Head-to-Head

Rocket Lawyer

Legal Made Simple

VS

Active Filings

Fast & Affordable Business Formation Since 2001

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

Founded
Rocket Lawyer: 2008
Active Filings: 2001
Rating
8.3/10
7.8/10
First Year Cost
~$99.99 + state fees + $479.88 membership (full value)
~$0 + state fees (RA included)
Formation Speed
Instant docs + 1-5 business days filing
2-5 business days standard
RA Annual
$149.99/year (add-on; discounted for members)
Free Year 1 (with formation); $99/year renewal

Company Background

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

Active Filings

HQ: Dania Beach, Florida (381 E Sheridan St)

Ownership: Private (independent, founder-owned; no VC backing)

Employees: 4

Formations: 100,000+ satisfied customers

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2001 by immigrant Roberto Neuberger in Florida
  • Expanded from FL-only to all 50 states + DC + PR
  • Pioneered online incorporation tech (pre-VC era)
  • Developed proprietary compliance review system
  • Remained independent (no institutional investors)

Core Services

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

Active Filings Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • International Incorporation Plan (for non-US residents)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • More free services than competitors (lifetime support, checklists)
  • 19+ years experience; 3rd oldest service
  • Error-free filing guarantee
  • Proprietary compliance tech
  • Dedicated support for law firms & small biz

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

Pricing & Value

Category Rocket Lawyer Active Filings Winner
First Year Total ~$99.99 + state fees + $479.88 membership (full value) ~$0 + state fees (RA included) Rocket Lawyer
RA Annual Fee $149.99/year (add-on; discounted for members) Free Year 1 (with formation); $99/year renewal
Value Score 8.0/10 7.8/10 Rocket Lawyer

Speed & Performance

Rocket Lawyer

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

Expedited: Available (add-on)

Active Filings

Avg formation: 2-5 business days standard

Expedited: 2 business days (varies); same-day in select states

Pros & Cons

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

Active Filings — Pros

  • Lifetime free support
  • 3rd oldest; proven track record
  • All 50 states + international
  • Error-free guarantee
  • Strong Spanish support

Active Filings — Cons

  • ✗ Small team (less scale)
  • ✗ RA renewal after free year
  • ✗ Fewer reviews than giants
  • ✗ Basic tech vs. AI tools
  • ✗ Expedited varies by state

The Verdict

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.


Choose Active Filings if: Veteran player with human touch—great for immigrants needing reliable help, but check pricing vs. budget options.

Higher rating: Rocket Lawyer (8.3/10)