $39 each.

Designed for young families, Fabric’s app-based service is simple, free and user-friendly -- making it the best choice for parents new to writing a will. The service bills itself as an easy way to tackle some hard questions. And given its convenient, straightforward approach, the process of planning for end of life feels less like a morose conversation and more like accounting for a part of everyday life. Fabric really excels at facilitating a conversation most of us aren’t accustomed to having regularly.

Fabric doesn’t provide access to attorneys or state-specific documents. Rather, it focuses on helping you draw up clear directions for the care of your house and children in the event of your becoming incapacitated. You can also apply for  life insurance  within the Fabric platform.

We found the estate planning software interface intuitive, and it took only 10 minutes to complete a will. During the process, Fabric gives you the option to email your executor and witnesses a notification, though you can also opt to print out your will and send a hard copy.

Trust & Will

Trust & Will’s essential document state-specific online will maker starts at $159, and include Last Will & Testament, HIPAA Authorization, Living Will and Power of Attorney. But its “expert support online in ” doesn’t include live attorney consultations in all states; instead, you get access to written estate planning information and technical support. That noted, its guidance is good -- comparable to what you’d get from Rocket Lawyer.

Rocket Lawyer

When it comes to planning your estate, Rocket Lawyer does it all. And the legal service company’s free seven-day trial may be long enough and provide enough features to give you what you need: You can create up to three estate planning documents and have a brief consultation with a lawyer by phone or email. Otherwise, the $40-a-month subscription provides access to attorneys and everything you’ll need to draft a state-specific last will and testament, power of attorney and living will.

Rocket Lawyer has a large network of attorneys that covers all 50 states. You can get connected with a lawyer via live chat for quick, simple questions or schedule a 30-minute phone legal advice consultation for any specific questions. And the included legal counsel document review protects you from making major legal document mistakes that could render your will invalid.

Creating wills and the other necessary estate planning legal forms on Rocket Lawyer is simple and painless. It took me around 15 minutes to complete the process. It’s fairly easy to find additional estate planning information on any given subject such as real estate, durable power, advance directives, health care directives, HIPAA authorization, inheritance tax, estate tax and probate court as you go through the interview-based interface, and there’s a notes field so you can keep track of questions to ask your appointed lawyer afterward. Bottom line: This is the best online will maker for most people.

DoYourOwnWill

First things first: DoYourOwnWill is free to use, with no hidden fees or gotchas. It provides a complete set of generic estate planning documents, though you won’t find state-specific estate plan documents, much guidance or integrated access to attorneys.

But if you have a relatively simple estate and you’re familiar with the process -- and you feel ambitious enough to do some research -- DoYourOwnWill is a solid free online will and estate planning option. I drafted a basic will in about 5 minutes. The website includes a helpful FAQ and blog with clear answers to basic questions and some guidance for more complex situations such as revoking power of attorney.

We found LawDepot’s stripped-down estate planning software offering similar to the type of resources you’ll find at DoYourOwnWill. But LawDepot costs $33 per month (after a free seven-day trial) or $96 for a full year. What’s more, the site doesn’t clearly disclose that price until you’ve nearly completed your document.

If you own anything that you would want to pass on to someone after you die, you should have a will. A properly executed will minimizes the time a court needs to process your estate and ensures that your beneficiaries will receive your assets quickly and efficiently. If you don’t intend to pass your assets on to family or friends, you can designate a charity or nonprofit as a beneficiary.

Once you’ve finished the paperwork, don’t forget the last, essential step: executing the will. Each state has its own laws regarding proper legal document execution -- including how many witnesses are required to sign it and whether you can use a “self-proving affidavit.” (A self-proving affidavit is an additional document, signed by a notary, that certifies that a will has been executed properly and helps ensure that your witnesses won’t need to testify in court, though that could still happen if someone challenges the will.) In most states, you need two witnesses to sign your will and witness you signing it, though some states have different rules.

Once your will is properly signed and executed, store it in a safe place like a fireproof safe or safety deposit box. Wherever you decide to store it, make sure your executor and beneficiaries are aware of the location.

Probate is a legal process that validates your will and settles your estate. A court reviews your estate documentation to ensure that the right people receive the right things; the clearer and more legally precise your will, the smoother that process will be. If a will is unclear, contested or found to be improperly executed, any fees associated with the lengthened court process are deducted from the estate. A high probate fee could take roughly 10% of an average estate.

Most bank accounts, brokerage accounts and other financial assets allow you to appoint beneficiaries, and it’s a good idea to assign at least one for each account to prevent the need for probate.

If you have a large or complex estate or own real estate, it’s worthwhile paying $1,000 to $2,000 to a legal professional to make sure it’s settled properly. Working with an attorney is also a good idea for people with more complicated family situations -- stepchildren, blended families and disinheritances, for a few examples.

A living trust creates a legal entity, a trust, that becomes the holder of your assets. It has a trustee -- you, until you die, and then someone else you appoint -- who is responsible for managing the assets. Since the trust is an entity distinct and separate from your estate, its assets are not subject to probate.

And that’s the main benefit: avoiding probate and its associated costs. But trusts are also more difficult to challenge because their assets are private, in contrast to wills, which are public. Establishing a trust may also be considerably more complicated and expensive, but it’s well within reason for many people.

When planning your estate, the main documents to consider are:

• A last will and testament.
• A living trust.
• A power of attorney, which grants someone else authorization to act on your behalf in health-related, financial or other private affairs should you die or become incapacitated.
• A living will, also called a health care directive, which states your wishes for end-of-life care should you not be able to make those decisions on your own.

Usually, no. Laws differ state by state, but in most cases you only need to have two witnesses (who are not beneficiaries) sign it and watch you sign it.

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CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

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The Best Online Will Services of 2024

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A will is an essential document for anyone who wishes to dictate how their possessions should be handled once they are gone. But, Caring.com’s 2024 Estate Planning and Wills Study found that only 33.1% of adults have a will. 

Creating a will may sound intimidating, but it’s much easier than most people realize. There are now numerous online will maker services that charge customers far less than a lawyer would while still providing legally valid documents. 

If you’re interested in creating an online will but you aren’t sure how to evaluate the many companies that offer such services, this guide can help. In it, you’ll find our list of the best online will creation services of 2024. You’ll also find a helpful Buyer’s Guide that will walk you through the steps of the shopping process.

How We Chose the Best Online Will Services

Caring.com considered 15 companies while creating this guide, evaluating each in consultation with knowledgeable experts. Together, we selected 10 companies that set themselves apart by having a well-defined and reliable business model, offering excellent customer service and support, and being upfront about their fees and legal limitations. We made these determinations based on the three key metrics outlined below.

Educational Materials 

• We chose to only review online will services that offer free educational materials about estate planning . 
• Online educational resources may be in different formats such as blogs, help centers, and learning centers.
• Taking the time to explain unfamiliar concepts and terms associated with wills signals that a company cares about its customers.

Transparency

• We made sure to only include companies on our list that clearly state how they make a profit.
• It’s important that companies clarify their business model, whether they’re profiting from advertising or charging fees for services.

Honest Sales Tactics

• We were careful to select companies that make sensible, conservative claims about their products and that were upfront about the fact that their services may not be for everyone. 
• Most websites explicitly state that they are not law firms and that some people do need to see a lawyer, particularly if their estates are complicated. 
• Honesty about the legal status of a business is important.
• The 10 Best Online Will Services of 2024

Payment Structure

Discounts or Trials

Revisions Available

Refunds Offered

-No fee for will creation -Optional monthly membership

Yes, upon request

Trust & Will

-Optional membership 

$10 discount code, discounts for health care workers and teachers

1 year included, and anytime beyond that with a paid membership

Yes, within the first 30 days

Groupon deals

For the first 6 months with 1 courtesy extension

Only before documents are finalized

Do Your Own Will

-No fee for will creation -Optional $200 premium trust package 

US Legal Wills

-Flat fee -Optional membership

-40% off for spouses/partners -Occasional discounts on popular packages through the website

30-day money-back guarantee

Rocket Lawyer

Free trial (1 week)

Anytime during the free trial or with active paid membership

-Optional membership

Occasional discount codes online

Up to 1 year of free revisions

Only for bundle purchases before documents are finalized 

10% coupon code upon signing up and providing an email

For one year

At the company’s discretion 

*All costs are rounded to the nearest dollar **Apple may issue an app refund in limited cases. 

Best Information Protection

GoodTrust was founded in Palo Alto, California at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. The idea for GoodTrust came to CEO and founder Rikard Steiber when he was asked to help preserve the online accounts and content of a friend who had recently passed away. This led him to the discovery that most people don’t have any idea what happens to their online possessions – including crypto holdings, email messages, social media postings, and more – once they are gone. Steiber launched GoodTrust with the goal of empowering people to protect their digital legacies, in addition to providing important documents for estate planning and end-of-life directives.

With his background in technology, Steiber understands the importance of protecting his online company and its customers. GoodTrust uses advanced AES-256 encryption for all data stored in the GoodTrust database and any documents uploaded to GoodTrust servers. This is the same method of security used by the U.S. National Security Agency to protect top-secret information. In other words, hacking into the GoodTrust network would be exceptionally difficult and is highly unlikely. 

The Pros and Cons of GoodTrust Services

• With a free account, you can access, edit, and download your will at any time.
• Offers two membership plans: free or monthly, with more storage space, additional documents, and expert consultations included with its paid options.
• Uses sophisticated encryption methods that protect communication, stored data, and uploaded documents.
• Offers a detailed step-by-step end-of-life planning guide as well as 100 informational articles in the resources section of its website.
• No phone number listed on the company contact page and only has the option of sending a message.
• Does not offer a free trial

Learn How to Create Your Will in 15 Minutes or Less with GoodTrust

Trust & Will

Best Refund Policy

Trust & Will sets itself apart thanks to its clear, consumer-friendly refund policy. Since documents cannot be “returned” in any real sense, companies like this cannot recoup costs when they give a refund. Many companies simply don’t give refunds at all, while others have very strict policies. We found Trust & Will’s refund policy to be one of the most simply worded as well as the most generous. If you’re not 100% satisfied with your purchase, Trust & Will offers refunds within the first 30 days of purchase.

Trust & Will Online Will Creation Services

-Flat fee -Optional membership 

1 year included and anytime after with paid membership

Yes, within the first 30 days*

*If attorney support was purchased in addition to a will, refunds for this support are subject to certain restrictions.

The Pros and Cons of Trust & Will Services

• Has a promo code page with current deals including a $10 off coupon code as well as 25% off any plan for health care workers and free wills for teachers.
• Offers one-time complimentary printing and shipping of documents, although customers still have the option of printing them themselves.
• Provides a convenient messaging option where you can get clarification about services online from customer service representatives based within the U.S.
• The starting cost of $199 for a will may seem a bit high, but it includes a HIPPA release form, a living will, and a power of attorney
• One free year of access and revision is included with a will purchase, but after that you must pay $19 per year.

Create An Estate Plan Online With Trust & Will

Best for Planned Charitable Contributions

Freewill was initially created with the unique goal of connecting people with charities via legacy giving, that is, planned posthumous gifts. Currently the company has partnerships with over 600 different nonprofits. Through the creation of Freewill documents, seniors and others have promised more than $4.7 billion to a variety of good causes. Freewill doesn’t require its users to make donations, but it makes donating easy and helps many nonprofit organizations. Freewill is a great service for those who are thinking about making a donation through their will.

Freewill Online Will Creation Services

The Pros and Cons of Freewill Services

• Provides high-quality documents with no hidden fees since it gets paid by the charitable organizations that it works with.
• Positively mentioned by Forbes, the New York Times, and other prestigious publications.
• Reviews are frequently favorable and include positive experiences with customer service.
• Offers advanced healthcare directives and financial power of attorney documents, two documents that most people should have.
• Wills are fully editable with Freewill, but navigating the program that allows edits may be difficult for those who aren’t accustomed to using computers for complex tasks.
• Revocable living trust documents are also available, but only to California residents.

Best Discounts

Willing is notable for its frequently-available discounts. Although its regular prices fall in the mid- to high-end range when compared to other companies, consumers can usually find deals that will reduce the cost by 40% or more. Willing frequently partners with another tech company, Groupon, to offer these deals. Customers who are able to do a little extra searching for these discounts will often be able to use Willing at a very competitive cost. Willing Online Will Creation Services 

Various Groupon deals

The Pros and Cons of Willing Services 

• Willing offers a very clean website design that’s optimized for use on smartphone screens.
• While Willing isn’t a full-service legal document company, it does offer a living will, a revocable living trust, durable power of attorney, and a transfer on death deed.
• Although it has a limited 6-month long revision period, Willing allows one courtesy extension for changes at a later date.
• Provides few specifics on how its service works and lacks demo documents, detailed explanations of services, or an informative FAQ or terms of service section.
• Without a discount, printing and signing your will from Willing will cost you a flat, one-time fee of $69 (up to $199 if married), which is on the higher end.

Do Your Own Will (DYOW)

Best Free Option

Do Your Own Wills provides 100% of its services free to users. Many other companies claim to offer similar free services but ultimately still charge fees for printing, revision privileges, or for some other reason that is not immediately obvious. This company stands apart from many others on our list because it keeps everything truly free and because it offers its services in a very simple, easy-to-use format. Do Your Own Will gives Americans easy access to not only wills but also to other crucial estate and end-of-life planning documents.

DYOW Online Will Creation Services

The Pros and Cons of Do Your Own Will Services (DYOW)

• Provides a preview of the 8 steps to create a will with its program, accessible via a link in its FAQ section.
• The will includes an optional section for recording your wishes for final arrangements, such as the form of burial and type of service that you want.
• This company is one of the easiest to understand, answering practical questions and disclosing company business information in its FAQ section.
• You do not have to create an account to make a will, but if you do it’s free and will give you the option of making easy revisions in the future.
• Since DYOW is free, its focus isn’t on providing customer support, although representatives can be contacted via email or an online form.
• As you create your will on this site, you’ll be shown advertisements for related services, such as life insurance companies, along the bottom and side of webpages.

Tomorrow , an Ethos Technologies Company

Best Rated App-Based Service

Inspired to make estate planning easier for other families by providing better tools, Tomorrow’s co-founders built it in 2016 as an app that could help families coordinate and explore their options. Its services are accessible through normal web browsers and with an easy-to-use mobile application (app). Those who are comfortable using smartphones will appreciate the convenience and portability of using this app during the will-creation process. Available in the Apple Store, it has been reviewed thousands of times, scoring better than similar apps by other companies.

Tomorrow (an Ethos Technologies Company) Online Will Creation Services

Payment  Structure

-No fee for will itself -Optional $200 premium trust package

*Apple may issue an app refund in limited cases.

The Pros and Cons of Tomorrow (an Ethos Technologies Company) Services

• Since it’s offered in the Apple app store as well as in a desktop version, this free app is widely available and easy to access.
• You can explore its functions in-depth before creating an account, unlike some other will-creation services.
• There are no charges to make a will, so you can use the app and get a will without spending anything.
• Customers can purchase a premium trust estate plan for $200 that includes all Tomorrow documents, is state-specific, and can be revised at any time.
• Some options available via the mobile app aren’t yet available when using normal web browsers, such as creating power of attorney, healthcare directive, and medical consent documents.
• Revenue is earned through advertising various forms of insurance, so customers should expect advertisements when using this company’s services.

Best Rated Web-Based Service

US Legal Wills routinely receives extremely positive ratings online, and it currently has four-star or better ratings across major review sites and social platforms. Seniors looking for a site with a well-established reputation will be happy to know that customer reviews on Facebook (4.9/5), Google (5/5), and the Better Business Bureau (5/5) are overwhelmingly positive, with customers frequently praising the simplicity and affordability of the service.

US Legal Wills Online Will Creation Services

-40% off for spouses/partners -Occasional discounts on popular packages through website

The Pros and Cons of US Legal Wills Services

• No unexpected costs or automatic charges, and if you want a membership, you must opt-in and select a set amount of time.
• Has a fund in place for digitally maintaining all member accounts in case it should go out of business that it continues to add to and that would currently last for 25 years.
• It’s possible to give a gift card to cover the cost of US Legal Will services.
• When you create one will through US Legal Wills, you’ll be given a discount code for 40% a spouse or partner’s will, dropping the price of the second will to just $24.
• In order to make revisions to their will after a year, customers must pay an additional fee to continue to store it online.
• While legal documents are up to date with laws in almost every US state, they are not considered legally binding in the state of Louisiana.

Best Free Trial

Rocket Lawyer stands out among the paid services on our list because it offers a generous free trial. With Rocket Lawyer, you can take a full week to create your will, refine it, and decide if it’s right for you. You can also have your will completely free if you print it before the trial ends and then cancel the trial. Many people are happy enough with their membership to continue paying for the service when the free trial ends, however. Rocket Lawyer’s seven-day free trial enables customers to choose what’s right for them. 

Rocket Lawyer Online Will Creation Services

Anytime during free trial or with active paid membership

*Issues refunds only for the most recent charge to your card or bank account due to failure of services.

The Pros and Cons of Rocket Lawyer Services

• Rocket Lawyer is one of the few will-creation websites that also has an app that offers essentially the same features as the website in a form that’s extremely convenient for on-the-go use.
• Making a simple will is free and other documents are available for a flat fee of $40 each.
• Representatives are available via email, phone, or online chat and an “ask a lawyer” option allows members to send a lawyer a limited number of questions via a text box on its website.
• Gives refunds for failed services, refunding for the most recent charge.
• If you are a member of Rocket Lawyer, or forget to cancel before your free trial is over, payments for services will automatically be taken from your credit card or bank account.
• Only a paid $40/month membership allows unlimited document revisions.

Most Extra Services

LegalZoom stands out due to the extremely wide array of services it offers to consumers. Seniors who need to create a will for themselves may often also need some expert advice or a variety of other documents for their business or personal life. LegalZoom has it all on one website. For the customer who wants options, LegalZoom can be a very convenient choice.

LegalZoom Online Will Creation Services

Up to 1 year of free revisions*

Only for bundle purchases before documents are finalized**

*The Basic Last Will and Comprehensive Last Will plans offer 30 days of free revisions after purchase, while the Estate Plan Bundle includes a year of free revisions after purchase.

**For just a will, refunds cannot be given because documents are completed and your order is placed along with your payment. For bundle purchases, refunds can be given if customers have not yet created the documents.

Pros and Cons of LegalZoom Services

• Offers an app that can be used on Apple or Android devices that is routinely updated for increased effectiveness.
• Has a variety of subscription-style prepaid legal plans that will give you access to lawyers for less than you’d pay a traditional law firm.
• Offers three distinct packages that include a completed last will and testament, with pricier options also providing legal advice and/or additional documents.
• Customer service representatives are available via online chat as well as via phone to quickly and conveniently answer questions about services.
• A will costs $89, and product bundles cost between $99-$179 and have auto-renewal features that will cost between about $25 monthly and $200 annually (depending on the plan).
• The longest that you can make free revisions on a LegalZoom will is for one year, and that is only as part of the most expensive will package.

Best for Industry Experience

With a history reaching all the way back to 1971, Nolo is by far the most experienced source for online legal help that we have seen. Throughout its long company history, Nolo has demonstrated its care for its customers and its dedication to keeping up with the times by offering innovative legal solutions. Individuals who are looking for a company that has a well-established reputation will enjoy using Nolo’s programs.

Nolo Online Will Creation Services

For one year*

At company’s discretion 

*The $60 online will allows one year of unlimited access and revisions. The $100 Willmaker and Trust 2021 software allows free changes and revisions anytime after purchase.

Pros and Cons of Nolo Services

• The $60 online will that Nolo offers can be used to create an unlimited number of wills for one year and can be used for multiple family members.
• Individual products on the website feature a question and answer section that addresses some of the most common concerns that customers have about that product.
• In addition to product-specific questions and answers, a full FAQ section is also available on the website.
• Nolo’s educational section has 25 different article categories as well as a legal news section, a legal dictionary, and a variety of tools for making financial calculations.
• Nolo offers a few different price points for will creation, but none are particularly low, and the lowest cost that Nolo offers is a $35 will specifically for use by Louisiana residents.
• The main online will (for everyone other than Louisiana residents) costs $60 and downloadable software called “Willmaker and Trust 2021” costs $100.
• Buyer’s Guide 

The following steps will help you ask the right questions and compare the services offered by different online will companies. These steps do not constitute legal advice; they merely provide general information for consumers.

Step 1: Check for Legal Trouble Spots

Making your own will online is a promising, cost-effective option, but it’s wise to evaluate your situation for potential legal problems before proceeding. The first step to considering an online will is accepting that it has limitations.

You May Want to Avoid an Online Will If You Have:

• A special needs or minor dependent
• An intention to disinherit someone 
• A complicated or contentious family
• Large or complex assets that will be subject to estate tax  
• A business that you’d like to pass down
• Residency in the state of Louisiana 
• A suspicion that someone you know will try to contest your will’s validity

For a variety of reasons, the above situations present legal challenges and opportunities to make mistakes that could be costly for your intended heirs (losing them either time or a portion of the estate ). Online software may or may not be able to adequately address all of the potential issues involved. If one of the above applies to you but you’d like to proceed with an online will, you’ll want to conduct in-depth research on how to avoid legal problems that could arise when you’re gone. However, if none of the above are the case for you, then it’s likely that an online will can meet your needs fairly easily. 

Step 2: Compare the Capabilities of Several Online Will Services

If you only look at one or two websites, you may miss the possibilities that are available. Likewise, if you only evaluate companies on one criterion, you may not get the full picture.  Compare the following aspects of three or more companies before comparing the overall costs.

Four Parts of Online Will Creation Services to Compare:

• Revision Policies: Is there a way to revise your will in the future that’s provided with this service? For how long can you revise it? Alternatively, will you need to create an entirely new will if you need to alter something? Most people want to make revisions over the years as their circumstances change. Consider whether you’d prefer to make a new document or change an existing one.  
• Refund Policies: If you’re looking at companies that are not free, find out if they have a refund policy. Long-term refund policies are uncommon, but some companies offer refunds within the first 30 days of your purchase. Make sure you know how likely you are (or aren’t) to get your money back if you become unhappy with the document you have created. 
• Sample Documents: Most companies provide sample documents that show the basic wording of their wills. While you probably aren’t a lawyer, you can definitely get some sense of the quality of a document by reading the sample provided. Beware of sites that offer documents that are obviously flawed on a grammatical level. If possible, open sample documents up side by side to see the difference between them. 
• Bonus Features: Most companies offer something that’s a little extra, whether it’s other legal documents (power of attorney is a common one), a contract that allows you to consult with attorneys as needed, or the option of having the company print the document and ship it to you. Consider whether any of these extra features are important to you. Look carefully at the fine print to find any limitations, especially concerning attorney consultations. 

Step 3: Compare Costs Among Several Companies 

Once you’ve compared features and discovered a few different options that could work for you, it’s time to further narrow your search by comparing costs. An online will can cost anything from $0 to over $100. Below we detail the different fees that you could be charged. 

Potential Costs of Online Wills:

• Document Creation Fee: Some companies offer wills 100% free because they profit through advertising. Other companies allow you to create the document for free, only charging to actually print it. This allows you to test the service before committing to a purchase. Still, other companies charge you a flat fee upfront that includes all costs related to the creation of the document. 
• Online Storage and Revisions: Occasionally companies offer free lifetime storage and unlimited revisions and reprints of the document that you create. However, it’s more common that they charge fees for online storage and revisions. Monthly or annual fees are most common, but some companies also offer fees for a specific number of years or for the lifetime of the will’s creator. The range of monthly fees that we have seen is approximately $3-$40. Lifetime access fees are a rare option but can be less than $150.
• Attorney Consultations: Some online will creation platforms partner with legal firms to provide legal advice as opposed to just document creation software. If the option of calling or emailing a lawyer is offered by the company, the cost may be covered by the same membership fee that also covers document storage. Read the terms of service carefully. 

Step 4: Read Reviews for Clues to Company Performance 

In the era of internet shopping, it’s become common for customers to leave online reviews for businesses that they’ve interacted with in the past. These reviews can be a valuable tool for comparing the company’s advertising claims to its actual performance. 

Where to Find Reviews

You’ll probably be able to see at least a few reviews on the company’s own website, but you’ll want to look at other review sites as well. All of the review sites below use a 1-5 star rating system and allow customers to leave notes. They all also allow the company to respond to reviews publicly. Many companies only have an active profile on one or two of these websites.

Check for Company Profiles on the Following Websites: 

• The Better Business Bureau (BBB): This is one of the oldest review sites on the internet. Note that the BBB gives companies a letter grade (A+, for example) based on its own metrics, which are separate from the customers’ star ratings.  
• Trustpilot: Trustpilot is a review site that allows anyone to post reviews, and it also helps companies to reach out to current and former customers to ask for reviews. On Trustpilot’s own website you can see all reviews, but note that if you see a Trustpilot box embedded in another website it may only be showing the positive reviews.  
• Google Business Profiles: Sometimes when you type a business name into Google’s search engine, a profile of the business that includes contact information and reviews will appear in a box on the right side of your screen. If this profile does not immediately appear, you may more easily find it by including the city name or the street address of the company’s headquarters.
• Facebook: Some businesses allow customers to leave 1-5 star ratings on their Facebook profile. If a business has a Facebook page but does not have a star rating, that likely means that the business has deactivated that feature on its profile. 

How to Evaluate Customer Reviews Critically

Most review sites attempt to find and delete fraudulent reviews. You’ll occasionally see reviews that may have been created by computer “bots” or by people who are paid to lie or exaggerate, negatively or positively. Rather than taking every review at face value, look for trends. Read company responses when they are provided to gauge how the company handles criticism. Whenever possible, try to compare the claims that a customer is making to the product description, and disregard comments that demonstrate the customer clearly didn’t understand the product. If you do find a piece of negative feedback that is really concerning to you, you may wish to call the company for clarification on policy, pricing, or whatever issue is at hand. In some cases, a more detailed internet search could confirm or disprove the customer’s claim as well.

Step 5: Create, Sign, and Communicate About Your Will 

Once you’ve made your final selection based on company features, cost, and any considerations that reading reviews brought up, it’s time to make your will. The will creation website that you select should guide you with questions and legal options. However, it’s usually a good idea to also look up legal rules specific to your state as well. Most companies provide relevant educational materials for free.

Before you begin, keep in mind that if you’re making wills as a couple, you’ll be creating two “mirror” wills that echo and confirm one another’s wishes. Joint wills are usually not advised or offered by online services since they can lead to potential legal problems.

Signing and Making the Will Legally Binding

Once you’ve created and printed your will, follow the steps to make it legal in your state. This can vary somewhat, but in many places this means signing it in the presence of two witnesses. Many people also have their will notarized, though this is often not technically required. The software you use should give you guidance on the signing process, but if the guidance lacks specificity you’ll want to look up the laws for your state. 

Sharing Information on Your Will

Different families talk about their wills in different ways, but at a minimum you’ll want to make sure that a few people in your family know where to find it when you are gone. Many online programs even facilitate this process by making suggestions for how to communicate with others about your will, but you ultimately need to decide what’s best for you.

• Estate Planning 101

The first step in estate planning is to understand what your estate encompasses. Your estate includes everything you own that has value, minus any unpaid debts or expenses, and is a measure of your net worth. Land or real estate holdings, cash, collectibles, and other tangible and intangible assets would be included as part of an estate. Individuals who want to decide how their estate will be managed or distributed if they should become incapacitated or pass away can create an estate plan with several important and legally binding documents.  

These documents may include a will and a revocable living trust to ensure loved ones are provided for upon the estate owner’s death. They may also include durable power of attorney and advanced health care directive documents so estate owners receive assistance with their finances from someone they trust and know their health care desires will be honored towards the end of their lives. Without these documents, estates will be passed on according to state laws and individuals will have no say in who will handle their finances or if they undergo medical life-sustaining procedures.        

This guide will help you understand the estate planning process and determine how estate planning may benefit you and your loved ones. It will clarify what factors you should consider, the documents you can include, and the costs you may incur. Further, it will provide guidance on how you should create your will based on your unique circumstances.   

Questions to Consider when Creating an Estate Plan

When creating an estate plan, there will be many decisions you need to make. Don’t rush the process, be open to changing your mind, and know that you can update documents when necessary. Here is a list of questions you should ask yourself as you begin.

• Who will inherit your assets after your death? Without a will, most state laws will give shares of your estate to your spouse, children, or other blood relatives. If you want to decide who gets what or want different people to receive assets, you will need to state this in your will.
• If you have minor children, who do you trust to take care of them? If you should die, your will is your opportunity to name a guardian for your minor children. Failure to do this means a judge will decide who they live with. 
• What do you want your children to have and who should oversee their property? Creating a trust for your kids will ensure they receive certain assets according to your instructions and the trustee you name will manage it.
• Have you updated your already-named beneficiaries? Not all assets will be passed on through your will. Determine if the people you named as beneficiaries for any payable-on-death savings or brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, or life insurance policies are still the individuals you wish to receive those benefits. 
• Who do you want to manage your assets and handle your bills should you become incapacitated? This person will be named in your durable power of attorney document and should be trustworthy and capable of keeping your finances in order. It is possible to name co-trustees such as a relative and a financial advisor.
• What medical procedures do you want and who do you trust to ensure that medical professionals follow your wishes? A living will allows you to state procedures you do and do not want to have performed as you near the end of your life. In a healthcare power of attorney (POA) document, you will appoint someone to advocate on your behalf and ensure your wishes are followed. Consider also naming a backup.
• How complicated is your estate? Do you own a business or care for a disabled child? These and other scenarios may necessitate professional assistance. 
• What is your budget? Wills and other legal documents may be available online for free or at a one-time cost of less than $100. Alternately, hiring a lawyer may cost thousands of dollars. 

Basic Estate Planning Documents

There are many different terms relating to estate planning that may be confusing to people not familiar with them. The following table breaks down the purpose of five basic, yet critical estate planning documents.

Last Will and Testament

The executor you name in this document will pay your debts and distribute your estate to your chosen heirs according to your given directions. This document also allows you to name guardians for your minor children.

Revocable Living Trust

While you are still alive, your assets will be transferred into a trust for your beneficiaries while you continue to manage them. Once you pass, your named trustee will transfer assets to your beneficiaries in the way you have requested.

Durable Power of Attorney (POA)

A durable POA allows you to decide who will act as your conservator or guardian to manage your money if you become incapacitated. 

Living Will or Advanced Healthcare Directive

This document dictates what type of medical care you receive towards the end of your life and states whether or not you want certain medical treatment.

Healthcare Power of Attorney (POA) 

The named health care agent or proxy will advocate on your behalf to ensure medical professionals honor your health care wishes.

Estate Planning Costs

Estate planning costs vary depending on many factors. Among these are the complexity of the plan and the type of assistance needed.  

Hiring an Attorney vs. Online Estate Planning

Online wills can be created for free or may cost more than $100 and online estate plans may also be free or more than $600. While general customer support is often provided, legal help typically isn’t. Some companies do provide access to legal assistance, but this may be limited as well as require additional payment.

Some people with complex estates cannot complete their documents online and will need to pay a legal professional to do it for them. Attorneys can charge $150 to $200 for simple documents and up to $350 per hour for preparing a complex estate plan, resulting in fees of multiple thousands of dollars. 

Estate Planning Fees

Online platforms may charge no fees, flat fees, monthly ongoing fees, or annual or lifetime membership fees. They may or may not provide access to lawyers as part of a paid plan or for an additional fee. Alternatively, going the traditional route and hiring lawyers who complete all documents on behalf of their customers usually comes with costs that follow one of two rate structures. Potential costs for each approach are provided below.

Types of Online Estate Planning Fees

Several online companies provide free documents with no ongoing fees and make a profit through other methods such as advertising.

Online companies may offer documents for a flat fee that includes ongoing services for varying lengths of time. After this time is up, a paid membership may be required.

