How to Choose the Best Online Will Writing Service in the UK

What makes an online will writing service trustworthy?

A trustworthy service checks every will with a qualified solicitor, states its price including VAT, and is honest about when you need more. These matter more than branding or marketing claims.

A solicitor check is what catches the errors that quietly invalidate wills, such as a beneficiary acting as a witness, before you sign rather than after you die. All-in pricing matters because some services quote a low headline figure and add VAT or extras at checkout. Honesty about limitations is the clearest sign of a service that puts your interests first. A good provider tells you plainly when a blended family, business assets, or a large estate needs a full solicitor, rather than selling you a product that does not fit.

How much should an online will cost?

A single online will should cost around £20, including VAT, and mirror wills for a couple should cost under £35 with a solicitor check included. Prices above this without extra justification are worth questioning.

Compare this to a traditional solicitor, who typically charges £200 to £650 for the same document. If an online service is charging closer to solicitor prices without solicitor-level tailoring, ask what you are actually paying for. Our own online will is £19.99 for a single will and £29.99 for a couple’s mirror wills, both including VAT and both checked by a solicitor, full pricing details here.

What should you check before choosing a service?

Check that every will is solicitor-checked, that the price shown includes VAT, and that storage and updates are clearly explained. A few minutes checking these saves problems later.

Ask specifically whether a qualified solicitor reviews your will, not just whether it is “legally compliant” as a marketing phrase. Confirm the price you see is the price you pay, with no VAT or hidden fee added at checkout. Check what happens if you need to update your will later, and whether secure storage for the signed original is available. A will that cannot be found is as good as no will at all.

The five-point checklist for judging any service

Run any provider you are considering through these five checks before you pay anything. Each one has a clear red flag attached if the answer comes back wrong.

What to check	Why it matters	Red flag
Solicitor check	Catches the witnessing and drafting errors that quietly invalidate wills.	“Legally compliant” or “legally binding” used as marketing language with no named review step.
All-in pricing	The price you see should be the price you pay.	VAT or a “finalisation fee” appearing only at checkout.
Honest limitations	A good provider turns away work it cannot do properly.	No mention anywhere of when you would need a full solicitor.
Secure storage	A will that cannot be found is treated as though it never existed.	No storage option and no guidance on keeping the original safe.
Updates and changes	Wills need revisiting after marriage, divorce, or a new child.	No stated policy, or a charge for every minor amendment.

If a service fails two or more of these, keep looking, whatever its brand recognition or advertising spend.

When should you use a full solicitor instead of an online service?

Use a full solicitor if you have a blended family, business or overseas assets, an estate likely to face inheritance tax, or want to set up a trust. No online service, however good, replaces tailored advice for genuinely complex situations.

A straightforward estate, one home, some savings, and clear beneficiaries, is well served by a solicitor-checked online service at a fraction of solicitor cost. Anything involving disputed family relationships, significant assets, or tax planning is worth paying for tailored advice. The cost of getting a complex will wrong far exceeds what a solicitor would have charged to get it right.

What does gov.uk say about choosing a will writing service?

The government’s own guidance recommends checking who reviews your document, what happens if it goes wrong, and what the total price includes. This applies whether you use an online provider or a high-street firm.

Gov.uk’s guidance on buying will writing services recommends checking whether a genuinely qualified person reviews your document, not just an automated system, and understanding what recourse you have if the service gets something wrong. It also flags that headline prices sometimes exclude VAT or extras. An all-in price, shown clearly before you pay, is one of the clearest signals a service is being upfront with you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average cost of writing a will in the UK?

A free will costs nothing but comes with conditions, a solicitor-checked online will costs around £20, and a solicitor typically charges £200 to £650 for a straightforward will. See the full cost breakdown for what affects the price and where the hidden costs sit.

Are online wills valid in the UK?

Yes, always. A correctly signed and witnessed online will has exactly the same legal standing as one drafted by a solicitor. What matters is that the finished document is printed, signed, and witnessed properly, not which service actually drafted it.

What is the best online legal service for wills?

The right service is the one that checks your will with a qualified solicitor, shows all-in pricing, and is honestly upfront about when you need more than an online service can offer. Judge any provider against these criteria rather than marketing claims and brand names alone.

What factors should I consider when choosing a will writing service online?

Consider whether a solicitor checks the document, whether the price includes VAT, how updates are handled, and whether secure storage is available. Also weigh the complexity of your own estate against what the service is actually designed to handle.