Head-to-Head

LegalZoom

Legal Solutions Trusted By Millions

VS

Swyft Filings

Personalized Support for Fast Business Formation

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

Founded
LegalZoom: 2001
Swyft Filings: 2015
Rating
7.8/10
8.0/10
First Year Cost
~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra)
~$0 + state fees (Basic); $169 + RA extra (Standard)
Formation Speed
1-5 business days standard
7-10 business days (Basic); 3 days (Standard); 1 day (Premium)
RA Annual
$249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy)
$149/quarter ($596/year; expensive add-on)

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

Swyft Filings

HQ: Houston, Texas (1814 N Memorial Way)

Ownership: Private (affiliate of Swyft Legal, LLC)

Employees: 51-200 (69 est.)

Formations: 600,000+ success stories

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2015 in Houston, TX
  • Grew to 600k+ formations
  • Launched Premium same-day filing
  • Expanded compliance monitoring
  • Achieved 4.7/5 Trustpilot (7k+ reviews)

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

Swyft Filings Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • 501(c)(3) Applications
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • Live specialist support (phone/chat/email)
  • Same-day filing (Premium)
  • Specialist-reviewed filings
  • Unlimited attorney consultations (Premium)
  • Hassle-free future updates

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

Pricing & Value

Category LegalZoom Swyft Filings Winner
First Year Total ~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra) ~$0 + state fees (Basic); $169 + RA extra (Standard) Swyft Filings
RA Annual Fee $249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy) $149/quarter ($596/year; expensive add-on)
Value Score 7.5/10 7.8/10 Swyft Filings

Speed & Performance

LegalZoom

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Same-day ($20+)

Swyft Filings

Avg formation: 7-10 business days (Basic); 3 days (Standard); 1 day (Premium)

Expedited: Included in higher tiers (same-day Premium)

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

Swyft Filings — Pros

  • Personalized live support
  • 1-day filing (Premium)
  • Specialist-reviewed accuracy
  • Attorney consultations
  • Compliance monitoring

Swyft Filings — Cons

  • ✗ RA $149/quarter ($596/yr)
  • ✗ Billing disputes
  • ✗ Not BBB accredited
  • ✗ State fees add up
  • ✗ Limited international

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 Swyft Filings if: Ideal for founders who want real people guiding the process—fast, supportive, and reliable. Premium shines for busy users; watch RA costs.

Higher rating: Swyft Filings (8.0/10)