How does LegalZoom compare side-by-side with other services?

If you’d like to see how these LLC formation websites compare side-by-side, check out our comparative reviews: LegalZoom vs. ZenBusiness LegalZoom LLC and Corporate Dissolution Service Review LegalZoom vs. Northwest LegalZoom vs Incfile

Do any of these services handle requirements like publication?

ZenBusiness is the only one of these four services that offer state-specific publication service, which is a nice advantage for us if you’re forming a business in a state that requires it. Northwest provides instructions to help you complete your own publication requirement but doesn’t offer to take care of it on your behalf, while Incfile and LegalZoom don’t provide any form of assistance with publication. If you need help with NY publication requirements , check out our New York publication service for more information.

Are any of these services faster than the others?

Northwest bases its turnaround time estimates on the actual processing speeds of each state. As for Incfile and ZenBusiness , processing speeds also vary by state, and you can speed things up by purchasing a higher level of LLC service (or opting for rush processing as an add-on feature). With LegalZoom, turnaround times vary based on which LLC package you purchase. With their most expensive package, you could receive your finalized business formation documents in 7-10 business days, but their cheaper packages take as long as 30 business days (six weeks).

Which service has the best refund policy?

LegalZoom and ZenBusiness have nearly identical refund policies that are among the best in this entire industry. These satisfaction guarantees give you 60 days from your initial purchase date to request a refund, and you’ll receive it with no questions asked and no convenience fees charged. The other companies in this guide have refund policies of varying quality (Incfile has a very strict policy, while Northwest has cancellation fees), but LegalZoom and ZenBusiness are the best options in this regard.

Can I form an LLC on my own, without a service?

You can, and many entrepreneurs do form their own LLCs every day. However, we appreciate the peace of mind we receive from using a reputable formation service. In addition, each state has its own rules and regulations for LLC formations, so there can often be more legwork than people might expect.

ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.

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Best LegalZoom LLC Service Alternatives

Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 mins

Excellent

25,217 reviews

Last Updated: October 30, 2025

✨ ZenBusiness ✨

What This Service Is Best Known For: Great low rates, feature-packed formation packages, and a dedication to giving back.

We opened our doors in 2015 and have a unique approach to business formation services thanks to our use of automation to speed up and simplify several parts of the process. Let’s see how we stack up when compared to LegalZoom.

Both ZenBusiness and LegalZoom offer free LLC formations. All you have to pay is your state’s required fee.
If you like seeing positive customer reviews, you’ll love ZenBusiness LLC Service. With 25217 reviews available online, it’s difficult to find more than just a small handful of negative reviews.
As a company, ZenBusiness has a commitment to giving back. We’re a public benefit corporation that provides grants to help our customers kickstart their businesses.

If you want to use a socially conscious provider and get exceptional value, choose ZenBusiness.

Northwest Registered Agent

What This Service Is Best Known For: Personalized customer support and a focus on registered agent service.

Northwest was formed in 1998, and with thousands of LLC formations since then, they’re an experienced and reliable option. If you’re looking for a solid mid-size company, they might just be a good fit for you. How do they compare to LegalZoom?

Northwest offers LLC formation service at the price point of $225, which is much higher than LegalZoom’s free (+ state fee) package.
Northwest’s claim to fame is its customer support network. While some competitors outsource their support to anonymous call centers, Northwest keeps it all in-house, with knowledgeable reps providing personalized service.
As you may have guessed from reading their name, Northwest Registered Agent focuses on offering registered agent service, and they include a year with any formation package. Furthermore, Northwest was the first major registered agent provider that locally scans each and every document they receive on your behalf.

Want to learn more? See our Northwest review.

Incfile

What This Service Is Best Known For: Free LLC formations that still come with valuable features.

Incfile opened in 2004, and they’ve served more than 1 million businesses since then. Their popularity can be attributed to a number of positive qualities, from their low prices to their strong customer feedback. Let’s take a look at how they compare to LegalZoom.

