FreeWill vs Nolo
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top estate planning picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
FreeWill
Ranked #5 of 15 in this directory
Create your will for free and leave a legacy that matters
Nolo
Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory
Legal information and DIY tools from the self-help law pioneer
Our pick: Nolo. Our editors rank Nolo higher overall in Estate Planning — but FreeWill can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| FreeWill | Nolo | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free | See website |
| Category | Wills Trusts | Wills Trusts |
| Editorial rank | #5 of 15 | #3 of 15 |
Strengths
FreeWill
- ✓Completely free — no hidden fees or upsells whatsoever
- ✓Legally valid wills created in about 20 minutes
- ✓Option to include charitable bequests to participating nonprofit partners
- ✓Simple, clean interface accessible to anyone regardless of legal knowledge
- ✓Funded by nonprofit partnerships rather than user fees
Nolo
- ✓Over 50 years of self-help legal publishing expertise
- ✓WillMaker software creates comprehensive estate document packages
- ✓Extensive educational content explains the law behind each document
- ✓One-time purchase covers wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and more
- ✓Regular updates keep documents current with changing state laws
Watch out for
FreeWill
- !Limited to basic wills — no living trusts or advanced estate planning
- !No attorney review or legal advice available
- !Charitable bequest prompts may feel pressure-like to some users
- !Document storage and updates are not included long-term
Nolo
- !Interface feels more utilitarian than modern competitors
- !Desktop software approach feels dated compared to web-first platforms
- !No attorney review or legal advice included
Best use cases
FreeWill
- →Individual wanting a free, legally valid will without any financial commitment
- →Person creating a basic will while also leaving a charitable legacy
- →Anyone who has been putting off estate planning due to cost concerns
Nolo
- →Use WillMaker to create a complete estate planning package including will, healthcare directive, and POA
- →Reference Nolo's legal guides to understand the difference between a will and a living trust
- →Create a pet trust to ensure care for animals after your passing
About each tool
FreeWill
FreeWill offers free online will creation funded by nonprofit partnerships. Users can create a legally valid will in about 20 minutes while optionally including charitable bequests to participating organizations. The platform is genuinely free with no upsells, making estate planning accessible to everyone regardless of budget.
Nolo
Nolo has been the leading publisher of self-help legal information for over 50 years, offering estate planning software, books, and online resources. Their Quicken WillMaker product is a comprehensive desktop and online tool for creating wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and financial power of attorney documents. Nolo's educational approach helps users understand the legal concepts behind their documents.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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