The NDA is the most common legal document that people who are not lawyers need to create. Before a business meeting, a freelance project, a startup pitch, or sharing proprietary data with a potential partner — you need an NDA.
And the first thing everyone does is search for "free NDA template."
Both Contract.diy and LawDepot appear in that search. Both claim to offer NDA creation. But the word "free" means very different things on each platform. This comparison breaks down what you actually get, what it costs, and which platform creates the better NDA.
What "Free" Means on Each Platform
Let's address this directly, because it is the reason most people land on this comparison.
LawDepot's "free" NDA
LawDepot offers a 7-day free trial that gives you access to their full template library. During this trial, you can:
- Create one NDA using their questionnaire builder
- Download the document as PDF or Word
- Access their other templates (lease agreements, wills, etc.)
The catch: You must enter a credit card to start the trial. After 7 days, you are automatically charged — $7.99/month if you choose annual billing ($95.88/year) or $35.99/month for monthly billing. If you only need one NDA and you cancel within the trial window, you pay nothing. If you forget, you are on the hook.
Contract.diy's trial NDA
Contract.diy gives you 1 trial credit on signup — no credit card required. You can use that credit to generate one complete NDA. After the trial credit, you purchase credit packages to create additional contracts.
No catch: There is no trial period, no auto-renewal, and no credit card entry at signup. The trial credit does not expire.
The honest comparison
| | Contract.diy | LawDepot |
|---|---|---|
| First NDA cost | $0 (trial credit) | $0 (if you cancel trial in time) |
| Credit card required | No | Yes |
| Auto-renewal risk | None | Yes — $7.99 or $35.99/month |
| Additional NDAs | Credit purchase required | Subscription required |
| Trial expiration | Credit does not expire | 7 days |
Both platforms let you create one NDA without paying. But the risk profiles are different. Contract.diy's trial credit is a genuine freebie. LawDepot's trial is a subscription funnel — it works if you remember to cancel, but the business model relies on people who don't.
NDA Quality Comparison
The NDA itself matters more than the pricing model. Here is what each platform produces.
LawDepot's NDA
LawDepot uses a questionnaire-based builder. You answer questions — who are the parties? What type of NDA (mutual or unilateral)? What information is confidential? How long should the agreement last? — and the platform populates a template.
Strengths:
- Comprehensive questionnaire covers most NDA scenarios
- Multiple NDA variations (mutual, unilateral, employee)
- Clean document formatting
- Available in multiple jurisdictions (US, Canada, UK, Australia)
Weaknesses:
- Template language is fairly generic across jurisdictions
- Limited customization within the questionnaire flow
- Some important clauses (like specific remedy provisions) may not be included in the default template
- Once your trial ends, you cannot edit or re-download without a subscription
Contract.diy's NDA
Contract.diy generates NDAs through a three-step guided form: Parties (names, addresses, emails), Terms (confidentiality period, scope, obligations), and Options (governing law, dispute resolution, additional clauses).
Strengths:
- Jurisdiction-aware language — governing law and dispute resolution clauses match your selected state or country
- Standard protective clauses included by default (notices, signatures, effective date, governing law)
- Party addresses and emails feed into the Notices clause automatically
- Signatory title fields for professional signature blocks
- Preview and edit before finalizing
Weaknesses:
- Focused template set — fewer NDA variations than LawDepot's library
- No attorney review option within the platform
- Newer platform with a smaller user base
Clause-by-Clause Comparison
Here is what a standard NDA from each platform includes:
| Clause | Contract.diy | LawDepot |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| Definition of confidential information | Included — customizable scope | Included — questionnaire-defined |
| Obligations of receiving party | Included — standard non-disclosure, non-use | Included — standard language |
| Exclusions from confidentiality | Included — publicly available, independently developed, legally required | Included — standard exclusions |
| Term and duration | User-defined in form | User-defined in questionnaire |
| Return/destruction of materials | Included | Included in some variations |
| Governing law | Jurisdiction-specific | State/province selectable but generic language |
| Dispute resolution | Included — based on jurisdiction | Included in some variations |
| Notices provision | Included — auto-populated from party details | Not consistently included |
| Signature blocks | Full blocks with name, title, date | Basic signature lines |
| Remedies (injunctive relief) | Included | Depends on template variation |
| Non-solicitation | Optional add-on | Available in some NDA types |
| Severability | Included | Included |
The biggest difference is in the Notices provision and jurisdiction-specific language. Contract.diy uses the addresses and emails you provide to create a functional Notices clause — this matters if you ever need to formally communicate under the NDA's terms. LawDepot's templates do not consistently include this.
