Head-to-Head

Northwest Registered Agent

Privacy. Service. Value.

VS

Swyft Filings

Personalized Support for Fast Business Formation

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

Founded
Northwest Registered Agent: 1998
Swyft Filings: 2015
Rating
9.1/10
8.0/10
First Year Cost
~$39 + state fees (RA included)
~$0 + state fees (Basic); $169 + RA extra (Standard)
Formation Speed
1-3 business days (10-min setup)
7-10 business days (Basic); 3 days (Standard); 1 day (Premium)
RA Annual
Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps)
$149/quarter ($596/year; expensive add-on)

Company Background

Northwest Registered Agent

HQ: Spokane, Washington (522 W Riverside Ave Suite N)

Ownership: Private (family-owned)

Employees: 51-200

Formations: 3,000,000+ businesses maintained

Key Milestones

  • Founded 1998 in Spokane, WA
  • Expanded to offices in all 50 states
  • Pioneered Privacy By Default®
  • Launched Business Identity Package (address, mail, email, domain)
  • Hit 3M+ businesses maintained

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

Northwest Registered Agent Services

Formation types:

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

Differentiators:

  • Privacy By Default® (uses their address, no data selling)
  • Business Identity Package (address, mail, email, domain, hosting)
  • In-house experts & custom software
  • No upsells or aggressive marketing
  • Family-owned with dedicated Corporate Guides

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 Northwest Registered Agent Swyft Filings Winner
First Year Total ~$39 + state fees (RA included) ~$0 + state fees (Basic); $169 + RA extra (Standard) Northwest Registered Agent
RA Annual Fee Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps) $149/quarter ($596/year; expensive add-on)
Value Score 9.2/10 7.8/10 Northwest Registered Agent

Speed & Performance

Northwest Registered Agent

Avg formation: 1-3 business days (10-min setup)

Expedited: Same-day possible (included)

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

Northwest Registered Agent — Pros

  • Privacy By Default®
  • Free RA Year 1 ($125 after)
  • Business Identity Package
  • In-house experts
  • No annoying marketing

Northwest Registered Agent — Cons

  • ✗ RA renewal required
  • ✗ Basic formation vs. bundles
  • ✗ Limited reviews depth
  • ✗ No 24/7 chat
  • ✗ Expedited varies

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 Northwest Registered Agent if: The gold standard for privacy-focused RA—perfect for founders who want real protection, expert help, and a fair price without the sales pressure. Top pick for most.


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: Northwest Registered Agent (9.1/10)