LegalZoom vs Bizee: Established Brand vs Budget Pick in 2026

This comparison comes down to a simple question: do you need a law firm or a filing service? LegalZoom wants to be your all-in-one legal partner. Bizee wants to get your LLC formed cheaply and stay out of your way. Both approaches have merit, but the price gap between them is wider than most people expect.

LegalZoom Overview

LegalZoom has been the default name in online legal services since 2001. When someone’s uncle tells them to “just go to LegalZoom,” this is what they mean. That brand recognition is LegalZoom’s biggest asset — and, depending on your perspective, the main thing you’re paying for.

Their $0 formation tier is relatively new, introduced to compete with the wave of free services that grabbed market share over the past few years. It gets your articles of organization filed. That’s about it. No registered agent, no operating agreement, no EIN. The Pro plan at $249 adds those essentials, and Premium at $399 tacks on expedited filing and a business license report.

Then there’s the registered agent fee: $249/year, billed separately from whatever plan you chose. It’s the most expensive registered agent service among major formation providers, and it’s not optional if you want to stay compliant without designating yourself (which puts your home address on public record).

What you get for that premium is access to LegalZoom’s broader legal services. Attorney consultations are available for business questions. Trademark filing is built into the platform. If your LLC needs a contract reviewed or you’re dealing with intellectual property issues, you can handle it without leaving the ecosystem. For businesses with complex legal needs, that’s a legitimate advantage.

The platform itself works fine. It’s not going to win design awards, and the checkout process feels like an obstacle course of add-on offers, but the core functionality is reliable. Support is available by phone and chat, though you’ll likely interact with a chatbot before reaching a human.

Bizee Overview

Bizee — formerly Incfile until the 2023 rebrand — has processed over a million LLC formations. They built their reputation on being the cheapest option that still delivers, and the rebrand hasn’t changed that core identity.

The $0 formation plan includes articles of organization and one year of registered agent service. That’s already more than LegalZoom’s free tier. But the real value shows up in Bizee’s paid plans. Both the Gold ($199/year) and Platinum ($349/year) packages include lifetime registered agent service. Not one year free. Not discounted. Included for the life of the plan with no additional charge.

I want to be honest about the trade-offs, though. Bizee’s platform is decent but not exceptional. The dashboard handles document management and compliance tracking adequately, but it doesn’t feel as refined as newer competitors like ZenBusiness. Processing times are on the slower side — standard filing runs 15-20 business days without paying for expedited service. And while the rebrand freshened up the visuals, some parts of the experience still feel like Incfile underneath.

Customer support is responsive enough for basic questions. You won’t get attorney-level advice, but the team can walk you through formation issues, state requirements, and plan differences without much wait time. Their 4.4 rating reflects a service that delivers on its value proposition without wowing anyone.

Feature Comparison

Pricing Comparison

This is where the conversation gets uncomfortable for LegalZoom fans.

LegalZoom pricing:

• Basic: $0 + state fees (formation only — no registered agent, no EIN, no operating agreement)
• Pro: $249 + state fees (adds EIN, operating agreement, compliance calendar)
• Premium: $399 + state fees (adds expedited filing, business license report)
• Registered Agent: $249/year (separate charge, required for compliance)

Bizee pricing:

• Free: $0 + state fees (formation + registered agent for year one)
• Gold: $199/year + state fees (adds lifetime registered agent, EIN, operating agreement)
• Platinum: $349/year + state fees (adds business tax consultation, expedited filing, documents)

Let’s run the numbers on comparable packages over three years.

LegalZoom Pro + Registered Agent (3 years): $249 (Pro, year 1) + $249 (RA, year 1) + $249 (RA, year 2) + $249 (RA, year 3) = $996 + state fees (LegalZoom Pro is a one-time fee; RA is annual)

Bizee Gold (3 years): $199 (year 1) + $199 (year 2) + $199 (year 3) = $597 + state fees (Registered agent included in plan cost)

That’s $399 saved over three years by choosing Bizee. Stretch it to five years and the gap hits $697. The only way to close that gap is if you’re actively using LegalZoom’s attorney consultations, trademark filings, or other legal services — where the per-service fees are often competitive with hiring a local attorney.

Who Should Choose Which

Choose Bizee if:

• You want the lowest total cost for LLC formation and maintenance
• A registered agent is your main ongoing expense concern
• You’re forming a simple LLC and don’t anticipate complex legal needs
• You’ve done this before and don’t need hand-holding or attorney access
• You’d rather spend the savings on actually building your business

Choose LegalZoom if:

• You need attorney consultations for specific business legal questions
• Trademark filing, contract review, or IP protection is on your roadmap
• You want a single platform for all business legal services, even at a premium
• Working with the most recognized brand in the space matters to you
• Your business has legal complexity that goes beyond basic formation

Final Verdict

For the typical LLC filer — someone starting a freelance business, an e-commerce store, or a consulting practice — Bizee delivers more for less. The lifetime registered agent inclusion on paid plans is a genuine differentiator that saves real money year after year. It’s not the flashiest service, and the platform won’t blow you away, but it gets the paperwork done at a price that’s hard to argue with.

LegalZoom is a different product for a different customer. If you’re building a business that will need legal counsel, trademark protection, or contract management, paying the LegalZoom premium buys you convenience and access that budget services can’t replicate. Just go in with clear eyes about what that access costs: at least $249/year in registered agent fees before you even use any of the premium services.

The bottom line: Bizee for value, LegalZoom for legal depth. Most first-time LLC filers should start with Bizee and add legal services a la carte if and when they actually need them.