Membership Fees

Monthly, annual, or lifetime membership fees may be required for document creation, storage, revision, and/or other services.

Possible Additional Fees

Some online companies provide access to legal assistance as part of a plan or for additional fees. 

Types of Attorney Fees

Used for common or simple estate plans where a lawyer can easily determine what documents are needed. Part or all of this flat fee may be due upfront.

Billable Hour

For complex cases that require extra work to plan and complete, lawyers may charge by the hour. Retainers, or prepayment of fees, may be necessary. Hourly rates vary.

• How to Write a Will

There are different ways to create a legally binding will, and the method you should choose depends on various factors. Those who have simple estates and the ability to research and adhere to all requirements may be able to successfully write their will without assistance. Others with simple estates, but who want guidance and support, can use an online platform with resources such as educational materials, step-by-step wizards, and knowledgeable customer service representatives. However, people with complicated finances typically need an attorney to ensure document accuracy and that an estate plan is sufficiently comprehensive. Below are steps you should take for will creation based on the approach that you decide is best.

Write Your Own Will

This do-it-yourself approach works well for those with limited assets or property and who are confident no one will contest their will in court. Individuals who have a small estate and no family but who don’t want their belongings to go to the state may also easily create their own will to give their assets to friends or charities. Here are steps you should take to create your own will successfully.

Research State Requirements and Find Documents

Every state has its own rules and regulations that must be followed for a will to be legally valid. Justia, a company that provides free access to legal information, explains requirements and procedures for creating wills in all 50 states and has accompanying documents on its website . 

Select Witnesses

Most states require two witnesses, either to watch while the will is signed or to be told that the will is valid. If you have determined that you need witnesses for your specific state, decide who your witnesses are and make sure they understand what to expect.

Locate A Notary Public

Some states require signing an affidavit in the presence of a notary public to avoid witnesses having to later testify that a will is valid. The National Notary Association explains how to find a notary public near you as well as the different notary services available. 

Use Online Will Services

There are several online platforms available that provide estate planning documents and services. Follow the steps below to find a company that best meets your needs.

Narrow Down Your Options

Our above guide recommends the top 10 online will services and is intended to help narrow down the many available options. To assist you further, these are compared by cost, revision policies, refund availability, and other factors. Decide what you are willing to spend, if you predict needing to make changes, and whether or not you want the possibility of a refund if you are dissatisfied with services.

Explore Forms, Documents, and Supportive Services

Always visit a company’s website before making a final selection. Most company templates and forms are designed to be easy to use and understand. Still, you should look through their online educational resources, at any preview of services, and inquire about customer service assistance. Also, take advantage of free trials. Determine whether you will have the support you need to create documents using the resources provided.   

Select Witnesses and Locate a Notary Public

While online will services typically either offer state-specific documents or documents that are valid in all states (except Louisiana in some cases), state laws must still be followed to ensure they are legally binding once made. Read about these laws , select witnesses if needed, and find a notary public if a signed affidavit will help your witnesses avoid testifying in court. 

Hire Lawyers to Create Documents

People who have estates that are not simple or straightforward or believe that their wills could be contested in court may choose to hire a legal professional. In these cases, lawyers plan and create all documents for them.

Determine Your Needs

While most attorneys can draft wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents, only some may be specialists in elder law for those with concerns related to Medicaid or long-term care. Similarly, those with assets held overseas may need an attorney with international estate planning expertise, and those with legal interests in multiple states may require attorneys licensed in multiple locations.   

Find the Right Lawyer

Ask those you know for attorney recommendations, check sites with peer review ratings, and confirm an attorney’s state bar registration status. Find out if attorneys offer free consultations or if you will be required to pay and if any time limitations apply. Also ask what their fee plans and rates will be and if there are any additional charges you should expect. Then inquire about what documents they will need to get started. 

The laws in your state also apply to wills drafted by legal professionals. Read about these laws , select witnesses if required, and locate a notary public for a signed affidavit to avoid witnesses being required to testify that your will is valid.

• Free Resources for Estate Planning

Low-income individuals and their families can receive free assistance during the estate planning process. The following table lists available resources that can help – all at no extra cost.

Description

Senior Legal Hotline Directory

These hotlines provide seniors with answers to legal questions and/or referrals to local legal aid services. Hotline information is organized by state in this directory.

LawHelp.org

Connects those with low or moderate incomes with legal answers, forms, and assistance programs. Select a state on the Find Help Near You Now page to get legal assistance, including with estate planning, if available.

Legal Services Corporation

Search by address or click the map on the Get Legal Help page for organizations that may provide federally funded estate planning assistance in the United States, the District of Columbia, and US territories.

Free Legal Answers

Offered through the American Bar Association, volunteer attorneys answer legal questions pro bono for those who qualify.

The American Bar Association Pro Bono Resource Directory

This directory allows users to search a national database and find pro bono organizations in their state. Simply type a state’s name into the search engine for organizations that may offer free estate planning services.

Users can ask lawyers in a certain state or US territory questions on various topics, including estate planning , and receive free answers. 

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Video Library  

This video library includes over 50 videos on estate planning topics. 

American Civil Liberties Union Estate Organizer

WIth this free estate organizer, seniors can document personal and financial information so it is easily accessible.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Are online will services owned by law firms?

Websites that let you create your own will are usually not law firms, though there may be some exceptions. Oftentimes these will-creation websites are founded by lawyers or have lawyers on the company board, but the website itself does not meet the legal requirements required to call itself a law firm. This means that there is no lawyer-client relationship or privilege implied in any of your dealings with the company in most cases. Some sites will offer to connect you with a lawyer, but the company itself should not be mistaken for a law firm.

Is my personal information safe online?

Creating a will online is typically no riskier than shopping online with your credit or debit card. However, you should watch out for scams that may be trying to take your personal information. Because of this possibility, you should always make sure that a website has been reviewed by reputable third parties to verify that it’s legitimate. Even if a company is legitimate , there’s a small chance that it could be hacked, like all websites. Most companies take precautions to prevent this, but it may be something to ask about if you’re concerned. Reputable companies will use encryption to safeguard your information.

What happens if my will contradicts other contracts and documents I have created?

Your will does not necessarily take precedence over other contracts or legal documents that you have created. For example, it’s likely that you have named beneficiaries for your life insurance policies already. If so, your life insurance company will be obligated to pay whomever you named in the policy, regardless of what the will says. In general, you should make sure all of your legal documents align with one another to reduce the possibility of legal problems when you are gone.

How easily can I update my online will in the future?

How easy it is to update your will online depends upon the company that you initially choose to use and, in some cases, the type of will . Most companies provide a login option that lets you update and print new copies. For a few companies, this updating feature is completely free and does not expire. However, some companies limit the time period during which you can do this. Some also offer to extend the time period for updating if you pay extra for a membership/subscription. The fee charged for this could be a recurring monthly or annual fee, or it could be for a one-time fee for a set number of years or even a lifetime.

Do online wills include a section on funeral arrangements?

Some online wills include a section for you to state your final wishes regarding burial, funeral services, and the like. However, this is not technically required to be part of a will, so some companies do not offer it, and some charge extra for it. If the company you’re considering does not offer a section on funeral arrangements, you should be able to get the necessary paperwork elsewhere quite easily.

• Answers to More Frequently Asked Questions About Online Will Services

What Are The Different Types of Wills and Which One Is Right For You?

What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

How Much Does It Cost to Write a Will?

• Table of Contents

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The Best Will Services

The 11 best will services.

• U.S. Legal Wills
• Rocket Lawyer
• LegalShield
• Trust & Will
• Parting Wishes
• LegalNature
• Find Legal Forms
• Legal Contracts

Which Will Service is the Best?

Creating a will can be an emotional process. Most of us don't like to think about leaving our loved ones behind. Who will take care of our pets? Who will be the guardians of our children? Who should receive the family heirlooms? However, having a will can be one of the best - and easiest - ways to make our wishes known, and to spare them from having to make heart-wrenching decisions in the midst of their grief.

Wills are just one document that is often included in estate planning. You may also have heard of Living Trusts, Power of Attorney, Living Wills (also known as Advance Directives), and more. What's the difference among all of them, and which ones do you need?

Wednesday, June 12th

2024 Will Service Reviews

• Pricing starts at $39.95
• Optional lawyer review for $69
• Unique Keyholder service lets you grant access to particular documents for specific people you name (up to 20)
• Unlimited updates in the first year
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• No automatic subscriptions
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 2000

US Legal Wills is a service offered by Parting Wishes. The company has been around for more than 20 years, and their platform offers a wide range of features you won't find with other will creation services in our review.

Consider trying US Legal Wills risk-free. Click the "Get Started" button to start creating your will, and you'll be walked through all of the questions needed to get your document in place. Not sure what it's asking or why? Look for the blue question mark icon to get further information. If you want to save your progress, though, you'll be asked to create an account (and pay for the plan that corresponds to the document/service package you want). The good news is that US Legal Wills also gives you a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, with no monthly fees or automatic subscriptions when you sign up.

Save money with packages

You can always put together your own package of documents and services with US Legal Wills, paying a la carte for whatever you need. The list of available options includes just a Last Will and Testament ($39.95) - which can also be an Expatriate Will if you live outside of the US or have assets in the UK or Canada, a Living Will ($19.95), Power of Attorney ($29.95), and Life Locker for storing personal information ($29.95). However, you can save money by purchasing one of US Legal Wills' packages:

• Advanced: along with creating your Last Will and Testament, this bundle includes the ability to document your funeral wishes and organ donation preferences, write final messages, and assign Keyholders. This package is priced at $69.95.
• Complete Estate Plan: for $99.95, you get everything in the Advanced package plus Power of Attorney for Finances and Living Will.
• Premium Estate Plan: US Legal Wills' top-tier package adds on to the Complete Estate Plan with access to both the Life Locker (for storing personal information) and Digital Vault (for storing important documents and files), both of which can be passed on to your executor and/or family at the time of your death. This bundle costs $129.95.

Lawyer review available but probably not necessary

Finally, you can add on a lawyer review of your will for $69. US Legal Wills asserts that most people don't need it and won't get any significant benefit from it, but they offer it to give clients that extra peace of mind if needed.

Unique Keyholder feature

Our favorite aspect of using US Legal Wills is the Keyholder feature. As part of creating your will, you designate up to 20 different individuals as your "Keyholders" . These people will have permission to access any features you specify, but only after you become mentally incapacitated or pass away. Each Keyholder only gets access to what you designate, and that can be different for every one of them: maybe you want your kids to be able to access just your funeral wishes and final messages, but you want your executor to have authorization for every US Legal Wills feature (your will, uploaded documents, health care directives, and so on).

No recurring fees

We love that US Legal Wills doesn't make you pay any ongoing subscription fees to use the service. The one exception is your document storage. You automatically have access to every feature for the first year, and you can make any updates to your will that you like during that time. After that year, you have the option of storing everything for $11.95 for one year, $29.95 for five years, $39.95 for ten years, or $79.95 for 25 years. The good news is that your account will not be deleted if you don't pay the storage fee: if you change your mind later and want to get back into your account, you'll just have to pay $11.95 to reactivate it for a year. US Legal Wills doesn't charge you for the years your account was inactive.

No trusts, no access for residents of Louisiana

There are only two drawbacks with this will creation service. The first is the lack of options for creating trusts. If you already know you want a trust instead of a will, you'd need to look at another provider in our review because US Legal Wills focuses solely on Last Will and Testament creation plus other related documents. Second, this service can't be used to generate legal documents in the state of Louisiana, the only one of the 50 that isn't included here.

Glowing feedback from customers

US Legal Wills has lots of recent, positive feedback from clients: an average of 4.9/5 stars across more than 300 reviews in the last year alone. They describe the process as being easy to understand, with plenty of instructions at every step. Some clients who had tried rival will services said that US Legal Wills gave them much more for their money. And, under the name of its sister site (Parting Wishes), US Legal Wills enjoys an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau as well.

Peace of mind for you and your loved ones

US Legal Wills makes the process of creating a will much less stressful for you, and it makes everything after your passing much easier for those you leave behind. They'll never have to wonder where to find your will, who you've designated to be in charge of the various aspects of your final arrangements and distribution of your estate, or what your preferences are for advance directives. This service is straightforward, affordable, and reliable - all without sneaky recurring subscription fees. We're pleased to give US Legal Wills our highest recommendation.

• 7-day free trial
• $39.99/month after trial
• Membership (or $5 Premium trial) comes with Document Defense, Ask A Lawyer service, and access to hundreds of additional legal documents

Rocket Lawyer has helped more than 25 million people with their affordable, simple, and easy-to-use platform for accessing legal documents.

7-day trial

Rocket Lawyer lets you create your will for free - kind of. You'll walk through the entire process, answering questions about your executor(s), whether you have children or pets, if you'd like to make any specific bequests, and so forth. After you enter your email address and desired password to create an account, your draft is saved. What's next? You'll have to choose between a Free trial, which includes your customized document and instant digital signatures, or a Premium trial for $5 that lets you try out Rocket Lawyer's top-tier membership services (more on those later) . Either way, you'll have to provide your credit card information - and make sure to cancel it within the 7-day trial if you don't want to subscribe. So yes, it's free to make a will within that one-week period.

Perks of membership

What's included if you decide to be a Rocket Lawyer member? For $39.99/month, you'll have access to hundreds of documents, a 30-minute consultation on every new legal matter plus Ask A Lawyer service for any questions that come up as you're preparing your will or other forms. Your documents are also protected by Document Defense: if there's any kind of dispute, the situation can be reviewed with an attorney. (That might be hard to take advantage of if there's a dispute with your will - since you won't exactly be here as a client to ask for Rocket Lawyer's help. But it's good to know that it's available if you are accessing other legal forms too.)

Related estate planning documents also available

We were surprised to see that Rocket Lawyer didn't have anything recommended in the "Related Documents" section of the Last Will and Testament page. What about Power of Attorney or Advance Directive (Living Will)? Trusts? Rocket Lawyer offers those - and more - but you'll need to jump over to the Estate Planning section (under Family and Personal) to find them. That section has some additional documents that might be helpful as you make decisions, like Memorial Plans and an Estate Planning Worksheet for Married People. They're not legal documents per se, but they can guide you as you work through creating a will or living trust.

Clients recommend this service

Rocket Lawyer gets a lot of praise from clients: over 90% of them give the service a 4- or 5-star rating. Subscribers who pay for the service long-term for a variety of legal documents say it's easy to use and worth the money; others who just need a one-time document creation typically have no trouble using the week-long free trial to get it drafted and then canceling the service. In fact, most of the small handful of complaints about Rocket Lawyer come from customers who didn't pay attention to the terms when signing up for the trial and are caught off guard by the subscription fees posted to their credit cards.

Affordable way to create a will

If you opt for the free trial and all you need is a will, Rocket Lawyer can absolutely help you get your document created at no cost. And, for just $5, you could use this service to draft not just your will but also any other documents - estate planning-related or not - within that first week. Rocket Lawyer should be one of the first places you turn when creating a will.

• Pricing on wills starts at $89
• Estate plan bundle starts at $249
• Living trust starts at $399
• On-demand legal advice included with some packages
• 60-day refund policy
• "A-" rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 2001

LegalZoom is on a mission to "democratize law" . Over more than two decades in operation, this service has helped clients create over 3.5 million estate planning documents including Last Will and Testaments, Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Powers of Attorney.

One-time cost to create a will

LegalZoom's will creation services are straightforward. You'll pay $89 for LZ's most basic plan, going step-by-step online to create a will that's valid in your state, and it comes with free revisions for 30 days after purchase. For $10 more, you can get Attorney Assist for a year. That last perk gives you access to real attorneys in the LegalZoom network at no extra cost: for example, you can ask your estate planning questions, or request a document review. Just be aware that you'll automatically be subscribed for ongoing legal advice for $25/month if you don't cancel.

Access other estate planning documents too

If you're not sure that a will is the only thing you need, we recommend clicking over to the main Estate Planning page. There, you'll find a blue "Help me decide" button linking to LegalZoom's comparison page that clearly spells out the benefits and considerations of each available document.

Save with document bundles

In most cases, we'd recommend one of LegalZoom's Estate Plan Bundles, either for a will or a living trust. This package includes your choice of will or living trust, plus a living will (or advance directive) and financial power of attorney, plus unlimited revisions and Attorney Assist for a year.

Check out the sample

We suggest looking at LegalZoom's sample documents before getting started. You can see how your Last Will and Testament (or other estate planning document) is likely to be put together based on your state.

Satisfaction guarantee - in certain circumstances

LegalZoom offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee for the first 60 days. But, there are some terms that make it a little less cut-and-dried to get a refund: "we can only refund our fee for issues we're directly responsible for." In other words, if you sign up for the will creation service and then change your mind, you won't get any money back - but if you buy a plan with Attorney Assist and are unhappy with the turnaround time for getting answers to questions, that would potentially be a refundable situation.

Strong overall reputation

How about reputation? Clients use LegalZoom for a variety of situations, not just wills, and the company's overall track record is good. At the time of this review, the Better Business Bureau had given LZ an "A-" rating and accreditation. Why not an "A+" ? Probably because of the nearly 1,000 complaints filed with the BBB over the last three years, 400+ of which came from the last 12 months. Of course, with over four million customers since 2001, it stands to reason that LegalZoom would have its fair share of issues - and the BBB rating means that the company is doing a satisfactory job of handling problems that are reported. We also found almost 1500 five-star reviews from very happy LegalZoom clients, balancing out those complaints.

Solid choice for will creation

LegalZoom is a good option for getting your will created. You don't have to worry about subscribing to an entire library of legal documents when you just need one service - but do watch out for that Attorney Assist feature that converts to a month-to-month if you opt for a package that includes it.

• Pricing: one-year subscription for $107.88 or $35/month
• Documents can also be purchased individually ($49.95 for a will)
• $10,000 legal guarantee
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

LawDepot was founded in 2001. Their legal document library includes over 150 templates, including Wills, Powers of Attorney (standard and medical), and Revocable Living Trusts, created for use in all 50 states. The company has helped more than ten million users, saving clients an estimated $2 billion in legal fees by helping them take a DIY approach to creating legal documents.

Easy-to-use will creation questionnaire

LawDepot lets you jump right in and start creating your Last Will and Testament. We like that this platform lets you skip any questions you're not ready to answer as you work through the process. You can also click the Document Preview at any time, if you'd like to see how your will is shaping up.

Pay per document, month-to-month, or annually

When you get to the final step, LawDepot prompts you to select a license in order to download and print your completed will. You've got a couple of pricing options there. If you anticipate the need to create many documents, a one-year Pro subscription at $107.88 might be your best bet. Otherwise, you can buy documents one by one: flat rate prices per document range from $7.50 to $119, and at the time of this review the one-off fee for a Last Will and Testament was $49.95 with ten years of access (edit, update, print and/or download). Finally, you can use LawDepot's 7-day free trial; if you don't cancel within that timeframe, your account will automatically convert to a month-to-month plan at $35.

Add-on service if you have legal questions

What if you want to consult a lawyer? LawDepot isn't a law firm and can't provide legal advice. However, they've partnered with JustAnswer, a service that connects people with lawyers instantly. That's offered as a separate subscription, and you'd need to set that up with JustAnswer directly. At the time of this evaluation, the service had a one-week trial for $1 and unlimited access to lawyers was priced at $61/month; one-question fees were listed as up to $63.

Documents are guaranteed to be legal

LawDepot offers a generous legal guarantee. If a customer suffers any damage in a legal settlement due to a mistake that is clearly LawDepot's fault, LD will reimburse the client up to $12,000. We're not exactly sure how that would apply with a will (after all, wouldn't the client be dead if and when the mistake was discovered?) but it's good to know that protection is out there if you decide to use LawDepot for other documents too.

Lots of five-star reviews

Reputation-wise, LawDepot is pretty solid. The company has earned an "A+" and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and nearly 4,000 people have given this service a flawless five-star rating. Where it falls down a bit is when it comes to cancellation: there aren't a ton of complaints for LawDepot, but the ones we did see almost always described issues with being charged after the clients closed their accounts.

Reliable way to create your will and other legal documents

LawDepot offers a straightforward way to get your will done, along with several other estate planning-related documents you might need. You'll see exactly what your will looks like before deciding if you want to pay to download and print it, and you've got multiple options for getting that access (i.,e. one-time fee, monthly membership, annual plan). While we recommend paying very close attention to your credit card statements after you cancel, LawDepot is a solid choice overall for will creation.

• $29.95/month or $299.40/year for unlimited access to specific legal documents
• Spouse/partner and dependent children are included at no extra charge
• 25% discount on additional services not included in the plan
• 24/7 legal help hotline included
• Over 2,000 five-star reviews

LegalShield connects you with a network of seasoned lawyers who can provide advice on an almost limitless type of legal issues: for yourself, your business, or even your spouse/partner and dependent children living at home, all for a monthly fee of $29.95 (or pay $299.40 annually).

Everyone in the household gets a will

When it comes to getting your will done, LegalShield offers a great value: for that monthly fee, everyone in your household (your spouse/partner and all dependent children under age 26 living at home or full-time students) can get a will drawn up. In other words, you could subscribe for a month and take care of it for everyone in your family for under $30. Then again, you might find LegalShield's services helpful for other areas of your life, like uncontested divorce or document review.

Some documents aren't automatically included

We would love to see LegalShield make it a little clearer upfront which services come with the monthly membership fees, though. Many documents related to wills - like Power of Attorney or Trusts - might not be included with the $29.95 plan. In that case, you'd get a 25% discount on services with the lawyer you're matched with. When we reached out to LegalShield via online chat, we were told that the Power of Attorney would only be available at a 25% discount; however, the Estate Planning section of the site says that Durable Power of Attorney comes with the standard membership, no extra fees required.

Work directly with a lawyer to create your will

Still, you may want to consider using LegalShield if you prefer to have an attorney walk you through the entire will process instead of using a strictly-online, fill-out-the-questions platform like many of the services we evaluated. Once you've signed up for LegalShield, it'll take up to 24 hours for them to review your application, and then you'll be in contact with a provider lawyer shortly after that. Feel free to browse LegalShield's Law Firm Finder if you'd like more information about the attorneys and teams in their network.

Favorable reviews from clients

More than 2,000 clients have given LegalShield a perfect five-star rating. We were pleased to see comments from people who have used the service for many years and gotten peace of mind from knowing they have a legal team at the ready whenever needed. We don't think that's necessarily the case for clients looking to get their wills done (which is typically something you don't need more than once in your life - maybe slightly more often if you want to make some changes), but you absolutely can use your LegalShield membership in many aspects of your life. The Better Business Bureau's "A+" rating and accreditation of LegalShield supports the company's positive reputation.

Well worth considering

LegalShield offers a nice mix of affordability and convenience, especially for anyone who doesn't like the idea of having their will done as a fill-in-the-blank document online. You risk very little by subscribing for a month and getting a will drafted for everyone in your household, and you may find other ways that this membership benefits you as you explore its perks. LegalShield is a solid option among will creation services.

• Comprehensive will and trust document creation service
• Wills start at $159 ($259 for couples)
• Trusts start at $599 ($699 for couples)
• Payment plans available
• First year of document storage is free, $19-$39/year afterwards
• Add one year of attorney support for just $200 (not available in all states)
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee
• In business since 2017

Trust & Will has been offering estate planning services since 2017. Partnered with leading organizations like AARP and Fifth Third Bank, and backed by some of the top names in venture capital, thousands of clients have used this service to create an estate plan that matched their needs, situation, and the legacy they hope to leave.

Do you need a will or a trust?

If you're not sure whether you should create a will or a trust, use the quiz on the site to help narrow it down. Typically, the more complex your situation - children under 18, over $160K in assets, and so forth - the more likely it will be that a trust is a better fit. With Trust & Will, the pricing is higher than most options in our reviews: wills start at $159 and trusts at $599. Fortunately, Trust & Will offers a payment plan to break it down into four more manageable pieces instead of paying all at once.

Includes a comprehensive document package

What will you get when you purchase the will creation service here? Your final documents will include a Last Will & Testament, HIPAA Authorization, Living Will, and Power of Attorney. You can either print off your documents right away or have them printed and shipped to you (the first delivery is free), and you'll get a year of digital storage for your documents. After that, you'll pay $19/year (or $39/year if you've opted for the living trust service).

Unlimited legal advice for an extra fee

Another add-on to consider is Trust & Will's attorney support. For a one-time fee of $200, you can get line-by-line document review, step-by-step instructions, legal advice, and tax law advice - unlimited for a full year. And, if you need to transfer the deed of your home into a living trust, Trust & Will offers those services for a flat fee of $499.

Excellent ratings from clients

Despite only being in business for a few years, Trust & Will has already established an excellent reputation for online will creation. The Better Business Bureau gives the company its highest rating and accreditation, and there were no complaints filed with the BBB - ever. Beyond that, 97% of Trust & Will clients give the service a 4- or 5-star rating, with over 2,000 people awarding it a perfect score.

Not always easy to contact

Our experience wasn't exactly stellar, though. We didn't have the easiest time getting in touch with Trust & Will's support team. When we called the number during regular business hours, we got a generic "our team is busy" message (that didn't even mention their company name) and then it invited us to leave a voicemail or a callback number. Both options disconnected us; eventually, we were at least able to leave a message. Similarly, when we clicked on the "Chat with a Trust & Will Specialist" link on the Deed Transfer page, it didn't go anywhere.

Customer support can be lacking

Filling out the online inquiry form was the way we finally heard from this will service. We got a response via email within a few hours: that's how we found out that Trust & Will doesn't actually offer phone support on weekends (despite it being advertised on the website), and that attorney support isn't currently available in all 50 states. At the time of this review, the only states with that feature were AR, CA, CT, IN, MI, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, and Washington DC. The email we received didn't answer all of our questions, and it was almost impossible to reach anyone to ask for further information.

Good, not great

We really wanted to make Trust & Will our highest-ranked provider of will services: we love the idea of being able to get attorney support, and we were impressed with the numerous five-star reviews. And, who knows, that could be exactly the kind of experience you have as well - especially if you live in one of the states where attorney support is offered. But, for us, we were left feeling like it was a big spend for a service that might not deliver - like we'd do better to either bite the bullet and pay for a local attorney or to spend far less and use one of the other services in our review. We suggest looking at Trust & Will after you've considered its higher-rated rivals.

Parting Wishes is a will creation service based in Canada and a sister site to US Legal Wills. The site walks you through a series of questions about your family status, how you want your estate distributed, if you need to set up a guardianship or trust, and so on. The process should take 20 minutes or less, and at the end you'll have a document you can print and get signed and notarized.

Get just the documents and services you need

There are several different services you can use through Parting Wishes, either a la carte or as part of a document bundle. For example, the basic Last Will and Testament is priced at $39.95, but for $99.95 you can get the Complete Estate Plan with documents including Power of Attorney, Living Will, Funeral Wishes, and more. If you don't see the particular configuration of services you need, Parting Wishes also lets you build your own bundle.

Nice features you might not see elsewhere

Some of the services you might want to include in your purchase from Parting Wishes are fairly unique:

• Keyholders: this lets you designate up to 20 friends/family members who should be given access to your information at the appropriate time. You can select which Parting Wishes features each Keyholder can access (you may want your spouse to have all of them, but just a few specific ones for your children, siblings, and executor).
• Final Messages: write anything you'd like your loved ones to receive after you pass away.
• Life Locker: store any critical personal information that should be passed along to your family and/or executor
• Digital Vault: upload any other important documents and files that will also be passed along.

Only ongoing fee is for storage

Parting Wishes doesn't charge a subscription fee - at least, not in the first year. During that year, you can make unlimited changes to your will. Once that timeframe is up, you can choose to pay for continued online document storage: $11.95/year, five years for $29.95, ten years for $39.95, or $79.95 for 25 years. But, don't worry if you forget (or choose not to): you would just pay the one-year fee to reactivate your account whenever you need to access it again. (Parting Wishes says that they've never removed an account in all of their years in operation.)

Not so recently departed?

We had to laugh a little bit as we scrolled through the "Recent Memorials" section on the Parting Wishes site - not because the obituaries were amusing, but because they represented deaths from 5-15 years earlier. That didn't quite fit the definition of "recent" , in our opinion, and it left us wondering if not many people actually use this service to complete their wills.

Good reputation with the BBB

And yet, Parting Wishes has an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. There were no complaints filed there in the three years leading up to this review (but again, that could indicate this service isn't working with very many clients too). Also, as we've mentioned, this site is really a sister platform to another will service in our review, US Legal Wills - so many clients likely use that site if they're based in the US. You can read more about US Legal Wills in its separate evaluation.

Best for residents of Canada

Overall, Parting Wishes is a decent service that's hard to recommend to clients in the US when so much of it is geared towards Canadians. If you're based in Canada, we encourage you to see what Parting Wishes can do for you - but for anyone in the United States, US Legal Wills makes more sense as a starting point for accessing the same will services offered here.

• Pricing is $39/month or $119/year
• Free seven-day trial on monthly subscriptions

LegalNature is one of several all-purpose document services in our evaluation. You can get just about everything here, with legal documents for individuals, businesses, real estate, and yes, estate planning documents like wills.

A little more expensive than rival services

This is one of the most expensive subscription-based services we evaluated. You'll pay $39/month after your 7-day free trial, or you can skip the month-to-month and save by paying $119 for a year-long membership to LegalNature. Either way, if you don't like the service and decide you'd like a refund, you've got 30 days to reach out and ask.

Site navigation isn't always smooth

Navigating the LegalNature site was somewhat inconsistent. It was discouraging to click on the Estate Services link under the Products dropdown at the bottom of the site and get a "404 Not Found" error. But, when we resized the window to full screen, that dropdown moved to the top of the page - and worked just fine. You may need to play around with how you move through this site to get it to work for you (on your phone vs. laptop).

Document creation process is straightforward

You could just jump right in and start creating your will here, or you can go step-by-step through the Estate Planning questionnaire to see if there are any additional documents that would be wise to include (like Power of Attorney or Living Will). There's plenty of information whichever route you choose, and we like the straightforward, easy-to-understand explanations of the many different facets of writing a will and planning other estate issues.

Preview your will without an account

And, before you even consider signing up for LegalNature, you can click the "Preview" button to see what the resulting document might look like - based on how you answer the document questions, of course. Walking through all of those questions can be done without entering payment information: that comes at the end, so there's no mystery here, leaving you wondering what kind of will you're creating.

Mixed reviews

We wanted to be excited by the 4,000+ five-star reviews we found for LegalNature, but most of them seemed to have come from people who had just barely signed up for the service and hadn't really tested it out yet. Still, the Better Business Bureau also gives this service an "A+" rating and accreditation, another good sign that LegalNature is on the up-and-up. However, almost 900 users gave the company a three-star rating or lower; we found more than a few mentions of documents that weren't able to be opened or printed (which LegalNature says isn't their problem), legal forms that didn't wind up being appropriate for what they were intended for, and challenges getting help from customer service - particularly when trying to cancel the monthly subscription.

Some room for improvement

LegalNature gets a "just average" rating from us. While we like their easy step-by-step process for creating a will, and the ability to preview the document without entering any information first, there's nothing that makes LegalNature stand out significantly from other multi-purpose legal document services. You'll pay more for it here, and you might be disappointed by the customer service (or lack of it). If you've got your heart set on subscribing to an all-in-one service for legal document creation, we'd suggest looking at LegalNature's rivals before committing to one of their memberships.

• All wills priced at $75
• Optional online notarization available in some states
• No subscription required
• Free changes for life

Wills comes right out and tells you that they're not a law firm and they don't provide legal advice. And, if you haven't guessed by the name, this service does one thing: wills. It's one of the newer platforms we evaluated, only in business for a few years at the time of this evaluation.

