Comparison
CauseCentral vs LegalZoom
LegalZoom is the biggest name in online legal services, and for LLCs and trademarks that brand is earned. For 501(c)(3)s there's a catch most founders discover late: LegalZoom only handles the 1023-EZ. If your organization needs the full Form 1023, they refund your money and send you elsewhere.
| LegalZoom | CauseCentral | |
|---|---|---|
| Formation price | $99–$359 nonprofit formation, plus $595 / $795 for the 501(c)(3) application | $499 / $999 / $1,999 flat — incorporation and the federal application in one price |
| Full Form 1023 (long form) | Not offered — long-form cases are refunded and turned away | Supported at every tier; guided in Accelerate, prepared for you in Complete |
| Form 1023-EZ | Yes — this is the only federal path they handle | Yes — free eligibility screener plus guided prep |
| Registered agent | $249/yr | We don't upsell RA service — we help you use a compliant option in your state |
| Ongoing help | Attorney consult plan at $49/mo; cancellation friction is a known complaint theme | Operate suite from $49/mo — cancel anytime in-app, reminder email before every renewal charge |
| Guarantee | 60-day satisfaction guarantee | Approval guarantee on Accelerate & Complete: our fee refunded if the IRS declines |
| Government fees | Charged alongside package pricing | Itemized separately, passed through at cost, never marked up — a stated principle |
Competitor details verified August 2026 from LegalZoom's public website. Prices and policies change — always confirm on their site.
When LegalZoom might still be your pick
If your nonprofit is one piece of a broader legal picture — you also need an LLC, a trademark, estate documents — LegalZoom lets you keep everything with one vendor, and their $49/mo attorney consult plan gives you a licensed attorney to talk to, which we don't offer directly (we refer to a partner network instead). If you're confident you qualify for the 1023-EZ and you value the biggest brand in the space, they're a legitimate choice.
Just take our free eligibility quiz first. If you don't qualify for the EZ — and many organizations don't — you'll save yourself a refund-and-restart cycle.
EZ or long form, we take the case
Find out in three minutes which federal path applies to you — then get a flat published price for either one.