7 Best LegalZoom Alternatives for LLC Formation (2026): Compared by Price
Last updated: 2026-08-14
The short version
TL;DR: For most solo founders and small teams, doola is the LegalZoom alternative that actually bundles the stuff LegalZoom sells as add-ons. Starter is $297/year (billed annually) and includes formation, your EIN, a US business address, and a registered agent, versus LegalZoom's $249 Basic that only files the articles and pushes its registered agent and attorney plan as recurring upsells. If you just want the cheapest possible filing and will add services yourself, ZenBusiness or Bizee at $0+state fee are leaner. Check doola pricing here.
Why people look past LegalZoom
LegalZoom is the biggest name in online formation, and that brand recognition is real: it says on its own site that over 5 million LLCs have been launched through it. The founder or freelancer it serves best is someone who wants attorney comfort and doesn't mind paying for it.
But the common complaint is the pricing structure. LegalZoom's published LLC plans run from $0 + state fees (Basic, articles only, no EIN, no operating agreement, no attorney consult) up to $249 and $299 + state fees for Pro and Premium. On the paid tiers, the attorney plan renews automatically at $49/month after the first month, and Premium adds a bookkeeping tool that renews at $9.99/month. The registered agent is a separate service you pay for after year one. None of that is hidden - it is all on legalzoom.com/pricing - but it means the real first-year cost lands well above the headline ad price if you take the defaults.
That is the gap the alternatives fill: transparent, all-inclusive pricing instead of a low headline and add-on stack.
The 5 best LegalZoom alternatives in 2026
Prices below are from each company's official pricing page as of August 14, 2026. State filing fees are always extra and vary by state.
| Service | Price (plus state fee) | Registered agent | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| doola | $297/yr (Starter) | Included | All-in-one setup, bookkeeping, non-US founders |
| ZenBusiness | $0 (Starter), renews $199/yr | Included on Premium ($399) | Budget founders who want compliance add-ons |
| Northwest | ~$39 + state fee | Included with formation | Founders who want a real registered agent and no upsells |
| Bizee | $0 + state fee | Free first year, then ~$119/yr | Cheapest possible filing, DIY approach |
| LegalZoom (subject) | $0-$299 + state fee, add-ons extra | Upsell after year one | Founders who want attorney network access |
doola - the best all-in-one LegalZoom alternative
doola's pitch is that it replaces a stack of services, not just the formation filing. Its Starter plan is $297/year and covers the US LLC filing (they say 1-2 business days), the EIN, a US business address, and bookkeeping and tax handling you can add on top. The $2,999/yr Business-in-a-Box tier folds in federal and state business tax filing plus monthly financials. Four plans total, all billed annually.
Where it diverges from LegalZoom is the structure: the registered agent and compliance basics come with the plan rather than being sold to you afterward. For a non-US founder, doola is one of the few of these companies that will incorporate you from abroad and set you up with US banking through its partner, Mercury.
ZenBusiness - the budget pick with compliance tools
ZenBusiness markets a $0+state-fee Starter package, which is hard to beat as an entry price. Pro is $199 and Premium $399, and those renew annually at the same amount. Two things stand out: Pro gives you 1-day processing (Starter runs 7-10 business days), and the Worry-Free Compliance add-on handles annual reports - free for the first year on Starter, then $199/year. Registered agent is included on the Premium tier.
It's a strong value if you plan to use the compliance features and don't need a human tax or bookkeeping team behind you.
Northwest Registered Agent - the no-upsell registered agent play
Northwest is the choice for people who specifically want a real registered agent as the centerpiece, and it includes the registered agent service in the formation filing for around $39 + the state fee. Its reputation is for privacy (real street addresses, not PO boxes) and for not pushing upgrades at checkout. Pricing was the one figure I could not fully re-verify directly on the vendor's pages when writing this (their site blocks automated reads), so treat the fee as approximate - around $39 plus state fee - and confirm on checkout.
Bizee (formerly Incfile) - cheapest filing, DIY afterward
Bizee keeps the "form your LLC for $0 + state fees" model it had as Incfile. You pay the filing fee and the rest is yours to handle - EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent the first year are free, with the agent renewing around $119/year after that. It's the right call when you're comfortable doing the follow-up admin yourself and want to keep out-of-pocket costs at the floor.
What makes doola the practical pick over LegalZoom
Step back and the decision mostly comes down to what you're actually buying. LegalZoom sells formation plus attorney access and a menu of subscriptions. doola sells formation plus an operating back office at one annual rate that already includes the EIN, a US address, and registered agent as plan basics. ZenBusiness and Bizee win on entry price but expect you to assemble the rest.
For someone leaving LegalZoom because the add-ons kept piling up, doola directly answers that complaint: one price, the essentials included.
Bottom line: Pick doola if you want formation plus ongoing back-office support in one transparent annual plan. Pick ZenBusiness or Bizee if you're comfortable doing more of the follow-up yourself for a lower entry price.
Quick recap - which alternative should you choose?
- Want everything bundled (EIN, US address, registered agent, bookkeeping) in one annual price? Go with doola ($297/yr).
- Minimal first-year spend and you'll handle the rest? ZenBusiness or Bizee at $0 + state fees.
- Registered agent quality and privacy matter most, upsells annoy you? Northwest.
- You specifically want access to an attorney network and don't mind subscriptions? LegalZoom still does that well.
- Non-US founder needing a US LLC, bank, and taxes from abroad? doola is the strongest fit.
FAQ
Is LegalZoom worth it?
It depends on what you value. Its Pro and Premium tiers give you attorney review and a month of attorney consultations, which is real value if you want that safety net. But those paid plans renew (the attorney plan at $49/month, bookkeeping at $9.99/month), and the registered agent is a separate recurring cost. If you don't need attorney support, a bundle like doola's Starter packs more into one annual price.
What is the cheapest LegalZoom alternative?
Bizee and ZenBusiness both advertise formation from $0 + state filing fees. That's the lowest published entry price among the alternatives. Remember the state fee is on top, and add-ons like a registered agent or annual-report service add cost later.
Does doola include a registered agent?
Yes. Registered agent service and a US business address are part of doola's Starter plan at $297/year, along with the LLC formation and EIN, so you are not purchasing the agent as a separate upsell.
Can I form an LLC with doola if I'm not a US citizen?
Yes. doola explicitly works with founders from outside the US, and it can set you up with US banking through its partner Mercury (which requires a passport or US identification for the owner).
Does LegalZoom include a registered agent?
Not as a free inclusion on the shell plans. You can add LegalZoom's registered agent service, and it becomes an ongoing cost you pay after the first year, which is a common reason people shop alternatives that fold the agent into the plan price.