They know it's stressful to create a will

Start by entering your name, email address, and city/state. You'll then be taken to a welcome letter unlike anything we've seen in the process of creating a will - reassuring you that the process might be emotional and overwhelming and that you can take a break anytime. Thanks?

Answer the questions

You'll then be taken to the first of several questionnaires used to fill out your will. While you can't skip around from section to section, you can preview which ones you'll be completing: About You, About Your Will, Family Members, Other Beneficiaries, Residuary Estate, Executor(s), and Prepare to Sign. At any time, you can click on "Preview will" or "Save for later" at the top of the page. You'll have to verify your email before you can do so, and that's also required to find out if you can take advantage of Wills' online notarization (only available in some states).

No fees after you create your will

One plus of using Wills compared with other services is that you pay a one-time fee of $75. That's it. You'll get lifetime changes and no recurring fees. That could be a breath of fresh air compared with subscription-based will creation services or others that charge you for storage after the first year.

Limited but positive feedback from customers

How about reputation? There isn't a ton of client feedback for this will creation website. The handful of reviews we found were mostly positive, saying that they had no problems using Wills to get their documents done quickly or with accessing their accounts at a later date to make changes.

No guarantees or legal advice

Still, we're not completely sure this service is established enough to get our endorsement. We found some obvious typos as we browsed, and it was only by going through the Terms and Conditions that we discovered there is zero satisfaction guarantee here: you pay your $75 and that's that. Plus, since it's not a law firm, there's no legal advice available if you get stuck or if you want to make sure that your will is absolutely acceptable in your state.

Look at other services first, for now

We're stuck feeling middle-of-the-road with Wills. We love the simplicity of the interface and the one-off, no-hidden-fees pricing. On the other hand, there's nothing on the site that addresses how the service goes about making sure that the documents created here are valid in each state. $75 is cheap, but it could be an expensive mistake if you create your will here and then find out that it wasn't prepared according to your state's laws (or your loved ones find that out after the fact). You may want to keep Wills in mind as a backup choice if you don't find another will service you prefer.

• Pricing starts at $19.99
• Attorney-prepared wills and other related documents
• Guaranteed to be valid in your state
• Free eSignature
• 60-day money-back guarantee
• "A+" rated by the BBB
• In business for over 20 years

Find Legal Forms was started in 2001 by two attorneys in California who wanted to offer low-cost access to the most frequently-needed legal documents. More than three million customers have used this site to buy the forms they need a la carte, without any ongoing subscription fees or hefty lawyer bills.

Multiple options for estate planning documents

If you're looking for wills and other related documents, Find Legal Forms has several different types to choose from:

• Wills for Married/Single/Divorced/Widowed individuals
• Mutual Wills for Couples
• Living Trusts
• Will Amendments, Codicils and Revocations

These documents can be purchased a la carte, but you may want to consider a Combo Kit. For example, you could pay $19.95 for a Will with Trust for married people with minor children - or spend $39.95 and get that document and six others (two different Durable Power of Attorney documents, Anatomical Gift, General Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive, and Quitclaim Deed).

Downloadable wills

We encourage you to click on the Sample Form to see what you can expect with your downloaded Will document through Find Legal Forms. This is not going to be a service that walks you through step-by-step as you fill it out: you'll get a document of instructions and guidelines, but if you want help from an actual person, you'll have to submit an online request and wait to hear back.

Watch out for the monthly fee

We're glad that this service offers a 60-day, 100% money-back guarantee. That's important because some customers inadvertently wind up with Find Legal Forms' $4.99 "secure online storage and editing" monthly plan; watch out for the pop-up window and check the "no thanks, just complete my order" box if you'd like to avoid that recurring fee too.

Is anybody home?

There's no big cause for concern here, though. The Better Business Bureau gives the company an "A+" rating, which is always a good sign. Still, there's not a ton of customer feedback either - despite Find Legal Forms' having more than three million clients since its inception. Their social media channels were equally silent, with posts stopping sometime in 2018 (not to mention the fact that Google+ isn't even a thing anymore, but there's still an icon/link on their website) . Not sure about you, but that definitely has us wondering just how "up-to-date" their legal forms really are.

Not our first choice for will creation

Could you get the will documents you need at a very reasonable price through Find Legal Forms? Sure. Are there other options that are similarly affordable and that also give you a little (or a lot) more guidance? Absolutely. You may want to keep Find Legal Forms as a last choice option if you don't find the help you need through one of our higher-ranked will creation services.

• Hundreds of legal documents available
• $33/month subscription

Legal Contracts gives you access to hundreds of legal forms ranging from LLC Operating Agreements to Automobile Bills of Sale and much more. There's not much preamble to their process for any document you need: jump right in and start filling it out, then enter your payment details to get a document you can print out.

Many different estate planning documents available here

In the Wills category, you can get the following legal forms:

• Last Will and Testament
• Child Medical Consent
• Health Care Directive
• Living Will
• Medical Power of Attorney
• Power of Attorney
• Revocable Living Trust
• Revocation of Power of Attorney

Get answers to your questions

As you fill out the will question-and-answer form, there are plenty of FAQs on the right side of the page if you're confused about anything. What's a self-proving will? Can a beneficiary or executor be one of your witnesses? What's a wipeout clause and should you include one? Those are just some of the areas where Legal Contracts offers guidance.

Pricing varies after free trial

How much will it cost to develop your Last Will and Testament through Legal Contracts? It could be free, if you take advantage of their 7-day free trial. You could even use the site for other documents during that time. However, at the end of the initial week, you'll be switched to a recurring subscription of $33/month. Another option is to purchase a one-year license for $95.88, or purchase access to individual documents as needed (which will cost anywhere from $7.50 to $79 per form).

Cancellation doesn't always work

Despite having an "A+" and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, Legal Contracts doesn't have a reputation we're excited about. Not only is there not a ton of feedback from LC clients, but what we did find was pretty much always negative. The biggest issue seems to be the month-to-month subscription that begins after the 7-day free trial. Legal Contracts says that customers won't be billed as long as they cancel the service within that first week; however, we found multiple complaints from people who took the trial, canceled before the 7-day period ended and got confirmation through the website... only to find charges on their bank or credit card statements afterwards.

Better will creation options are out there

With so many different ways to get a will done online, we're just not impressed by Legal Contracts. Their rivals offer a lot more - either by not connecting the service to a somewhat sneaky recurring fee or by giving you a wider range of documents (and a more up-to-date interface to access them) - and it's hard to find anyone that absolutely loved their client experience here. We'd recommend using a higher-rated platform to get your will done.

Continued from above...

Most experts agree that your first priority is to decide between a Will and a Trust. Both will allow you to specify how you want your assets distributed upon your death, but they accomplish this in different ways. The biggest difference is that wills require your estate's distribution to be overseen by a court, known as probate; trusts, on the other hand, skip the probate process altogether and are handled privately. But, trusts can be more complicated to create and establish - transferring real estate and investment accounts into the ownership of the trust - and so it's perfectly acceptable to create a will first, then decide if you need to take the extra steps required for a trust.

Either way, it's a good idea to have a Power of Attorney and Advance Directive as part of your documents too. A Power of Attorney gives a person you specify the authority to act in your behalf: if you're incapacitated and you need someone to pay a bill, get information from a doctor, or make arrangements for your care, someone with Power of Attorney can do those things.

Advance Directives (often consisting of a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare) give you the ability to state what interventions you want (or don't) if you become unable to communicate. In other words, your will or trust details your wishes after you die, and a Power of Attorney and Advance Directive gives you say-so over what you prefer while you're alive.

Fortunately, creating a will doesn't have to be time-consuming, especially if you've already given some thought to your preferences. There are a number of services online that can help you draft your will within a matter of minutes and have it ready for printing, witnessing, and notarization. Which one is right for you? Here are some factors to consider:

• One-time fee or subscription-based. Some will creation services charge a one-time fee to make the document, while others (typically those that provide legal documents for a variety of other purposes) have a month-to-month subscription. Those membership-based plans often have a one-week free trial; as long as you cancel before the time period ends, you could very likely create your will for no cost.
• Document storage. How will your documents be maintained? Can you access them as long as you want and make changes, or is there an expiration date? Will you have to pay ongoing digital storage fees?
• Access for loved ones. Will your family members, executor, or other relevant individuals be able to access your will online after you die? Does the will creation service offer any means of storing your signed copies, or is that on you?
• Reputation. What do clients say about their experience with the will creation service? Is it easy to use? Were there any issues canceling the free trial? What does the Better Business Bureau say about the company?

To help you with your estate planning, TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the most popular will creation services available today. We're sure that this information will make it easy, affordable, and relatively hassle-free to get this important task checked off your to-do list.

Will Service FAQ

What is a will, who needs to make a will, how soon does a will go into effect, how much does it cost to make a will, is it hard to make a will, what if i want to make changes to my will, is a will made public, what happens if i die without a will, compare will services.

Select any 2 Will Services to compare them head to head

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How to Write Your Will Online in 15 Minutes

One quick document can avoid leaving your estate in a mess.

My great-uncle, a bachelor and bon vivant, wrote his will on a cocktail napkin. It probably took less than 15 minutes to complete. When he died 14 years later, at age 90, the will was ruled valid in his state because it was properly witnessed by two people at a bar.

But you can write your will quickly and inexpensively without resorting to a napkin.

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Laurie Macdonald, 66, had put off writing a will for years when she discovered FreeWill, a no-fee, online will-writing service. The former Florida program director of Defenders of Wildlife had once begun drafting a will with an attorney but never finished. FreeWill allowed her to get it done, Macdonald says: “It took more than 15 minutes, though probably not more than half an hour.”

Why bother?

Die without a will, and your state's laws determine who gets your assets — your bank accounts and everything else. A will is where you can make sure your camera collection goes to your nephew and your jewelry is divided among your daughters. Most important , if you have young children, a will is also where you can name a guardian for them should you die before they reach adulthood.

"For many people, state laws don't exactly meet their needs,” says attorney Paul Kassabian, legal product counsel at LegalZoom, which offers online will-writing packages. Macdonald's longtime partner, for one, wouldn't inherit anything at Macdonald's death if there were no will. Still, many people die without this document, leaving their heirs to battle over their estates. And you don't need to have Aretha Franklin's millions for such fights to get nasty.

It's easy to put off …

Forty-five percent of Americans 55 and older don't have a will, according to a new survey from Merrill Lynch and Age Wave. Why might that be? In 2017, when Caring.com, a senior-care resource, asked adults without a will why that was so, the most common answer was, “I just haven't gotten around to it.” The arrival of children didn't seem to have much impact: Only 36 percent of respondents with children under 18 had end-of-life plans in place.

… But easy to get done

Do-it-yourself sites and software can smooth the process. Says Macdonald about FreeWill, for instance: “It was really clear, really simple.” Supported by nonprofit organizations that might benefit from philanthropic commitments made in wills generated at its site, FreeWill has produced more than 27,000 wills since 2017; Rocket Lawyer says it has created over a million.

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State laws matter

If you don't follow all the local formalities, your will may not be legally valid. A lot can go wrong. In New York, witnesses need to include their residential addresses. In Utah, handwritten wills must be penned entirely by the person making the will. And in Louisiana, wills must be signed in the presence of a notary public. Find links to your state's laws .

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Avoid these goofs

Put your funeral wishes in your will and you may not get the send-off you planned. “Your will may not even be found until after you're buried,” cautions Kevin Flatley, an attorney and author of  The Little Blue Book of Estate Planning . Another common error is naming someone your executor without asking if he or she wants the job. Finally, retirement account assets, life insurance and annuities don't pass down via wills. Beneficiary-designation forms rule here. If they're not up to date, your ex-spouse could end up inheriting against your wishes.

See an attorney

If you have significant assets, children from multiple marriages or complicated business arrangements, you may need professional legal help. “There are a lot of variables, and it's easy for a layperson to overlook something,” says Flatley, noting that a will by itself may not be sufficient.

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Low-bill wills

Where to go for a will when on a budget:

• FreeWill  This no-cost service also allows you to draw up a new will gratis if your wishes or circumstances change.
• LegalZoom  Services range from a $69 will to a $149 package that includes a living trust and related documents. 
• Quicken WillMaker Plus 2019  This $80 software package can create a will and other estate-planning paperwork. 
• Rocket Lawyer  A membership giving you access to estate-planning documents is $40 per month

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Helping you make the most out of your money

Searching Money Mentor . . .

Best online will writers.

| Editor-at-large

Updated December 13, 2023

In this guide

If you have relatively simple financial affairs, then an online will could be a cheap and convenient option for you.

This guide looks what an online will writer is, who the service might be suitable for and lists our top picks.

In this article, we explain:

• What is an online will service?
• Who is it suitable for?
• What are the top online will writers?
• How are our ratings calculated?

Read more: Guide to wills

This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue *

What is an online will writing service?

Online will writing services allows those with simple financial affairs to write a legal will, quickly and simply, without the need for face-to-face meetings and expensive solicitors fees. It can offer greater peace of mind than a DIY will.

A number, such as Farewill use in-house legal experts to check over your will to ensure it’s written correctly and your wishes are clear.

Below, we cover in more detail what else the services offer, along with other online will writers that we rate highly, including Bequest, Bequeathed and Guardian Angel. Many services will also offer lasting power of attorney services.

Word of warning: an online will writer is not for everyone

An online will writing service is unlikely to be suitable if you have complicated affairs and inheritance tax issues, own your own business or you have remarried.

Online will writing services also aren’t authorised and regulated in England and Wales in the same way as solicitors.

Remember, once you have your written will, it will need to be signed and witnessed to make it legally binding.

Read more: Do I need a lawyer to make a will?

Want to watch rather than read? Tips for drawing up a will

This video lists the top tips on how to create your own will. Or alternatively, read how to write a will .

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Preparing for the cost of death

Losing a loved one is always difficult. But it can be even harder when the cost of death causes financial strain and concern about how the funeral will be paid for. Nobody likes to think about what will happen when they die. However, spending time thinking about its impact and doing some financial planning for […]

What is Free Wills Month?

If you haven’t got round to writing your Will yet, now might be the time to do it because March is Free Wills Month. Instead of paying a solicitor fee, those over the age of 55 are invited to donate to charity. Here we explain how it works and who is eligible. Free Wills Month […]

What happens to debts when you die?

Debts aren’t inherited but are paid off out of your estate when you die. This means that your loved ones are off the hook, unless they had a joint loan with you or provided a loan guarantee for you. If your estate doesn’t have sufficient funds to pay for the debts, then they are likely […]

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America 's online .css-rqgsqp{position:relative;z-index:1;} .css-6n7j50{display:inline;} Will writing service.

Each step is carefully thought out to make your Will writing experience as smooth as possible. We also include helpful tips and links to relevant guides throughout. Did we mention that our Will experts will personally help you via our chat button?

Answer some questions

In as little as 15 minutes, provide some information about yourself and choose what you want to go into your Will.

Review and sign

Receive your completed Will within two working days and follow the simple instructions to sign and validate everything.

Stay up to date

Your estate planning details will be securely stored in your account. Log back on anytime to make amendments and get an updated Will.

A Human Touch

We don't leave your family's future up to bots. All our documents are personally reviewed by our own Will specialists, who are themselves qualified lawyers (and real humans).

Basic Online Will

What's included :, available add-ons :.

• Storage service

Advanced Online Will

• Country-specific Wills

Unsure which Will service is best for you? Take our quick questionnaire.

There is actually more to estate planning than just Wills. That's why our service includes a Will, plus other important documents that help organize your affairs.

A breakdown of the different sections of our estate planning package and their contents. Select each section in the dropdown menu to view more.

Online platform preview

We have put together a brief video showcasing how our platform looks and what you can expect out of the process.

Keep your Will up to date

Circumstances in life can change often, and your Will should change with them. That's why we offer unlimited updates with our "Editing Membership" for $39 per year. Compare that with the significantly higher amendment fees at traditional law firms and Will writing firms. We even throw in the first year for free! Just sign back in anytime and make the necessary amendments. Receive an updated version of your estate planning bundle.

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What is the online will service, what is the benefit of using the online will service, is an online will legal, what is the online will service process.

• Sign up for an account
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• Update your Will as needed

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In some states, you can write a valid will yourself on a piece of paper [0] Cornell Law School . Holographic will . View all sources . However, if you have kids, property or assets, you’re probably better off using estate-planning software or working with an attorney.

Depending on your assets and family situation, there are several factors to consider when drafting a will. This essential estate planning step can spark conversations about the possessions you value and the legacy you want to leave, so it’s important to take the time to walk through the process.

Ways to write a will

Online will-writing software.

Price: Free to $89 and up.

Who it’s best for: People with smaller estates or relatively uncomplicated financial situations and those looking to avoid legal expenses.

An online will maker is an inexpensive way to navigate the will-writing process. While it’s not a good solution for those with large or complicated estates, it’s an excellent starting point for people looking for a simple way to do basic estate planning.

» MORE: The pros and cons of handwriting a will

Estate planning lawyers

Price: $300 to $1,000 and up flat fee or $200 and up hourly.

Who it’s best for: People with large or complicated estates, or those who want to use more advanced estate planning techniques to minimize estate taxes or bypass probate , the legal process for distributing a deceased person’s assets.

Estate planning attorneys can work with you to create a comprehensive estate plan including a will, trust and advance directives . They’ll ensure your documents are legally binding in your state and can help you navigate complex assets or family circumstances.

» What works best for you? Know the differences between wills and trusts

How to write a will in 7 steps

1. account for all possessions.

Everything you own, from physical property to financial accounts, is part of your estate. Assets you’ll include in your will include real estate, vehicles, valuables and other personal property.

However, wills don’t include any assets that are held jointly with another party or accounts that have a named beneficiary such as a retirement or life insurance account.

Even if you intend to leave your entire estate to a single heir , creating a comprehensive inventory is important to ensure that none of your assets end up in the wrong place, such as an old workplace retirement account that lists your ex-spouse as the beneficiary.

» Mores: Estate-planning checklist

2. Determine distribution

It can be helpful to separate bequests into categories to first take care of your beneficiaries’ needs, then consider sentimental gifts.

Start with larger assets such as property and accounts. If you want to explain your choices — leaving less to one child because you supported them financially for longer, for example — write a separate letter to your beneficiaries so you can keep the language in your will clear and precise.

Talk with family and friends to learn who would most appreciate certain belongings and record which items should go to whom. 

Double-check the beneficiaries listed on your bank accounts, life insurance policies and retirement plans. Beneficiary designations override the wishes outlined in your will, so make sure your designations are aligned.

3. Think about your children

If you have minor children, you will need to decide who will take care of them once you're gone. This means naming a guardian in your will in the event that both you and the other parent are not able to care for them. If you don't appoint a guardian, your state court will have to appoint one without your input [0] Cornell Law School . Guardianship . View all sources .

4. Name an executor

An executor ensures that the directions in your will are carried out after your death. You can choose a family member to be your executor, but if you’re concerned about their ability to handle your estate during a difficult time, you can name your lawyer or an institution such as your bank.

» How does your executor distribute your estate? Learn about the probate process

5. Factor in fees

If your executor is an institution or an attorney, they’ll likely charge a fee to handle your estate. If you select a friend or family member, you'll need to decide whether or not to pay that person for their services. Executor fees are paid out of your estate.

6. Make your will official

In most states, you’ll need to sign your will in front of at least two witnesses [0] Cornell Law School . Wills: attestation requirement . View all sources . In Colorado and North Dakota, you can have your will notarized instead of witnessed. Louisiana requires wills to be both notarized and witnessed [0] Louisiana State Legislature . Requirements of form . View all sources .

Store a hard copy of your will in a safe place, which could be a fireproof safe in your home or office or a bank-safe deposit box. Be sure to back up the digital version, too. Let your spouse, executor or a trusted friend know where your will can be found.

7. Update as needed

As your life and your heirs’ lives change, you may want to change your will. Did you sell an asset you had planned to leave to a child? Decide what you'll bequeath instead. Did a potential heir die before you? Choose a new recipient for the items you planned to leave to them.

Don't put off such updates; the court and your executor can't confirm your intentions unless you’ve put them down on paper.

Some online will makers offer free updates, though some require an ongoing membership to make changes ranging from $19 annually to $39 monthly. An estate planning attorney may charge a $100 to $500 fee to update a will.

On a similar note...

Compare online will makers

Protect your family Write a will from home

• Legally valid and built based on state-specific laws
• Flat $99, Enjoy 50% off for spouse will
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Introduction from our CEO

Priya Surya quickly shows how Goodwill can work for you.

Why Goodwill?

Verified will documents.

Ironclad, legally enforceable documents based on state-specific laws.

Privacy and Convenience

Modern estate planning from comfort and safety of home through a secure interface.

Global Coverage

Made in the US, to cover assets locally and abroad, for common law countries.

Update Anytime

Adding a new home, or changing your distribution? Just log in, take a minute to make the change, and print your new will.

Help from Live Experts

Speak with real humans online, via video or over the phone. Talk to us

How does it compare?

Traditional estate planning.

Lots of questions and paperwork

Find, visit, and pay for a lawyer

3-6 weeks for a will

Bait and switch pricing

Using Goodwill

Create a legally valid will at home, live help from will writing experts, flat, affordable pricing, update your will, anytime, doing nothing.

What are the consequences?

Who looks after your family?

Where are all your accounts?

How will the bills get paid?

Our partners:

Interested in offering wills to your affiliate audience, customers, or employees? Chat to us online.

Create your will in minutes, store online and update anytime

Answer a few easy questions.

Easily decide what is right for you and your family, with all the options you would have if you used a lawyer.

Review & sign

We pack everything you need into a handy, easy to understand document that you just need to sign.

Store forever, update anytime

Lifetime account with every will. Access your will at anytime and update it as life circumstances change.

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Serving DBS customers since 2020

I was dreading doing this and spending lots of money on a lawyer, but their price is affordable!

David Williams, Father of 2

So easy and fast, there’s no reason to wait or put if off. One big item off the to-do list!

Sara Thompson, New Zealand native, Singapore resident

Built by lawyers

Our will writing tool has been created based on statutes such as the Wills Act, the Probate and Administration Act, and US case law.

Your will is designed around your state's laws and your specific cirumstances.

Based on US law, your will is:

Fully legal after proper signing

No need to notarise your will

No need to register your will

Your will is built around you, with expert support when you need it

Guardians for children.

Ensure your children’s wellbeing by naming someone you trust. If they live abroad, name a temporary guardian as well.

Gift anything to anyone

Anything you own can be gifted to any individual you want. Got that record collection that you want to go to that special person, not a problem. You can also choose to leave vehicles, collections of items and even simple money gifts.

Your estate split how you want

Your will, your way. Ultimate flexibility around who gets your assets and possessions.

Naming an executor

Guidance on how to choose the right person to distribute your assets. Read about Choosing an executor

Organise all your assets

Give your executor all the information about your finances and properties in one place, attached to your will.

Personal Messages to loved ones

Leave personal messages to make your gifts even more meaningful.

Commonly asked questions

What happens when someone passes away in the us.

If they have a will , their appointed executor locates the will, applies to the courts for a ‘Grant of Probate’, approaches financial institutions to close accounts, distributes assets from the accounts according to the will.

If they don’t have a will , someone step up to represent the deceased in the middle of your family’s grief. Others who qualify must give their written consent.

They must create a Schedule of Assets, and apply to the court for ‘Letter of Administration’, and once granted, approach financial institutions, and then distribute assets according to the state’s own formula. You and your family have no say.

Do I need a will?

Main reasons

• Ensures your assets are not lost/go unclaimed by your family
• Secure guardianship for any minor children, and ensure they are financially and emotionally cared for by someone you trust
• Appoints a person you trust and have informed to execute your estate
• Prevents confusion regarding your wishes
• Give to charitable causes you care about

It is particularly important if:

• you have children under 21
• you have no clear heirs, and there’s a high likelihood your assets could go to the state
• you are in a domestic partnership

When do I not need a will?

If you have assets less than $50,000, then your estate need not go through the probate process. In this case, it may not be necessary to set out your assets in a will. If your wishes exactly match the law of intestacy, and you don’t have any minor children, and don’t care about who executes your estate,

What do I put in my will?

Seems like you’ll have to pull your hair out with sorting out bank statements and insurance policies, while the lawyer runs an expensive hourly bill.

At Goodwill, we want to remove all the stress and make it easy to create a will in minutes, and keep it updated throughout your life.

Step 1: About you

When you write your will, you’ll be asked some basic information that goes into your will such as your full name, address, marital status, children, pets

Step 2: Guardians for children

If you have children under 21 or pets, you’ll be able to appoint guardians here

Step 3: Distributing your wealth

You’ll have a chance to indicate who gets what percentage of your overall wealth between your family, friends, and social causes you care about.

We’ll ask for:

• Your primary beneficiaries (for example, your spouse or partner)
• Your secondary beneficiaries (children, parents, friends, others) if your primary beneficiaries pass away before you do.

Step 4: Choosing executors

Choosing someone you trust who is capable of navigating the legal and financial process if something happens to you is one of the most important parts of writing a will.

You can appoint a family, friend, or a professional in this section in minutes.

Optional step: Gifts

You may wish to give sums of money to the caretaker of your pet, or a beloved possession to your favourite niece or nephew. Here’s where you specify who gets what, along with a personal message to them.

You can leave:

• A specified sum of money
• An specific possession such as an heirloom ring, or automobile
• A collection of items

You can leave these items to anyone you wish, because US laws allow for full testamentary freedom.

If you leave a gift or percentage of estate to a child under 21, it will be held by the guardian for safekeeping until they reach adulthood.

Optional step: Assets

This is a helpful list of your assets so your executor and family can locate them easily. You can add just the name of the institutions where you have accounts, or more information such as account number and current balance. This is not required or legally binding.

How do I make my will legally valid?

Goodwill ensures your will is written in accordance with the laws in the US.

But until your will is printed and signed properly (with two witnesses), it’s just a piece of paper.

After you create a will on Goodwill, you’ll be able to download your will. Check your Downloads folder for the file.

Print and bind you will

Three staples down the left side will do nicely

Choose two people to witness your signing

They must be over 21 and they cannot be a beneficiary in your will or their spouse. They must also be identified clearly in the will.

The Signing

Together, you and your witnesses all watching, sign the will.

According to the Wills Act in the US, your will is now legally valid.

Store your will

Store in a safe place at home, or somewhere accessible to your executor. Inform him/her of its location.

According to the Wills Act in the US, your will is fully legal:

Do I need to submit my will to the authorities?

• after it is signed properly with two neutral witnesses
• no need to notarise your will
• no need to register your will

After signing, store in a safe place that your executor can access, and inform them.

Can I register my will?

It is not required but if you wish, you can register your will with the US Will Registry . The service only notes that you have a will, and does not store original or copies of your actual will.

How do I update my will?

Goodwill provides unlimited lifetime access. Simply login using your user name and password (or social login), make necessary changes, and re-download your will.

The remainder of your information is securely stored and accessible at any time

Why is Goodwill so much more affordable than going to a lawyer?

Our mission at Goodwill is to create an affordable and accessible will writing service that anyone can use. Using technology allows us to create efficiencies in how we serve our customers.

Goodwill offers live expert customer support 7 days a week, and unlimited lifetime access for only $99.

Who is behind Goodwill?

Goodwill was started by estate planning experts Priya Surya and Jonathan Summers-Muir, with support from Entrepreneur First, and SG Innovate, an effort to create a digital ecosystem in the US.

Priya is a Fulbright scholar and graduate of Harvard University where she obtained her MPA/ID in 2010. She previously worked with World Bank in Washington DC to bring technology to financial inclusion, and was head of New Market Growth in Asia for Bima Mobile, a company that makes insurance accessible to millions of emerging market consumers. Her interest in legal and financial planning stems from her own experience as a mother and daughter was the impetus behind starting Goodwill.

Jonathan is a web developer and graphic designer. He has led teams across a diverse range of data sensitive products from professional football software, door access security and data analytic aggregation software. He has a keen interest in making the complicated processes of estate planning into a straight forward simple process. He was born in the UK, and now calls the US home.

Can I have a will expert double check my will?

Yes, your will includes full post-sales support every day of the week. Click on the chat icon at the bottom of the screen to speak to us over chat or easily schedule a call.

After receiving your will, we advise you read it from top to bottom, and speak with us about any questions.

We can also refer a lawyer for thorny legal issues specific to your situation.

Should my spouse and I have a separate will or joint will?

Joint wills.

Joint wills are highly inflexible. Both partners must agree to make any changes. If one person passes away, it’s difficult for the other person to make changes.

Individual wills

With Individual wills, both partners create an account with their own email address and password.

Individual wills are as easy as mirror wills, and have the benefits without the draw backs.

The advantages are the following:

• Flexible - you can make your will exactly like your partner’s or completely different, or anywhere in between. It is up to you.
• Affordable - it’s even more pocket-friendly with our partner discount
• Update anytime. No back and forth, just login, make your changes, and print your new ill.
• Support from expert will writing team with any questions you may have

Get started here

Why would I want to update my will?

If you bought a new home, added a new family member, gotten married or divorced, if your pet passed away or if you have started investing in a new robo advisory investment account, you should update your will to reflect these changes.

Often our children may be more or less independent as they grow older, and one might need more help than another.

Change is the only constant. Don’t let an outdated will disturb your peace of mind.

Still not sure? Explore our learning centre

Learn about will writing and probate

• 5 min read How to choose the right executor for your will?
• 6 min read The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Will
• 1 min read How do I get started with writing a will?

Update anytime

All your documents can be accsesed at anytime, and can be updated whenever you like. No more future lawyer fees.

30-day money back guarantee

If you are dissatisfied in any way with your will, you can contact us within 30 days and we’ll refund you, no strings attached.

We’re here to help anytime

Our expert will writing team of real humans are ready to talk to you 7 days a week

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How to Make an Online Will

Companies that prepare wills and other end-of-life legal documents have seen an uptick in business during the pandemic, sharing is nice.

We respect your privacy . All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.

In uncertain times, it's natural for people to start thinking about whether they have their affairs in order and whether their loved ones and assets would be protected if something happens to them. Now those concerns are prompting many who don't have a will to stop stalling and get their estate plans in order—even if it's impossible to get to a lawyer just now.

Indeed, companies that help consumers execute online wills, including big players such as Legal Zoom and Quicken Will Maker as well as smaller startups like Trust & Will and Cake, have seen a surge in customers. One newer online trust and estate company, Gentreo, says business is up 223 percent over the past two months. 

But while online wills may be a good solution if you feel pressed to get your affairs in order right now, there are caveats to consider, especially if you need a sophisticated estate plan. 

Plus, because of stay-at-home orders in many cities and states across the U.S., the process of completing an online will may be complicated. For example, it can be hard or impossible to access a notary or get witnesses to sign your will, if they are needed.

On the other hand, it can still be better to get started now making important, if difficult, decisions about guardianship for your children and how you'd like your assets divided, than to wait until it is too late.

If you die without a will, state laws will determine who gets what and where your kids will go. Half of U.S. adults don't have an estate plan, and for the half who do, those documents are often out of date, says Cody Barbo, founder and CEO of Trust & Will. 

Consumer Reports spoke with several experts in estate law and executives from estate planning companies to find out how to navigate the process of writing an online will at such a trying and tricky time. We also offer important information on how to prepare an advance health directive, which spells out your wishes for medical care at the end of your life, and a healthcare proxy, which allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.

The Main Pros and Cons of Online Wills

The most obvious advantage of creating a will online is that it can be fast and won't cost much. You don't have to wait for a meeting with a lawyer, and there are no legal fees, says David Horton, professor of law at the University of California, Davis, who specializes in wills and estate planning. Most online services offer a simple will for about $100, Horton says, which he estimates is anywhere from one-fifth to one-fifteenth of the cost of an attorney-drafted will. Many can be completed within an hour. 

