doola vs LegalZoom: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026doola starts at $222 plus state fees. LegalZoom starts at $0 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.
The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: doola is $197 per year, LegalZoom is $249. Over five years that delta adds up to $208, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.
LegalZoom offers a genuine $0 formation tier; doola does not. The free tier is meaningful if you only need state filing and are comfortable applying for an EIN yourself on irs.gov. It stops being free the moment you bundle the basic documents most LLCs need.
LegalZoom has 30,014 Trustpilot reviews compared to doola's 2,005. The volume gap is usually about review solicitation rather than quality, but the higher-volume score tends to be the more statistically stable signal.
For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).
Key differences at a glance
- LegalZoom is $222 cheaper at the starting tier (one of them has a free tier).
- doola has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($197/yr vs $249/yr). Over five years that is a $208 difference.
- doola includes a free operating agreement; LegalZoom charges for it as an add-on. For a single-member LLC that can use a template, this matters less. For anything with multiple members, a proper operating agreement is not optional.
- doola includes EIN filing in its default price; LegalZoom sells it as a paid add-on. You can always get an EIN directly from the IRS in five minutes for free.
- LegalZoom has a genuine $0 formation tier. The other does not.
- LegalZoom includes mail scanning (physical mail delivered to the registered agent gets scanned and forwarded digitally). The other does not.
- doola supports non-US founders without a US SSN. The other is primarily US-resident oriented.
Where each service fits
Pick doola when
Pick doola when you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper); you want the operating agreement bundled at no extra cost; you're a non-US founder.
Pick LegalZoom when
Pick LegalZoom when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you want a genuine $0 formation tier (and don't need the add-ons); you need mail scanning bundled with the registered agent; you want a high-volume review history (30,014 Trustpilot reviews vs 2,005).
What each service offers that the other does not
Only doola
- EIN included free
- Operating agreement included free
- Banking partner integration
- Non-US founder support
Only LegalZoom
- Free $0 formation tier
- Mail scanning
- Phone support
Both services
- Compliance dashboard
- Live chat support
What it costs under your specific situation
Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.
| Scenario | doola Year 1 | LegalZoom Year 1 | doola 5-year | LegalZoom 5-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement. | $222 | $0 | $1,010 | $996 |
| You want EIN and operating agreement handled too Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them. | $222 | $169 | $1,010 | $1,165 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $197 | $249 | $985 | $1,245 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | doola | LegalZoom |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $222 | Free |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included | Not included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $197/yr | $249/yr |
| Free $0 tier | No | Yes |
| EIN application | Included free | Paid add-on |
| Operating agreement | Included free | Paid add-on |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | Yes |
| International founders | Yes | No |
| Banking partner | Mercury | None |
| Phone support | No | Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT |
| Live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.6/5 (2,005 reviews) | 4.6/5 (30,014 reviews) |
Pricing tiers side by side
doola
- Starter — $222 · renews $222/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr - Tax and Compliance — $1,499 · renews $1,499/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr - Business-in-a-Box — $2,249 · renews $2,249/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr
LegalZoom
- Basic — Free
- Pro — $249
- Premium — $299
Support and ratings, interpreted
doola offers email, live chat. LegalZoom offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: doola is 4.6 across 2,005 reviews; LegalZoom is 4.6 across 30,014. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
doola
No phone support.
Email: yes.
Live chat: 24/7 per vendor, via in-app chat and help center.
Trustpilot: 4.6/5 from 2,005 reviews.
LegalZoom
Phone: Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT.
Trustpilot: 4.6/5 from 30,014 reviews.
Before you pick either service
A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.
The state fee is identical. Whether you use doola, LegalZoom, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.
You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both doola and LegalZoom either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.
The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.
Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is cheaper, doola or LegalZoom?
LegalZoom is cheaper at the starting tier ($0 vs $222). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $14.
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Does doola or LegalZoom have better support?
doola offers email, live chat. LegalZoom offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: doola is 4.6 across 2,005 reviews; LegalZoom is 4.6 across 30,014. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
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Is LegalZoom's free tier really free?
The $0 tier covers state filing and typically includes year one of registered agent service. It does not include EIN filing (you can still get one for free from the IRS directly) or an operating agreement, which most filers need. Once you add those, LegalZoom's free tier ends up around $169, which is very close to what doola charges for its bundled mid-tier package. Pick the free tier if you're comfortable doing the add-ons yourself; pick a bundled service if you want everything in one place.
