Head-to-Head

LegalZoom

Legal Solutions Trusted By Millions

VS

Rocket Lawyer

Legal Made Simple

Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.

Founded
LegalZoom: 2001
Rocket Lawyer: 2008
Rating
7.8/10
8.3/10
First Year Cost
~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra)
~$99.99 + state fees + $479.88 membership (full value)
Formation Speed
1-5 business days standard
Instant docs + 1-5 business days filing
RA Annual
$249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy)
$149.99/year (add-on; discounted for members)

Company Background

LegalZoom

HQ: Glendale, California (101 N Brand Blvd)

Ownership: Public (NASDAQ: LZ)

Employees: 964+

Formations: 4,000,000+ businesses

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2001 in California
  • Pioneered online LLC formation
  • Went public (NASDAQ: LZ) in 2021
  • Acquired law firm operations
  • Expanded to 4M+ formations with attorney-backed services

Rocket Lawyer

HQ: San Francisco, California (182 Howard Street #830)

Ownership: Private (VC-backed; $290M+ funding)

Employees: 201-500

Formations: 1,000,000+ businesses (millions of documents created)

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2008 in San Francisco
  • Launched Rocket Lawyer On Call® attorney network
  • Raised $290M+ funding
  • Expanded to business formation + RA
  • Hit 1M+ business customers

Core Services

LegalZoom Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • Privacy-focused RA (uses company address)
  • Attorney-backed legal forms & reviews
  • All-in-one legal ecosystem
  • Corporate Veil protection guarantee
  • 24/7 chat during formation

Rocket Lawyer Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Foreign Qualification (limited states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • Bundled membership ($39.99/mo) with attorney access
  • Thousands of legal forms & templates
  • Rocket Lawyer On Call® (discount attorney advice)
  • e-Signature & document storage
  • Free 7-day trial

Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.

Pricing & Value

Category LegalZoom Rocket Lawyer Winner
First Year Total ~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra) ~$99.99 + state fees + $479.88 membership (full value) Rocket Lawyer
RA Annual Fee $249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy) $149.99/year (add-on; discounted for members)
Value Score 7.5/10 8.0/10 Rocket Lawyer

Speed & Performance

LegalZoom

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Same-day ($20+)

Rocket Lawyer

Avg formation: Instant docs + 1-5 business days filing

Expedited: Available (add-on)

Pros & Cons

LegalZoom — Pros

  • 4M+ businesses formed
  • Privacy-first RA
  • Comprehensive legal ecosystem
  • 24/7 chat support
  • Trusted since 2001

LegalZoom — Cons

  • ✗ RA $249/year
  • ✗ No free Year 1 RA
  • ✗ High overall costs
  • ✗ Aggressive upsells
  • ✗ Basic for simple needs

Rocket Lawyer — Pros

  • Unlimited attorney calls
  • Legal form library
  • Membership discounts
  • e-Signature included
  • 1M+ customers

Rocket Lawyer — Cons

  • ✗ Membership required for value
  • ✗ RA $149.99 extra
  • ✗ Auto-renew issues
  • ✗ Not formation-focused
  • ✗ Higher ongoing cost

The Verdict

Choose LegalZoom if: The go-to for comprehensive legal services with privacy focus—ideal if you want forms, attorneys, and RA in one trusted place. Pricey but reliable for those valuing the brand.


Choose Rocket Lawyer if: Perfect for businesses needing more than just formation—attorney access and forms make the membership worthwhile. Ideal if you value legal support beyond setup.

Higher rating: Rocket Lawyer (8.3/10)