Still, if you complete the process online, experts caution to be wary of legal issues that could arise. Something as simple as not signing the documents correctly could lead to future problems, says Jennifer L. VanderVeen, an Indiana-based elder law attorney. She also says it's possible that without proper legal guidance you might unwittingly fail to dispose of your entire estate. 

"One of the benefits of having an attorney prepare your estate planning documents is that we can guide you through your situation and make suggestions as to how to put together a plan that will work for your family," VanderVeen says. She points out that many law offices are open and working remotely during the current pandemic, holding video conferences to help clients get documents in place. 

Some of the potential issues with online wills were highlighted in a forthcoming paper by Horton, the UC Davis law professor. He examined hundreds of estates filed in two California counties over several years and found that mistakes can happen with online wills because their boilerplate nature can make them ambiguous, which can lead to litigation.

"At least judging by reported cases, people who try to make their own wills sometimes make catastrophic mistakes," he says. 

Given the current crisis and the imperative that some kind of will is better than none at all, a smart strategy might be to create an online will now and reexamine your plan with the help of a lawyer once the pandemic is over. 

If You Go the DIY Route

Whichever online service you choose, you'll be provided templates or questionnaires to help you create your plan. These typically include questions about your debts, whether you have dependents, who would be the guardian of your children and pets, and so on.  Trust & Will , for example, says you just need to answer a "few simple questions" and, in about 10 minutes, will have completed estate documents to review and sign. 

When your will is complete, you will need witnesses and, depending on your state, maybe a notary, both of which can be complicated to arrange for when so much of day-to-day life is, for now, being handled remotely. But even during the coronavirus pandemic, it's possible. Barbo, of Trust & Will, says some clients are signing their documents and waiting for lockdown restrictions to be lifted. Others are heading to banks and UPS stores that remain open and provide notary services. He's even heard of people arranging for mobile notaries, and setting up tables in their driveway and asking neighbors to be witnesses, then placing the documents in a bag to leave in the garage for a few days before touching them again.  

"It's better to have a signed set of documents than an unsigned set," Barbo says. 

Some states have enacted emergency provisions that in certain situations allow for a remote notary or witness. The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel maintains a page about laws and accommodations in every state .

After you've completed your will, it's important to tell people who are named in it where the document is located. You can keep your will in a personal home safe or locking file cabinet, provided someone else will be able to gain access. Another possibility is to store the information electronically, says attorney VanderVeen, who suggests the American Bar Association's Mind Your Loved Ones app.

Advance Directives and Healthcare Proxies

An advance directive is a document that spells out the medical care you wish to receive at the end of your life, including, for example, how aggressively you want to be treated if you have a terminal condition and develop, say, pneumonia. A healthcare proxy is someone you appoint to make medical decisions on your behalf in the case of a medical emergency when you can't speak for yourself. 

You can also fill out both of these documents online. Some online estate planning companies offer these services, as do several nonprofits.

For help thinking through the questions you need to ask yourself about your end-of-life care, and to choose the person you want to serve as your healthcare proxy, you can go to the American Bar Association's Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning or the guide from The Conversation Project  (PDF), a public engagement initiative of the Boston-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement. 

For the forms themselves, go to the  AARP , the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization , and Prepare for Your Care , an initiative that focuses on aiding individuals who seek to plan end-of-life options.

As with wills, legal requirements for advance directives and proxies vary by state, and completing them is a trickier task while remote. Requirements for a notary and witnesses vary across all 50 states, says Susan Enguídanos, associate professor at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in Los Angeles. 

If you have a scanner, you can email the forms to witnesses to hand sign, scan, and email back, says Rebecca Sudore, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine and developer of the Prepare for Your Care initiative. If that's not an option, she says, you can sign the forms and take pictures with a smartphone, then send them to witnesses, who can do the same. 

Once you've completed the process, experts say it's good to discuss with friends and family, as well as your doctor, what your wishes are and who you've chosen as a proxy.

"We like to say [that these advance plans] are only as good as the conversations that people have about their wishes with the individuals who may be involved in medical decision-making," Sudore says. 

She also recommends updating the directive over time. "This should not be a ‘one and done' situation but should be an ongoing process as people's context may change over time," Sudore says. 

At a minimum, it's helpful to get the process started.

"The legal documentation has always been an important step of advance care planning—but not the only step," says Kate DeBartolo, senior director of The Conversation Project. "I'd argue that having conversations is even more important now than ever." 

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Best Last Will and Testament Online Providers Based on In-Depth Reviews

• 200+ Hours of research
• 20+ Sources used
• 9 Companies vetted
• 3 Features reviewed
• 9 Top Picks

• People who are married, have children, or own assets should have a will in place.
• Online will-makers can be cost-efficient alternatives to having an attorney create your will.
• Wills must be state specific, since each state has different laws regarding estate planning.
• Hiring an attorney can guarantee your will is done correctly.
• How We Found the Best Last Will and Testament Software
• Our Top Picks: Last Will and Testament Online Providers Reviews

When we first started looking into this software, we quickly realized that most offered essentially the same thing—basic, customizable will templates that took less than 30 minutes to fill out. 

Once completed, the app usually lets users see the finished product, though downloading the document or having it sent in physical form will incur a fee. While some apps charge individually for each document, others work on a subscription basis. The latter tend to also offer a selection of additional legal services aside from will creation, such as business incorporation, real estate contracts and more. Some even offer access to in-house lawyers for further assistance, though customer service over the phone or via live chat are far more common. We also found that most apps have a fairly large array of educational resources, including articles, guides, and  legal glossaries.

• Trust and Will review

Best for Couples

Screenshot, trustandwill.com, Jan. 17, 2020

For couples interested in completing their wills together, Trust & Will enables users to create a will-based estate plan for $69 with the option of adding a spouse to their plan for an additional $60. Additional services include guardianship and trust document creation, with a discounted price for both spouses. The Will package provides a customized, state-specific will document as well as a HIPAA authorization and a Living Will as supporting documents. 

Within the plan, users receive up to one year of unlimited updates, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and complimentary shipping. For an additional $10, customers can get unlimited updates. 

Trust & Will has a helpful chatbot that can guide users with the process, and the software also features little facts in between sections, such as the average cost of a lawyer and educational examples. On completion, customers can choose to have their wills reviewed by Trust & Will staff.

• LegalZoom review

Best for Legal Resources

Screenshot of LegalZoom homepage, legalzoom.com, Jan.17, 2020

For an $89 flat fee, LegalZoom allows users to create a customized, state-specific last will with a self-proving affidavit and 30 days to revise their documents. The $99 Comprehensive offer also includes a 14-day free trial of attorney advice that renews for $14.99/month. Finally, the $179 Bundle option gives users everything within the former two, in addition to financial power of attorney and Living Will documents, a one-year trial of attorney advice that renews at $119.88/year, and one year of free revisions on documents.

LegalZoom has its own Estate Planning App for iOS and Android devices, which allows users to access and manage online their accounts and schedule consultations with their attorneys. On top of that, the company offers customer support by legal specialists seven days a week. For an additional charge, users can choose the Legal Advantage Plus-Personal Legal Plan, which enables them to schedule and receive 30-minute consultations with attorneys, and 10% off future LegalZoom purchases.

• Doyourownwill.com review

Best for Free Access

Screenshot, doyourownwill.com, Jan.17, 2020

DoYourOwnWill.com is a free platform in which users can create a customized will and download it as a Word document or PDF. The service also provides dozens of other legal documents for free, including a living will, durable power of attorney, pet guardian trust, business forms, and more. Users can create an account to save documents, but this isn't required for completion of the will. Once completed, the will can be downloaded instantly, free of charge. 

The will creation process provides detailed suggestions that an average person may not think of, such as requesting an alternate executor or specifying the age at which children will receive their inheritance. The guide also includes small boxes that, once clicked, provide more detailed explanations. 

DoYourOwnWill.com only lists an email on its website, with no other method of contact listed. There’s a phone number listed on the company’s Facebook page, but that platform has not been updated since early 2017. 

• TotalLegal review

Best for Payment Flexibility 

Screenshot totallega.com, January 2020

Total Legal creates wills and other legal documents on a subscription basis for $9.95 a month. Alternatively, you can sign up for the annual billing plan and lower your monthly payment to $7.49. If customers want to avoid membership at all, last will documents can be purchased individually for $19.95 each. Each membership has a 7-day free trial, includes document printing and vault storage, and provides a 30-day guaranteed refund. 

Once the will is completed, customers must open an account, make their payment, and choose whether they prefer a next-day shipment of the documents, or digital versions via email. 

In addition to will creation, Total Legal offers business assistance, including LLC formation and incorporation, as well as free, attorney-reviewed documents and discounted court services. It also has a section that explains state-specific laws, which can be useful for customers who plan to relocate. 

Customers taking advantage of the free trial must remember to cancel their membership to avoid unwanted charges, as there is an automatic charge immediately after the trial ends. We also found several online reviews where customers expressed not receiving their documents in the mail after purchase, so it may be beneficial to request both digital and hard copies upon purchase.

• LawDepot review

Best for Variety of Legal Forms

Screenshot lawdepot.com, Jan. 17, 2020

In addition to wills, LawDepot offers users a large array of customizable templates for estate planning, financial agreements, real estate contracts, business agreements, and personal and family matters. 

LawDepot provides easy, walk-through questions and allows users to save their answers and return later. Once finished, users can review and edit the template before purchase. 

Customers interested in the LawDepot membership can choose either the annual plan that charges $7.99 per month, or the free trial plan that renews at $33 per month once the trial ends. If you’re not interested in a subscription, legal documents are accessible for $7.50-$68 per document.  

LawDepot provides several helpful resources for customers, including a financial tips blog, law library with educational articles, legal dictionary, and a robust FAQ section. Users can reach customer service via phone, live chat, email, and social media. 

• Rocket Lawyer review

Best for Legal Advice

For $39.99 a month, Rocket Lawyer users can create a will and other legal documents, as well as digitally sign, share, download, and print them at any time.  We especially liked that the membership includes one free, 30-minute legal consultation per matter: on-call attorneys are available via phone, email, or chat. Users also have the option of hiring an attorney at a discounted price. 

In addition to end-of-life legal advice, Rocket Lawyer also helps members start and incorporate their businesses, as well as create and revise an unlimited amount of business, real estate, personal, and family-based legal documents. Users have a 7-day free trial and can cancel their membership at any time. If for whatever reason, you’re not interested in a membership, there’s a $39.99 charge per legal document. 

Once finished, Rocket Lawyer allows the user to see a completed draft of the forms before requesting an email to set up an account. 

Rocket Lawyer’s billing is automatic, so users need to remember to cancel their membership after their free trial period to avoid unwanted charges. Many online customer reviews expressed that cancellation of the service wasn’t an easy process online, so it’s recommended you call customer service directly. 

• Tomorrow review

Best for Mobile Devices

Screenshot, tomorrow.me, Jan. 17, 2020

Available for iOS and Android devices, Tomorrow allows you to create a customized will directly on your smartphone or tablet free of charge. Once completed, users can email the will as a PDF to download and print. Wills are tailored to state-specific laws, and users can share documents with their families through the app.

Additional in-app services are available with an upgrade to the Tomorrow Plus version for $30 a year. Services include creating a joint account with children, unlimited video memories, a living trust, and a pour-over will. Tomorrow Plus keeps track of all accounts, belongings, job benefits, and family additions. 

Aside from Tomorrow’s detailed glossary page of common legal terminology and in-depth FAQs, it also has an educational blog on topics within estate planning, including beneficiary designations, power of attorneys, and succession plans. 

However, it’s worth noting that users can only access their wills on mobile devices, and some customer reviews mentioned experiencing glitches while using the app as well as finding ads from insurance venders.

• Willing review

Best for Estate Planning Bundle

Screenshot willing.com, Jan. 17, 2020

Willing provides a complete estate planning package, including last wills, living wills, naming a power of attorney, creating a revocable living trust, and Transfer on Death Deeds. The service lets users create the documents for free, but printing costs $69. 

The app’s interface is simple and easy to navigate, featuring in-depth, educational articles about the probate process and estate planning through its Learning Center page and blog. Willing also provides a questionnaire to help consumers determine if its product aligns with their individual needs. 

Once completed, the app displays the will in large print so the user can review, edit, or make changes before purchasing. Willing’s extra perks include overnight delivery of physical documents for an extra charge. Customers can pay via PayPal or any major credit card and are given up to six months of free revisions. You can also save and edit your documents at any time.

• LegalNature review

Best for Customer Experience

Screenshot from Legal Nature homepage, leganature.com, Jan. 17, 2020

Legal Nature offers multiple legal documents and products for individuals, businesses, and landlords. The website has an organized, user-friendly design that makes products easy to search for. It also provides a Help Guide with informative and educational articles, definitions of legal terminology, billing FAQs, and educational YouTube videos. 

Users interested in creating a will or other legal documents can choose between two plans: the Standard and the Professional, both of which can be billed monthly ($38.95 and $58.95/month, respectively), or annually ($84 and $499/year, accordingly). Users who choose one of the monthly plans can take advantage of a 7-day free trial. Single documents are also available, with prices ranging from $34.95 to $78.95. Once documents are completed and purchased, they can be downloaded and stored. 

There is no option to preview the will or legal document before purchase. A few customer reviews expressed having issues with how documents were printed, particularly as regards formatting. Users should also keep in mind that the 7-day free trial is only available with the Standard $38.95/month subscription, which starts charging you immediately after the trial ends.

• Further Insight into Our Methodology

When it comes to legal documents and court matters, research alone isn’t enough. For this reason, we interviewed four attorneys who specialize in estate planning and have years of experience drafting wills. Their experience helped us ascertain the effect that state laws have on wills and other legal documents, as well as understand the legal terminology involved. After the interviews, we were able to identify and review our top nine companies using the following factors:

In the past two decades, there has been a boom in the online legal services industry. Many websites focus exclusively on providing consumers with a variety of estate planning tools to manage their assets in the event of incapacitation or death. Other websites offer a wide range of documents and services, which may include giving consumers access to a network of real attorneys whom they may consult regarding all kinds of legal questions. Arguably, the most popular of all these services is the ability to create a last will and testament online without the help of a costly attorney. From simple, free templates to customizable online wills to innovative mobile apps, any consumer can find the perfect last will and testament solution for their budget and needs.

Pricing is often the leading factor when people decide not to create last will and testaments or other estate planning documents. The cost of creating estate planning documents with a live attorney can range in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Online last will creators are significantly less expensive and do-it-yourself solutions can be free, depending on the additional services the company offers. In this section, we have gathered the cost of estate planning for each company, as well as the cost of a membership , if the company offers one. Often, revising and editing the created documents involves an additional cost; we have gathered data on this cost as well. Finally, we've marked whether each company offers free templates and free membership trials .

• Customer Experience

The company's reputation should be taken into consideration when selecting a company to help you create estate planning documents. After all, you're giving them not only your own personal information but your family and friends' information as well. To evaluate companies' reputation, we took a look at their rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering honest relationships between businesses and customers by promoting transparency and ethics in business practices. We also evaluated the number of positive and negative reviews each company received, keeping in mind that large companies tend to have more negative reviews than smaller companies of the same caliber. We also looked at each company's rating on Trustpilot.com, an online review community that compiles ratings and reviews from real customers. Though mostly covering web-based businesses, Trustpilot ratings and reviews are useful when gauging customer sentiment about a company.

Helpful information about Last Will & Testament Software

Death is definitely not the best conversation starter, but it’s an important one. 

Who will care for our children if something happens to us? Grandma’s health complications are getting worse. What happens to the house if she passes away? 

People ask themselves questions like these on a daily basis but rarely act on them. According to a 2019 Will and Living Trust Survey by Caring.com, over 50% of U.S. adults do not have a will or other estate planning documents. 

If you’re married, have children, own a home, or have valuable assets, it may be time to discuss the elephant in the room: you need a will. 

Why Do I Need a Will?

Many people believe that when they pass, their home and assets will automatically go to their next of kin, i.e. their nearest family member. While that’s possible, it’s not guaranteed. When someone dies without a will, the state of residence of the deceased automatically sets off intestacy laws that determine what happens to the estate and assets. If there are children involved, and both parents are deceased, the state also decides who becomes the guardians of said minors...and of any pets. 

As the legal document used by the court to follow the wishes of the deceased individual, a will overrides hierarchy. When speaking with Peter Davies, Esq., a Virginia-based estate planning attorney, he gave us an easy way to understand the purpose and value of a will: 

Probate- What Is It?

With or without a will, the law still requires court oversight on the distribution of the assets, estate, and guardianship of children of the deceased person. This process performed by the court is called the “probate process.” 

During this process, the court determines the value of all said assets, makes sure all debts and taxes are paid, and decides what’s to be distributed afterward to the proper beneficiaries. During this process, an individual is assigned as the executor or “administrator” that represents the estate. If the deceased person hasn’t designated someone to fill that role in their will, the court will appoint someone. 

The longer the probate process, the more expensive—and it can take months, sometimes years, to complete, depending on the circumstances. A well-written will, however, can significantly help speed up the process.

Benefits of a Will

It’s only through a will that someone can make sure his or her wishes regarding material possessions and children will be respected. Instead of relying on family or friends, between whom disagreements can arise, a will written unambiguously becomes the mandate.

If you have underage children and want to appoint their guardians in your absence, it’s best to have a will in place. If you want someone you trust to administer your beneficiary’s share of the estate, you can also state that in a will.  

Will vs. Trust- What’s the Difference?

A trust can be viewed as a will substitute, where you can still pass assets to your intended beneficiaries, but you do more of the administration during your lifetime. That way, when you pass away, there’s less work to do. A trust avoids the probate process, so assets are generally distributed much faster. 

“If you have a Trust, you almost always still have a will that goes along with it,” said Stacy Takekawa, Esq., an estate planning attorney we spoke to. “Unlike the will, which is only effective after you pass away, the trust can be effective as soon as possible. It works if someone becomes incapacitated and it keeps going after someone has passed away,” she continued.

Both wills and trusts are estate planning vehicles that decide where your assets will go, but a trust goes into effect as soon as it’s signed. For example, if someone forgets to address something in their trust, a will acts as the safety net. 

Drafting a Will With a Lawyer vs. an App

Whether you choose to go the traditional route and consult a lawyer or prefer to DIY it, as long as wills are done efficiently and abide by the corresponding state law, there’s no right or wrong approach. Since everyone’s situation is unique, we examined the three factors that people should take into consideration when deciding which option works best for them:

Analyze your budget. How much are you willing to invest to create your will? While José Rodríguez, Esq., explained that the price of hiring an attorney varies according to complexity, “expect to pay no less than $500.” Online will-makers, of course, cost much less, ranging from completely free to about $80. With that in mind, consider your total current financial picture from your income to your assets to your dependents, and use that to determine whether your will is likely to be complicated and worth spending a bit extra on.

PROCESS & TIME

We discussed the average timespan for drafting and finalizing a will with E. Gordon Peters, Esq. “I can usually get it done in about two weeks,” Peters stated, “It requires a lot of back and forth, emails and questions, questionnaires, sometimes including religious matters.” 

Depending on the number of assets, your family dynamics, and the intricacy of your demands, the will creation process with a lawyer can take longer than expected. Your individual needs may require more details and specifications. 

Since online wills are generally customizable templates, the process is much quicker; some can even be completed within 10 minutes. On the other hand, if your situation is complicated enough to merit a lot of discussion, you might be better off considering legal assistance. 

NOTARIZATION

Lastly, keep in mind that a will is not valid unless it is notarized. Notarization requires the signatures of two witnesses at least 18 years of age. Looking for witnesses can be a difficult, time-consuming process on your own. Hiring an attorney, however, can simplify the process, since they can arrange the witnesses for you.

• Expert Tips

There can be a few misconceptions about wills, especially among people who have never created one. We asked some attorneys to share some common misconceptions they’d found among their clients.

Not All Valid Wills are Good Wills

“People think just because a will is valid, such as a holographic will, it’s good. Having a valid will and having a good will are two different things. In fact, sometimes having no will is better than having a bad will. A poorly drafted will often invites problems, including expensive and time-consuming litigation, and having to petition a court for aid and guidance because of unclear wording.” - Peter Davies, Esq. 

Holographic wills are handwritten documents created and signed by the testator, which is just a fancy legal way of saying a will you write and sign yourself. Some states don’t recognize these at all, while others have very specific requirements for them to be considered legal. At the very least, most require proof that the testator (the person writing the will) created the document his or herself, evidence that he or she had the mental capacity to do so, and that it includes the testator’s wish to distribute his or her assets. 

Making Time to Discuss a Will 

“It’s an unpleasant discussion, which is why many people put them off. Usually, clients come in from family pressure. The bigger the estate, the more concern there will be. You need to do it when you’re comfortable and compelled to do it. Try to find that fine line, especially during a major life change.” - E.Gordon Peters, Esq. 

To paraphrase Steve Jobs: no one wants to die, let alone talk about it. But it is the one certainty we all share (aside from taxes), and not doing so or putting it off until it’s too late can make an already difficult situation inordinately more so. This is especially true when there are minors involved, since a will is where you determine who will be their legal guardians—let alone go into discussions about whether to opt for equal inheritance or different amounts. 

When a Will Goes into Effect

“Last will and testament can only be used if the person has passed away. For example, if grandma has a last will and testament, but becomes incapacitated, and someone needs to get into her bank account, it doesn’t matter what her will says. The will doesn’t work to do anything until grandma has passed away. The document you’d want, in that case, is the power of attorney.” - Stacey Takekawa, Esq.

End-of-life planning is rife with misconceptions. Aside from understanding that a will doesn’t enable any decision-making power while the person is alive, it’s important to also know that even a power of attorney (POA) document isn’t a cure-all. Many financial institutions don’t accept POAs that are more than six months old, some expect the document to be completed on their own forms, and still others require specific language or that the POA be renewed from time to time if it hasn’t been used. And those are just a few examples. Essentially, our point is that legal documents are complicated, and it’s a landscape best navigated with professional help. 

Be Informed About State-Specific Laws 

“Most people that I counseled thought that they could distribute their estate however they wanted, without realizing that most states have constraints on how much can be distributed, and to whom. Many people also thought disinheriting was as easy as leaving someone out of their will, not knowing that this process is very rigorous, and many factors must be met.” - José Rodríguez, Esq.

Though the statutes governing estate law are fairly similar across state lines, the main point of variation tends to be whether they do or don’t allow holographic wills. Oral wills are only valid in Massachusetts if they’re spoken by U.S. soldiers in a battle (or another form of actual service) or mariners at sea. And even if you do make a will that fully follows one state’s guidelines, it may not be valid once you move—as is the case with community property, for instance.

Properly Securing a Will 

“For a client prone to losing things, sometimes we offer to hold the documents for them if that’s what they want to do. Others will get a safe deposit box at a bank. A lot of people just keep them in their homes. The downside of that is if something were to happen to the home, such as a fire, and something happens to the client and their will, then the estate must be administered in a different way, which could be an expensive time and process. Remember, a digital copy is no substitute for the original because the signed hardcopy is what is probated in the clerk’s office.” - Peter Davies, Esq.

Even if you took every precaution with your will, if it can’t be located when you pass away, it might as well not exist at all. Best practices include not just deciding where you store your will, but also that your executor knows where it is. If you do decide to keep it in your home, make sure to do so in a large, heavy waterproof/fireproof safe, preferably one that’s securely tied to the structure. While many prefer to use a safety deposit box, this can bring other problems, since banks can legally secure the box after you pass away and require a court order for the executor to gain access to it.

• FAQs about Last Will & Testament Software

What happens if you die without a will?

It’s crazy to think that currently, only 44% of Americans have a will , and worse, only 14% of millennials (18–29 years of age) do. Since 2005, these numbers have been declining across all age groups, income and education levels, and race categories. The reason for the decline is not known, but the trend is not good. If you die without a will or living trust, the intestacy laws of your state will determine how your property is distributed, including all of your assets such as real estate, bank accounts, and securities. The state also has the power to assign custody of your minor children and any pets. This process is called probate and takes approximately six to nine months to settle your estate. This can be a financial and emotional burden on relatives or friends who take care of your children and pets until the state’s probate process is completed. We highly recommend you get a will, even a handwritten one, that is signed by you and at least two witnesses.

How often should you update your will?

Is a handwritten will legal.

There’s a story about a Canadian farmer who in 1948 became trapped under his tractor for 10 hours. He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to make it, so he scratched his last wishes into the fender of the tractor with a pocketknife. He wrote, “In case I die in this mess, I leave all to the wife.” He died later in the hospital. But his fender will did stand up in court! Handwritten wills or holographic wills are legal in most states but not all. If you choose to go with a handwritten will, first verify this is a valid with your state. We also recommend that you have two witnesses sign your will when you do to provide additional validity of the document during the probate process.

How much does it cost to prepare a will?

At what age should i start thinking about a will.

According to USA.gov, you must be18 years or older to write a legally binding will. This may seem young, but I can tell you I wasn’t thinking about a will until I was in my late 30s. Age, though, really is less of a factor than other considerations such as your accumulated wealth, real estate, children, known family health issues like Alzheimer’s or dementia. If you are worried about losing your mental capacities, especially at an earlier age, then you may want to get your will in place sooner than later to ease your mind about your family’s future.

What happens to my pet if I die?

Watching the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Maria, and even back to Katrina, we saw the number of pets that were separated from their families either temporarily or permanently. That was heartbreaking. It still is. As Americans, we love our pets and consider them as family members. That’s why more than 85 million families in the U.S. currently have a pet. We concern ourselves with our pet’s daily and long-term care, so why not consider their care after we die? Today, you can establish a pet protection agreement or a pet trust that you can include in your estate, or a stand-alone trust, where you can designate your pet’s guardian, leave money for your pet’s care, and even establish a trustee to manage the funds. If you do not want to do this, then you may want to at least designate a caregiver for your pet(s) and discuss your wishes with them including your financial and long-term care plans for the pet.

Should my family have access to my online will?

What’s the difference between a will and a trust.

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10 of The Best Online Will Writing Services

Making a Will using an online Will-writing service is an excellent and simple way of securing the future of your estate. Online Will-writing services are affordable, easy to use, and can enable you to  write your Will  in as little as 10 minutes.

Age Space has compiled this helpful guide to some of the best online Will-writing services in the UK. This includes information about how each online Will-writing service works, how long the process takes, and how much you can expect to pay. We have also secured some exclusive discounts for Age Space users. 

• Which? Wills
• ActiveWills
• Properwills
• LegalWills.co.uk
• MakeAWillOnline
• Will Drafters Ltd
• Co-Op Legal Services

If you have a simple estate, then you can create a Will with Which? in as little as half an hour. Which? provide you with a simple guide to their Will-writing forms and process. You can fill these out in your own time and their dedicated support team are available by phone or email with any questions you have during the Will-writing process. 

Which? also operate a Review Service, ensuring that your Will is looked-over by one of their dedicated Will experts before you sign it to provide peace of mind that everything makes sense and is in order.

Prices start at £84 for a single Will, and £156 for a mirror Will. 

With our 15% discount you can also get your Will written and reviewed by an expert from only £72.00 

2. ActiveWills

Making an online Will through ActiveWills’ Will-writing service involves completing a simple online template devised by their expert estate-planning solicitors. You fill in each section, print the Will yourself, and then just need to get it signed and witnessed. There is a friendly chat facility if you need support whilst writing it. 

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99 they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99  they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99  £9.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99 £14.99 they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

50% Spring Discount for Age Space readers! Until 18th April Active Wills are offering Age Space readers Will writing at £9.99 for Single Wills and £14.99 for Mirror Wills. Click the link below to get this deal!

3. Properwills

Their step-by-step online questionnaire is sleek, easy to use and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Each Will is checked by a legal expert and usually ready to sign in less than 48 hours, making them one of the fastest services in the UK. And if you can’t print your Will, Properwills offer to deliver it for free. 

We like that the process is very intuitive and easy to follow and that their support team is responsive and always happy to help. Included in the price is 5 years of free, unlimited updates to the Will. 

Their Wills cost £99 (or £149 for couples) and includes everything to get your Will(s) sorted, checked and sent to you. It’s a fixed fee service so you only pay this – no surprise fees down the line.

Age Space Exclusive : Get 12% off online when you use our discount code – “ AGESP12 ″

4. Farewill

Writing your Will with Farewill is a quick and easy process, taking as little as 15 minutes. You can choose to create your Will either by answering some questions online, or with one of their friendly team of experts over the phone. Whichever method you choose, their helpful support team are available to you every step of the way. Farewill then finalise your Will in under 5 working days, and send it to you to sign in front of witnesses. 

Farewill are rated 4.9 out of 5 by over 13,000 happy customers on Trustpilot, and were awarded the National Will Writing Firm of the Year award at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The price for making an online Will with Farewill costs £100 (£160 for couples) and making a Will over the phone costs £240 (£380 for couples). Farewill also have an optional £10 a year update service, meaning you can make unlimited updates to your Will throughout the rest of your life.

Age Space Exclusive:  Get 15% off your Will when you use our discount code – “agespace15”

5. LegalWills.co.uk

To make a Will online at LegalWills.co.uk, you answer a series of questions about your wishes, spanning 9 different sections. Their Will experts can offer help at each step of the online Will-making process, to make sure your wishes are being met.   LegalWills.co.uk can produce a Last Will and Testament from £39.95. You also have the option to request that your Will is looked over by one of their expert solicitors for an additional cost of £50.00 

An advantage of using the LegalWills.co.uk service is that they allow you to make unlimited updates to your Will, free of charge. Age Space Exclusive : Save 10% when you buy a Will using the link below

6. Make A Will Online

The process for producing a Will with Make A Will Online will only take between 5-10 minutes with one simple form. At the end of doing a single Will you are also able to add an additional Will for half the price of the first. 

Their website is simple, quick and easy to use and is perfect for busy people who would prefer to avoid expensive solicitor fees. What makes Make A Will Online extra special is that every Will has a qualified solicitor check it over after it has been created.

A single Will costs £60 and a pair of Wills costs £90. 

Beyond’s online Will-writing service can take as little as 15 minutes to answer a series of key questions. Beyond then puts together your fully-legal Will for you. Their online support team provide live support throughout the Will-writing process, ensuring you get everything right. Every Will that is created with Beyond is checked over by their in-house legal expert. Once you are happy with the Will all you need to do is print and sign it in front of two witnesses.

Making an online single Will with Beyond costs £90, and you pay only when you print and sign. Wills for couples cost £135, meaning you save money compared to purchasing two separate Wills.

The process of writing a Will online with Kwil takes just 30 minutes, and you don’t have to pay anything until you’re happy to print and sign. All you need to do is answer some qualifying questions and work your way through their step-by-step process for putting the Will together. Kwil has a very helpful Online Lockbox Service in which you can securely store all of the information your executor may need once you die,

including details about your bank accounts, credit cards, pensions etc. The Kwil will-writing service costs £90 for individuals, and £120 for couples. Any amendments in the first year are free, and there is an optional £10 annual fee per person to be able to update the Will anytime after that.

9. Will Drafters Ltd.

Will Drafters Ltd’s Will writing service is conducted over the phone and a good choice for those who prefer communicating in person rather than using online forms. Following an initial conversation, their specialist legal team will prepare and mail you your Will to sign. Will Drafters Ltd have helped over 100,000 customers to write their Will online since 1990. 

Their prices start at £43 for a single, simple Will, and they also offer a WillPlus service which includes free lifetime storage and the ability to make unlimited updates to your Will.

10. Co-Op Legal Services

With Co-Op Legal Services you just need to answer some quick questions online, and then speak on the phone to one of their Will-writers who will help you to put together the final document. Once the Will is ready, they will post you a copy to sign in front of your witnesses. Co-op Legal Services was named as the National Will Writing Firm of the Year in 2018. 

