Inc Authority vs Stripe Atlas: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026Inc Authority starts at $0 plus state fees. Stripe Atlas starts at $500 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: Stripe Atlas is $100 per year, Inc Authority is $249. Over five years that delta adds up to $596, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.
Inc Authority offers a genuine $0 formation tier; Stripe Atlas 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.
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
- Inc Authority is $500 cheaper at the starting tier (one of them has a free tier).
- Stripe Atlas has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($100/yr vs $249/yr). Over five years that is a $596 difference.
- Stripe Atlas includes a free operating agreement; Inc Authority 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.
- Stripe Atlas includes EIN filing in its default price; Inc Authority sells it as a paid add-on. You can always get an EIN directly from the IRS in five minutes for free.
- Inc Authority has a genuine $0 formation tier. The other does not.
- Stripe Atlas supports non-US founders without a US SSN. The other is primarily US-resident oriented.
Where each service fits
Pick Inc Authority when
Pick Inc Authority when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you want a genuine $0 formation tier (and don't need the add-ons).
Pick Stripe Atlas when
Pick Stripe Atlas 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.
What each service offers that the other does not
Only Inc Authority
- Free $0 formation tier
- Phone support
Only Stripe Atlas
- EIN included free
- Operating agreement included free
- Non-US founder support
Both services
- Compliance dashboard
- Banking partner integration
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 | Inc Authority Year 1 | Stripe Atlas Year 1 | Inc Authority 5-year | Stripe Atlas 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. | $0 | $500 | $996 | $900 |
| 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. | $169 | $500 | $1,165 | $900 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $249 | $0 | $1,245 | $0 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | Inc Authority | Stripe Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | Free | $500 |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included | Included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $249/yr | $100/yr |
| Free $0 tier | Yes | No |
| EIN application | Paid add-on | Included free |
| Operating agreement | Paid add-on | Included free |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | No |
| International founders | No | Yes |
| Banking partner | Bank of America | Mercury |
| Phone support | Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:00pm Pacific | No |
| Live chat | No | No |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.9/5 (46,831 reviews) | Not published |
Pricing tiers side by side
Inc Authority
- Free — Free
Includes RA year 1 · renews $249/yr - Starter Business Bundle — Free
Includes RA year 1 · renews $249/yr - Fast Track Business Bundle — Free
Includes RA year 1 · renews $249/yr
Stripe Atlas
- Atlas — $500
Includes RA year 1 · renews $100/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
Inc Authority offers phone, email. Stripe Atlas offers email.
Inc Authority
Phone: Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:00pm Pacific.
Email: yes.
No live chat.
Trustpilot: 4.9/5 from 46,831 reviews.
Stripe Atlas
No phone support.
Email: yes.
No live chat.
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 Inc Authority, Stripe Atlas, 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 Inc Authority and Stripe Atlas 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
-
Which is cheaper, Inc Authority or Stripe Atlas?
Inc Authority is cheaper at the starting tier ($0 vs $500). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $96.
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Does Inc Authority or Stripe Atlas have better support?
Inc Authority offers phone, email. Stripe Atlas offers email.
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Is Inc Authority'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, Inc Authority's free tier ends up around $169, which is very close to what Stripe Atlas 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 Inc Authority or Stripe Atlas?
Stripe Atlas 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 Inc Authority or Stripe Atlas?
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?
Inc Authority renews at $249/yr. Stripe Atlas renews at $100/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.incauthority.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage explicitly advertises FREE LLC registration, FREE 24-hour processing, FREE custom built website, and FREE registered agent for year one. Customer pays state fees only. - Premium-bundles: www.incauthority.com/premium-packages · verified April 21, 2026
Starter Business Bundle and Fast Track Business Bundle are listed with feature checklists but no prices. Vendor explicitly states these can only be ordered by phone (877-684-2836), so published pricing is not available. Priced tiers kept at 0 as placeholder; readers should be told to call. - Registered agent only: www.incauthority.com/registration/service/info/reg-ind · verified April 21, 2026
Inc Authority registered agent service listed at $249 per year, described as a $199 value, on their own registration add-on detail page. - Features: www.incauthority.com/free-llc · verified April 21, 2026
Free LLC page lists what the $0 tier actually includes. Operating agreement and EIN are not part of the free tier; both are upsells. - Banking partner: www.incauthority.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage promotes a Bank of America Business Advantage Banking bonus offer as a bundled partner perk. - Headquarters: www.incauthority.com/company/contact · verified April 21, 2026
Corporate address: Inc Authority, 1450 Vassar Street, Reno, NV 89502. Site references 30-plus years in business under the Inc Authority brand and predecessors; founding commonly cited as 1989. - Support: www.incauthority.com/company/contact · verified April 21, 2026
Phone support 877-462-6366 and local 775-333-5902, Monday through Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm Pacific. Email info@incauthority.com. No live chat offered. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/www.incauthority.com · verified April 21, 2026
4.9 of 5 stars from 46,831 reviews (Claimed profile, paid Trustpilot subscription). - Pricing: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Pricing page: $500 one-time fee that includes government filing fees and first year of registered agent. Registered agent renews automatically at $100/yr after year one. - Registered agent renewal usd: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas page states: 'US$100 annually after your first year (renews automatically).' - Features: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas supports three entity types on its signup flow: C corporation, LLC, and Subsidiary. C-corp is listed first and historically the primary product; LLC is offered but commonly steered to Delaware or Wyoming. Only Delaware is named on the pricing page as the incorporation state for C-corps. - E in cluded: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
EIN acquisition is included in the flat $500. - Operating agreement: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas includes bylaws for C-corps and operating agreement templates for LLCs, produced in collaboration with Cooley LLP. - International: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas states startups in over 140 countries have used the service. Explicitly designed for non-US founders who want a US entity and US payments access. - Annual report filing: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas does not file Delaware annual franchise tax reports on the customer's behalf; compliance reminders are surfaced in the dashboard but the filing itself is not a bundled service. - Banking partner: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas partners with Mercury for bank account opening. Account is provisioned after the Delaware filing completes. - Founded: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Stripe Atlas launched in 2016 as a Stripe product. Parent company Stripe was founded in 2010. - Headquarters: stripe.com/about · verified April 21, 2026
Stripe (parent) has dual HQ in South San Francisco, CA and Dublin, Ireland. Atlas is a product line, not a separately incorporated company. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/stripe.com · verified April 21, 2026
The only Trustpilot profile for Stripe covers the entire Stripe payments business, not Atlas specifically. Setting rating to null because the profile is unrepresentative of Atlas. - Support: support.stripe.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas customers receive support through the Stripe dashboard and email. Stripe does not publish a phone support channel for Atlas; live chat is via the general Stripe support product.