How to actually judge an online will service
"Best" only means something when you know what you're optimising for. The legal validity of the finished will is the same across every reputable provider — they all have to comply with the Wills Act 1837. The differences are price, review process, turnaround, and whether you want phone contact or a clean self-service experience.
Here's an honest read on the main UK options:
ClearLegacy — £69 single / £99 mirror
- Best for: people who want the lowest price and a fast turnaround
- Review: estate-planner review before release
- Turnaround: 24 hours
- Format: online questionnaire, no phone call required
- Watch out for: we don't currently do active IHT planning beyond what a standard will covers
Farewill — £100 single / £165 mirror
- Best for: people who want telephone hand-holding through the questionnaire
- Review: includes a 30-minute phone consultation
- Turnaround: typically 5 working days
- Format: online form plus optional phone
- Watch out for: 50% more expensive than ClearLegacy for what's essentially the same legal product
Co-op Legal Services — from £150
- Best for: people who already use Co-op for other services and trust the brand
- Review: solicitor-supervised
- Turnaround: typically 2–3 weeks
- Format: phone or online
- Watch out for: more than double the price of ClearLegacy
High-street solicitor — £150–£400
- Best for: complex estates that genuinely need a solicitor (trusts, foreign assets, business succession)
- Review: full solicitor handling
- Turnaround: 1–3 weeks plus appointment scheduling
- Format: face-to-face
- Watch out for: paying solicitor rates for a will a solicitor isn't actually needed for
DIY paper kits — £20–£40
- Best for: nobody, really
- Review: none
- Turnaround: instant
- Format: paper template
- Watch out for: high failure rate at probate, usually on witnessing or signature mistakes that a review would have caught
Why we think ClearLegacy is the best for most people
For the vast majority of UK adults — straightforward estates, named beneficiaries, no unusual circumstances — the £69 ClearLegacy will is the right product. Same legal standing as Farewill or a solicitor, faster, half the price, no phone call required. We'll refer you to a solicitor during review if your situation needs one — we'd rather lose the sale than sell you the wrong product.
ClearLegacy pricing — fixed fees, no surprises
Single Will
£69 one-off
For one person. Legally valid in England & Wales. Reviewed by a qualified estate planner within 24 hours.
Start Single WillMirror Wills
£99 for both
Two matching Wills for couples. Save £39 versus buying two singles. Both reviewed and emailed within 24 hours.
Start Mirror WillsHow we compare on price
| Provider | Single Will | Mirror Wills | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClearLegacy | £69 | £99 | Online · estate-planner reviewed · 24-hour turnaround |
| Farewill | £100 | £165 | Online · review-by-phone |
| Co-op Legal Services | £150+ | £245+ | Phone or online |
| High-street solicitor | £150–£400 | £250–£600 | Face-to-face appointments |
| DIY kit (WHSmith etc.) | £20–£40 | £40–£80 | Paper · no review |
Prices are typical published rates at time of writing (May 2026). Sources: provider websites; Law Society for solicitor ranges.
Frequently asked questions
It depends what matters to you. ClearLegacy is the cheapest reviewed option (£69) with the fastest turnaround (24 hours). Farewill includes a phone consultation but charges 50% more. The legal product is the same.
No. Cheapness reflects overhead structure, not legal quality. Every ClearLegacy will is reviewed by a qualified estate planner before release, and the legal status of the finished document is identical to a solicitor-drafted will.
Farewill is £100 for a single will (£31 more than ClearLegacy) and includes a 30-minute phone consultation. ClearLegacy is online-only, faster (24-hour turnaround vs 5 days), and £31 cheaper. Same legal product.
Co-op Legal Services starts at £150 for a single will — more than double ClearLegacy. They have brand familiarity and high-street presence; ClearLegacy doesn't. Legal validity is the same.
For straightforward estates, an online will is the right choice — same legal standing, fraction of the cost. For estates with discretionary trusts, foreign assets, business interests or contested family circumstances, use a solicitor.
Will-writing is not a reserved legal activity in England and Wales, so will-writing services don't need SRA regulation. What matters is whether the service produces wills that meet the Wills Act 1837 — which all reputable providers (including ClearLegacy) do.
ClearLegacy turns around most wills in 24 hours from completion of the questionnaire. Farewill is typically 5 working days. Solicitors are 1–3 weeks plus appointment time.
Farewill has the largest market share and the highest brand recognition. Co-op Legal Services has the longest high-street heritage. ClearLegacy is the cheapest reviewed option with the fastest turnaround. All three produce legally valid wills under the Wills Act 1837 — "trust" is mostly a function of price transparency and turnaround for the user.
Farewill is cheaper (£100 vs £150+) and faster (5 days vs 2 weeks at Co-op). Co-op has high-street presence and brand familiarity if that matters to you. Both are 30–120% more expensive than ClearLegacy (£69), which is the same legal product without the overhead.
For a typical estate, yes — a reviewed online will and a solicitor-drafted will are the same legal document. Both must meet the Wills Act 1837. The solicitor premium pays for office overhead and (for complex estates) bespoke advice — not legal validity. For complex estates with trusts or business interests, the solicitor premium is worth it.
Will Aid (every November) and Free Wills Month (March and October) are the two main free-will schemes. Will Aid is run by participating solicitors with an optional charity donation; Free Wills Month is for people over 55 only. Outside those windows, the cheapest professionally reviewed option is around £69.
Compare on four points: (1) price — fixed fee vs hourly; (2) review — is it read by a qualified person before release?; (3) turnaround — 24 hours, 5 days, or 3 weeks?; (4) what's included — amendments, storage, mirror-will discount. ClearLegacy is £69 fixed, qualified-planner reviewed, 24-hour turnaround, with one free amendment in the first 12 months.
Yes. Farewill is an established UK will-writing company, founded in 2015, with the largest market share in the online-will category. The product is legally identical to ClearLegacy's; the differences are price (£100 vs £69), turnaround (5 days vs 24 hours), and whether a phone consultation is included.
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