They operate a fixed fee service, meaning that once they’ve quoted you a price there are no nasty surprises later down the line. The price for a single Will from Co-Op Legal Services starts at £150, and Mirror Wills cost from £245.

FAQs on How to Make a Will Online

How long does it take to make a will online.

In most cases, writing a Will online does not take very long. If you have a simple estate then making the will can take as little as 10 minutes, but it will take longer the more complicated your Will is. Some online Will-writing services require a few days for their legal experts to look over the online Will before you are able to sign it.

How much does an online Will cost?

The cost of writing a Will online varies from provider to provider, and on the type of Will you are looking to buy. The starting cost for a simple Single Will can be as little as £19.99 as from Active Wills, but with other providers costs can start from over £100. Mirror Wills cost more than single Wills, but tend to be cheaper than the cost of 2 Single Wills.

Are online Wills legal in the UK?

Online Wills are legal in the UK, as long as they have been correctly signed and witnessed in line with UK law. Two witnesses, who are not beneficiaries of the Will, must sign and date it also. This can now be done  online .

Can I update a Will made online?

You can update a Will made online. Some providers allow you to opt-in to pay a small annual fee in order to make unlimited updates to your Will in the future. If you choose not to opt-in, you can still be able to make updates to your Will, but there will usually be a one-off cost on each occasion you make an update.

To enable Age Space to keep providing content for our readers, for some of the links on this page we receive a small commission if you decide to buy a Will with a provider. 

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51 Best AI Tools in 2024 (Ranked & Compared)

As businesses and individual professionals strive for greater agility and efficiency, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important. Furthermore, AI tools are increasingly adopted for productivity and simplifying business operations. Whether it’s AI-powered content writing, sentiment analysis, or image/video generation and predictive analytics, AI is changing how we work. In the following sections, this article explores the best AI tools available to help you optimize productivity on multiple fronts.

• 1 How We Selected The Best AI Tools
• 2 Best AI Tools for Productivity in 2024
• 3.1 1. Jasper
• 3.2 2. Writesonic
• 3.3 3. Scalenut
• 3.4 4. HubSpot AI Email Writer
• 4.1 5. Tidio
• 4.2 6. Botsonic
• 4.3 7. Chatbase
• 5.1 8. Grammarly
• 5.2 9. Quillbot
• 5.3 10. Wordtune
• 6.1 11. Originality.ai
• 6.2 12. Winston AI
• 6.3 13. GPTZero
• 7.1 14. Otter AI
• 7.2 14. Airgram
• 7.3 16. Meetgeek
• 8.1 17. Descript
• 8.2 18. Pictory AI
• 8.3 19. Synthesia
• 9.1 20. Adobe Firefly
• 9.2 21. Midjourney
• 9.3 22. Looka
• 9.4 23. Magic Studio
• 9.5 24. Illustroke
• 10.1 25. Play.ht
• 10.2 26. Fliki
• 10.3 27. Murf.AI
• 10.4 28. Lovo AI
• 11.1 29. Wix
• 11.2 30. Divi AI
• 11.3 31. Framer AI
• 11.4 32. Hostinger AI Website Builder
• 12.1 33. GitHub Copilot
• 12.2 34. CodeWP
• 12.3 35. Tabnine
• 13.1 36. Retention Science
• 13.2 37. Ecommerce Booster by Semrush
• 13.3 38. Seamless.ai
• 14.1 39. Surfer SEO
• 14.2 40. Alli AI
• 14.3 41. Rank Math Pro
• 14.4 42. Pro Rank Tracker
• 15.1 43. Freshworks Freddy AI
• 15.2 44. Ocoya
• 15.3 45. Adzooma
• 16.1 46. Pencil
• 16.2 47. Copy.ai
• 16.3 48. AdCreative
• 17.1 49. Resume.io
• 17.2 50. ChatGPT
• 17.3 51. Kickresume
• 18 Price Comparison: Best AI Tools
• 19 What are the Best AI Tools for Productivity?
• 20 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How We Selected The Best AI Tools

When we first jumped on the AI train, we researched (and tested) hundreds of AI tools, looking for the best of the best. Over the last year, artificial intelligence has exploded. With more tools becoming available seemingly daily, it seems impossible to sort through. To help with this, we’ve organized them into several categories. Each AI tool on our list is excellent at what they do and, in some cases, great for multiple tasks.

Best AI Tools for Productivity in 2024

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This article covers many types of AI tools, which can be confusing. Nevertheless, ranking them in a specific order is challenging due to the differences between each AI productivity tool and its intended application. Despite this challenge, we have tried to provide you with a comprehensive list of almost everything AI can help you with. Additionally, rest assured that if a tool has made it onto this list, it is worth considering for improving your workflows and general productivity. Now, let’s dive into these quality AI solutions to find the best fit for your needs.

The Best AI Tools Listed In Order

• HubSpot AI Email Writer
• Originality.ai
• Adobe Firefly
• Magic Studio
• Hostinger AI Website Builder
• GitHub Copilot
• Retention Science
• Ecommerce Booster by Semrush
• Seamless.ai
• Rank Math Pro
• Pro Rank Tracker
• Freshworks Freddy AI

AI Writing Tools

Most marketers and business professionals spend most of their days writing good content. The process is time-consuming, especially when researching the subject. However, that’s where AI writing tools come in. By assisting with efficiency, accuracy, and proficiency in content creation, they offer valuable support. Furthermore, these tools are available for various types of writing, such as blog posts, articles, social media posts, and more. Although they are not a replacement for human writers, they can serve as a productivity tool to optimize your workflow.

Here are our top picks for the best AI writing tools.

🥇 Best AI Writing Tool Overall

Jasper is an all-purpose AI tool designed to help users with various tasks, such as content generation and AI image creation. Positioned as our top choice, it has refined what it means to be an AI writer more than other tools. Notably, it doesn’t rely solely on a simple GPT-3 API to create content; instead, it mixes its LLM with trained marketing and sales data. Beyond its innovative approach, Jasper boasts wide usage and ample funding to continue innovating for years to come. Particularly noteworthy is its May 2023 launch of unlimited words for every plan, making it one of the best-valued tools on the list.

What We Like About Jasper

• Strong Marketing Tool: One of the best marketing and sales content generation tools on the market
• Integration for SEO: Surfer SEO integration for SEO-informed AI content generation
• Build Your Brand: With brand memory, you can save key information about your products and services for Jasper to use for accurate content creation
• Jasper Chat : A powerful chatbot alternative to ChatGPT
• Jasper Art: Image and illustration creation with Jasper Art
• Unlimited Word Generation: Get unlimited generated words and advanced brand voice styling

What Could Be Improved

• Sometimes There’s Inaccuracy: The output may not always be accurate, requiring fact-checking and editing. That can be said about any AI tool, though

🥇 Why We Picked It

Jasper AI offers an easy-to-use and versatile AI tool for content generation. It can help spark new ideas or revise existing ones, is relatively affordable, and can create content for just about anything. That said, be aware that the content sometimes sounds a bit robotic, so manual editing is usually required.

Who Is Jasper Best For?

Jasper is perfect for writers, marketers, and businesses seeking to improve writing quality and streamline content creation workflows for better productivity.

Community Reviews And Ratings

The community loves how easy it is to generate good content with Jasper but says it tends to show irrelevant information.

Jasper offers a free trial with prices starting at $39 per month .

Want to learn more about Jasper? Read our honest review .

2. Writesonic

Our next AI writing tool is Writesonic . It’s designed to help users generate high-quality content across multiple areas, including long blog posts, articles, social media captions, emails, and more. Leveraging OpenAI’s GPT 3.5 and 4.0 models, it stands out as an excellent choice for those seeking to generate copy for various media. One of Writesonic’s standout features is its commitment to data privacy, coupled with a built-in plagiarism checker, ensuring that your content remains original and private

What We Like About Writesonic

• AI Writing Tools: Writesonic provides over 80 powerful AI writing tools, including a general-purpose writer, paraphrasing tool, sentence expander, review responder, content shortener, and email subject lines
• Content Generation: Writesonic can write articles for blog posts, draft emails, create marketing copies, summarize blog posts, rephrase old content, fix grammatical mistakes, and more
• Ease of Use: Writesonic is user-friendly and does not require advanced technical skills to operate. Users can easily set up projects, choose templates and themes, add keywords, and generate content with just a few clicks
• Inaccuracies in Long-Form Content: Like other AI writing tools, Writesonic will occasionally produce content that’s not entirely accurate, so users should always fact-check the output

Who Is Writesonic Best For?

Writesonic is an excellent option for bloggers, marketers, and content creators who need to generate significant content. It’s particularly useful for new bloggers looking to quickly produce new content. The user interface is simple, affordable, and easy to customize, making it a great option for anyone.

Writesonic fans love the interface, content generation, and time-saving features but don’t like that credits are quickly used up for minor edits.

Writesonic offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $19 per month .

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3. Scalenut

Scalenut is an AI writer who focuses on a total content creation workflow from start to finish. It plans content, creates outlines, generates content, and helps you optimize it in a full flow that is easy to work with. Scalenut is perfect for quick content creation and is the tool to use if you’re a solo writer or manage a team of writers. Truly a 10x AI writer for SEO content.

What We Like About Scalenut

• Content Generated on Updated Info: AI-generated content that is informed on live internet data
• Powerful AI Models: Advanced NLP models for SERP comparison and optimization
• Cruise Mode: Scalenut takes content creation to an unbelievably automated level
• Setting the Tone: One disadvantage of Scalenut is the need to set the tone every time you generate content

Who Is Scalenut Best For?

Scalenut caters to content creators and SEO specialists who need to generate unique, engaging, and optimized written content at scale, improving content marketing efforts.

The community appreciates Scalenut’s customer service, ease of use, and content generator. However, some say their integrations with popular tools like WordPress would improve it.

Scalenut offers paid plans starting at $39 per month .

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4. HubSpot AI Email Writer

HubSpot’s Free AI Email Writer is a tool designed to streamline the email marketing process. Powered by advanced artificial intelligence, this tool generates compelling and personalized email content to engage your audience and drive conversions.

What We Like About Hubspot

• Instant email content generation: Quickly generate personalized email content tailored to your audience’s interests and preferences.
• AI-powered subject line suggestions: Receive AI-generated subject line suggestions to increase email open rates and engagement.
• Customizable email templates: Choose from various customizable email templates to match your brand’s style and messaging.
• Integration with HubSpot’s CRM: Seamlessly integrate with HubSpot’s CRM to personalize emails based on customer data and interactions.

Who Is Hubspot Best For?

HubSpot’s Free AI Email Writer best suits marketers and businesses looking to streamline email marketing efforts and increase engagement with personalized content. Whether you’re a small business owner or a seasoned marketer, this tool offers valuable assistance in crafting compelling email campaigns that resonate with your audience.

Community Reviews and Ratings

There are no separate reviews for HubSpot’s AI writing tool, but there are plenty of reviews for the broader HubSpot platform.

Free. This is included in HubSpot’s free tier, making it available to businesses of all sizes and stages at no cost.

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AI Website Chatbots

A website AI chatbot , or artificial intelligence chatbot, is a software application that can simulate conversation with users through natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) techniques. Unlike traditional chatbots, AI can understand and respond to human language in a more human-like and flexible manner, as they are trained on large datasets and use ML to generate non-scripted, conversational responses. They are used for various purposes, such as customer service, lead identification, data collection, and automating repetitive tasks.

There are tons of AI website chatbots available, so we obviously can’t list them all. That being said, there are a few that we absolutely love, so here are our top picks for the best AI chatbots in 2024.

🥇 Best AI Website Chatbot Overall

Tidio is an AI website chatbot with a wealth of features designed to connect you to potential and existing customers. It provides live chat and several AI features, including AI Phrase Matcher, a FAQ Wizard, and Help Desk. Users can gain insight into your business with pre-defined questions and answers or be handed off to a live representative should the need arise.

What We Like About Tidio

• Live Chat: Chat with your customers in real time through a chat window embedded in your website
• AI Phrase Matcher: The chatbot can match user questions with predefined answers, enabling accurate responses to customer questions
• FAQ Wizard: Tidio AI extracts Q & A from FAQ pages, allowing you to create a FAQ chatbot for quick answers to common questions
• Email Marketing: Build email lists through live chat interactions and market to your customers all in one platform
• It Doesn’t Export Customer Interaction Data While Tidio does allow for exporting of contact details, it currently doesn’t offer the ability to download chat transcripts

We love Tidio for its versatility. Users can chat with customers in real time, create a FAQ section for quick Q & A, and export customer data for marketing purposes. It provides an all-in-one solution for customer interaction and retention.

Who Is Tidio Best For?

Tidio’s blend of live chat functionality, AI-powered features, customizable workflows, and affordable pricing makes it an ideal choice for small and medium-sized businesses looking to enhance their online customer service capabilities and drive sales growth effectively.

Tidio users love the live chat feature and the simple interface, but they say they would like to have printable chat transcripts.

Tidio comes in four plans, including a free tier , with paid plans starting at $29 per month .

6. Botsonic

Our next AI website chatbot, Botsonic , is brought to you by the folks at Writesonic. It allows you to train your own chatbot to engage your site visitors, enhance customer support, improve user engagement, and create a personalized experience. Simply build a knowledge base in Writesonic’s dashboard filled with answers to the most common questions about your business. What’s better? Botsonic integrates with platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Calendly, Slack, and more, allowing you to streamline customer service.

What We Like About Botsonic

• Simple Dashboard: Botsonic is simple, making it easy for users of any skill level to create a custom chatbot
• GPT-4 Based: Botsonic is built upon the latest iteration of OpenAI’s GPT model
• Build a Knowledge Base: Train your chatbot on your data for a more personalized chat experience
• Multi-Language Support: Botsonic supports over 20 languages, making it a great choice for businesses with international customers
• Not Included With Writesonic: Even if you are a Writesonic subscriber, you must purchase a Botsonic subscription separately

Who Is Botsonic Best For?

Botstonic is a great choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to improve their customer engagement. With the ability to train a chatbot on your information, you can streamline the Q & A process to better serve your customer base. Interesting in knowing more about Botsonic? Check out our complete Botsonic review .

The community reveres Botsonic as a top-notch AI chatbot for its ease of use, customization options, and appearance. However, some say it would be nice to have the option to hand off more complex queries to a live support agent.

Botsonic is available for free with paid plans starting at $20 per month .

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7. Chatbase

Our last AI website chatbot, Chatbase , also allows you to train your own chatbot. It’s the most simple of the three on our list, but that doesn’t mean it’s not full of features. It works by importing your data and then allows you to customize its behavior and appearance. Once completed, you can easily embed it into your website to capture user data. While Chatbase doesn’t have live chat support, it is still a great choice for providing answers to your customer base.

What We Like About Chatbase

• Custom ChatGPT Integration: Chatbase allows users to train ChatGPT on their data for personalized responses
• Multilingual Support: With approximately 95 supported languages, Chatbase enables users to reach users across the globe
• Matches Your Branding: Users can tailor their chatbot’s appearance to match their brand’s style, including customizing themes, profile pictures, and more
• Lead Generation Engine: Chatbase collects user data so you can build your customer lists with ease
• No Human Chat Capability: Chatbase doesn’t allow you to hand customers off to a live representative, which may be a dealbreaker for some

Who Is Chatbase Best For?

Chatbase is best suited for small to medium businesses looking for a user-friendly chatbot solution with robust analytics capabilities, customization options, and multilingual support.

Users love how easy it is to load data into Chatbase but say despite being trained on user data, it occasionally produces incorrect answers.

Chatbase offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $19 per month .

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AI Grammar Tools

Another way to speed up the writing process is to use an AI grammar tool. Also known as an AI grammar checker , AI grammar tools use artificial intelligence to analyze written text for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, punctuation issues, and sometimes even style and tone inconsistencies. It compares the text to a vast database of grammar and spelling rules and common errors and provides real-time feedback to the user. Let’s take a look at our favorites.

8. Grammarly

🥇 best ai grammar tool overall.

Grammarly is an AI-powered grammar and writing assistant that helps users improve their writing by identifying and correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style errors. Content is the cornerstone of marketing, business communication, and everything in between. Grammarly makes it error-free and ready for the eyes of your most important audiences.

What We Like About Grammarly

• Achieve Perfect Grammar: Real-time grammar and spelling checker
• Settings: Grammarly gives you style and tone suggestions to cater to your writing style
• Plagiarism Detection: Ensure your blog post, paper, or marketing proposal doesn’t include plagiarism
• GrammarlyGO: for generating content that matches your writing style
• Context: Grammarly tends to misunderstand context, especially when text resolves around company names and complex topics

Grammarly is a must for content writers, students, marketing professionals, or anyone looking to improve their grammar and correct mistakes automatically. It checks for plagiarism and integrates with browsers, social media, email, WordPress, and more, making it a versatile proofreading tool.

Who Is Grammarly Best For?

Grammarly suits students, professionals, and writers who want to enhance their writing skills and produce error-free content. If you don’t use it, we recommend trying the free version. Even the free version offers valuable features for all users.

The community loves Grammarly’s integrations, ease of use, and plagiarism checker. However, some say Grammarly occasionally gives them inaccurate suggestions, which is frustrating.

Grammarly offers a free plan that everyone should get, and paid plans start at $12 per month .

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9. Quillbot

Quillbot is an AI-powered paraphrasing and rewriting tool that helps users rephrase and restructure their text while maintaining its original meaning, making it ideal for creating unique, plagiarism-free content. It’s a fantastic rewriter tool if used ethically.

What We Like About Quillbot

• Paraphrasing: Advanced paraphrasing by adjusting words and sentence structure
• Modes: Multiple rewriting modes for a honed output
• Keep the Context: Settings to preserve original meaning and context
• Check for Plagiarism: Add-on plagiarism detection tool
• No AI Content Checker: The downside to Quillbot is that it can’t detect AI-generated content, which may be important to some

Who Is Quillbot Best For?

Quillbot is perfect for content creators who need to rephrase text, create unique content, and avoid plagiarism issues, ensuring content quality and originality.

Reviews love how easy Quillbot is to use. They also brag about the paraphraser tool and the generous free plan. However, some users say there are occasional glitches where it rejects copy.

Quillbot offers a free plan with premium plans starting at $19.95 per month .

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10. Wordtune

Wordtune is another excellent AI chatbot with a wealth of useful features. The rewrite tool gives users alternate ways to word a sentence, offering new ideas and fresh perspectives for creating content. There’s also a translator that can detect up to 9 languages, an AI writing assistant, and a summarizer that can summarize YouTube videos, blog posts, PDFs, and more. Another useful feature is the ability to ask the AI questions and categorize answers in a personalized knowledge base to refer back to when writing.

What We Like About Wordtune

• Rewrite Tool: Perfect writing with Wordtune Rewrite, an AI-powered tool that helps improve your writing/li>
• AI Writing Assistant: Get suggestions from AI while keeping your writing style
• Summarizer: Summarize YouTube videos, blog posts, PDFs, or white papers with ease
• AI Chatbot: Ask AI questions and categorize them in a personalized database for quick referral when writing content
• Online Only: Wordtune is only available on the web and lacks a mobile app

Who Is Wordtune Best For?

SEO writers, content creators, or small business owners will love Wordtune. It allows you to preserve your writing style while receiving tips from AI to improve your content. It also summarizes long-form content or videos, translates text into nine languages, and is incredibly simple.

Wordtune users love the paraphrasing tool, its automatic correcting of spelling and grammatical errors, and its ease of use. However, some reviews state that Wordtune is difficult to cancel.

Wordtune is available for free with paid plans starting at $24.99 per month .

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AI and Plagiarism Detectors

AI detectors are great tools for anyone who wants to check whether AI might have generated a piece of text. They are used by educators, publishers, recruiters, web content writers, and social media moderators to ensure the originality of the content and identify AI-generated text. Similarly, AI plagiarism detectors use AI algorithms to analyze written text and compare it to a vast database of other texts, searching for instances of text that are identical or very similar. They offer a fast and efficient way to detect cases of plagiarism in large volumes of text, making productivity skyrocket.

11. Originality.ai

🥇 best ai and plagiarism detector overall.

Originality.ai is an AI-powered plagiarism detection tool that helps users ensure their content is original and free from plagiarism by scanning and comparing it to billions of web pages and academic databases. Its only job is to compare your content against a large database of already published content. It can even tell you if the provided text is likely created using generative AI .

What We Like About Originality.ai

• Plagiarism Detection: Originality cross-references your content with multiple sources across the web to identify potential plagiarism
• Extensive Database: It gathers information from various sources, including academic essays, books, websites, and research papers, to compare against
• Detailed Similarity Report: The report includes readability scores, scans over 900 billion web pages and databases, and offers the ability to detect AI-written content with high precision
• AI Content Detection: Originality AI detects if written content is likely written by AI
• Occasional False Positives: Originality.AI may produce false positives, incorrectly flagging original or rewritten content as AI-generated

Originality.AI’s combination of AI content detection and plagiarism detection is a perfect companion for content creators, educators, businesses, bloggers, and others looking to ensure that their content is original and of high quality. It’s also very easy to use and is usually spot on, with only occasional glitches.

See our Originality review  article.

Who Is Originality.ai Best For?

Originality.ai is perfect for students, educators, editors, and content creators seeking an AI-powered solution to ensure their work is original, plagiarism-free, and maintains a high standard of integrity.

Originality offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model for a one-time fee of $30 for 3000 credits or a monthly plan for $14.95

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12. Winston AI

Another excellent AI content detection tool is Winston AI . It uses optical character recognition (OCR) to read handwritten and typed documents and can determine if AI was used to create it. It does a great job determining the difference between human and AI-generated content and provides the results in a percentage format. Because it can scan handwritten content, it’s a great tool for educators looking to verify the authenticity of written content.

What We Like About Winston AI

• Accurate Detection: It’s really good at detecting AI content with a high probability score
• OCR Technology: Winston AI can detect both handwritten and typed text
• Printable Reports: Gain powerful insights into the results of the scan with handy printable reports
• No Free Trial for Plagiarism: If users want to use the plagiarism detector, they must sign up for a paid plan

Who Is Winston AI Best For?

Content creators and educators will love Winston AI for its AI content detection. It offers both handwritten and typed AI detection through OCR. The paid version also provides a plagiarism detector, so you can get a handle on any issues before publishing content.

See our Winston AI review for a complete look at this tool.

Although reviews are limited, fans of Winston love the OCR technology. However, they say that scanning content can take some time.

Winston AI offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $18 per month .

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13. GPTZero

GPTZero is another great option for those looking to detect AI-generated content. Developed by a Princeton University student, it’s designed to detect AI written by LLMs at the sentence, paragraph, or document level. It’s generally geared towards student writing in academic environments, so it’s a perfect tool for educators.

What We Like About GPTZero

• Focused on Education: It’s great for educators and students primarily due to the AI model training data
• Multiple AI Model Support: It can detect content generated by various AI models such as ChatGPT, GPT-4, and Bard
• File Upload Support: Users can input text directly or upload files in formats like pdf, doc, or txt
• False Positives: Like any AI tool, GPTZero may produce false positives or negatives in detecting AI-generated content

Who Is GPTZero Best For?

Educators, students, or content creators will love the simplicity of GPTZero. It has a super simple interface, is incredibly accurate at detecting AI-generated content, and is affordable, making it a good choice for those on a tight budget.

GPTZero offers paid plans starting at $15 per month .

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AI Meeting Assistants

If you’re looking for a way to record calls, transcribe audio, or summarize discussions, an AI meeting assistant is a great tool. They can integrate with video conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams to join meetings, take notes, create transcripts, and track action items easily. They are perfect for increasing meeting productivity and efficiency, often saving time by automating repetitive tasks.

14. Otter AI

🥇 best ai meeting assistant overall.

Otter AI is an advanced transcription service that uses artificial intelligence to provide accurate transcriptions of live meetings. It helps teams save time by taking notes, stamping key moments, and pulling in presentation slides. Everything is searchable across your entire team, so meetings are always well-spent.

What We Like About Otter AI

• Real-Time Transcription: Otter AI provides timestamps with transcription in real-time, so it’s easier to identify important parts of your meetings
• OtterPilot: Capture slides and presentations for notes
• It’s Searchable: Otter AI provides notes you can search to refer back to
• No Filler Word Removal: Unfortunately, Otter AI doesn’t remove filler words like “um” and “ugh,” making it necessary to manually remove them from transcripts

Otter AI is hands down the best meeting transcription software we’ve found. Aside from its occasional hiccups with filler words and difficulty with accents, it serves as an incredible resource for professionals looking to quickly transcribe Zoom calls, Google Meets, or any other online meeting with ease.

We’ve extensively reviewed Otter.ai .

Who Is Otter AI Best For?

Otter.ai benefits journalists, podcasters, and working professionals who require accurate meeting transcriptions, saving them time and allowing them to be more present during discussions.

Fans of Otter AI say it’s great for accurate transcriptions but says it can be buggy at times.

Otter provides a free plan with paid plans starting at $16.99 per month per user.

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14. Airgram

Airgram is an AI-powered tool that provides real-time transcription for online meetings, such as those held on Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. It allows you to focus on the meeting rather than trying to keep up with taking notes. Airgram is also an online meeting space, so you can tackle everything in one place.

What We Like About Airgram

• Record Meetings: Captures video and audio in high-definition
• Auto-Join Meetings: Through an AI assistant, Airgram allows users to automatically join scheduled meetings
• Share Meeting Snippets: You can either share the entire meeting or clip important parts and email them to team members
• Transcribe Meetings: Transcripts are automatically generated in real-time, allowing you to focus on the meeting rather than taking notes
• Integration Challenges: There are occasional glitches with Airgram connecting to Zoom

Meeting Connection: From time to time, Airgram may struggle to connect to Zoom or Google Meet

Who Is Airgram Best For?

We like Airgram for its unique approach to meeting transcriptions. In addition to integrating with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, Airgram has its own online meeting software. That way, you can record and transcribe meetings in one place.

Airgram offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $18 per month per user.

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16. Meetgeek

Meetgeek is another excellent AI tool for transcribing your online meetings. With integration with popular software programs such as Clickup , HubSpot , Slack, and Salesforce, Meetgeek is beneficial throughout your workflow. It provides features such as auto-join, generating automated notes and summaries, and post-meeting insights, making it a great choice for busy marketers.

What We Like About Meetgeek

• Automatic Join: Integrates seamlessly with calendars and joins scheduled Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams meetings, whether users are hosts or attendees
• Video Highlights: Creates shareable video clips of important moments in meetings
• Post-Meeting Insights: Provides detailed analytics and insights into meeting performance
• No Real-Time Transcription: Meetgeek doesn’t provide real-time transcriptions, which could be a deal breaker for some

Who Is Meetgeek Best For?

Meetgeek is a great option for remote companies that host many online meetings. It provides robust security, translations for over 20 languages, and nearly instant transcription after meetings end. That said, Otter AI is a better choice if you’re looking for a service that transcribes meetings on the fly.

Users love how Meetgeek quickly transcribes meetings after they conclude but sometimes need help with auto-joining meetings that aren’t scheduled.

Meetgeek offers four plans, including a free basic plan . Paid plans start at $19 per month .

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AI Video Generators and Editors

In the past, creating and editing videos has been a lengthy process. Companies would need to hire or train people to tackle the task, and it would take days, if not weeks, to get the final product. That’s where AI video generators and editors come in. Through the power of generative AI, what once took forever now takes minutes to complete. With so many options popping up seemingly daily, knowing the time to decide can be difficult. No worries, though, because we can help you with that. Here are our top picks for today’s best AI video generators and editors.

17. Descript

🥇 best ai video generator and editor overall.

Descript is an AI-powered text-based video editor that simplifies the process of editing videos by allowing users to edit text instead of manually cutting and splicing video clips. Upload a video, and Descript transcribes it for you immediately. Editors can change the wording and remove filler words based on that transcribed text. Doing so edits your original video or audio. If that’s not magic, then it’s the next best thing.

What We Like About Descript

• Text-to-Video: Text-based video editing inside a doc (but it edits your video)
• Transcribe on the Fly: Automatic transcription of video and audio content
• Top-Notch Audio editing: Great for podcasters and can even support multiple tracks
• AI Voices: Generate realistic voice clones or choose from stock AI voices
• Struggles with Accents: While Descript is really good at what it does, it tends to struggle with different accents

Overall, Descript stands out for its ease of use, affordability, transcription accuracy, powerful features, and collaborative capabilities, making it a valuable tool for content creators looking for professional-quality editing.

See our Descript review for a full look into this amazing tool.

Who Is Descript Best For?

Descript benefits content creators, video editors, and businesses that require high-quality videos and podcasts with easy-to-use editing features and transcription services.

Fans of Descript love how easy it is to use, but say the filler word removal can sometimes leave the voice sounding choppy.

Descript offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $15 per month .

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18. Pictory AI

Pictory AI is an AI-powered video generator that creates visually stunning branded videos from long-form, written content. Give it a URL with your published content, and it can pull it into its AI models. From there, it can choose the best content, create voiceovers, and assign rich media to make a video worth publishing.

What We Like About Pictory

• Generate Shorts: Create Shorts from longer videos
• Generative Videos Effortlessly: Creates videos using stock footage, background music, and AI-generated voiceovers
• Blog-to-Video: Impressive blog-to-video workflow editor
• Automatic Caption Generator: Pictory automatically generates captions which can be turned on or off
• Not for Complex Video Creation: Pictory is excellent at creating quick videos for marketing but may not be the best fit for complex video projects

Who Is Pictory Best For?

Pictory AI is perfect for designers, content creators, and businesses looking for an automated solution to convert long-form text and videos into engaging video content, enhancing visual storytelling.

Pictory users say it consistently generates excellent videos but wish there were more AI voices.

Pictory offers three plans with prices starting at $23 per month .

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19. Synthesia

Synthesia is an AI-powered video avatar generator that allows users to create professional-quality videos in minutes. It generates virtual avatars based on a text script (using Text-to-speech and Text-to-video generation). This means that from single text prompts, Synthesia creates audio voices from it and a matching video with an avatar that is speaking it. That’s double the power rolled up into one AI tool.

What We Like About Synthesia

• Virtual Avatars: Synthesia excels at creating AI-generated virtual avatars
• Easy Text-to-Video UI: Simply describe what you want to create, and Synthesia will create something amazing within minutes
• Professional Quality Video: Create highly professional videos without relying on actors and narrators
• Facial Expressions: Synthesia’s virtual avatars can sometimes lack the facial expressions you’d see with human faces

Who Is Synthesia Best For?

Synthesia caters to larger businesses and marketing teams seeking professional-grade avatar videos for presentations, help documentation, and more, enhancing communication and engagement.

See our Synthesia review  to see how it works.

Synthesia users love the efficiency of customer support and ease of use with video creation. However, some say that AI voices can sound robotic.

Synthesia offers three plans with prices starting at $22 per month .

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AI Art Generators

One of the hottest trends in generative AI is AI art generators. They allow you to create images, logos, and vector art through a text prompt. Images can typically encompass different styles, such as photorealistic or vector, and save incredible amounts of time for the end user. Some art generators, like Firefly, allow you to generate artwork and use generative fill to add or subtract elements. Here are our top picks of all the AI tools we tested.

20. Adobe Firefly

🥇 best ai art generator overall.

Adobe Firefly is another great option for creating AI art. It encompasses several tools, including generative fill , text-to-image creation, 3D text effects, and generative recolor. Firefly is available as a web-based application or through Photoshop or Illustrator .