The Form Experience
Creating an NDA is not just about the output — the process matters too, especially if you are not a lawyer.
LawDepot's questionnaire
LawDepot asks questions in plain English and maps your answers to template variables. The experience is approachable:
- "What type of NDA do you need?" (Mutual / Unilateral)
- "Who is the Disclosing Party?"
- "What type of information will be shared?"
- "How long should confidentiality last?"
- Review and download
The questionnaire covers the essentials without requiring legal knowledge. However, some important options are buried in later steps, and the interface shows promotional prompts for premium features.
Contract.diy's guided form
Contract.diy uses a three-step wizard:
Step 1 — Parties: Names, addresses, emails, signatory titles for both parties. Clear fields, no ambiguity.
Step 2 — Terms: Confidentiality scope, duration, obligations, exclusions. Each field has context about what it means and why it matters.
Step 3 — Options: Governing law (jurisdiction selector), dispute resolution method, optional clauses (non-solicitation, return of materials). Generate button is only available on this final step.
The wizard prevents you from skipping ahead to generate without completing each section. This is an intentional design choice — it ensures every NDA has complete party information and defined terms.
Use Cases: When Each Platform Wins
LawDepot is better for:
- One-time NDA creation during the free trial (if you remember to cancel)
- Canadian and Australian NDAs — LawDepot has strong jurisdiction coverage outside the US
- Employee NDAs — LawDepot has dedicated employee confidentiality templates
- Users who want a broader document library — if you also need a lease, will, or power of attorney, the subscription covers all templates
Contract.diy is better for:
- Recurring NDA creation — the credit model is cheaper than a subscription for ongoing use
- Jurisdiction-aware US NDAs — state-specific governing law and dispute resolution
- Professional formatting — signature blocks, notices, and consistent structure
- Speed — three-step form generates a complete NDA in under 5 minutes
- No-risk trial — test the platform without entering payment information
- Users who also need freelance, service, or lease contracts — the same credit works for all contract types
Beyond the NDA
Both platforms offer more than just NDAs. But the value proposition differs:
LawDepot is a legal document library. The subscription gives you access to 100+ templates across personal and business law. If you frequently need different types of legal documents — rental agreements, wills, business letters, invoices — the subscription covers everything.
Contract.diy is a contract creation tool. The focus is narrower — NDAs, freelance agreements, service contracts, lease agreements, and custom contracts — but the depth within each type is greater. Jurisdiction awareness, guided forms with contract-specific fields, and professional formatting are built into every template.
If you need one NDA and nothing else, either platform works. If contracts are a regular part of your professional life, the ongoing cost and experience matter more.
Making the Decision
Here is the decision framework in plain terms:
Choose LawDepot if:
- You need one NDA during the free trial and will definitely cancel
- You are in Canada, the UK, or Australia and want localized templates
- You need many different types of legal documents beyond contracts
- You prefer a subscription that covers everything
Choose Contract.diy if:
- You want an NDA without entering a credit card
- You create contracts regularly but not constantly (pay-per-use is cheaper)
- You value jurisdiction-specific language for US-based agreements
- You want contracts that include notices provisions and professional signature blocks
- You want a simple, focused tool rather than a legal document library
The NDA itself is straightforward legal technology. What matters is how you access it, what you pay for it, and whether the platform respects your time and your wallet.
Create your NDA — free trial credit, no credit card required