By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist
So you’re choosing between Swyft Filings and LegalZoom for your LLC formation.
Let me save you some time: This is like choosing between a decent used car and an overpriced luxury sedan that breaks down constantly.
After testing both services extensively and working with dozens of clients who used each option, here’s my unvarnished take: Swyft Filings beats LegalZoom, but both companies have significant issues that make them poor choices for most entrepreneurs.
The real winner? Neither. I’ll tell you what you should actually do instead.
But first, let me break down this comparison so you understand exactly why these services fall short—and what better alternatives exist.
The Quick Verdict (For Those Who Don’t Have All Day)
Winner: Swyft Filings (by a narrow margin)
Why Swyft wins: Better customer service, more reasonable pricing, less aggressive upselling
Why LegalZoom loses: Overpriced, terrible customer experience, predatory upselling tactics
Reality check: Both services have major flaws that make them suboptimal choices
What you should actually do: Use Northwest Registered Agent instead and save yourself the headache
Company Background: The Underdog vs. The Incumbent
Swyft Filings: The Scrappy Newcomer
Founded: 2015
Focus: Fast, efficient business filings
Business model: Reasonable base prices with moderate upselling
Market position: Mid-tier player trying to compete on service quality
My assessment: Swyft is a competent but unremarkable service. They do the job without major disasters, but don’t expect excellence.
LegalZoom: The Overpriced Dinosaur
Founded: 1999
Claim to fame: “4 million businesses formed”
Business model: Aggressive marketing + expensive packages + relentless upselling
Market position: Brand recognition built on massive advertising spend
My assessment: LegalZoom is the Comcast of LLC formation—big, expensive, and everyone complains about them, but they keep customers through marketing muscle.
Round 1: Pricing Analysis (Where the Pain Begins)
Swyft Filings Pricing Structure
Basic Package: $49 + state fees
- Name availability search
- Articles of Organization filing
- Statement of organizer
- Tax consultation
- ComplianceGuard alerts
- Free domain name
Standard Package: $149 + state fees
- Everything in Basic
- EIN filing (free from IRS)
- Operating agreement template
- Banking resolution
- Meeting minutes template
Premium Package: $299 + state fees
- Everything in Standard
- Website and hosting
- Additional legal templates
Registered Agent Service: $149/year (not included in basic)
LegalZoom Pricing Structure
Basic Package: $0 + state fees
- Name search
- Articles of Organization filing
- Consultation with 1-800-Accountant
Pro Package: $249 + state fees
- Everything in Basic
- Operating agreement
- EIN filing
- Banking resolution
- Meeting minutes
Premium Package: $299 + state fees
- Everything in Pro
- Express filing
- Legal plan subscription (first month free)
Registered Agent Service: $249/year (most expensive in industry)
Hidden State Fees Alert: That advertised price doesn’t include state filing fees—the actual biggest cost. Like selling a car without the engine, these services quote $99 then hit you with $50-$500 in state fees at checkout.
The Real Cost Analysis
What Swyft actually costs:
- Basic formation: $49
- Registered agent: $149/year
- State fee: $50-300
- Total first year: $248-498
What LegalZoom actually costs:
- “Free” formation: $0
- Registered agent: $249/year
- State fee: $50-300
- Inevitable upsells: $100-300
- Total first year: $399-849
Winner: Swyft Filings – More transparent and usually cheaper
Round 2: Customer Service (A Tale of Two Disappointments)
Swyft Filings Customer Service
Support channels: Phone, email (chat is basically email)
Response quality: Adequate but rushed
Knowledge level: Basic script knowledge
My experience: Swyft reps can handle standard questions but struggle with complex scenarios. They’re friendly but clearly focused on moving through calls quickly.
Common issues:
- Limited knowledge beyond basic formation
- Moderate pressure to upgrade packages
- Inconsistent follow-up on complex issues
LegalZoom Customer Service
Support channels: Phone, chat
Response quality: Poor to terrible
Knowledge level: Script-dependent with limited flexibility
My experience: LegalZoom support is genuinely awful. They require extensive personal information before answering basic questions, push expensive add-ons aggressively, and often can’t resolve simple issues.
Common issues:
- Aggressive sales tactics disguised as support
- Long hold times
- Inability to deviate from scripts
- Relentless follow-up sales calls
Winner: Swyft Filings – Less bad is still a win
Round 3: Formation Features (What You Actually Get)
Swyft Filings Package Analysis
Basic package value: Decent for the price point
Useful inclusions: ComplianceGuard alerts, tax consultation
Missing essentials: Registered agent service (expensive add-on)
Quality assessment: Adequate templates and basic service
LegalZoom Package Analysis
Basic package value: Misleading “free” that costs more than Swyft’s paid option
Useful inclusions: Very limited in basic package
Missing essentials: Almost everything (forces expensive upgrades)
Quality assessment: Basic templates, aggressive upselling
Winner: Swyft Filings – More honest about what’s included
Round 4: Processing Speed (Spoiler: Both Are Slow)
Swyft Filings Processing
Standard timeline: 5-21 business days (yes, really)
Expedited option: Same-day processing for $100 extra
Reliability: Generally meets stated timelines
My assessment: For a company called “Swyft,” they’re surprisingly slow. The 21-day maximum is unacceptable in 2025.
LegalZoom Processing
Standard timeline: 5-14 business days
Expedited option: 1 business day for $99 extra
Reliability: Often meets timelines but customer reviews suggest inconsistency
My assessment: Slightly faster than Swyft but still slow for an industry where same-day processing is standard.