What We Like About Adobe Firefly

• Trained on Adobe Stock: Firefly is trained on royalty-free and Adobe Stock images, so there’s no concern over copyright issues
• Integration With Adobe Apps: Firefly works as a standalone app, but also works with Photoshop and Illustrator
• 4 Ways to Create: Adobe Firefly has four incredible tools to create images and text, recolor vector art, and edit existing images with AI
• Prompt Handling: Adobe Firefly still has a ways to go when it comes to deciphering user prompts

Adobe Firefly is a full-featured AI art generator with several tools to create and edit images, text, and vector art. The text-to-image feature allows users to generate images with a text prompt. Similarly, the generative fill feature allows you to add or edit elements in your photos, while the Generative Recolor tool lets you create variations of your artwork with different color schemes. Finally, the Text Effects tool helps you create interesting text effects. Adobe is doing AI the right way, thanks to its training data consisting of royalty-free and Adobe Stock images.

Who Is Adobe Firefly Best For?

Firefly is a great option for those looking for various ways to create artwork. Users can generate images with a text prompt, change the look and feel of vector art with recoloring, create stunning text effects, and edit existing photos. We love that Adobe’s AI is trained on royalty-free and Adobe Stock images, so there’s no worry about copyright infringement. Firefly integrates into Creative Cloud products, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, making it a useful companion for busy creatives.

Adobe Firefly users love its integration with Photoshop but say weird artifacts exist in some photos.

You can try Adobe Firefly for free online or subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud starting at $20.99 per month .

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21. Midjourney

Midjourney is an AI text-to-image generator that allows users to create unique and captivating visuals for various purposes, including social media, websites, and marketing materials. Users can start with Midjourney on their discord server by creating an account.

What We Like About Midjourney

• Text to Image: Text prompt to AI image generation
• Detailed Prompts: Midjouney provides endless potential with prompts and four images per prompt output
• High-Resolution Output: Midjourney’s AI art is unrivaled, thanks to its high-resolution output, making it stand out above the others
• Discord Based: It would be nice if the folks at Midjourney moved away from the Discord server that houses it. If you aren’t using a private chat room, your query will easily get lost in the shuffle

Who Is Midjourney Best For?

Midjourney is the ultimate choice for those seeking to create stunning AI-generated images that leave a lasting impression on viewers. See how we used ChatGPT and Midjourney to create a Divi landing page .

Users love the versatility of Midjourney, especially the varying types of art that can be created with it. However, most wish it wasn’t based on a Discord server.

Midjourney offers plans starting at $10 per month .

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Looka is an AI-powered logo maker and brand guide builder. It can help create brand colors, logos, and other marketing collateral using the power and efficiency of AI. If creating an entire brand seems daunting, give Looka a try.

What We Like About Looka

• Logo Choices: Generate dozens of AI logo designs and pick your favorite (download in SVG, PNG, and EPS)
• Branding: Match logo with brand colors and font to create a well-rounded visual brand
• Template Choices: Apply your brand to more than 300 templates for easy collateral creation (invoices, email signatures, business cards)
• Basic: The one downside to Looka is the basic icons. It would be nice to see some more complex logo options

Purchase logos for as little as $20 (.png only) or build ongoing brand assets for $96 per year .

23. Magic Studio

Magic Studio is an AI-powered design tool that enables users to create stunning visuals, including social media posts, product images, and other graphics in just a few clicks.

What We Like About Magic Studio

• AI-generated Images: Create works of art using a text prompt
• Magic Eraser: Removes unwanted objects in photos
• Background Remover: Remove entire backgrounds from the subject of a photo
• Image Enlarger: Scale up images with AI without loss in quality
• Limiting Free Plan: To use features like Image Upscaler, Photobooth, and Magic Eraser, you must upgrade to a paid plan

Who Is Magic Studio Best For?

Magic Studio makes it easy for creators to design visually appealing graphics without advanced design skills or expensive software, unleashing their creative potential.

Reviews are limited for Magic Studio, but the consensus amongst the few is that the AI image generation is good, but the pricing is too high.

Magic Studio offers free image creation with paid plans starting at $19.99 per month .

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24. Illustroke

Illustroke is a powerful AI-powered tool that helps designers easily create stunning and unique illustrations. While other tools make standard .jpg images, this tool produces editable vectors you can rework and resize once downloaded.

What We Like About Illustroke

• Create Illustrations: AI-generated illustrations with or without color
• Commercial Images: You can use images commercially with no attribution required
• API: Create your own version for bulk, automatic creation of illustrations
• Generates Multiple Images: Four vector options per prompt / token
• No Free Version: To use Illustroke, you have to purchase a plan. They do give out free tokens, but you must follow their social media and send them a message to get them

Who Is Illustroke Best For?

Illustroke is tailored for web designers, illustrators, and creative professionals seeking to create striking illustrative designs with the help of AI, streamlining the design process.

Illustroke offers plans starting at $6 for 50 tokens .

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AI Voice Generators

Those who convert written text into a voice should look at AI voice generators. They use artificial intelligence and deep learning to turn text into a natural-sounding human voice. They are trained on large amounts of data, linguistic and acoustic modeling, and waveform (wav) generation. Our top three are the best at what they do and are affordable for most.

25. Play.ht

🥇 best ai voice generator overall.

Play.ht is another AI-powered text-to-speech tool that enables users to convert their written content into realistic and natural-sounding audio, perfect for podcasts, audiobooks, and more. It offers a reliable voice generator with additional editing tools to make it sound more human.

What We Like About Play.ht

• High-Quality: Play.ht text-to-speech model is one of the best around
• AI Voices: Wide range of voices and languages
• Audio Editing: Play.ht comes with multiple tools to fine-tune AI voices
• Cost: Play.ht charges per character, so long-form text will eat through your credits pretty quickly

We like Play.ht primarily for the quality (and quantity) of its AI voices. With over 900 AI voices, there’s a good chance you’ll find one you like. Plus, you can adjust pronunciations and other aspects of a generated voice to truly personalize it. To make things even better, it’s easy to use, too.

Who Is Play.ht Best For?

Play.ht appeals to podcasters and audio-focused creators who want to transform text-based content into captivating audio formats, expanding their audience reach and accessibility.

Play.ht users are impressed with the output, especially in languages other than English. However, some users say it may take several tries to get the AI voice where you want it, using up valuable character credits.

Play.ht offers a great free plan with paid plans starting at $39 per month .

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Fliki is an AI-powered voice generation tool that turns written text into high-quality audio content. It also can pull images and b-roll videos from blogs and other sources and use them to create simple voiceover videos. Built by the same team behind the popular Rytr AI writing software.

What We Like About Fliki

• Increase Productivity: A blog-to-video creation workflow
• Media Assets: Stock media library, including images, video clips, and background music
• Voice Options: 1300+ TTS voiceover voices in 75+ languages
• Free Plan: Fliki’s free offering is not great due to video time limitations.

Who Is Fliki Best For?

Fliki is a game-changer for content creators, marketers, and businesses looking to create engaging videos based on written text and static media, amplifying their storytelling capabilities.

The community loves how easy it is to use but says the free plan should come with more than 5 minutes of video creation.

Fliki offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $8 per month .

27. Murf.AI

Up next is Murf.AI , a multi-functional AI voice tool. With most voice generators, it’s easy to tell it’s not human. This is not the case with Murf.AI. It offers over 120 realistic AI voices with different characteristics and styles, so finding one that suits your needs is guaranteed. What makes Murf.AI unique is its video capability. Although it’s not a traditional AI video generator, it does have millions of media assets, such as music, images, and video to help you create an effective video for social media, the web, and more.

What We Like About Murf.AI

• AI Voices: Choose from 120+ realistic AI voices
• Adjustments: Murf.AI provides plenty of ways to edit a voice, including changing pitch, tone, and style
• Simple Interface: One of Murf’s features is the simplistic dashboard
• Free Plan: The free version gives you access to most features but leaves out downloads

Who Is Murf.AI Best For?

People looking to dip into the AI pool will benefit most from Murf.AI. The free plan grants full access, minus downloads, to check out all features. Its ease of use, realistic-sounding voices, and support for 20 languages make it a great option.

Murf.AI users like the variety of AI voices and options with paid plans. However, no free downloads for free users is a sticking point.

Murf.AI offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $29 per month .

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28. Lovo AI

Lovo AI is an AI-powered text-to-speech generator that allows users to convert written text into natural-sounding audio in various voices and languages. Simply load up written content, and Lovo transforms that into AI-generated audio using TTS technology.

What We Like About Lovo AI

• AI Voices: 500+ natural-sounding voices at different pricing tiers
• Multilingual: 100+ languages supported
• Editing Options: Customizable speech settings and granular voice control
• Support: One downside to Lovo is the lack of ticketed support for free or Basic plan members. To get support, you must be at least a Pro plan member

Who Is Lovo AI Best For?

Lovo AI is ideal for content creators, educators, and businesses requiring high-quality audio content for applications like audiobooks, podcasts, and e-learning materials, simplifying audio production.

Fans of Lovo call it shockingly good. However, the voice selection for lower-tiered plans could be better.

Lovo AI offers a free trial with paid plans starting at $29 per month .

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AI Website Builders

Before the introduction of generative AI, building a website required knowledge of coding and design principles or hiring a professional. Thanks to artificial intelligence, that’s no longer the case. AI website builders can help you generate text, images, code, and sometimes entire layouts. Some allow you to create websites with a simple text prompt, while others require a more hands-on approach.

🥇 Best AI Website Builder Overall

Wix AI is an AI website builder that allows people with no design experience to build a website quickly and efficiently. It asks a series of questions to learn more about your business and provides a few design options based on your answers. By the end of the process, you’ll have a fully functional, expertly designed website ready to launch.

What We Like About Wix

• It’s Easy to Use: After a few simple questions, you’ll have a complete website with no need to code or design anything on your own
• Ecommerce Capable: One of the best features of Wix is that it is fully supported for eCommerce
• It’s a Time Saver: Designing and building a website usually takes days or weeks, but with Wix, you can be up and running in minutes
• Customize: After your website is generated, you can make design and text changes as you see fit
• Locked-in Pricing: Wix AI is a great tool for building websites. But as you need more tools (like bookings, eCommerce, etc.), you’ll get locked into the eco-system and have to pay more and more.

Wix offers a blend of speed, ease of use, customization options, and is mobile responsive out of the box. Whether you are a beginner looking for a simple AI website builder or an experienced user who needs to launch a website fast, Wix provides a user-friendly experience with powerful features.

Want to learn more about Wix? Check out our in-depth review .

Who Is Wix ADI Best For?

WixI is an excellent choice for beginners or those who lack design and coding skills. It offers a fast and easy way to build a website, making it perfect for users who want a beautiful website fast, but lack the skill to do it.

Wix is praised for its ease of use, templates, and features. However, some say that add-ons for Wix could be better.

Wix offers four plans with prices starting at $17 per month .

30. Divi AI

Up first on our shortlist of the best AI website builders is Divi AI . Built on impressive AI models, Divi AI can generate and rewrite text specific to your site, create incredible images, and even generate CSS and custom code. Divi AI integrates seamlessly with Elegant Themes’ no-code Visual Builder , so you can easily build websites on the front end. Combined with Divi’s impressive Theme Builder and thousands of pre-made layouts , Divi AI provides the perfect solution for building a WordPress website fast.

Want something better? Divi AI helps agencies and business owners create websites faster with complete page builds. Describe the web page you want Divi AI to build, and it’ll create an entire page, section by section. This includes text and custom images for each section. When Divi AI is done creating your page, everything is editable via the visual builder. Plus, you can layer in Divi AI to generate specific sections of text or images to dial things in further.

What We Like About Divi AI

• Build Whole Webpages: Divi AI generates pages in the snap of a finger. Instead of starting from a blank page or prebuilt template, it creates a bespoke page that suits your description of what you need.
• Auto-Generate Content: Divi AI generates text, images, or entire design modules with a single click. It identifies surrounding content on your site and generates content specific to your site’s niche.
• Generates Images: Divi AI uses Stable Diffusion to generate images with a text prompt. It can learn from your page to produce highly relevant and on-brand images.
• Refine Existing Images: Using a reference image, Divi AI analyzes and improves the existing content based on your text prompt. You can make subtle changes or completely overhaul an image while preserving composition and style.
• Code Generation: Divi AI’s coding assistant is trained specifically on Divi’s code, so generating CSS to change a page’s design is a breeze.
• Unlimited Generations: Divi AI isn’t based on credits or restricted to a set number of generations per month. It’s truly unlimited, meaning you can generate as much text, images, and code as you want.
• Image Generation: Getting the perfect image may take a few tries. That said, Divi AI gives you unlimited generations, so take that into consideration.

Who Is Divi AI Best For?

Divi AI is an excellent option for anyone wanting to build custom web pages with artificial intelligence. It focuses on generating website-specific content and images and integrates seamlessly with the Divi Builder.

The community loves how Divi is constantly being upgraded and improved, as well as the features it provides. However, some say the learning curve is steep.

Divi AI is available for $24 per month with your Elegant Themes subscription. New users must sign up for ET, with prices starting at $89 per year .

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31. Framer AI

Another excellent AI tool for building your website is Framer AI . It offers suggestions for images, graphics, colors, and fonts and streamlines the website creation process. Unlike other AI website builders, it requires some manual adjustments, but the UI is easy to use. Framer AI also comes with templated sections and pre-built pages, so getting your site up and running quickly is easy.

What We Like About Framer AI

• Fully Functional CMS: Framer is a complete content management system (CMS), so you can maintain complete control over your site and its content
• AI-Powered Builder: Generate images, text, and code with a text prompt
• SEO and Performance: Framer includes essential features like sitemaps, robots.txt files, custom metadata, compressed code, and images, as well as caching
• Animations: Through Framer Motion, users can generate animations for design elements, including modals, carousels, SVG animations, and more
• Learning Curve: While somewhat user-friendly, there is a learning curve to overcome

Who Is Framer AI Best For?

Framer AI is a powerful website generation tool with tons of features. You can choose from pre-built sections and pages or create your own with a text prompt. However, Framer is best suited for developers who know their way around websites. The learning curve is steeper than other tools, so coding knowledge may be required. For those needing a more user-friendly option, try Divi AI. Want to learn more about Framer, check out our in-depth review .

Framer users praise its user experience, animations, and code generation. On the other hand, some say beginners will need help with learning the software.

Framer offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $5 per month .

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32. Hostinger AI Website Builder

Hostinger offers an AI-driven website builder that makes building and designing a website easy, even for those with no coding experience. The AI tool uses data and algorithms to suggest design elements and layouts, speeding up the process of creating a professional-looking website.

What We Like About Hostinger

• Quick Setup : Answer a few questions about your business, and the AI will craft a starter website for you.
• Comprehensive AI tools : From image generators to SEO tools, AI can help customize the website and improve search engine performance.
• eCommerce Functionality : Easily set up an online store to sell and manage products.
• Intuitive Customization : After the AI sets up your site, tweak your website using an intuitive interface and a guided setup.
• Mobile Editor : Customize your website on the go.
• Limited Header Customization: You can only select one header layout, limiting your ability to create a unique branding style. However, this feature has been reported to be coming soon.

Why We Picked It

Hostinger AI Website Builder stands out for its value for money and comprehensive features. Its sophisticated AI tools and eCommerce capabilities make it a top choice for anyone looking to establish a strong online presence quickly and efficiently.

Who Is Hostinger Best For?

This platform is ideal for small businesses or anyone needing a website but without the time or skills to build one from scratch. It’s especially beneficial for those seeking a straightforward way to launch and manage their online business on a limited budget.

Hostinger is widely appreciated for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and excellent customer support.

Hostinger AI Website Builder offers two plans with prices starting at $2.99 per month .

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AI Coding Assistants

When embarking on creating websites, there are times when a customized solution is needed. In the past, creating a plugin for WordPress or styling components of your site with code would require the help of a developer. With the introduction of AI coding assistants , less tech-savvy people can accomplish these tasks independently. AI coding assistants take the guesswork out of coding by writing it for you. They can generate code based on text prompts or guide you as you write it yourself. There are many options to consider, so we’ve narrowed it down to give you the best options. Here are our top picks.

33. GitHub Copilot

🥇 best ai coding assistant overall.

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps developers write code faster and more efficiently by suggesting relevant code snippets and completing lines of code based on the user’s input. Let it auto-complete routine lines and even offer up suggestions. Works with every programming language imaginable.

What We Like About GitHub Copilot

• Generate Code With a Command: AI-assisted code generation via command prompts
• Programming Language Support: Works with many different programming languages
• Works With Popular IDEs: Integrates with popular IDEs (Visual Studio, Neovim, VS Code)
• OpenAI Based: Trained on OpenAI’s Codex model
• Incorrect Suggestions: While Copilot is impressive, it can sometimes suggest incorrect or inefficient code, leading to potential errors

Github Copilot gives developers real-time code suggestions, making the process faster, especially for repetitive tasks. It’s also a great learning tool for new coders, allowing them to learn best practices when creating code snippets. Copilot also does a great job with context and provides relevant suggestions, leading to fewer coding errors.

Who Is GitHub Copilot Best For?

GitHub Copilot caters to developers, programmers, and software engineers who want to revolutionize their coding processes, reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, and accelerate project completion.

People, especially beginners, love how effective Copilot is in helping them learn to code. On the other hand, it will occasionally produce inaccurate results.

CoPilot can be added to Github’s free plan for an add-on price of $10 per month .

Get GitHub Copilot

CodeWP is an AI-powered WordPress code generator that helps developers of all skill levels create and extend WordPress websites faster than ever. With CodeWP.ai, you can generate code for various tasks, use pre-made and vetted code snippets, and write secure and efficient code up to WordPress standards.

What We Like About CodeWP

• Code for WordPress: AI-driven WordPress code generation (PHP, CSS, HTML, JS)
• Generate Code for Plugins: WordPress code generation + for your favorite plugins
• Code Library: Pre-made and vetted code snippets are available
• Code Accuracy: Secure, efficient, and compliant code
• Understanding User Requests: Some users find that CodeWP may not always understand requests as accurately as desired, especially compared to other tools like ChatGPT

Who Is CodeWP Best For?

WordPress design agencies, freelancers, and advanced owners of even single websites can benefit from rapid code generation for CodeWP. It creates simple code snippets that extend the customizability of your WordPress install. Plus, it saves everything for future use on other sites that you might have. This is especially great for agencies creating many websites that might share some functionality.

CodeWP offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $28 per month .

35. Tabnine

Our last AI coding assistant, Tabnine , is an excellent choice for developers who use multiple coding languages. With support for Python, Java, JavaScript, PHP, and others, Tabnine can help craft perfect code for any project. It offers smart completion suggestions as you type, improving productivity and reducing coding errors. Tabnine’s best feature is its ability to learn from your coding style. It’s also built upon permissive open-source licenses, so you don’t have to worry about how your code can be used and distributed.

What We Like About Tabnine

• Error Detection: The Code Listing feature allows users to identify and fix errors easily
• Code Refactoring: Tabnine uses code refactoring to enhance code its structure and implement it without altering the functionality
• Generates Documentation on the Fly: Tabnine automatically generates Documentation as you code, helping new coders understand what the code does
• It’s Resource Heavy: The one downside to Tabnine is that it’s a resource hog. It requires a fairly beefy computer to run, so those with older computers may struggle

Who Is Tabnine Best For?

If you work on complex code bases and need to double-check your code as you work, then Tabnine may be a good fit. With extensive programming language support and IDE integration, it’s a good coding companion for writing clean code.

Tabnine users like the multi-language support, autocompletion feature, and time-saving features. However, some users say to watch out for coding errors that will sometimes occur.

Tabnine offers two paid plans starting at $12 per month .

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AI eCommerce & Sales

Managing an online store or building sales leads can take a lot of work. Keeping up with customer orders, identifying sales trends, and optimizing pricing strategies takes time and effort that some people don’t have. That’s where artificial intelligence comes in handy. It can help you prioritize the important things while automating the more time-draining tasks, freeing you up to concentrate on growing your sales. Our top picks give you the tools to boost revenue or build sales leads so you’ll have more time to focus on other tasks.

36. Retention Science

🥇 best ai ecommerce tool overall.

Retention Science is an AI-driven customer retention tool that helps businesses analyze customer behavior, personalize marketing campaigns, and improve customer loyalty. It connects directly to a store’s data layer to power individualized email marketing campaigns, broad segmentation , and analytics/reporting using advanced AI and Machine Learning (ML).

What We Like About Retention Science

• Get Powerful Insights into Customer Behavior: AI-powered customer behavior analysis
• Personalize Email Campaigns: Improve customer retention throughout the sales funnel
• Dedicated Success Managers: Get help setting up this very technical system
• Limited Features Compared to Other AI Tools: Some users may find that Retention Science has limitations compared to other tools

Retention Science provides personalized marketing for email testing and targeting, helping customers boost customer engagement and retention. It also is very user-friendly, making it easy to navigate for beginners. Plus, the insights offer valuable guidance that can aid in boosting your marketing strategies overall.

Who Is Retention Science Best For?

Retention Science is designed for large eCommerce brands aiming to improve customer retention rates, foster customer loyalty, and drive growth through data-driven insights and personalized marketing efforts.

Users say Retention Science excels at personalized marketing, is user-friendly, and easily integrates with their workflows. However, some say the tool takes a while to truly learn.

Retention Science offers custom pricing only via a sales representative.

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37. Ecommerce Booster by Semrush

eCommerce Booster by Semrush is an AI tool that helps you optimize your product pages and drive sales. It’s designed to optimize Shopify websites by providing actionable insights, generating AI content, and analyzing up to 25 product pages on the free plan. Some features include actionable to-do lists, suggestions to improve desktop and mobile versions, and audits with email notifications.

What We Like About eCommerce Booster

• Enhances Accessibility: eCommerce Booster includes a section dedicated to improving site accessibility, making suggestions like adding alt tags to images and customizing color settings for improved readability
• AI Boost: It uses AI to solve smaller tasks and provides easy-to-follow breakdowns of tasks, then tracks progress through weekly audits
• Action Plans: After completing audits, eCommerce Booster provides actionable plans to help turn browsers into buyers
• AI Generator: Generate SEO-boosting product descriptions and meta descriptions for your Shopify products
• Cost: Although eCommerce Booster is relatively affordable at $29.99 per month, those looking to add features will require Semrush Pro, which runs $129.95 per month

Who Is eCommerce Booster Best For?

Shopify store owners looking to increase customer engagement and boost sales will love eCommerce Booster. Between the AI text generator for product descriptions and the actionable insights, it gives store owners what they need to increase their revenue.

Semrush users praise the tool for keyword research, its AI features, and detailed reporting. However, some say the price for pro plans is hard to digest.

eCommerce Booster is available for free with a paid plan for $29.99 per month .

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38. Seamless.ai

Our last eCommerce AI tool is Seamless AI . It’s a powerful AI tool designed for business-to-business (B2B) sales professionals, offering real-time search to connect with the right customers for your business. It provides accurate, up-to-date contact information with verifiable leads so you. can start building prospect lists to build your brick-and-mortar or online sales.

What We Like About Seamless.ai

• Real-Time Search Engine: Build B2B sales leads with current contact info for verified decision-makers
• Chrome Extension: With this extension, users can easily find phone numbers and emails, enabling them to find good leads anywhere on the internet
• Integrations: Connecting your favorite tools allows you to avoid the back-and-forth dealing with multiple tools
• AI Writer Tool (premium only): Helps write sales-oriented copy for reps and generates social media marketing copy to boost sales
• Email Verification: Free and Basic plans lack email verification, requiring users to verify the validity of emails themselves, which defeats the purpose of the software

Who Is Seamless.ai Best For?

B2B marketers looking to improve their in-store or online sales will like Seamless AI. It allows you to get ahead in cold outreach and provides generative AI tools like Autopilot and User Buyer Intent so you can easily find good leads. However, to fully take advantage of all Seamless offers, it’s best to purchase the Premium plan, which is a bit pricey. Want to learn more about Seamless? Check out our in-depth product review .

Seamless users love the simplicity of the interface and customer support. However, some say the Chrome extension only sometimes works as intended.

Seamless AI offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $147 per month .

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AI SEO Tools

When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO) , marketers and content creators can spend nearly endless amounts of time optimizing for it. With artificial intelligence involved, it’s easier than ever to streamline SEO. They can help automate tasks like keyword research, content optimization, and generating SEO-rich content to improve your site’s position in the search engine ranking pages (SERPs) .

After researching all the best AI tools available, here are our top picks:

39. Surfer SEO

🥇 best ai seo tool overall.

Surfer SEO is an AI-driven search engine optimization tool that helps users analyze and optimize their content for better search rankings and increased organic traffic. Use it to start your content creation process by researching SERPs and creating content briefs with complete outlines. Once the content is created, Surfer compares it against the top articles in the SERPs using natural language processing (NPL) and gives you suggestions on how to beat the competition.

What We Like About Surfer SEO

• Real-Time Content Analysis: Enhance blog posts with real-time content analysis and optimization in the Surfer editor.
• Keyword Research: Discover the best keywords based on actual SERP data and keyword volume
• Grow Flow: Analyzes your website continuously, searching for content decay and quick-wins
• Pricing: Surfer SEO’s pricing might be considered high for some users, especially for advanced plans

Surfer SEO provides data-driven insights by analyzing top-ranking pages, making optimizing SEO content more effective. It offers a user-friendly interface, so beginners won’t feel overwhelmed. Additionally, Surfer SEO’s comprehensive feature set, such as the content editor, keyword research tool, AI outline generator, and SEO audit tool, makes improving your site’s SEO easy.

Who Is Surfer SEO Best For?

Surfer SEO is ideal for digital marketers, content creators, and website owners aiming to optimize their content, boost search engine rankings, and outperform competitors in search results.

Fans of Surfer SEO love the content writer, integrations, and ability to create topic clusters. However, some say the cost is too high.

Premium plans start at $89 per month .

Get Surfer SEO

40. Alli AI

Alli AI is an AI-powered SEO tool that helps optimize websites, improve search rankings, and increase organic traffic by providing actionable insights and recommendations. With a simple embed script (or WordPress plugin), Alli can start tweaking your entire website from its easy-to-use dashboard. It offers suggestions and rapidly (and dynamically) applies changes across your website.

What We Like About Alli AI

• Optimization Tools: Site-speed optimization that works overtop your website (no matter your CMS or builder)
• Bulk-Optimize: Bulk on-page optimization via content recommendations
• A/B Testing: Easy to deploy A/B testing designed for SEO
• Interface: Alli AI’s interface is rather clunky, making navigating it challenging for some

Who Is Alli AI Best For?

Alli AI is an excellent choice for agencies managing multiple websites aiming to improve search rankings and drive new organic traffic, thanks to its AI-powered SEO optimization.

Alli AI users love the keyword focus suggestions, keyword tracking, and support but say it needs to clarify which images are missing alt tags.

Alli AI offers a 10-day free trial with paid plans starting at $299 per month .

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41. Rank Math Pro

Rank Math is an AI-powered SEO plugin for WordPress that helps users optimize their content, insert schema markup, and drive more organic website traffic. Many website owners trust Rank Math to provide detailed and accurate feedback concerning website content and technical SEO. Rank Math works like a charm and pulls in AI tools to create content that ranks.

What We Like About Rank Math Pro

• On-page SEO Analysis: Gives you an easy-to-understand scorecard for understanding how to improve on-page SEO
• Keyword Optimization: Analyzes keywords on a page-by-page basis
• Schema Markup Support: Insert schema markup on pages and across elements site-wide
• Content AI: Useful for on-page content suggestions
• Divi Theme Integration: Works with the front end (Visual Builder) and back end so you can adjust SEO while building and editing pages
• Technical Challenges: A few users have reported technical issues with the plugin, such as frequent reconfirmation of registration for the Pro version and lack of response from support channels

Who Is Rank Math Pro Best For?

Rank Math is a favorite among website owners, bloggers, and content creators using WordPress to optimize their content for better search rankings and increased organic traffic. It’s one of our favorites. Check out our Rank Math review .

The community loves Rank Math for its ease of use and one-click migration from other WordPress SEO plugins. However, some say the support could be better.

Rank Math Pro offers three paid plans, with prices starting at $5.75 per month .

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42. Pro Rank Tracker

Pro Rank Tracker is an AI-driven search engine optimization tool that helps businesses improve their online visibility by tracking keyword rankings and providing insightful reports. Connect it with your Google Search Console (GSC) account, and it starts pulling in all the data points. Best of all, it tracks and displays ranking history so you can tell how your websites are performing over time.

What We Like About Pro Rank Tracker

• Daily Keyword Rank Tracking: Provides real-time keyword tracking, historical data analysis, and up-to-date results to track search rankings effectively
• Collaboration: Pro Rank Tracker provides sub-accounts, perfect for agencies managing client accounts
• SERP Tracker: See movement in the top 100 results
• Local Tracking: While Pro Rank Tracker does feature local SEO tools, it’s not the easiest thing to set up

Who Is Pro Rank Tracker Best For?

Pro Rank Tracker appeals to businesses, digital marketers, and SEO professionals looking to monitor website performance, optimize content, and stay ahead of competitors in the ever-changing digital landscape.

Fans of Pro Rank Tracker say creating reports is effortless, but understanding them is a different story.

Pro Rank Tracker comes with a free plan with paid plans starting at $49 per month .

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AI Marketing Automation

As marketing professionals, it is sometimes difficult to manage everything you have to do in a day. Thankfully, AI marketing automation tools can help with that. Given that AI algorithms excel at handling large amounts of data, it makes perfect sense why marketing automation can benefit from their capabilities. These tools can help determine the best campaigns for particular groups, provide incredible data insights, accurately predict campaign results, and allow you to dynamically adjust your strategies.

43. Freshworks Freddy AI

🥇 best ai marketing automation tool overall.

Freshworks Freddy AI is an AI-powered and CRM-driven marketing automation tool seamlessly connected to the Freshworks CRM. Its purpose is to help sales teams understand customer relationships and automate repetitive tasks, ultimately enhancing customer engagement. If you’re already using Freshworks, then Freddy becomes a natural AI tool to integrate and grow into.

What We Like About Freshworks Freddy AI

• Lead Scoring: AI-calculated lead scoring for sales teams
• Predict the Likelihood of Closing Deals: Predicted deal closing score with next-step suggestions
• High-Level Data Analyzation: Analyze full-funnel data to learn what is working best
• Automation: It automates the sales process, allowing sales teams more time for selling by handling tasks like customer data management, workflow management, and interaction tracking
• Pricing Structure: Freshwork’s pricing structure can be confusing due to the different plans available, especially for beginners not knowing where to start

Freshworks Freddy AI can improve efficiency, automate tedious marketing tasks, provide personalized decision-making insights, and completely transform customer service practices.

Who Is Freshworks Freddy AI Best For?

Freshsales users love it for its features compared to cost but say support can be frustrating.

Freshworks Freddy AI starts at $18 per month per user.

Get Freshworks Freddy AI

Ocoya is an AI-powered social media tool that goes beyond traditional automation by helping businesses automate their social posting. More than that, Ocoya offers thousands of social media templates paired with a trained AI writer to assist you in creating standout graphics for your social media presence.

What We Like About Ocoya

• AI Content Generation: Easily design eye-catching images, generate short-form videos, and create engaging graphics and captions using AI analysis to optimize hashtags and caption
• Automation: Automate content creation and publishing with features like RSS posting and action links powered by AI
• Cross-Platform Scheduling: Manage social media presence across multiple social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
• eCommerce Integrations: Integrate your favorite software for product-based marketing assets
• Analytics: Ocoya offers basic analytics, but insights aren’t as comprehensive as other tools

Who Is Ocoya Best For?

Ocoya is a dream for businesses and eCommerce ventures seeking effortless social media content creation and scheduling to boost their online presence.

Users love the interface’s simplicity, templates, and social media management capabilities. However, they will there were more supported languages for the AI copywriting tool.

Ocoya offers four plans starting at $19 per month .

45. Adzooma

Adzooma is an AI-driven marketing and advertising tool that simplifies and optimizes digital marketing campaigns across multiple channels. Touching almost every aspect of marketing, it can significantly improve efficiency for individuals or teams. By seamlessly connecting your Search and Social ad platforms, Adzooma pulls in data and facilitates the launch of new campaigns. Moreover, it empowers you to maximize your ad initiatives by suggesting changes for increased ROI.