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Can a non-US founder use doola or LegalZoom?
doola supports non-US founders without a US Social Security Number. The other service is primarily US-resident oriented and may require additional workarounds for the EIN application, since non-US applicants need to file paper Form SS-4 rather than use the instant online path. For heavy non-US founder needs, services like Doola, Firstbase, or Stripe Atlas are purpose-built for that market.
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Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using doola or LegalZoom?
You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.
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How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
doola renews at $197/yr. LegalZoom renews at $249/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.
Full reviews
Sources
- Pricing: www.doola.com/pricing/ · verified April 21, 2026
Three tiers: Starter $222/yr (from $297), Tax and Compliance $1,499/yr (from $1,999), Business-in-a-Box $2,249/yr (from $2,999). All tiers are annual subscriptions. State fees not included. - Features: www.doola.com/llc/ · verified April 21, 2026
doola forms LLCs in any US state. Bundle includes EIN, registered agent (year one), operating agreement, and bank account guidance. Dashboard provides bookkeeping and compliance. - Banking partner: www.doola.com/pricing/ · verified April 21, 2026
Mercury is the named banking partner surfaced on the pricing page (fintech services via Choice Financial Group and Column N.A.). - International: www.doola.com/llc/ · verified April 21, 2026
Doola is built primarily for non-US founders needing a US LLC, EIN, and US bank account for Stripe, Shopify, and Amazon access. - Founded: www.ycombinator.com/companies/doola · verified April 21, 2026
Y Combinator profile confirms doola founding year 2020, founders Arjun Mahadevan and JP Pincheira. - Headquarters: www.crunchbase.com/person/arjun-mahadevan · verified April 21, 2026
Crunchbase and LinkedIn place CEO Arjun Mahadevan and doola HQ in New York. - Support: help.doola.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Help center routes to a web form and ticket tracker. No public phone number on contact or help pages. Vendor markets 24/7 chat support. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/doola.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot shows doola.com rated 4.6/5 across roughly 2,005 reviews as surfaced by Trustpilot search result snippet on 2026-04-21. - Price usd: www.trustpilot.com/review/doola.com · verified April 21, 2026
Customer reviews on Trustpilot reference a $197 charge for registered agent renewal. Vendor does not publish a separate RA-only pricing card. - Pricing: www.legalzoom.com/business/business-formation/llc-overview.html · verified April 21, 2026
LLC overview page lists three one-time packages: Basic $0 plus state filing fees, Pro $249 plus state filing fees, Premium $299 plus state filing fees. Basic explicitly excludes EIN and Operating Agreement; Pro bundles both plus 30 days of the Business Attorney Plan that renews at $49 monthly. - Registered agent renewal: www.legalzoom.com/business/business-operations/registered-agent-overvi… · verified April 21, 2026
Page advertises Registered Agent Services for $249 per year with an auto-renewal disclosure and a note that the renewal rate is subject to change. - Features: www.legalzoom.com/business/business-formation/llc-overview.html · verified April 21, 2026
Feature callouts on the LLC overview page confirm online filing, free formation tier, paid EIN and Operating Agreement, and a 100 percent accurate filing guarantee. Pro includes a customizable website powered by Google. - Mail scanning: www.legalzoom.com/business/business-operations/virtual-mail · verified April 21, 2026
LZ Virtual Mail is offered as a separate product that scans and uploads business mail to a digital dashboard. - Founded: www.legalzoom.com/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
About page says 'Since 2001' and 'For more than 25 years, LegalZoom has been transforming how people navigate the legal system.' - Headquarters: www.legalzoom.com/careers · verified April 21, 2026
Careers page lists Los Angeles, CA, Austin, TX, and Bay Area, CA as their primary metros. LegalZoom does not name a single explicit headquarters on consumer pages; Los Angeles is the long-standing corporate base. - Support: www.legalzoom.com/contact-us · verified April 21, 2026
Contact page lists Customer Care at (888) 379-0854 and Sales at (855) 787-1221. Hours are Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT and weekends 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT. A 'Chat with us' option is shown next to each phone line. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/www.legalzoom.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot profile shows 4.6 stars across 30,014 reviews on the date of verification.