Rocket Lawyer starts at $40 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; Rocket Lawyer 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).

Starting price
Rocket Lawyer $40
Swyft Filings Free
Swyft Filings cheaper by $40
RA renewal (year 2+)
Rocket Lawyer $250/yr
Swyft Filings Varies
Tied
5-year total (cheapest tier + RA)
Rocket Lawyer $1,040
Swyft Filings $0
Swyft Filings saves $1,040 over 5 years
Trustpilot
Rocket Lawyer 4.5
Swyft Filings 4.7
Rocket Lawyer 9,717 vs Swyft Filings 7,779 reviews

Key differences at a glance

  • Swyft Filings is $40 cheaper at the starting tier (one of them has a free tier).
  • Rocket Lawyer 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.

Where each service fits

Pick Rocket Lawyer when

Pick Rocket Lawyer when you want the operating agreement bundled at no extra cost.

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).

What each service offers that the other does not

Only Rocket Lawyer

  • Operating agreement included free

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 Rocket Lawyer Year 1 Swyft Filings Year 1 Rocket Lawyer 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.
$40 $0 $1,040 $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.
$110 $169 $1,110 $169
Standalone registered agent only (no formation)
You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA.
$250 $0 $1,250 $0

Full feature comparison

Dimension Rocket Lawyer Swyft Filings
Starting price
Cheapest tier, excludes state fees
$40 Free
Registered agent year 1
Not included Not included
Registered agent renewal
Year 2 onward, annual
$250/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
No No
International founders
No No
Banking partner
None None
Phone support
Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT Monday-Friday 9am-6pm CT
Live chat
Yes Yes
Trustpilot rating
4.5/5 (9,717 reviews) 4.7/5 (7,779 reviews)

Pricing tiers side by side

Rocket Lawyer

  • One-time LLC formation (non-member) — $100
  • Rocket Legal (monthly subscription) — $40 · renews $40/yr
  • Rocket Legal+ (annual subscription) — $240 · renews $240/yr

Swyft Filings

  • Basic — Free
  • Standard — $169
  • Premium — $269

Support and ratings, interpreted

Rocket Lawyer offers phone, email, live chat. Swyft Filings offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Rocket Lawyer is 4.5 across 9,717 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.

Rocket Lawyer

Phone: Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Monday-Friday business hours per vendor; vendor also offers Rocket Copilot AI chat 24/7 to members.

Trustpilot: 4.5/5 from 9,717 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 Rocket Lawyer, 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 Rocket Lawyer 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, Rocket Lawyer or Swyft Filings?

    Swyft Filings is cheaper at the starting tier ($0 vs $40). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $1,040.

  • Does Rocket Lawyer or Swyft Filings have better support?

    Rocket Lawyer offers phone, email, live chat. Swyft Filings offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Rocket Lawyer is 4.5 across 9,717 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 Rocket Lawyer 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.

  • Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Rocket Lawyer 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?

    Rocket Lawyer renews at $250/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.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Pricing page lists Rocket Legal at $39.99/month and Rocket Legal+ at $239.88/year, each with a 7-day free trial. Comparison table shows new business registration at $99.99 plus state fees for Rocket Legal, 'First one FREE, then $99.99 plus state fees' for Rocket Legal+, and full-price business filings for non-plus members (half off for Rocket Legal+).
  • Registered agent: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Pricing comparison table shows registered agent services at $249.99/year for Rocket Legal monthly members and $124.99/year for Rocket Legal+ annual members. Trademark services at $699.99 plus USPTO fees, or $349.99 for Rocket Legal+.
  • One time: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Non-member LLC formation is quoted at $99.99 plus state fees. Rocket Lawyer also advertises a 7-day free trial that gives members access to the 'first one free' formation benefit, so non-members rarely pay the $99.99 in practice without first considering membership.
  • Features: www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/starting-a-business/form-a… · verified April 21, 2026
    LLC formation product page markets online filing, legal document library (including LLC Operating Agreement template included with membership), Articles of Organization preparation, registered agent service as an add-on, and access to Legal Pros (independent network attorneys) for consultation.
  • Operating agreement: www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/starting-a-business/form-a… · verified April 21, 2026
    Operating agreement template is part of the Rocket Lawyer document library, which is free to personalize and sign under any active membership or 7-day free trial.
  • Support: www.rocketlawyer.com/contact-us · verified April 21, 2026
    Phone (877) 881-0947 Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT. Email support@rocketlawyer.com. Chat with us widget on contact page. Rocket Copilot AI provides additional AI-powered chat to members.
  • Founded: www.rocketlawyer.com/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
    About page states 'Since our founding in 2008, nearly 30 million people have created Rocket Lawyer accounts.'
  • Headquarters: www.rocketlawyer.com/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
    Rocket Lawyer does not publish a specific headquarters city or street address on its About, Careers, Contact, or Newsroom pages. Set to null per playbook rule against inventing facts.
  • Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/rocketlawyer.com · verified April 21, 2026
    Trustpilot profile shows 4.5 out of 5 stars across 9,717 total reviews as of 2026-04-21.
  • 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.