What We Like About Adzooma

• Review Management: Manage local listings and reviews from one dashboard powered by AI insights
• Campaign Creation: AI-powered Ad campaign creation and optimization across ad platforms
• Robust Insights: SEO performance insights with action steps
• No API: Adzooma doesn’t offer API integration, which may be limiting for some users

Who Is Adzooma Best For?

Adzooma is the top choice for digital marketers, small business owners, and agencies who need AI-powered insights and dashboards to make informed decisions across marketing initiatives.

Users appreciate Adzooma’s campaign management tools, but navigating between accounts can be frustrating.

Adzooma comes with a free plan with paid plans starting at $99 per month .

Get Adzooma

AI Advertising Tools

Running ads for your business is crucial in finding and retaining new customers. In this context, AI advertising tools play a pivotal role by assisting users with everything from writing copy to presenting campaigns to the right customers. The utility of artificial intelligence in advertising is evident for a few reasons. Firstly, it can analyze large chunks of data; secondly, it aids in managing and optimizing performance, ultimately leading to increased revenue. Now, let’s delve into our top choices for AI advertising.

🥇 Best AI Advertising Tool Overall

Pencil is an AI-driven tool that specializes in generating creative ad designs, copy, and ideas to help businesses create high-performing digital advertising campaigns. This platform excels in doing this one thing really well. If other AI social content creators haven’t met your expectations, Pencil might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

What We Like About Pencil

• Generate Ads With AI: Ad ideas and designs built using AI
• Predict Success Rate: AI predictions of performance before you spend a cent
• Analyze Ads: Pencil helps with ad analytics and provides suggestions to improve them
• Create Media Assets Pencil creates ads at several dimensions for multi-platform use
• Requires Quality Content: Users must input good data into Pencil for maximum performance. Without quality input, the generated ad creatives may not perform as expected

Marketers and content creators who typically struggle to develop good ad copy will love Pencil. It uses powerful generative AI to streamline ad creation, improve ad performance, and provide insights into making ad campaigns more efficient.

Who Is Pencil Best For?

Pencil is ideal for in-house marketing teams and agencies looking to create captivating digital ads using AI at every stage, delivering highly effective campaigns.

Plans start at $14 monthly .

47. Copy.ai

Copy.ai is a multi-purpose writing tool that excels in generating all types of content, including products, ads, blog headlines, social media content, and more. Built on OpenAI’s GPT large language model (LLM), it helps users write more effective copy. Furthermore, with support for over 25 languages, Copy AI emerges as the ultimate writing assistant for creating effective ads.

What We Like About Copy.ai

• It’s Beginner Friendly: Getting started with Copy.ai is easy enough for anyone to use
• Multiple Options & Templates: Users appreciate the multiple options and templates available in Copy.ai, enhancing creativity and flexibility in content creation
• Brand Voice: This AI tool ensures your messaging is consistent with your brand’s voice across all generated content
• Content Quality: Generated copy may require additional editing, as all AI tools tend to sound robotic at times

Who Is Copy.ai Best For?

Marketers and content creators who need a versatile writing tool will benefit from Copy.ai. Whether you need to generate copy for ad campaigns, blog posts, or anything in between, Copy.ai proves to be a valuable asset. Moreover, the Brand Voice feature is an excellent time-saver when trying to crank out multiple ads at once.

The community says Copy.ai is great for generating and improving all types of copy but can sometimes generate inaccurate results.

Copy.ai offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $49 per month .

Get Copy.ai

48. AdCreative

AdCreative is a cutting-edge AI tool that revolutionizes ad creation. Featuring a user-friendly interface, AI-powered ad creation, and extensive customization options, it stands out as a powerful solution. With the ability to fine-tune ad creatives by adjusting colors, changing out images, and generating text, it allows users to create engaging and sales-boosting copy effortlessly.

What We Like About AdCreative

• AI-Powered Creatives: AdCreative.ai uses generative AI to swiftly generate high-ROI ad creatives tailored to a specific niche
• Customization Options: Fine-tune creatives by adjusting images, text, and colors to strike the perfect balance between aesthetics and effectiveness
• Insights and Performance Tracking: Gain valuable insights on creative performance, identify the most effective creatives, and optimize advertising expenses
• No Download Library: AdCreative doesn’t make it easy to refer back to older creatives

Who Is AdCreative Best For?

Those with eCommerce websites, new businesses, and marketing professionals can benefit greatly from AdCreative. It’s affordable, produces high-quality content, and is highly customizable.

Users say AdCreative is a great tool for creating on-the-go advertisements, but customer service leaves something to be desired.

AdCreative offers a free trial with 10 credits. Paid plans start at $21 per month .

Get AdCreative

AI Resume Builders

We don’t know about you, but sometimes, the hardest part about writing often involves writing about yourself. However, this is where AI resume builders  can provide valuable assistance. By utilizing AI algorithms, these tools streamline the process of creating tailored resumes efficiently and effectively. Offering features such as personalized suggestions, real-time content optimization, and user-friendly interfaces, they empower job seekers to craft compelling resumes with ease.

49. Resume.io

🥇 best ai resume builder tool overall.

Resume.io is an AI-powered resume builder that excels at helping users create professional and polished resumes tailored to specific job openings. Taking care of resume templates and offering assistance with professional wording, it is a powerful tool designed to help you secure the bag.

What We Like About Resume.io

• Effective Templates: Tried and true resume templates that export as Word or PDF
• AI Summary Generator: Create standout professional profiles that can capture the attention of potential employers in just a few clicks
• Cover Letter Creator: Choose from multiple templates, employ the spelling and grammar checker, and use sample sentences to craft the perfect cover letter
• Job Tracking: Stay on top of submitted applications with ease
• Free Trial: Resume.io offers a 7-day free trial for $2.95 but doesn’t remind you to cancel, which often translates to a $24.95 charge for 4 weeks of access

Job seekers looking to create a professional and effective resume should give Resume.io a try. It offered a user-friendly interface, customizable designs, and a variety of pre-made templates for different industries and styles.

Who Is Resume.io Best For?

Resume.io is designed for individuals seeking standout resumes for job applications. It offers an easy-to-use interface that helps them shine.

Resume.io is regarded highly for how easy it is to create a good resume. However, some people say it’s difficult to cancel the service.

Resume.io offers a limited trial for $2.95 with paid plans starting at $44.95 for six months .

Get Resume.io

50. ChatGPT

Known as the original AI chatbot, ChatGPT is a versatile tool. You can ask it questions, seek writing assistance, use it as a starting point, or generate first drafts of cover letters. Beyond that, it serves as a valuable resume-building assistant. With ChatGPT, the sky is the limit on content creation. Notably, it can expedite the process of tailoring your resume for multiple job applications, making it easier to customize your resume to fit each specific job.

What We Like About ChatGPT

• Generate Drafts Quickly: It can quickly generate a draft of your resume based on your input, saving you time in the initial stages of resume creation
• Great Starting Point: ChatGPT can serve as a starting point to overcome writer’s block and provide a strong first draft of your strengths and ideas, especially for roles outside content writing
• Writing Assistance: It can rewrite resumes to sound more professional, cut out unnecessary information, and even suggest skills to include based on your input
• Robotic Output: Anyone who has used ChatGPT knows that the text it generates doesn’t exactly sound human. Therefore, extensive editing is often required. Using the latest models to get the best work done is also advised.

Who Is ChatGPT Best For?

Resume writers who want to formulate a first draft will benefit most from ChatGPT. While It isn’t explicitly designed for resume creation, it is a great tool for pumping out text quickly.

The community loves the flexibility of ChatGPT but says the occasional timeouts are frustrating.

ChatGPT is available for free with paid plans starting at $20 per month .

Get ChatGPT

51. Kickresume

Kickresume is an online tool that offers a comprehensive suite of tools to create professional resumes, cover letters, and personal websites. It includes powerful features, such as the AI Writer, allowing users to generate text after answering simple questions. It also provides over 50 templates for different industries, so users should be able to find one that suits them.

What We Like About Kickresume

• Customer Support: Kickresume is very easy to use and offers a great customer experience during sign-up
• AI Features: Kickreusme offers an AI Writer and AI Resume Checker to help users ensure their resumes are perfect
• Mobile App: Those who want to work on resumes on the go can use the mobile app
• Lack of Template Diversity: Professionals with more experience may not be best served using Kickresume as it’s geared more towards those just starting out

Who Is Kickresume Best For?

Kickresume is a great tool for job seekers who are just hitting the workforce or have limited work experience. However, those with more professional skill sets should look elsewhere.

Reviews for Kickresume are somewhat limited. However, users who comment say the layouts are nice, but some editing is required.

Kickresume offers a free plan with paid plans starting at $19 per month .

Get Kickresume

Price Comparison: Best AI Tools

These best AI tools offer a variety of solutions to improve productivity and automate workflows. To help you decide on the right tools, glance over the table to compare our top AI products by their pricing and free plan offerings.

What are the Best AI Tools for Productivity?

If you do a lot of content writing, you can’t go wrong with either Jasper or Writesonic . Both allow the creation of AI art and images. With features packed into both, you can’t go wrong.

For people doing SEO for one site or many client sites, we recommend you look into Surfer SEO , Scalenut , and Alli AI .

Lastly, video creators should consider Descript and Synthesia to edit videos via text editor and create AI avatar videos.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before we wrap up, let’s answer some of your most common questions regarding the best AI tools. Did we miss one? Leave a question below, and we will respond!

What are the top most useful AI tools?

What are the best free AI tools?

What is the best ai right now, how to use ai to increase productivity, can ai increase efficiency.

• Automating mundane tasks: AI-powered tools can handle repetitive tasks such as data entry, formatting, and basic customer support, freeing human resources to focus on more strategic and creative tasks.
• Improving decision-making: AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify trends, patterns, and correlations that might be difficult or impossible for humans to detect. This enables organizations to make better-informed decisions and optimize their processes.
• Enhancing personalization: AI algorithms can analyze user behavior, preferences, and needs to offer personalized recommendations and experiences, increasing customer satisfaction and engagement.
• Predictive analytics: AI can help forecast future trends and events based on historical data, allowing businesses to anticipate better and respond to potential market changes.

Are AI detection tools accurate?

How can i use ai tools to make money, where can i find the best ai tools, are ai writing tools worth it, what is the best ai paraphrasing tool, what is the best ai tool to convert text to video, what is the best ai writing tool, what is the best ai marketing tool.

Many AI tools are out there, and more are launching daily. Which ones are you using and loving?

Featured Image by Jackie Niam / shutterstock.com

Explore Our Top Picks

Here are our favorites! 👇

Get Jasper Today!

With so many great options available, it can be hard to pick one. find out why jasper is our favorite. 👇.

By Deanna McLean

Deanna McLean is a blog author, and web developer. She studied graphic design at the University of Mississippi and loves all things, Hotty Toddy. (If you know, you know.) As an adventurous creative, there is nothing Deanna loves more than taking her son and two dogs on excursions in her Jeep.

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This AI tool might be helpful too for researchers: Expontum – Helps researchers quickly find knowledge gaps and identify what research projects have been completed before.

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• Best Money Market Accounts

9 Best Money Market Accounts June 2024: Up To 5.48%

Updated: Jun 11, 2024, 8:30am

The best money market accounts (MMAs) offer high rates, minimal fees and low minimum deposit requirements. Many also provide easy access to funds, allowing account holders to write checks or make debit card purchases from the account. The right money market account for you will depend on your financial goals and how much cash you’re prepared to deposit.

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor

Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the banking methodology for the ratings below.

• 59 money market accounts studied
• 44 nationwide banks and credit unions considered
• 14 data points probed

Best Money Market Account Rates of June 2024

• Money Market Account Promotions for 2024

Best Money Market Accounts 2024

Are money market accounts worth it, current money market rates, money market rates trends, complete guide to money market accounts, what is a money market account, can you lose money in a money market account, pros and cons of money market accounts, who should get a money market account, how to choose a money market account, how to open a money market account, alternatives to money market accounts, methodology, money market account faqs, next up in money market accounts.

• Best CD Rates
• Best High-Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Online Banks
• Best Checking Accounts

Here’s a list of the best money market accounts our experts have found, ordered from the highest to lowest annual percentage yield (APY).

• Best for Emergency Funds: First Internet Bank Money Market Savings — Up to 5.48% APY
• Best for Parking Cash: Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Account — 5.30% APY
• Best for Debit Card: Quontic Bank Money Market Account — 5.00% APY
• Best for Deposit Insurance Coverage: Zynlo Bank Money Market — 5.00% APY
• Best for Savings Goals: Sallie Mae Bank Money Market Account — 4.65% APY
• Best for Guaranteed Competitive Rates: EverBank Yield Pledge Money Market — Up to 4.30% APY
• Best for Access to Cash: Ally Bank Money Market Account — 4.20% APY
• Best for Check-Writing Privileges: Connexus Credit Union Money Market Account — Up to 3.91% APY
• Best for Mobile Banking: Bethpage Federal Credit Union Money Market Account — Up to 2.00% APY

See below to learn more about why we picked each account, the pros and cons, and to access individual bank reviews.

Annual percentage yields (APYs) and account details are accurate as of June 6, 2024.

Quontic Bank Money Market Account

Annual Percentage Yield

Minimum Deposit Requirement

Monthly Maintenance Fee

Best Money Market Account With Check-Writing Privileges

Connexus credit union money market account.

Up to 3.91%

with $1,000,000 minimum balance

Our experts picked Connexus Credit Union’s High Yield Money Market Account because it’s a tiered-rate account paying higher dividends for larger deposits, and it comes with check-writing privileges.

Why We Like It

While the tiered APY makes for a more complicated earning structure than some of the other accounts on our list, the rewards may be worth the effort if you’re able to jump through some hoops.

What We Don’t Like

The minimum deposit requirement might be hard to meet for some, and if you don’t have at least $20,000 to save, you won’t earn much interest.

Who It’s Best For

Go for this account if you need to write checks and have at least $20,000 to save—the bigger the balance, the higher the APY.

• Competitive tiered dividend rate structure
• Offers check-writing privileges
• Easily met member qualifications
• Membership is required
• Dividends compounded monthly
• Minimum balance required to earn dividends
• High minimum deposit requirement

Savers earn 0.25% APY for balances between $1,000 and $19,999.99, 2.41% APY for balances between $20,000 and $99,999.99, 2.66% APY for balances between $100,000 and 249,999.99, 2.91% APY for balances between $250,000 to $499,999.99, 3.16% APY for balances between $500,000 to $999,999.99. The highest tier pays 3.91% APY but requires a hefty balance of $1,000,000 or more..

While you must deposit at least $1,000 to open an account, there’s no penalty if your balance falls below $1,000. Balances below $1,000 do not earn dividends.

This account includes the ability to write checks. And Connexus offers 24/7 online and mobile banking options for access to your money.

In addition to the regular group and geographic categories of membership, you can become a member of Connexus by making a one-time $5 donation to the Connexus Association.

The yields earned on credit union accounts are referred to as dividends rather than interest. Connexus Credit Union dividends are compounded and credited monthly. All members must make a $5 deposit into a Connexus Credit Union savings account to establish membership before adding other types of accounts. There’s a $6 fee for certain types of transactions over four per statement period.

Best Money Market Account With a Debit Card

Our experts picked Quontic Bank’s Money Market account because it has a competitive tiered interest rate structure and comes with a debit card offering access to over 90,000 ATMs nationwide.

This account requires a relatively low $100 minimum deposit to open the account and charges no monthly maintenance fee.

If you need to make more than six transactions per statement cycle, you’ll be charged $10 per transaction over the limit.

Look into this account if you want to earn interest while still being able to use a debit card—as long as you don’t plan on using it more than six times each month.

• Competitive tiered-rate structure
• Low minimum deposit requirement
• Debit card privileges
• Extensive ATM network
• Customer service available via live chat, email or phone
• Customer service isn’t available 24/7
• Excess transaction fee of $10
• Highest rate paid only on balances of $150,000 or more

Savers earn a healthy interest rate no matter how much money is in their accounts. The 5.00% annual percentage yield applies to all balance tiers, which are identified as $0.01–$4,999.99, $5,000.00–$149,999.99 and balances over $149,999.99.

You can choose to use a debit card with this money market account. And Quontic has an extensive network of more than 90,000 ATMs nationwide. Keep in mind that you’re limited to six transactions per statement cycle—there’s a $10 charge for each transaction over six.

Customer service is available Monday through Friday via live chat, email or phone. The bank also offers a highly rated mobile app.

Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. There’s an excess transaction fee of $10 for certain types of transactions over six per statement cycle.

Best for Deposit Insurance Coverage

Zynlo bank money market.

on balances of $250,000 or less

Our experts liked the Zynlo Bank’s Money Market account because all deposits with Zynlo are 100% insured. This means no matter how much you deposit, your full balance will be covered by insurance in the event of a bank failure. Deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000 per depositor for each account ownership category. Above that amount, deposits are insured by the Massachusetts-based Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF).

Zynlo Bank’s Money Market account offers a competitive rate: 5.00% APY for balances of up to $250,000. Account balances of more than $250,000 earn 0.10% APY. Plus, there’s no monthly maintenance fee.

To access your funds, you’ll have to transfer them to a checking account as this MMA doesn’t come with a debit card or checks.

This account is ideal for anyone who wants to earn interest and guarantee full protection of their funds, even if their balance goes over the typical $250,000 insurance limit.

• No insurance coverage cap on deposits
• No fee for excess transactions
• $10 minimum deposit requirement
• Customer service available 24/7
• App has few ratings, with lower ratings on Google Play
• No checks or debit card included with the account

You can open the account with only $10 and earn the APY with a minimum balance of $0.01.

Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. The current APY is 5.00% APY for balances of up to $250,000. Account balances of more than $250,000 earn 0.10% APY. You’re limited to making six transactions per statement cycle from your account, but Zynlo doesn’t charge a fee for excess transactions.

Zynlo doesn’t offer checks or a debit card with this account. But you can access your account online or via the bank’s mobile app. Customer service is available 24/7 by phone.

Best Money Market Account for Emergency Funds

First internet bank money market savings.

Up to 5.48%

We chose First Internet Bank because its money market account offers a tiered APY structure that pays a generous rate on all balances, making it ideal for building an emergency savings fund. Its monthly fee is waived on balances of $4,000 or more, and emergency funds tend to be large enough to surpass this minimum.

This full-service online bank also offers competitive checking, savings and CD accounts, so you can do all your banking in one place.

Other money market accounts don’t charge monthly fees, so if your balance might fall below $4,000, it’s best to go with those. Also, this account doesn’t come with an ATM card, which could be a pro or a con depending on your needs.

Opt for this account if you have at least $4,000 to save and you prefer not to have an ATM card so you can avoid impulsive spending.

• Competitive APY
• Low initial deposit requirement
• All balances earn APY
• Full-service banking options
• Monthly fee for balances under $4,000
• Interest compounded monthly
• No check-writing or debit card privileges
• No ATM network

First Internet Bank’s Money Market Savings offers a competitive 3.77% APY with a daily balance of $1 million or less or a 5.48% APY with a daily balance above $1 million. There is a $5 monthly maintenance fee, but you can avoid this by keeping an average daily balance of at least $4,000. Customers can open an account for $100, lower than required by some other banks and credit unions.

To get a debit card or checks, you’ll need to open a separate checking account with First Internet Bank. There’s no ATM network, but the bank does provide up to $10 per month in ATM surcharge rebates.

Interest is compounded and credited monthly. There’s an excess transaction fee of $5 for certain types of transactions beyond six per statement cycle.

Best for Access to Cash

Ally bank money market account.

Our experts liked the Ally Bank Money Market Account because it pays a competitive APY and makes your cash easily accessible. Although certain types of withdrawals and transfers are limited to six per statement cycle, you can make unlimited withdrawals at more than 43,000 surcharge-free ATMs throughout the nation.

Ally reimburses for up to $10 per statement cycle for fees charged by out-of-network U.S. ATMs.

You’re limited to 10 convenient withdrawals and transfers per month with this account. While Ally no longer charges excessive transaction fees, it can close your account if you continually exceed this limit.

This MMA is ideal for savers who use ATMs and want both checks and a debit card.

• 24/7 customer support via phone, chat and email
• No minimum deposit required to open
• Checks and debit card included
• Reimbursement of up to $10 per statement cycle for out-of-network U.S. ATM fees
• No physical branch locations

Ally Bank pays a competitive 4.20% on all balance tiers APY on its Money Market Account with no minimum deposit requirement. Account holders get standard checks and a debit card with this account.

Online-based Ally Bank provides 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat and email. It also gets high ratings for customer satisfaction.

Ally keeps fees to a minimum—it doesn’t charge fees for monthly maintenance, ACH transfers, incoming domestic or international wire transfers, cashier’s checks or copies of online statements.

Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. Ally recognizes three balance tiers—less than $5,000, $5,000 to $24,999.99 and $25,000 or more. All three tiers pay the same money market account APY.

Best for Savings Goals

Sallie mae bank money market account.

Our experts ranked Sallie Mae Bank’s money market account highly because savers can pair this competitive MMA with the bank’s SmartyPig savings account. The SmartyPig Account comes with tools to create and track progress toward specific money goals—like an online piggy bank. The bank’s MMA gives consumers a place to earn a high rate on savings they’ve already built, and the SmartyPig Account helps them set and achieve new savings milestones.

The combination of a high APY with no monthly maintenance fee or minimum deposit requirement makes this account a clear winner.

The bank’s mobile app could be more user friendly.

Consider Sallie Mae’s MMA if you’re working on building your savings. The savings tools and competitive APY should provide extra motivation.

• No monthly fee
• No minimum opening deposit requirement
• Check-writing privileges
• No debit card
• Poorly rated Sallie Mae Banking mobile app

Sallie Mae Bank’s money market account features a competitive 4.65% APY with no minimum deposit requirement and no monthly maintenance fee. The account doesn’t come with a debit card, but account holders can write checks.

Money market account transfers out of the account to repay loans at Sallie Mae are unlimited.

Interest on Sallie Mae money market accounts is compounded daily and paid monthly.

Best for Guaranteed Competitive Rates

Everbank yield pledge money market.

Up to 4.30%

4.30% intro for the first year on balances up to $250,000; then ongoing rates apply.

Our experts picked EverBank’s Yield Pledge Money Market account because it guarantees that the interest rate you earn on its money market account will be among the top 5% of “competitive accounts.” This is based on accounts from the 10 largest banks and thrifts in 10 large U.S. markets.

EverBank’s Yield Pledge Money Market account pays intro APY of 4.30% for the first year on balances up to $250,000; then the ongoing rate of 4.05% applies and has no monthly fees or minimums.

There’s a $10 excessive transaction fee, so this account isn’t good for everyday spending.

Look into EverBank’s Yield Pledge MMA if you want to take advantage of a generous promotional APY and prefer to have debit card and ATM access.

• Offers Yield Pledge promise
• Large ATM network
• No monthly maintenance fee
• Comes with a debit card
• Offers reimbursement for third-party ATM charges
• $10 excessive transaction fee

Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. EverBank charges $10 per transaction over the allowable limit of six per statement cycle. EverBank recognizes five balance tiers—less than $10,000, between $10,000 and $24,999.99, between $25,000 and $49,999.99, between $50,000 and $99,999.99 and $100,000 and up. The lower your balance tier, the lower the APY you earn.

Best for Parking Cash

Vio bank cornerstone money market account.

Vio Bank’s Cornerstone Money Market Account made our list because it earns one of the highest APYs available and, unlike many MMAs, it doesn’t come with an ATM or debit card. Vio has no ATM network, and you can’t write checks either. This might be a disadvantage for some, but the lack of immediate access to funds could be beneficial for savers who want to avoid impulsive spending and unnecessary savings drains.

With one of the highest APYs on our list and no instant access to your funds, we love that this account makes it easy—and rewarding—to save.

On the flip side, you’ll have to wait a few days any time you want to access the cash in your Vio Bank MMA, which could present a challenge if an emergency comes up.

Go for this account if you want to earn a top-rate APY and protect your savings—just make sure you keep some cash on hand in your checking for immediate needs.

• May encourage saving
• Highly rated mobile app
• No ATM network or branch access
• $10 fee for excessive transactions
• $5 fee for paper statements

Vio Bank’s Cornerstone Money Market Account offers a competitive interest rate— 5.30% on all balances on all balances—and a low minimum deposit requirement. There’s no monthly maintenance fee and no charge for incoming domestic or international wire transfers.

As a customer, you can manage your account through the bank’s highly rated mobile app. You can also make internal and external transfers. If you decide to opt for paper statements, there’s a $0 monthly fee. And there’s a $10 excess transaction fee.

Interest is calculated daily and credited monthly. There’s a $10 fee for each withdrawal in excess of six per monthly statement cycle.

Best for Mobile Banking

Bethpage federal credit union money market account.

Up to 2.00%

We ranked the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Money Market Account highly thanks to its highly-rated, easy-to-use mobile app. With the app, Bethpage members can send money to friends and family through its Pay Anyone feature, deposit checks, transfer money, pay bills and take advantage of free budgeting and savings tools.

Fans of credit unions will like that Bethpage makes it very easy to join and open an account online. And as is the case with many credit unions, you won’t have to worry about monthly fees.

This account’s APY is above average but fairly low when compared to the best money market accounts.

This MMA is good for consumers who prefer to bank with credit unions and value customer service and easy-to-use mobile apps.

• Highly-rated mobile app
• Competitive dividend rate
• Fairly high minimum deposit requirement
• Fee for transactions over six per month

Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s money market account offers a competitive 0.10% to 2.00% APY depending on the balance tier with a $500 minimum deposit requirement. APY on all balance tiers with a $500 minimum deposit requirement. Any balance above $500, big or small, earns the same dividend rate with Bethpage. Balances below $500 earn 0.10%. And there’s no monthly maintenance fee charged on its money market account.

The yields earned on credit union accounts are referred to as dividends rather than interest. Dividends are compounded and credited to your account monthly. Bethpage recognizes three balance tiers—balances between $500 to $24,999, balances between $25,000 and $49,999 and balances above $50,000. All tiers pay the same money market account dividend. There’s a fee for certain types of transactions over six per month, but Bethpage does not list the fee on its website.

You can write up to three checks per month with this account. And you can manage your account online or via Bethpage’s mobile app.

Becoming a member at Bethpage is relatively straightforward—you can do so by making a $5 deposit into a Bethpage savings account.

Ask an expert

Lawrence Sprung

Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and founder of Mitlin Financial, Inc.

Michelle Winterfield

Co-founder and CEO of Tandem

Christopher Naghibi

Executive Vice President and COO of First Foundation Bank

In short, yes! In many cases, you can get all of the benefits of a traditional savings account and a higher rate of interest in a money market account. Just make sure the account is FDIC-insured and not an investment money market fund, as that may not be insured. These are great accounts for funds you want liquid, such as an emergency fund.

I think money market accounts are a great hack for earning interest on what essentially can function as a pseudo-checking account. You have the flexibility of paying directly from it while also earning interest. Although they are not the highest interest-earning accounts out there, they are a nice option for maximizing earnings on dollars needed in the short-term.

MMAs often offer higher interest rates compared to regular savings accounts, [which] can be advantageous if you’re looking to earn more on your savings while still transacting a moderate amount from the account. MMAs typically offer better liquidity than CDs, allowing you to withdraw funds without penalty. This can be beneficial if you need occasional access to your money or need to have some transactions into and out of your account.

What Is a Good Money Market Rate?

The specific APY that qualifies as a good money market rate depends on market trends at the time you’re looking for an account. Currently, the most competitive accounts offer APYs between 4.00% and 5.00% or higher. However, you might need to meet minimum balance or activity requirements to unlock the most competitive rates. Many money market accounts use tiered interest rate structures that pay different APYs on different balance tiers—often, better rates on higher balances.

In addition to searching for a good money market rate at a bank you trust, consider deposit requirements and account fees before choosing an MMA.

Why Are Money Market Rates Higher Than Savings Rates?

Money market rates are generally higher than savings account rates because MMAs are more likely to require higher minimum deposits or ongoing balances.

Money market rates are still high in 2024, but they may have plateaued. Rates on money market accounts steadily increased throughout last year, but it’s unlikely they’ll continue going up this year, as the Federal Reserve has indicated it intends to lower interest rates at some point in 2024.

The Federal Reserve does not set interest rates for banks, but it does set a federal funds rate . This is the interest rate range used to guide lending between banks and help promote economic stability, and financial institutions look to it for guidance on setting their own rates for customers. In September 2023, the Federal Open Market Committee announced a pause to federal funds rate hikes, marking the end of ten consecutive rate increases dating back to March 2022. The Fed has held rates steady at the target range of 5.25% to 5.50% since then.

Considering consumers are currently seeing some of the best money market rates they’ve seen in years, this trend is likely to continue as long as banks are willing to compete for new deposits. However, rates are likely to begin trending downward at some point next year.

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ( FDIC ), the average money market rate is 0.68% as of May 20, 2024.

Below is a look at the average annual APYs for money market accounts dating back to 2009, according to FDIC data.

Money market accounts (MMAs) are a type of deposit account—offered by traditional banks, credit unions and online banks—that generally walk the line between checking and savings accounts. You get the interest-earning power of a high-yield savings account and, with many MMAs, the accessibility of a checking account, including a debit card and check-writing privileges.

Money market accounts don’t offer as much liquidity as checking accounts because the number of transactions you can make per statement cycle is often limited. But they tend to provide more access to your cash than a savings account.

What Is a High-Yield Money Market Account?

A high-yield money market account is a money market account that pays an interest rate multiple times higher than the average money market account rate, as determined by the FDIC. You can typically find high-yield money market accounts at online banks and credit unions.

How Does a Money Market Account Work?

Money market accounts work similarly to savings accounts in that you earn interest on the funds you deposit. These accounts aren’t meant for everyday spending, like a checking product. But they tend to offer limited liquidity and access to funds—you may be able to write checks or make debit transactions.

Money market accounts are considered safe investments so long as funds are held at a financial institution insured by the FDIC at banks or the NCUA at credit unions. The FDIC insures funds held at banks up to $250,000 per depositor, for each account ownership category, in the event of a bank failure. The NCUA provides similar coverage for all federal and most state-chartered credit unions.

Money market accounts are also safe because they are not investment accounts. Your deposits are held securely until you need them, not invested in risky assets such as stocks. Except for fees and penalties, there is no way to lose insured deposits in an MMA .

Money market accounts offer a middle ground between savings and checking, providing the interest earnings of a savings account and the liquidity (check-writing and debit card capabilities) of a checking account. However, they’re not without drawbacks and might be too restrictive for some savers.

Money market accounts might be worth considering if you:

• Want to earn a higher APY on your savings
• Need easy access to your funds in case of an emergency
• Prefer a savings account that comes with checks or an ATM card
• Enjoy the flexibility of being able to deposit and withdrawal funds whenever you want

When To Use a Money Market Account

When you have enough money to meet minimum balance and deposit requirements for a money market account, it might be time to open one. Money market accounts may require anywhere from $500 to $5,000 to open and earn interest, which is significantly higher than most savings accounts. Hold off on opening one if you can’t meet these requirements.

Money market accounts can help you save for both short- and long-term goals, so you can find many opportunities to use them. If you can meet minimums comfortably, you might decide to open a money market account instead of or in addition to a savings account. Money market accounts are more flexible because they often come with a debit card or check-writing capabilities, giving you easy access to money you want to save but may need.

You can also use a money market account for secondary expenses, almost like an additional checking account. This way, you can maximize your interest while keeping cash close.

