Northwest Registered Agent vs Swyft Filings: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026Northwest Registered Agent starts at $39 plus state fees. Swyft Filings 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.
Swyft Filings offers a genuine $0 formation tier; Northwest Registered Agent 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.
Swyft Filings has 7,779 Trustpilot reviews compared to Northwest Registered Agent's 217. 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
- Swyft Filings is $39 cheaper at the starting tier (one of them has a free tier).
- Northwest Registered Agent includes a free operating agreement; Swyft Filings 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.
- Swyft Filings has a genuine $0 formation tier. The other does not.
- Northwest Registered Agent includes mail scanning (physical mail delivered to the registered agent gets scanned and forwarded digitally). The other does not.
- Northwest Registered Agent supports non-US founders without a US SSN. The other is primarily US-resident oriented.
Where each service fits
Pick Northwest Registered Agent when
Pick Northwest Registered Agent when you want the operating agreement bundled at no extra cost; you need mail scanning bundled with the registered agent; you're a non-US founder.
Pick Swyft Filings when
Pick Swyft Filings 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 want a high-volume review history (7,779 Trustpilot reviews vs 217).
What each service offers that the other does not
Only Northwest Registered Agent
- Operating agreement included free
- Mail scanning
- Non-US founder support
Only Swyft Filings
- Free $0 formation tier
Both services
- Compliance dashboard
- Phone support
- 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 | Northwest Registered Agent Year 1 | Swyft Filings Year 1 | Northwest Registered Agent 5-year | Swyft Filings 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. | $39 | $0 | $539 | $0 |
| 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. | $109 | $169 | $609 | $169 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $125 | $0 | $625 | $0 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | Northwest Registered Agent | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $39 | Free |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included | Not included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $125/yr | Not published |
| Free $0 tier | No | Yes |
| EIN application | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| Operating agreement | Included free | Paid add-on |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | Yes | No |
| International founders | Yes | No |
| Banking partner | None | None |
| Phone support | Mon-Fri 6:00am-5:00pm Pacific | Monday-Friday 9am-6pm CT |
| Live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | 3.8/5 (217 reviews) | 4.7/5 (7,779 reviews) |
Pricing tiers side by side
Northwest Registered Agent
- Full Service LLC — $39
Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr
Swyft Filings
- Basic — Free
- Standard — $169
- Premium — $269
Support and ratings, interpreted
Northwest Registered Agent offers phone, email, live chat. Swyft Filings offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Northwest Registered Agent is 3.8 across 217 reviews; Swyft Filings is 4.7 across 7,779. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
Northwest Registered Agent
Phone: Mon-Fri 6:00am-5:00pm Pacific.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Mon-Fri business hours Pacific.
Trustpilot: 3.8/5 from 217 reviews.
Swyft Filings
Phone: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm CT.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Monday-Friday business hours per vendor; exact hours not published.
Trustpilot: 4.7/5 from 7,779 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 Northwest Registered Agent, Swyft Filings, 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 Northwest Registered Agent and Swyft Filings 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, Northwest Registered Agent or Swyft Filings?
Swyft Filings is cheaper at the starting tier ($0 vs $39). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $539.
-
Does Northwest Registered Agent or Swyft Filings have better support?
Northwest Registered Agent offers phone, email, live chat. Swyft Filings offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Northwest Registered Agent is 3.8 across 217 reviews; Swyft Filings is 4.7 across 7,779. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
-
Is Swyft Filings'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, Swyft Filings's free tier ends up around $169, which is very close to what Northwest Registered Agent 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.
-
Can a non-US founder use Northwest Registered Agent or Swyft Filings?
Northwest Registered Agent 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.
-
Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Northwest Registered Agent or Swyft Filings?
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.
-
How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
Northwest Registered Agent renews at $125/yr. Swyft Filings renews at a price the vendor doesn't clearly publish. 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.northwestregisteredagent.com/llc/cost · verified April 21, 2026
Vendor cost page is Cloudflare-protected; pricing verified through vendor press release and multiple independent reviews citing the $39 promotional formation price (regularly $100) plus $125 per year registered agent renewal. Additional verification via Northwest press release https://www.einpresswire.com/article/887201355/ confirming the $39 discount continues through 2026. - Ein: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/ein · verified April 21, 2026
EIN filing add-on is $50 with SSN/ITIN, $200 for non-US residents without one. - Registered agent only: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent · verified April 21, 2026
Standalone registered agent service $125 per year, flat, with a price-lock guarantee. Multi-state 5+ rate is $100 per state. - Features: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/privacy-by-default · verified April 21, 2026
Privacy by Default guarantee: Northwest states on its own page that it does not sell customer data. Formation includes operating agreement, address use, mail forwarding, phone service, and domain. - Headquarters: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/office-locations · verified April 21, 2026
Corporate headquarters 522 W Riverside Ave Suite N, Spokane, WA 99201. Founded 1998 (27 years in business as of 2026). BBB profile https://www.bbb.org/us/wa/spokane/profile/incorporation/northwest-registered-agent-llc-1296-64196830 corroborates. - Support: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/contact-us · verified April 21, 2026
US-based Corporate Guides available by phone (509-768-2249) and email (support@northwestregisteredagent.com). Hours published on contact page. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/www.northwestregisteredagent.com · verified April 21, 2026
3.8 of 5 stars from 217 reviews. Low review count relative to Inc Authority and ZenBusiness because Northwest does not actively solicit Trustpilot reviews. - Pricing: www.swyftfilings.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage shows three tiers: Basic $0, Standard $169 (strike-through $199), Premium $269 (strike-through $299), all plus state fees. Homepage banner reads 'Spring into savings. Limited time. Save $30 off Standard and Premium.' - Features: www.swyftfilings.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Inclusions per tier as listed on homepage cards: Basic is filing only; Standard adds EIN and operating agreement; Premium adds same-day processing, professional business address, custom digital kit, unlimited attorney consultations, and compliance monitoring. - Registered agent only: www.swyftfilings.com/registered-agent/ · verified April 21, 2026
Registered agent landing page markets the service (compliance, privacy, document scanning) but does not publish an annual price. Page routes to 'Get Started' flow or phone at (877) 777-0450. - Features: www.swyftfilings.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Online filing confirmed. Phone, email, and chat signup available. Basic tier excludes EIN and operating agreement (paid add-ons bundled into Standard). Swyft offers annual report filing as a standalone service per top nav Run a Business menu. - Support: www.swyftfilings.com/contact-us/ · verified April 21, 2026
Phone (877) 777-0450 Monday-Friday 9am-6pm CT. Email support@swyftfilings.com. Vendor also lists a fax line at (877) 669-8624. About page references phone, email, and chat. - Founded: www.swyftfilings.com/about-us/ · verified April 21, 2026
About page timeline states 'July 2015 Swyft Filings was founded by two serial entrepreneurs, later joined by Travis Crabtree.' Homepage also reads 'since 2015.' - Headquarters: www.swyftfilings.com/about-us/ · verified April 21, 2026
About page references the company being named one of the Houston Chronicle Best Places to Work, indicating Houston, TX as HQ. No specific street address published. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/swyftfilings.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot profile page shows 4.7 out of 5 stars across 7,779 total reviews as of 2026-04-21.