Compare will-writing services honestly

Quick answer

Online will services differ on four things: headline price, delivery speed, update fees, and what else is sold around the will. Legal validity is identical if you sign correctly. Skip comparison shopping if you need a solicitor — tax, trusts, foreign assets or a likely dispute.

We wrote these comparisons the way we would want to read them: sourced, current, and courteous. Each one names what the competitor genuinely does well before explaining where we differ. Prices checked July 2026 from each provider's published pricing.

SwiftWill vs Farewill

The market leader: £100 single, 3–5 day specialist review, £10/yr updates after year one — and a genuine Trustpilot moat. £190+ over ten years vs SwiftWill's £35.

SwiftWill vs Make a Will Online

The solicitor-checked option: £60 single with a real solicitor review before delivery — but not instant, and updates cost £10/yr after 28 days.

SwiftWill vs Co-op Legal Services

The fully SRA-regulated option: real solicitors and Legal Ombudsman recourse at £150+ — around 4× the price, with a phone call in the process.

SwiftWill vs FreeWills

The genuinely free option, funded by charity legacies — with an executor upsell MoneySavingExpert warns against. What £35 buys that free doesn't.

How does the whole market compare at a glance?

Will writing price comparison
Option	Typical cost	Speed	The catch
Charity free wills (Free Wills Month / Will Aid)	Free / donation	Weeks (appointment)	Over-55s or specific months only; legacy expected
SwiftWillBest value	£35 once	Instant	None — free updates for life
Make a Will Online	£60 + £10/yr updates	Fast, not instant	Update subscription
Farewill	£100 + £10/yr updates	3–5 days	Review-queue wait; subscription
Co-op Legal Services	£150	Days (call + draft)	Phone call required
High-street solicitor	£300+	Days–weeks	Right choice for complex estates

For the complete 24-provider table with 10-year costs, see how much a will costs in the UK.

Which related guide should you read next?

SwiftWill vs Co-op Legal Services — Co-op: SRA-regulated solicitors at about £150. SwiftWill: £35 instant PDF. When the extra regulation is worth paying for.
SwiftWill vs Farewill — Farewill: £100 plus £10/year after year one, 3–5 day review. SwiftWill: £35 once, instant, free updates. Honest comparison.
SwiftWill vs FreeWills — FreeWills is genuinely free, funded by charity legacies, with an executor upsell MSE warns against. What £35 buys instead.
SwiftWill vs Make a Will Online — MAWO: £60 with a solicitor check, then £10/year updates. SwiftWill: £35 once, instant. Where each one wins.

Frequently asked questions

How do you keep these comparisons fair?

Three rules: every fact comes from the competitor's own published pricing and terms (checked July 2026); we name competitor strengths as well as weaknesses — Farewill's review volume, Make a Will Online's solicitor check, Co-op's SRA regulation are genuine advantages; and we never disparage. If a competitor spots an error, we correct it.

What actually differs between online will services?

Four things, mostly: headline price; delivery speed (instant vs review queues of days); update fees (around £10/year at several providers vs free for life at SwiftWill); and what else is sold around the will — storage fees, executor services, funeral plans. The legal validity of the end product is identical everywhere if signed correctly.

Is the cheapest will the best value?

Not automatically. A £9.99 will can be perfectly valid, but check for professional indemnity insurance, a money-back guarantee, independent reviews and clear signing instructions. Value is price plus accountability plus what you pay over time — the 10-year cost, not the headline.

When should I ignore comparisons and use a solicitor?

If you need inheritance tax planning, trusts, have business or foreign assets, are protecting children from a previous relationship, plan to exclude a dependant, or expect a dispute — comparisons of online services stop being relevant. See do I need a solicitor for a will for the honest breakdown.

Make a will online in about 15 minutes

One-time £35. Instant download. Free updates for life. No subscriptions, no upsells — ever.

Start my will — £35 Is an online will right for me?

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