Winner: LegalZoom – Marginally better timeline
Round 5: The Upselling Experience (Where Both Lose)
Swyft Filings Upselling Approach
Intensity: Moderate pressure
Timing: Primarily during initial package selection
Value: Mixed – some useful, some unnecessary
Annoyance factor: Tolerable
Common upsells:
- EIN filing ($49 for a free government service)
- Operating agreement ($99 for generic templates)
- Website services (outsourced to third parties)
LegalZoom Upselling Approach
Intensity: Aggressive and relentless
Timing: Throughout process and long after formation
Value: Generally poor
Annoyance factor: Infuriating
Common upsells:
- Legal plan subscriptions ($30+/month)
- Tax services ($200+)
- Trademark services ($300+)
- Bookkeeping subscriptions ($50+/month)
The LegalZoom trap: Their “free” formation becomes expensive once you add necessary services. They make money by confusing customers into expensive subscriptions.
Winner: Swyft Filings – Less predatory approach
Round 6: Website Experience and Transparency
Swyft Filings Website
Design: Clean and modern
Navigation: Generally intuitive
Transparency: Moderate – some details hidden
Ordering process: Straightforward with clear options
Issues:
- Unclear about which services are outsourced
- Confusing refund policy language
- Limited detail on third-party partnerships
LegalZoom Website
Design: Polished but overwhelming
Navigation: Complex with multiple paths to confusion
Transparency: Poor – important limitations buried
Ordering process: Deliberately confusing to encourage expensive options
Issues:
- Misleading language about service value
- Hidden limitations and restrictions
- Aggressive design focused on conversions over clarity
Winner: Swyft Filings – Less manipulative user experience
Round 7: Registered Agent Service Quality
Swyft Filings Registered Agent Service
Provider: LegalCorp (outsourced)
Price: $149/year
Service quality: Basic but adequate
Contract terms: Allows price increases after year one
Features:
- Document scanning and upload
- Email notifications
- Online portal access
LegalZoom Registered Agent Service
Provider: In-house
Price: $249/year (industry’s most expensive)
Service quality: Adequate but overpriced
Contract terms: Standard annual renewal
Features:
- Document scanning and upload
- Online dashboard
- Email notifications
Winner: Swyft Filings – Same service for $100 less annually
The Hidden Problems Both Companies Share
1. Slow Processing Times
Both services are embarrassingly slow compared to modern competitors. When Northwest offers same-day processing standard, waiting weeks is unacceptable.
2. Outsourced Services
Both companies outsource key services to third parties, creating confusion about who’s actually responsible for what.
3. Limited Long-Term Value
Neither company excels at ongoing support or building long-term customer relationships.
4. Mediocre Document Quality
Both provide generic templates that work but aren’t tailored to specific business needs.
When to Choose Swyft Filings (The Lesser Evil)
Use Swyft If:
- You’re choosing between only these two options
- You want moderate pricing without extreme upselling
- You don’t mind slower processing times
- You can navigate their moderate complexity
The Swyft Strategy:
- Choose their Basic package ($49)
- Skip all upsells (handle EIN yourself)
- Find a cheaper registered agent elsewhere
- Download free operating agreement templates online
When to Choose LegalZoom (Almost Never)
Maybe Use LegalZoom If:
- You have money to burn and enjoy frustration
- You’re impressed by big brand names regardless of value
- You want the most expensive registered agent service available
My honest advice: Don’t choose LegalZoom
Their business model is built on confusing customers into expensive services they don’t need. The brand recognition isn’t worth the premium prices and poor service.
The Better Alternative: Why You Should Skip Both
Here’s the reality: Both Swyft and LegalZoom are mediocre options in a market with excellent alternatives.
Why Northwest Registered Agent Beats Both:
Pricing: $39 + state fees (vs. Swyft’s $49 or LegalZoom’s hidden costs)
Processing: Same-day filing standard (vs. weeks with both)
Customer service: Subject matter experts (vs. script readers)
Registered agent: $125/year with privacy protection (vs. $149-249 without)
Transparency: Clear pricing and policies (vs. confusing terms)
Value: More features included standard (vs. expensive add-ons)
The Real Comparison:
Northwest total cost: $39 + state fee + $125/year registered agent = $164-464 first year
Swyft total cost: $49 + state fee + $149/year registered agent = $248-498 first year
LegalZoom total cost: $0 + state fee + $249/year registered agent + upsells = $399-849 first year
Northwest gives you more for less money.
My Honest Recommendation: Skip the Comparison Entirely
After 15 years in this industry, here’s what I tell every client:
Don’t choose between Swyft and LegalZoom. Choose Northwest instead.
Why Northwest makes this entire comparison irrelevant:
- Better service at lower total cost
- Same-day processing as standard
- Genuine expertise instead of sales scripts
- Privacy protection included
- No hidden fees or aggressive upselling
- Long-term customer focus
Ready to Form Your LLC the Right Way?
Skip both Swyft and LegalZoom. Get superior service for less money:
What you get:
- Professional LLC formation
- Same-day processing
- One year registered agent service
- Privacy protection (use their address)
- Operating agreement template
- Expert customer support
- No upsells or hidden fees
Still considering Swyft or LegalZoom? Email me directly at jakelawson@llciyo.com. I’ll give you specific advice for your situation and explain why Northwest is almost always the better choice.
About This Comparison: I’ve personally tested both Swyft Filings and LegalZoom, worked with multiple clients who used each service, and analyzed their offerings extensively. This comparison reflects my genuine experience—neither company has paid for or influenced this content.About Jake Lawson: LLC Formation Strategist with 15+ years of experience. I’ve guided 1,200+ entrepreneurs through business formation and tested every major LLC service. My recommendations prioritize customer value over affiliate commissions. MBA in Finance (UT Austin), Certified Tax Consultant (CTC).