You need a contract. Maybe a freelance agreement for a new contractor, an NDA before a business discussion, or a service agreement for a client engagement. You search for "create a contract online" and LegalZoom is one of the first results.
LegalZoom has been around since 2001. It is a well-known brand in online legal services. But when it comes to contract creation specifically, the experience may not match your expectations — especially if you need a contract today, not next week.
How LegalZoom handles contracts
LegalZoom started as an online legal document filing service. Over time, it expanded into a full legal services marketplace. For contracts, the typical workflow looks like this:
- Browse their document library and select a contract type
- Fill in a questionnaire with your details
- Receive a template-based document
- Optionally pay for attorney review ($199+)
- Download your document
The process works, but it has friction. The questionnaires can be lengthy. The templates are generic — designed to cover the broadest possible range of situations rather than tailored to your specific deal. And if you want a lawyer to review it, you are looking at a multi-day turnaround and a significant additional cost.
How Contract.diy handles contracts
Contract.diy is built for one thing: creating contracts. The workflow is three steps:
- Select your contract type — NDA, freelance agreement, lease, service agreement, or custom contract
- Fill in your deal terms — party names, key terms, jurisdiction
- Review, edit, and export — a complete contract with governing law, notices provisions, signature blocks, and all standard clauses
The entire process takes minutes, not days. You get a jurisdiction-aware document that includes the clauses a lawyer would insist on — without the lawyer's timeline or invoice.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Contract.diy | LegalZoom | |---------|-------------|-----------| | Contract creation from deal terms | Yes | Template-based | | Jurisdiction-aware clauses | Yes | Limited | | Time to finished contract | Minutes | Hours to days | | Attorney review available | No | Yes ($199+) | | Clause explanation in plain language | Yes | No | | Contract types | NDA, Freelance, Lease, Services, Custom | Broader document library | | PDF export | Included | Included | | LLC/trademark/estate services | No | Yes |
Pricing comparison
This is where the difference is sharpest:
| | Contract.diy | LegalZoom | |---|---|---| | First contract | Free (3 credits on signup) | $39–$99 | | Per contract (subscription) | $0.29–$0.36 | $39–$99+ per document | | Attorney review | Not offered | $199+ additional | | Monthly subscription | $9–$29/mo (optional) | Varies by service | | One-time credit packs | $4.99–$49.99 | Not available |
A small business that creates 10 contracts per year spends $390–$990+ on LegalZoom (before any attorney review). The same 10 contracts on Contract.diy cost as little as $3.30 on the Pro plan — or $0 if you stay within the free credits and occasional packs.
When LegalZoom makes sense
LegalZoom is a broad legal services platform. Choose it when you need:
- LLC or business formation — LegalZoom handles state filings, registered agents, and compliance
- Trademark registration — they manage the USPTO filing process
- Estate planning — wills, trusts, power of attorney
- Ongoing attorney access — their legal plans connect you with lawyers for questions
- A lawyer to draft a complex, custom agreement — for high-value or unusual deals
LegalZoom is a legal services marketplace. It does many things. Contract creation is one feature among dozens.
When Contract.diy makes sense
Choose Contract.diy when you need a professional contract and you need it now:
- Speed matters — your contract is ready in minutes, not days
- Budget matters — starting at $0 vs $39+ per document
- You know your terms — you just need them structured into a proper legal document
- You want to understand your contract — clause explanations break down legal language into plain terms
- You create contracts regularly — the subscription model makes volume affordable
The bottom line
LegalZoom is a legal department in a box — useful if you need a wide range of legal services. Contract.diy is a focused contract creation tool — useful if you need a professional contract without the wait, the upsells, or the $199 attorney review fee.
If all you need is a contract, you do not need a legal marketplace. You need a contract creator. See also: Contract.diy vs Rocket Lawyer and Contract.diy vs DocuSign.