Offering a free package that only requires you to pay your state fee, Incfile matches the price point offered by LegalZoom and ZenBusiness.
One of Incfile’s advantages over LegalZoom is the features included in that LLC service package. Incfile provides a year of registered agent service with any LLC formation, while LegalZoom only offers a third-party business website package from Wix.
Customer feedback is a strong point for Incfile. They have more than 75,000 reviews available online, and they maintain high average ratings.

Want to learn more? See our Incfile review.

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+ state fees | does not renew

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Customer Feedback Comparison

One of the most important aspects of any LLC formation service is the customer feedback the company receives. To help you analyze each company’s customer reviews, we created this customer feedback comparison section that breaks down how these companies stack up next to each other in this crucial area.

ZenBusiness: 25217 reviews / 4.8-star average score
Tailor Brands: 9,729 reviews / 4.4-star average score
Bizee: 21,600 reviews / 4.6-star average score
LegalZoom: 21,374 reviews / 4.5-star average score
Northwest Registered Agent: 129 reviews / 2.2-star average score

All review counts and average rating scores listed are from Trustpilot as of 7/9/25.

Final Thoughts

ZenBusiness, Northwest, Incfile, and LegalZoom are all highly popular LLC and incorporation service providers. Depending on your preferences and the unique needs of your business, you may find that one of them meets your requirements better than the others can. When it comes down to making a choice between these services:

ZenBusiness has a well-rounded service offering that combines free LLC formation service (just pay your state’s fee) with outstanding customer feedback.
Northwest can be a good option if you want personalized customer support and are willing to pay extra.
Incfile could be worth a look if you want a free LLC formation service and reasonably priced add-ons.
LegalZoom is an option if you prioritize using the most popular and experienced company.

Recommended articles:

LegalZoom and its Alternatives FAQs

How does LegalZoom compare side-by-side with other services?
If you’d like to see how these LLC formation websites compare side-by-side, check out our comparative reviews:
Do any of these services handle requirements like publication?

ZenBusiness is the only one of these four services that offer state-specific publication service, which is a nice advantage for us if you’re forming a business in a state that requires it. Northwest provides instructions to help you complete your own publication requirement but doesn’t offer to take care of it on your behalf, while Incfile and LegalZoom don’t provide any form of assistance with publication.

If you need help with NY publication requirements, check out our New York publication service for more information.
Are any of these services faster than the others?

Northwest bases its turnaround time estimates on the actual processing speeds of each state. As for Incfile and ZenBusiness, processing speeds also vary by state, and you can speed things up by purchasing a higher level of LLC service (or opting for rush processing as an add-on feature).

With LegalZoom, turnaround times vary based on which LLC package you purchase. With their most expensive package, you could receive your finalized business formation documents in 7-10 business days, but their cheaper packages take as long as 30 business days (six weeks).
Which service has the best refund policy?

LegalZoom and ZenBusiness have nearly identical refund policies that are among the best in this entire industry. These satisfaction guarantees give you 60 days from your initial purchase date to request a refund, and you’ll receive it with no questions asked and no convenience fees charged. The other companies in this guide have refund policies of varying quality (Incfile has a very strict policy, while Northwest has cancellation fees), but LegalZoom and ZenBusiness are the best options in this regard.
Can I form an LLC on my own, without a service?

You can, and many entrepreneurs do form their own LLCs every day. However, we appreciate the peace of mind we receive from using a reputable formation service. In addition, each state has its own rules and regulations for LLC formations, so there can often be more legwork than people might expect.

Competitor Alternatives

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

Written by ZenBusiness Editorial Team

The ZenBusiness Editorial Team has more than 20 years of combined small business publishing experience and has helped over 850,000 entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies. Our writers and business formation experts are dedicated to providing accurate, practical, and trustworthy guidance so business owners can make confident decisions.

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