Swyft Filings vs ZenBusiness: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026Swyft Filings starts at $0 plus state fees. ZenBusiness 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.
ZenBusiness has 28,984 Trustpilot reviews compared to Swyft Filings's 7,779. 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).
Where each service fits
Pick Swyft Filings when
Swyft Filings is comparable to ZenBusiness on most of the dimensions we measure. The tiebreaker is usually support quality or brand preference.
Pick ZenBusiness when
ZenBusiness is comparable to Swyft Filings on most of the dimensions we measure. The tiebreaker is usually support quality or brand preference.
What each service offers that the other does not
Only ZenBusiness
- Banking partner integration
Both services
- Free $0 formation tier
- 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 | Swyft Filings Year 1 | ZenBusiness Year 1 | Swyft Filings 5-year | ZenBusiness 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. | $0 | $0 | $0 | $796 |
| 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. | $169 | $169 | $169 | $965 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $0 | $99 | $0 | $495 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | Swyft Filings | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | Free | Free |
| Registered agent year 1 | Not included | Not included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | Not published | $199/yr |
| Free $0 tier | Yes | Yes |
| EIN application | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| Operating agreement | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | No |
| International founders | No | No |
| Banking partner | None | Thread Bank |
| Phone support | Monday-Friday 9am-6pm CT | Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT |
| Live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.7/5 (7,779 reviews) | 4.8/5 (28,984 reviews) |
Pricing tiers side by side
Swyft Filings
- Basic — Free
- Standard — $169
- Premium — $269
ZenBusiness
- Starter — Free
- Pro — $199 · renews $199/yr
- Premium — $399 · renews $399/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $199/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
Swyft Filings offers phone, email, live chat. ZenBusiness offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Swyft Filings is 4.7 across 7,779 reviews; ZenBusiness is 4.8 across 28,984. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
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.
ZenBusiness
Phone: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from 28,984 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 Swyft Filings, ZenBusiness, 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 Swyft Filings and ZenBusiness 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
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Which is cheaper, Swyft Filings or ZenBusiness?
Both start at $0 for the cheapest tier, plus state fees. The real pricing difference shows up in the registered agent renewal from year two onward: Swyft Filings varies/yr, ZenBusiness $199/yr.
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Does Swyft Filings or ZenBusiness have better support?
Swyft Filings offers phone, email, live chat. ZenBusiness offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Swyft Filings is 4.7 across 7,779 reviews; ZenBusiness is 4.8 across 28,984. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
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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 ZenBusiness 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.
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Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Swyft Filings or ZenBusiness?
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.
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How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
Swyft Filings renews at a price the vendor doesn't clearly publish. ZenBusiness renews at $199/yr. 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.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. - Pricing: www.zenbusiness.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage 'Compare and select a package' section lists Starter at $0 plus state fees, Pro at $199 plus state fees renewing at $199 per year, and Premium at $399 plus state fees renewing at $399 per year. Only Premium bundles Registered Agent Service in the formation package. - Registered agent: www.zenbusiness.com/registered-agent/ · verified April 21, 2026
Page headline 'SPECIAL OFFER: 50% OFF REGISTERED AGENT' with fine print '$99 + state fees for the first year. Renews at $199/yr.' The $199 figure is treated as the regular annual rate. - Features: www.zenbusiness.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Package comparison table confirms online filing, free formation tier, paid EIN and Operating Agreement at Pro and above, ongoing state-required filing compliance, and an online dashboard with compliance tracking. - Banking partner: www.zenbusiness.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage and footer disclaim: 'ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.' - Velo: www.zenbusiness.com/velo/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage 'Say Hello to Velo' section introduces Velo, the ZenBusiness AI assistant that automates filings, tracks deadlines, and builds a website. - Founded: www.zenbusiness.com/about/ · verified April 21, 2026
About page: 'In 2015, Ross Buhrdorf and Shanaz Hemmati founded ZenBusiness.' - Headquarters: www.zenbusiness.com/contact-us/ · verified April 21, 2026
Contact FAQ states 'The ZenBusiness headquarters are in Austin, Texas, and we offer services in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.' The company is fully remote. - Support: www.zenbusiness.com/contact-us/ · verified April 21, 2026
Contact page lists phone (844) 493-6249 and a chat option with matching hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/www.zenbusiness.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot profile shows 4.8 stars across 28,984 reviews on the date of verification.