Inc Authority vs LegalZoom (2026 Comparison & Verdict)
Inc Authority and LegalZoom split this matchup at the checkout counter. Inc Authority chases the lowest possible sticker price, while LegalZoom leans on a deeper support bench once the LLC exists. Real filings with each company show exactly where that split holds up.
We formed Mile High Bicycle Company LLC in Colorado with Inc Authority on June 8 and paid $50, just the state fee. LegalZoom's own order followed that day, Maine Spoons LLC in Maine, with the entire $175 coming from Maine's filing fee.
Overview
Once the LLC is filed, Inc Authority hands you an AI logo picker and nothing else ongoing, while LegalZoom opens into an attorney network, AI contract review and a bookkeeping tool that keep working long after checkout.
Starting price, registered agent timing and post-formation support drive most of the year-one decision, and the table below lines up both providers on all three.
| Feature | LegalZoom | Inc Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Venture Smarter Rating | ||
| Starting LLC Package | $0 + state fee | $0 + state fee |
| EIN Filing | Included on Pro ($249) | Free (your choice) |
| Registered Agent Year 1 | $249/year (not bundled) | Free with Starter |
| Registered Agent Renewal | $249/year | $249/year |
| Post-Formation Dashboard | Attorney network, AI contract review, LZ Books | AI logo picker only |
| Customer Support Hours | Phone and chat, every plan | Phone, weekdays 7:30am-5pm Pacific |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 60 days | 60 days |
Checkout Experience
Inc Authority walks every order through eight upsell screens, from the EIN-or-Express-Processing choice through Compliance360 and an S-Corp election pitch. A live countdown timer sits on each paid screen, though in our testing the offer itself never actually disappeared once the clock hit zero.
LegalZoom flips the order entirely, collecting payment before asking for the LLC's real details. The post-payment screen greeted us with an "ACTION REQUIRED" banner rather than a finished order.
LegalZoom then followed with a trademark-search pitch stamped "TODAY ONLY 50% OFF," cutting its listed $199 down to $99 once we were already past the register.
Registered Agent Services
Both companies land on the same $249-a-year renewal for registered agent service, so the real difference is what happens in year one.
Inc Authority bundles the first year free with its Starter formation. LegalZoom never bundles it into any plan and doesn't surface it once during checkout.
States require every LLC to name a registered agent, but paying one of these companies for that job isn't required. Appointing yourself is free if you meet the state's address and availability rules, so either $249 figure buys convenience rather than a legal requirement.
Support and Post-Formation Tools
Inc Authority's post-formation experience stops at a logo picker. Sign the order and the only tool waiting is an AI logo generator, alongside an order confirmation email, with no dashboard or compliance tracker behind it.
Phone hours max out at 7:30 am to 5 pm Pacific on weekdays, and the line goes quiet entirely on Saturday and Sunday.
LegalZoom's Pro and Premium tiers add a real support bench. Independent attorneys review contracts up to ten pages, and an AI tool pulls key clauses from anything you upload.
LZ Books adds tax projections and invoicing that stay included after the trial period, while its mileage tracking and expense features shift to $9.99 a month once that trial window closes.
Additional Services and Upsells
Inc Authority backs its formation with a Compliance360 add-on, free for 30 days and then $147 a year, adding state compliance alerts and two free amendments annually.
A Business Funding Analysis comes free with every order, and a 60-day money-back guarantee covers the whole formation package.
LegalZoom layers on trademark and patent tools inside the same dashboard used for formation, plus a standalone attorney subscription at $39.09 a month for ongoing legal access. Its own money-back guarantee also runs 60 days.
Customer Reviews
Inc Authority backs its $0 pitch with strong third-party marks. It holds a 4.9 rating on both Trustpilot and Google, spanning tens of thousands of Trustpilot reviews and thousands more on Google.
Our own scoring puts LegalZoom slightly ahead on User Ratings, 4.4 against Inc Authority's 4.3, reflecting testing across support, pricing and feature depth rather than aggregated public review counts alone.
LegalZoom
Pros
- Licensed attorneys review contracts of ten pages or fewer
- AI tool flags important clauses in uploaded contracts
- Bookkeeping tool adds tax projections and mileage tracking
- Money-back guarantee runs sixty days for LegalZoom
Cons
- Registered agent costs $249 yearly, excluded from every plan
- Payment happens before LegalZoom collects your LLC details
Inc Authority
Pros
- Registered agent and EIN both start completely free
- Formation order includes a sixty-day refund guarantee
- Trustpilot and Google ratings both sit at 4.9
- Compliance360 adds state alerts and free amendments
Cons
- Countdown timers push urgency on every paid screen
- No ongoing dashboard once the order closes
- Phone support ends at five, weekdays only
Neither pick fits every founder, so compare the wider field in our best LLC services guide.
FAQs
Is Inc Authority Actually Free?
Inc Authority is actually free for the formation, the EIN, and the first year of registered agent service, all $0. We paid $50 to close out our Colorado order, and every dollar of it went to the state, not to Inc Authority.
Does LegalZoom Include a Registered Agent?
LegalZoom does not include a registered agent in any plan, and the option never appeared during our checkout. It's a standalone $249-a-year purchase you add once your LLC already exists, so budget for it as its own line item.
What Happens After You Pay With Inc Authority?
After you pay with Inc Authority, you land on a page with AI-generated logo options and an order confirmation email. There's no dashboard to log back into, no compliance calendar, and no document storage beyond that first screen.
Which Service Has the Deeper Post-Formation Support?
LegalZoom has the deeper post-formation support, by a wide margin. Its attorney network, AI contract review, and LZ Books bookkeeping tool all sit inside the same account, while Inc Authority's account stops at the logo picker with nothing ongoing behind it.
Inc Authority vs. LegalZoom: Our Recommendation
Inc Authority and LegalZoom serve different founders. Inc Authority fits someone who wants a filed LLC and nothing else to manage. LegalZoom fits someone who expects to lean on real support once the business is running.
Choose LegalZoom if you expect real legal questions in year one. Choose Inc Authority if the lowest possible sticker price matters most. Our strongest overall pick stays ZenBusiness, whose Velo AI dashboard assistant flags gaps like a missing EIN the moment you log in.
Our #1 Recommendation
ZenBusiness
- Worry free compliance
- Base plan at $0
- Great value
- Expedited filing options
- User-friendly platform
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of August
- Have to pay additionally for a registered agent service.
