When people search for estate planning online, two names almost always come up first: LegalZoom and Trust & Will. They’ve built strong brands by helping users create wills and other legal documents.

This guide looks at the best alternatives to both—and how they compare based on what people actually need today.

But something important has changed.

Estate planning is no longer just about creating documents.

It’s about navigating life.

It’s about being prepared for the moments that matter most—and making sure your family knows what to do when those moments happen.

That’s why more people are now looking for alternatives built not just around documents—but around Life Milestones.

The Shift: From Documents to Life Milestones

Traditional platforms were built around a simple question:

“Do you have a will?”

But real life doesn’t work that way.

People take action when something happens:

• A baby is born
• A marriage begins or ends
• A parent needs care
• A big trip is planned
• A family faces loss

These are the moments when estate planning becomes real.

This is the shift happening right now:

People are moving from:

• One-time document tools

To:

• Ongoing life planning platforms

From:

• Static plans

To:

• Living, evolving systems

This is where Gentreo stands apart. Gentreo is the Life Milestone company.

Why People Look for Alternatives

LegalZoom and Trust & Will are strong platforms, but they are built primarily around document creation.

Common reasons people look for alternatives include:

• Wanting help during real-life events—not just document setup
• Needing better organization and access
• Wanting to share plans with family easily
• Wanting a system that evolves as life changes
• Looking for something simpler and more complete

The Role of Advertising in Estate Planning Platforms

Companies like LegalZoom and Trust & Will have invested heavily in advertising to build brand awareness and reach millions of users.

That visibility has helped bring estate planning into the mainstream.

But it also means many people start with a brand they recognize—before understanding how different solutions actually support them over time.

Today, more people are looking beyond the brand and asking:

“Will this actually help me and my family when life happens?”

1. Gentreo-Best for Life Milestone Planning

Gentreo, www.gentreo.com, is built around a completely different idea:

Estate planning should follow your life—not just a checklist.

Instead of focusing only on documents, Gentreo is designed to help you take action during Life Milestones.

What this means in real life

When something changes in your life, Gentreo helps you:

• Know what to do
• Update your plan
• Share the right information with the right people
• Stay organized

Life Milestones Gentreo supports

• Having a baby
• Getting married or divorced
• Caring for aging parents
• Traveling
• Preparing for the future and honoring your legacy

What you get with Gentreo

• Last will and testament
• Living trust and joint living trust
• Financial power of attorney (durable or limited)
• Medical power of attorney
• Healthcare directive and living will
• HIPAA authorization
• Pet trust and pet power of attorney

Built for real life

• Digital Family Vault to store everything
• Family sharing so others can access what they need
• Instant Access Button for emergencies
• Free technical coaches
• Ongoing updates included

Pricing

• $150 — all included

Gentreo is not just about creating documents.

It’s about making sure your plan actually works when life happens.

2. FreeWill-Simple, Free Wills

FreeWill, www.freewill.com, focuses on helping people create basic estate planning documents at no cost.

It is designed for simplicity and accessibility.

FreeWill, www.freewill.com, documents are:

• State-specific
• Template-based
• Intended for simple estate plans

How FreeWill works

FreeWill is funded by nonprofit organizations.

• Users are encouraged to include charitable donations
• Nonprofits support the platform in exchange for visibility
• The experience often includes giving-related prompts

Where it fits

FreeWill is a good option if you:

• Have a simple estate
• Want a free starting point
• Are interested in charitable giving

Where it differs

FreeWill is focused on document creation—not on helping you manage life changes over time.

There is no Life Milestone framework, and limited support for organizing or sharing your plan.

3. Fabric  

Fabric, https://meetfabric.com/, combines life insurance with a basic will.

It’s designed for young families taking early steps.

What Fabric focuses on

• Life insurance policies
• Simple will creation
• Guardianship planning for children

Where it fits

Fabric is useful when:

• You’re starting a family
• You want to combine insurance and a will
• You’re just getting started

Where it differs

Fabric is not built as a full planning system.

It does not support:

• Life Milestones across your life
• Ongoing organization
• Sharing or coordination with family

4. Rocket Lawyer  

Rocket Lawyer, www.rocketlawyer.com, is a general legal platform.

It offers:

• Legal documents
• E-signature tools
• Subscription-based services

Where it fits

• Broader legal needs
• Ongoing document access
• Business and personal legal tools

Where it differs

Estate planning is only one part of the platform.

It is not designed around Life Milestones or family readiness.

It is not designed as a broader life planning platform.

It does not guide users through life events or connect planning to real-world milestones.

LegalZoom vs. Alternatives: What’s Changing

LegalZoom, www.legalzoom.com, remains one of the most recognized names in online legal services.

It offers:

• Wills and trusts
• Business services
• Access to attorneys

But like many earlier platforms, it is built around documents and legal access.

What’s changing is how people think about estate planning.

They are no longer just asking:
“Do I have the documents?”

They are asking:
“Will my family be ready?”

Side-by-Side Comparison

Platform	Best For	Key Strength	Key Limitation
Gentreo	Life milestone planning	Full life + estate system	No attorneys
FreeWill	Free basic wills	No cost	Limited scope
Fabric	Young families	Insurance + will	Not full planning
Rocket Lawyer	Legal services	Broad tools	Not estate-focused
Trust & Will	Document creation	Guided process	Not life-based
LegalZoom	Broad legal needs	Brand + attorneys	Document-focused

How to Choose the Right Alternative

The best platform depends on how you think about estate planning.

Choose LegalZoom or Rocket Lawyer if you:

• Want access to attorneys
• Need broader legal services

Choose Trust & Will if you:

• Want a printed copy of your document mailed to you
• Want AI to help you with filling out your documents

Choose FreeWill or Fabric if you:

• Want a free or simple starting point
• Have a straightforward situation

Choose Gentreo if you:

• Want a system built around your life—not just documents
• Need to organize everything in one place
• Want your family to actually be able to use your plan
• Want support during real-life moments
• Expect your life—and your plan—to evolve

The Bottom Line

The biggest change in estate planning isn’t technology.

It’s perspective.

People are no longer looking for document tools.

They’re looking for systems that help them navigate life.

LegalZoom and Trust & Will helped bring estate planning online.

Gentreo is helping move it forward—by connecting planning to the moments that actually matter.

Start Your Estate Plan Today

Don’t just create documents.

Create a plan your family can actually use.

With Gentreo, everything is organized, accessible, and ready when it matters most.