In considering the best money market account for your needs, weigh the pros and cons. Here’s what to consider when shopping for a money market account:

• APY. One of the most important aspects of a money market account is the rate at which it earns interest or dividends, that is, its APY . Look for an account that offers a competitive APY while meeting your other needs.
• Fees. Watch out for monthly fees , excessive transaction fees and other fees that can eat into your returns.
• Minimums. Minimum deposit and balance requirements vary by institution. Generally, lower minimum requirements make it easier to maintain the account. Find an account with minimums that you can afford.
• Customer experience. Especially if you’re banking at an institution with limited branch access, make sure the bank or credit union offers customer care representatives that are accessible and responsive to your requests.
• Digital banking. Consider the online and mobile banking features you use most often. Then look for accounts at banks and credit unions that meet or exceed those expectations.
• Accessibility. Banks and credit unions vary on how they allow you to withdraw funds from a money market account. Some offer check-writing and debit card privileges. Although the Federal Reserve Board has suspended Regulation D , which restricts the number of transactions a saver can make per cycle from their savings account, each institution has its own policies. Ask about withdrawal options and the excess transaction fee of each institution before you open an account.
• Safety. Look for an account insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ( FDIC ), which provides up to $250,000 in insurance per depositor, per bank, for each account ownership category, in the event of a bank failure. At credit unions, make sure the account is similarly insured by the National Credit Union Administration ( NCUA ).

You can open a money market account in person or online by following these steps:

• Gather the required documentation, such as your Social Security number and proof of identity.
• Compare money market accounts from different financial institutions to find the best rates and fees.
• Complete the online application process with your chosen financial institution—or visit a branch if online applications aren’t available.
• Fund your account via direct deposit, a check or a transfer from an existing account.

Confirm your account is open and in good standing by checking your money market account balance regularly.

You may find that other savings products meet your financial needs better than a money market account. Below are some of the alternatives you may want to consider.

Money Market Account vs. Savings Account

When comparing a money market account to a savings account , you’ll find that a money market account is a type of savings vehicle that often includes some checking account features like check-writing privileges and a debit card.

Money market accounts usually require a higher initial deposit and may have minimum balance requirements to earn the APY.

Find The Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Money market account vs. certificate of deposit (cd).

Unlike a money market account, CDs are time-deposit accounts that generally lack liquidity. With these products, you agree to lock up your money for a certain period of time. In return, you earn a fixed rate of interest on your principal balance. Money market accounts earn variable rates that can change at any time. Though many factors influence the interest rates available on both accounts, money market rates can be competitive with CD rates .

The better you understand the differences between money money accounts and CDs , the better savings decisions you can make.

Money Market Account vs. Money Market Mutual Fund

Money market accounts are interest-bearing savings accounts through financial institutions, while money market mutual funds are low-risk investment funds available through brokers. A money market account is FDIC-insured, but a money market mutual fund is not.

To create this list, Forbes Advisor analyzed 59 money market accounts at 44 financial institutions, including a mix of traditional brick-and-mortar banks, online banks and credit unions. We ranked each account on 14 data points within the categories of APY, minimum requirements, customer experience, digital experience, fees and accessibility of funds. All of the accounts on our list are online-based accounts.

Here’s the weighting assigned to each category:

• Minimums: 15%
• Customer experience: 10%
• Digital experience: 10%
• Accessibility of funds: 10%

Banks and credit unions offering the highest APYs rose to the top of this list, as did those with low fees and easy-to-meet minimum deposit and balance requirements. Accounts with high customer experience ratings and highly rated online and mobile banking tools were also ranked higher. And we prioritized money market accounts offering check-writing and debit card privileges.

We also considered whether there were complex tier structures or requirements to earn the APY or other stipulations to earn the APY. High minimum deposit and balance requirements affected scores negatively. The money market account must be nationally available to appear on this list.

To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on How Forbes Advisor Reviews Banks .

Banks We Monitor

Our research is sourced from the following financial institutions: ableBanking , Ally Bank , Axos Bank , BankDirect, BankPurely, BankUnitedDirect, Bethpage Federal Credit Union , BMO Harris , BrioDirect Banking , CFG Community Bank, CIT Bank , Connexus Credit Union , Discover , First Internet Bank, iGoBanking, Investors eAccess, Keybank, Memory Bank, My eBanc , NASA Federal Credit Union, Nationwide Bank, NBKC Bank , Northern Bank Direct , Northpointe Bank , Pacific National Bank, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, PenFed , PNC Bank , Presidential Bank FSB, Quontic , Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, SalemFiveDirect, Sallie Mae Bank , Synchrony Bank , TAB Bank , EverBank , TotalDirect Bank , U.S. Bank , UFB Direct, Virtual Bank , Vio Bank , Zions Bank and Zynlo Bank .

Who has the best money market rates?

Vio Bank, Connexus and Ally Bank currently offer among the highest money market rates on accounts with no or a low minimum balance requirement. First Internet Bank and Connexus also offer some of the best MMA rates if you can meet the higher minimum balance required to earn the full APY.

Are online banks the best choice for money market accounts?

It depends. Because they have lower overhead costs, many online banks pay higher interest rates than traditional banks. When researching money market accounts, pay attention not only to the annual percentage yield (APY) but also to the minimum deposit requirements, minimum balance requirements and any associated fees.

Are money market accounts FDIC insured?

Yes, so long as they are at a financial institution insured either by the FDIC or the NCUA . All of the banks on our list are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, for each account ownership category, in the event of a bank failure. The NCUA provides similar coverage for all federal and most state-chartered credit unions. Connexus Credit Union is insured by the NCUA.

Can you write checks from a money market account?

This practice varies. Some money market accounts allow you to write checks from the account or make debit card transactions. Generally, you’re limited to making six transactions per statement cycle, but each institution makes its own policies. Before opening an account, make sure to ask about withdrawal and excess transaction fees.

Are money market account rates fixed?

No, money market accounts have variable interest rates that can move up or down over time. Consider another banking product, like CDs, if you’d like a fixed interest rate.

How do you close a money market account?

If your account is in good standing, you can withdraw the account balance and request an account closure at a branch, by phone or online. Depending on the bank, you may not be able to close your account online. Some banks may assess a fee if you close your account within a few months of account opening.

Is a money market account a savings account?

Yes, a money market account is a type of savings account. You earn interest on the funds you deposit, and the interest you earn is compounded and deposited into your account.

What is the risk of a money market account?

Like other bank accounts, money market accounts are insured by the FDIC or NCUA up to $250,000 per depositor per account in case of bank failure. This means you can rest assured that your money market account funds are safe up to this limit. If you need to deposit more than this amount, there are options for insuring your excess funds . But remember that money market accounts, while safe places to stash your money, are not the most lucrative and don’t always outpace inflation. You’ll need to be comfortable with risk—i.e., investing in stocks—to maintain your money’s buying power.

Are money market accounts taxable?

Yes, money market accounts are taxable. Any interest earned in a money market account is considered income by the IRS. Your bank or credit union should provide a 1099-INT form each year reporting taxable interest payments made to your account. If you don’t receive this form, you still must report taxable interest alongside your income when doing your taxes. And because MMAs are not tax-advantaged, everything you contribute is post-tax earnings.

• Best Business Money Market Accounts
• Discover Money Market Review
• Ally Money Market Account Review
• Best Money-Saving Apps
• 6 Best Places To Save Money And Earn Interest

Managing Editor, Global Data and Automation for Forbes Advisor. Mitch has more than a decade of experience as personal finance editor, writer and content strategist. Before joining Forbes Advisor, Mitch worked for several sites, including Bankrate, Investopedia, Interest, PrimeRates and FlexJobs.

Kevin has been writing and creating personal finance and travel content for over six years. He is the founder of the award-winning blog, Family Money Adventure, and host of the Family Money Adventure Show podcast. He has been quoted by publications like Readers Digest and The Wall Street Journal. Kevin's work has been featured in Bankrate, Credible, CreditCards.com, Fox Money, LendingTree, MarketWatch, Newsweek, New York Post, Time, ValuePenguin and USA Today.

8 Tried and Tested Review Request Email Templates for Success

Emails are your most trusted channel for requesting reviews. They are direct, can be personalized, and nudge satisfied customers to leave a positive review.

However, the recipe for a perfect request email can be tricky. If the content is not compelling, the email may not have the right impact.

At the same time, if you are too pushy, it might deter the customers and stop them from giving a review. This means that you need to know the right balance of ingredients for the email to be effective.

Don’t worry; we have cracked the code to hit the right balance!

This blog will provide steps, best practices, and free templates for writing effective review request emails that will help you get more reviews and enhance your online reputation.

Why Ask for Reviews?

The first question you must ask is why customer reviews are important.

Consumers seeking to buy goods and services look for recommendations and reviews from other product users. They trust online reviews more than a business’s promotional marketing.

Here is how the positive reviews can help your business:

• Increased Visibility: Positive reviews help to increase your visibility. For example, if you receive a considerable number of positive reviews on your Google Reviews profile, chances are you will rank better in local searches and thus be more visible.
• Paint Favourable Image: 80% of people are more likely to buy products that have positive reviews. Positive reviews help to paint a favorable image of your brand as compared to the competitors and also help you improve your reputation.
• Helps Beat Competition: Customer reviews are a powerful tool to take you ahead of the competition. They extend you valuable insights into competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. At the same time, positive reviews build your social proof, with about 88% of people putting their trust in businesses based on positive online feedback.
• Gives Final Nudge: Displaying reviews on web pages or applications can provide last-minute assurance to consumers about the quality and trustworthiness of the brand and thus help increase the conversion rate.
• Acts as a Communication Channel: Reviews act like communication channels between the brand and the business. They enable customers to share their perceptions about the business.

If you weren’t already, we are sure these compelling reasons may have convinced you to focus on getting more positive reviews. Without further ado, let’s dive into the easy steps for writing email templates that get results. Plus, we will share some effective review request email templates to make your life easier.

6 Easy Steps for Writing a Compelling Review Request Email

Writing a perfect email is an art. It is not only about what you say but how you convey it. A well-written email can help you capture your audience’s attention, engage interest, and motivate them to take action.

Let us look at 6 simple steps to help you write compelling emails for your consumers to generate a flux of reviews. Here we begin!

Step 1: Use an Attractive Subject Line

In any email, the subject line is the first thing that comes to attention. It is a chance to create the first impression, and therefore, it is crucial to have a subject line that follows the 3 C’s principle — Clear, Concise, and Contextual .

A clear subject line helps communicate the purpose of the mail and conciseness helps ensure that it is to the point. At the same time, contextual relevance ensures that the subject line aligns well with the expectations of the recipient.

Follow the SocialPilots’ 3-C principle and write a subject line that leads to increased open rates and more reviews.

Step 2: Begin by Introducing the Business and Yourself

It is very important to set up the context of the mail at the very beginning. Start by introducing yourself and the business as the first step towards setting the context.

While getting to the point swiftly is crucial, introducing yourself and whom you represent reduces the confusion and enhances the email’s relevance for the recipient. For instance, in the image below, the sender introduces herself and her brand before requesting a review. This is a good way of writing a request review email as it helps in creating a personal and professional connection with the recipient.

Step 3: Express Gratitude to the Customers

A simple thank you note can go a long way in establishing a long-term relationship with the customer. This simple gesture fosters brand loyalty and encourages repeat business.

By expressing gratitude and acknowledging the customer’s choice of your product or service over the competitors, you can convey that you deeply value their association.

This is evident from the below review request email example, where the sender is expressing gratitude to the recipient for the opportunity to serve them while also highlighting the importance of their feedback. It’s all about making the customers feel valued and important to your business.

Step 4: Jump Straight to the Point

Do not waste customers’ time by jumping around the bush. You can also adopt the above-mentioned 3-C principle for your email body. This will help you respect customers’ time and ensure that the language of the email is clear, concise, and contextual.

Your aim should be to:

• Clearly explain the intention of the mail, which is to request a review from the customers
• Provide a direct link to the review page and guide them on how to give a review

For instance, in the review request email example below, the transition from thanking customers to requesting a review is seamless and efficient. The email promptly invites them to share their experience, creating a direct yet courteous appeal for feedback. This approach respects the customer’s time while valuing their opinion.

Step 5: Set Expectations for Online Review

Transparency is key to building a good relationship with customers. Therefore, you must clearly explain to the email recipients what type of feedback you are seeking and how you plan to use it. 

When you politely lay down your expectations without influencing the customer’s objective opinion, it encourages them to provide positive, relevant, and constructive reviews to attract new customers and improve the current offerings.

You can also let customers know the potential wave their feedback can create, such as better product quality, enhanced customer service, and a personalized shopping experience for everyone. Once the customers know they can play a key role in the brand’s success, they might get excited to submit their reviews.

The example image effectively illustrates how setting clear expectations for online reviews fosters transparency. By detailing the type of feedback desired and its potential impact, customers are motivated to provide thoughtful, constructive reviews, enhancing product quality and customer service.

Step 6: Share Additional Channels for Communication

Give consumers easy access to leave feedback on their preferred review platform. Some customers may not be comfortable with Yelp, while others may prefer to leave a review on Google Reviews. Hence, provide multiple alternative review platforms to customers in your email communications.

Also, some customers may want to leave longer comments if they have complex issues. To accommodate such circumstances, make sure to provide alternate solutions, such as a separate email address or a phone number.

How to Ask for Online Reviews in Email Effectively: 5 Best Practices

Asking for reviews is not rocket science. The good part is that 76% of people who are asked to leave a review will do so.

You can use an email request to reach out to these people and fetch more online reviews. But if you are new to asking for reviews and are wondering how to write a review request email effectvely, then we have just the right best practices to get the most out of your email request .

1. Give Easy Access to the Review Page

No matter how well your mail is designed until your recipient can access the review page, your efforts are good for nothing. While writing a review request mail, make sure to create a frictionless review leaving process for the customer.

These handy tips will help you to get more reviews with your request email:

• Add a direct link to your review page with a catchy CTA in your email. The link can be to your Google Review page, Yelp, Facebook review page, and more.
• Embed a one-click ‘Leave Us a Review’ button for quick access.
• Put a QR code in the email body for quick and easy access through your mobile.
• Offer multiple review platforms to accommodate customers’ preferences. Also, keep in mind that some customers may want to leave elaborate suggestions or feedback. To assist such customers, provide a separate email ID or phone number to account for such circumstances.

2. Choose the Right Time

Yes, considering the best time slot is essential when sending a review request mail. However, it is not that straightforward. The best time differs from business to business, as well as the product.

For instance, for immediate-consumption products such as food, you can ask for a review after allowing the customer some time to taste it. Similarly, for items that will take time to deliver, you can send a review email after the item has been delivered.

Best approach to decide the time for sending customer request review email:

• Wait for the product to be delivered to the consumer, if it is not immediate. Then, allow the consumer some time to use the product and form an opinion about the experience.
• Track the trends and figure out how long the consumers took in the past to post the reviews of your business.
• Keep a check on time and see if the average time has passed. It is best to send the mail once some time has passed.

While you follow the above approach, it would be good to know that, as per trends you are most likely to collect reviews by sending review request emails one or three days after delivery.

Also, the best time in the day would be between 2pm to 3pm and 6pm to 7pm. During these days and hours, the customers are most likely to respond to the review request.

3. Stay True to Your Brand Voice

Your brand voice is who you are.

You must ensure that your brand voice remains consistent across all your touchpoints, including the emails you send to customers to request reviews. 

Therefore, before you write the mail, identify the brand’s tone of communication. It could be friendly, formal, or strictly professional. Once the tone has been identified, make sure to keep it consistent across all the emails.

Email communication that reflects the personality of your brand would help consumers connect with you easily and make your email shine.

The reference brand voice chart here highlights four key voice characteristics— Passionate, Quirky, Irreverent, and Authentic—each with specific descriptions, dos, and don’ts . You can use this as a reference to write review request emails that are consistent with your brand voice and resonate with your audience.

4. Add Existing Reviews in the Email

Positive reviews of your customers are a form of digital word-of-mouth of great value.

Positive customer reviews are a highly valuable form of digital word-of-mouth. You must leverage them and consider adding them to your email requesting feedback.

When the email recipient reads positive reviews of other users, they are inspired to share their honest feedback. The recipients also get an idea about the kind of feedback they can write for your business. This helps you receive the intended feedback.

Before you add existing reviews to the email, keep in mind the following things:

• Relevance: Select the reviews that are relevant to the purpose of the email and the target audience.
• Diversity: Include different types of reviews so that multiple aspects of the product or the service can get covered.
• Authenticity: Only add objective reviews that are not overexaggerated. This is necessary for building trust and credibility.
• Attribution: Include the reviewer’s name with each review. This will enhance the transparency and credibility of the review.

5. Send Follow-Up Email

A good review request email has the potential to fetch feedback from customers. In fact, as a result of the review request emails, the number of reviews can increase by 4–9 times.

However, not all recipients will respond to your email every time. In such a case, sending a follow-up email request is a great idea. After initial outreach, the follow-up emails can bring in 50% more reviews .

While sending follow-up emails is important, pushing the consumers too far can backfire and lead to unwanted reviews. It would be wise to show consideration for the recipient’s time and decision-making process.

8 Best Request Review Email Template

Designing an effective request review email depends on deeply understanding your customer’s needs and considering their journey with your brand.

Yet, designing one can be overwhelming. But worry not! We’ve got you covered. Dive into our 8 top email review request templates, tailored to simplify your life.

Whether you’re seeking reviews for your local business or aiming to engage your online audience, we’ve designed templates to meet your needs effortlessly.

1. Requesting Review for Local Business

Suitable For : This review request email template is meant for local businesses to send to their customers.

Review Request – Let Us Know How We Did!

Dear (Customer Name),

At (Your Business Name), we are dedicated to providing the best service possible. We aim to delight customers like you and become the top solution provider in your neighborhood.

Your feedback is important as it helps us improve our services and maintain the highest customer service standards. We greatly value your opinion and appreciate your support in helping us grow and serve you better.

We request that you submit your valuable review. This will not only help us understand what we’re doing right but also guide us in areas where we can improve.

Leaving a review is very easy. Just click the link below to share the feedback.

(Senders Name)

2. Google Review Request Email Template

Suitable For: Here is a Google review request email template that you can use to ask for reviews on your Google Business profile.

Your Opinion Counts: Leave a Google Review!

Thank you for trusting (your company’s name) and giving us an opportunity to delight you with our service.

One of the main ingredients of our growth recipe is the feedback from customers like you.

While good reviews motivate us, negative ones help us correct our mistakes.

We would appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes to review us on Google Reviews.

Please click the direct link below to review us -.

(Review Link)

We thank you in advance for your feedback and hope to see you again.

3. Facebook Review Request Email Template

Suitable For: Use this customer review request email to ask customers for reviews on Facebook .

Love Our Service? Share Your Thoughts on Facebook!

We deeply appreciate your trust in (Your Company’s Name) and the opportunity to serve you with our exceptional service.

Feedback from valued customers like you is essential for our continuous growth and improvement.

To help us grow further, would you be willing to share your experience with us on our Facebook business page? Your feedback would mean the world to us.

Giving us a review is easy. Simply click the direct link below to visit our Facebook review page:

Thank you for your time. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to welcome you back soon.

(Sender’s Name)

4. Service Sector Email Review Template

Suitable For: Are you a service sector business? Use this email template to seek feedback from your customers.

Your Feedback Matters: Review Your Recent Service!

I (Customer Representative name) from (Business name). Thank you for giving us a chance today to please you with our service.

We strongly believe that businesses like ours can only move forward with the help of vital feedback provided by customers like you. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we would request that you share your thoughts on our service.

To help us continue meet your expectations, please review our service by clicking on the below ‘Review Us’ button.

(Review Button)

Thank you for your time. We eagerly anticipate your response and can’t wait to delight you again soon!

(Sender Name)

5. SaaS Product Free Trial Review Email Request Template

Suitable For: Do you provide your potential customers with free trials? Here is a free product review request email template to ask for review.

Your Feedback Matters – Review Your [SaaS Product] Trial Experience!

Thank you for trying our (Product name). We hope that you had a great experience with the free trial, experiencing all the features our platform has to offer.

At (Business name), we are driven to provide the best experience to our customers. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us achieve that goal. Whether you love it, have faced significant challenges, or have suggestions for improvement, we want to hear from you!

Please spare a few minutes to share your thoughts on the trial experience with the (product name).

Please click the link and share your trial experience with us.

(Review Us)

Thank you for trying our product. We appreciate your support and look forward to hearing from you.

6. Hotel/Hospitality Industry Service Review Email Template

Suitable For: Businesses in the hospitality industry can seek reviews from customers with this captivating template.

Thank you for your stay at (Business Name) don’t forget to leave your feedback.

Hello (Customer Name),

Thank you for staying at (Hotel Name). We hope that you had an amazing time here.

We’re dedicated to touching the hearts of our guests with exceptional service. Your feedback is invaluable in this regard. Kindly take a moment to share your reviews with us. Your voice matters in helping us continuously improve our service.

Click the link below and let us know how you felt about your visit.

We look forward to welcoming you again.

7. EdTech Industry Review Email Template

Suitable For: Looking for a review request email template for the EdTech industry? Here is an amazing email template that EdTech businesses can send to their consumers.

Hey Superstar! Please review your experience.

Hello (Customer’s Name),

We congratulate you for taking a step ahead towards a better career with (your EdTech Business name).

Over the years, we tried to empower professionals like you, helping you upskill and elevate your career trajectories. We are passionate about providing the best tools and resources for our users.

We hope we’ve provided you with an enjoyable experience so far. Could you spare a moment to share your thoughts on your experience with our (EdTech Product)?

Your insights will greatly help us enhance our product and help us serve our learners better.

Please click the link below to leave your review now.

Thank you for being part of our learning community.

(Your Name)

8. Amazon Seller Review Template

Suitable For: All Amazon sellers should promptly request buyer feedback after timely delivery. A well-crafted email can notify customers about on-time shipments while politely requesting them to share their experience through reviews, providing valuable insights to improve your Amazon selling strategy.

Your Feedback Matters – Please Review Your Recent Purchase

Hello (Customer’s First Name),

We hope you are enjoying your new (Product Name)!

We strive to provide the best products and service for our customers, and your feedback is very important to us. Could you please take a moment to share your experience by leaving a review on Amazon?

Your review will help us improve and also assist other customers in making informed decisions.

To leave a review, simply click here to access the review page.

(Add review page link)

Thank you for your time and support!

Best Regards,

(Your Amazon Store Name)

Get More Customer Reviews

If you are looking for more customer reviews, we hope that this blog has enlightened you about how and why an email request review is worth your time.

By following the best practices and strategies and also utilizing the templates, you can easily encourage constructive feedback from the customers. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind before sending out the mail –

• Some countries, such as the U.K., have data privacy laws, such as GDPR. These laws restrict the use of personal customer data, such as contact information. Before sending out the mail, make sure you have the permission to do so.
• Keep the tone genuine. Don’t force it on the email recipient.
• Keep it simple for the recipient to leave a review. Provide a direct link to the review page.
• Keep the email clear, concise, and contextual. Use simple and easy-to-use language.

Consistently receiving good and objective reviews is good for your business reputation. So, follow these practices and use email communications to get more reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you request a review by email?

Follow these 6 simple steps for writing a review request email:

• Use an attractive subject line
• Introduce the business and yourself
• Express gratitude to the customers for choosing you
• Use simple language and jump to the point
• Set expectations for the online review
• Share direct links to different channels for submitting a review

When to send an email request asking for a customer review?

Although different businesses can have different best times and days for sending review request emails, it has been found that sending such emails on day three between 2 pm to 3 pm and 6 pm to 7 pm can yield better results.

How do you politely ask for a review?

You must use polite phrases in your email. You can use phrases such as:

• Please take a moment to share your thoughts on your experience with us. Your review will help us to improve our services and motivate us to grow more in the future.
• We hope you had a great experience with us! Could you take a moment to share your thoughts by leaving a review?
• We'd love to hear about your recent experience. If you could spare a few minutes to leave a review, it would greatly help us improve our services.

Can I send a follow-up email?

Yes, you can send a follow-up email to your customers if they do not respond to the initial emails. However, do not be too pushy and allow the customers to process their experience with your business.

About the Author

Abhas Mathur

Abhas is a seasoned content wizard with expertise in developing researched content that resonates with the target audiences. With a rich digital marketing and social media background, Abhas is adept at devising content strategies that drive organic brand growth.

You can find Abhas on LinkedIn here.

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ATS Resume Templates

Download an ATS-friendly resume template for free. These templates can be edited in Microsoft Word and can be accurately scanned by an applicant tracking system.

If you’ve made it to this page, then you probably already know more about applicant tracking systems (ATS) than the average job seeker. That gives you an advantage! Why?

Many companies use ATS to manage resumes and applications. In fact, Jobscan research shows that over 97% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS.

If an ATS can’t read or understand the information on your resume, then your application might not be seen when a recruiter searches for candidates with specific skills or experience – even if you have those skills or the experience!

Your resume needs to be ATS-friendly in order to give you the best chance of getting a job interview. That means that you need an ATS resume template.

We’ve designed 15 ATS resume templates that can be downloaded as Microsoft Word files and easily edited. Download one for free or use our free resume builder to get a customized ATS-friendly resume in minutes.

Free ATS Resume Templates

Executive and Management ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

As a leader, you want your experience and accomplishments to shine. These resume templates give you opportunities to show the measurable results you’ve achieved, as well as your hard and soft skills .

Using correct formatting is critical here. The ATS needs to be able to parse all of that vital information and categorize it correctly. You also need your resume to be searchable by an ATS so that when a recruiter filters candidates by skills, your application stays on the list.

Entry-Level ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

You might not think you have a lot to show on your resume, but you do! These templates provide sections where you can highlight your education, internships, volunteer experience , personal accomplishments, and more.

An ATS-friendly resume will help you get found by recruiters and hiring managers. This is important because an entry-level position could have hundreds of applicants! Use these templates to make sure the ATS picks up your skills and experience.

Make your resume faster with our free resume builder

Write your resume the free and easy way with the only resume builder designed specifically with ATS-compliant resume templates.

Jobscan users have been hired by:

ATS Resume Templates - What You Need to Know

How to make the perfect ats resume.

Remember, an ATS is just a computer filing system. It needs to be able to scan and understand the text on your resume in order to correctly parse the information and sort it properly.

An ATS will never auto-reject a resume, but an ATS optimized resume does make it easier for a recruiter to find you among the sea of applicants.

Even more importantly, an ATS-friendly resume naturally follows expert-recommended resume writing standards as well. That means that when the recruiter personally views your resume, it will include the relevant information they’re looking for and will be formatted in a way that makes it easier to read

Follow these tips for making the perfect ATS resume :

1. Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for

Focus on quality over quantity. Each job you apply for is unique, even if they all have the same title. Every company has different needs for that role. The job description will make it clear which hard skills, soft skills, experience, and education the company is looking for. So tailor your resume to show them that you are the perfect candidate.

Tailoring each and every resume can be time consuming, but it’s worth the effort!

You can speed up this process by using a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner . Powered by AI-technology , this tool analyzes your resume against the job description and provides you with a resume score that tells you how closely your resume matches the job description. It also tells you exactly what you need to do to increase your score.

2. Match your resume keywords to skills found in the job description

Recruiters might use an ATS’ search function to find applicants with specific skills. How do you know what skills they will search for? By examining the job listing. Use a resume scanner to automatically pick out the hard and soft skills the recruiter might search for, and then include those on your resume.

Even if the recruiter doesn’t search applications for those skills, they’ll definitely be looking for mentions of them on each resume they review.

3. Use long-form and acronym versions of keywords

Some ATS will only return resumes with the exact keywords the recruiters would search for. For example, if you included “Search Engine Optimization” in your resume but the recruiter searched for “SEO,” your profile may not appear in the results. Try to include both the acronym and the unabbreviated form of the term.

Use a tool like Jobscan’s resume fixer to make sure your resume doesn’t contain mistakes that will eliminate you from consideration.

4. Use Chronological or Hybrid resume format to write your resume .

Recruiters do not like the functional resume format . Unless you’re making a career change, a functional resume is going to work against you. (And even then, we recommend you steer clear of the format for a career change resume .)

The best format for the ATS is traditional reverse chronological. You can also use chronological and hybrid resume formats as these are familiar to most recruiters.

5. Use an easy-to-read, traditional font

For readability, use a traditional serif or sans serif font. Untraditional or “fancy” fonts can cause parsing errors, which means the full text of your resume won’t be searchable.

6. Use standard resume section headings

Section headers like “Where I’ve Been” in place of “Work Experience” will confuse applicant tracking systems, causing them to organize information incorrectly.

7. Save your file as a .docx if possible

A docx file is most compatible with ATS.

What is the best resume format for ATS?

There are three standard resume formats to choose from in your job search. They shape your first impression and determine the way recruiters and hiring managers view your fit as an applicant.

Your resume formatting can also determine how well your resume is parsed within an applicant tracking system (ATS) and how likely you are to be noticed as a result.

Regardless of the format you use, the most important thing is to use standard section headings like Experience, Skills, and Education. That will make it easier for the ATS to categorize the text.

How to tailor your ATS-friendly resume to a job

Tailoring your resume proves to recruiters that you’re an experienced professional. Most importantly, it shows them that you’re the perfect fit for this role.

Follow these three steps for tailoring your resume to a job description:

1. Examine the specific job description of the position

Go line by line through the job description and ask yourself these questions:

• “Does my resume experience section clearly state that I can do what’s required of this role?”
• “Am I using the same language found in the job description or job posting?”

You might find several different or missing skills and keywords in your generic resume.

2. Match skills and keywords from the job description

Mirroring the language, keywords, and buzzwords found within the job description is the easiest way to demonstrate you’re a better match than the competition.

The best way to show you’re the best fit for the position is to take words from the job posting and strategically put them in your job descriptions and other resume sections. A resume scanner will automatically pull out these keywords in seconds and speed up this process.

3. Write your job title clearly

Recruiters might search for people who have done the job they’re hiring, so list your job titles clearly and match the titles to the one in the job posting when possible. If you haven’t held the job before, list it under your name at the top or as part of your summary section.

What is Applicant Tracking Software (ATS)?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software used to assist with human resources, recruitment, and hiring. While each system offers a different package of features, applicant tracking systems are primarily used to help hiring companies organize and navigate large numbers of applicants.

For example, an ATS stores job candidate information like resumes, cover letters, references, and other recruitment and hiring data that HR teams can easily access and organize. It will also track job candidates and their application status throughout the hiring pipeline.

Ultimately, an ATS automates time-consuming administrative tasks such as manually screening applicants, reading resumes, scheduling interviews, and sending notifications and emails to job candidates and employees.

Can you add graphics to your resume?

When it comes to creating an ATS-friendly resume , the rule is: The simpler, the better. ATS are improving at scanning different formatting features, but not all of them are good at this.

Adding graphics and images could cause ATS parsing errors , which means the text on your resume won’t be fully searchable or accurately categorized by an ATS. We recommend that job seekers err on the side of caution. Avoid graphics, images, and photos.

Are Google Docs or Microsoft resume templates ATS-friendly?

They can be. We talked about some formatting features to avoid on your resume – fancy graphics and non-traditional fonts. Those features can trip up an ATS, even if they’re on a Word document or Google Docs file.

However, as long as you follow the guidelines on this page, or use one of these ATS resume templates, you’ll be fine.

How to get your cover letter past the ATS?

To increase your cover letter’s chances of passing an ATS, focus on using a clean format without complex formatting, incorporate relevant keywords and phrases from the job description, and ensure that your content is easy for the ATS to parse.

Consider using a tool like Jobscan’s cover letter generator to help you create an ATS-friendly cover letter. If you already have a cover letter, run it through our cover letter checker tool to get personalized feedback on how to improve your cover letter and make it more compelling to employers.

More Resume Resources

Google Docs Resume Templates

Professional Resume Templates

Resume Builder

Resume Writing Guide

Score your resume and start optimizing it to get more job interviews