Best Online Wills in Canada
Key Takeaways
Long-term Value
The best online wills aren't just cheaper. They include free updates, so your will stays current without ongoing fees.
Easy to use means fewer mistakes
A clear, guided experience leads to a more complete, accurate will. Confusing tools leave gaps.
Clarity beats complexity
Most Canadians don't need endless options. They need clarity, guidance, and the confidence that their will is done right.
Making a will in Canada
Nearly 60% of Canadians don't have a will. There are three ways to make one: hire a lawyer, use a DIY kit, or use an online platform. More Canadians are choosing online every year.
As more of our financial lives move online, estate planning is following suit. One in four Canadians now use a digital platform for a simpler, guided experience.
The future of estate planning is digital.
Which online will platform is right for you?
The differences in cost, features, and experience can make it hard to choose.
There are three ways to create a will:
Hire a lawyer
Best for complex estates, like blended families or business owners. You get personalized advice, but at a higher cost. Updating your will means another appointment and another bill.
DIY will kit
Fully self-guided and lowest cost. But without support, it's easy to miss important details.
Online platform
Step-by-step guidance at a mid-range cost. Designed to be straightforward, covering what most Canadians actually need.
For most Canadians, an online will is the smartest choice in 2026.
Willful starts at just $129. But price is only part of the story.
Let's look at the real cost of making a will online: upfront price, long-term fees, and what you might be missing.
Upfront vs. long-term costs
Your will should evolve with your life. Experts recommend reviewing it every three to five years, and any time something major changes.
Online wills vary widely in price. The base cost is only part of it. Add-ons, update fees, and subscriptions can add up fast.
Some platforms look cheap upfront. LawDepot, for example, requires a $35/month subscription to keep your will active online. That's $420 a year. Others charge a flat fee but bill you again every time you make an update.
With Willful, you pay once and update for free, whenever your life changes. No subscriptions. No surprise fees. Just a will that keeps up with you.
Willful vs. The Traditional Lawyer
A lawyer-drafted will costs an average of $1,000 to $2,500. And every time your life changes, updating it can cost just as much.
It's one of the reasons people put it off. Why spend $1,000+ now, knowing you'll spend it again later?
With a Willful online estate plan, you can write a will without a lawyer, update your documents for free as your life changes. Everything is written and reviewed by lawyers in your province. Same peace of mind, one-time cost of $129.
Willful is a great fit for most Canadians, but some situations do call for a lawyer. If you have a complex business, a blended family, or need a spousal trust, professional legal advice is worth it. When in doubt, talk to a lawyer.
Willful vs. LegalWills
LegalWills has been around for a long time. But its experience shows. The interface is outdated, and the yearly fee means you keep paying to maintain your will.
LegalWills gives you a long menu of options to pick from. That sounds like flexibility, until you realize the burden's on you to know which ones you actually need.
Willful works differently. We ask targeted questions in plain language and trigger the right legal clauses based on your answers. You don't need to know which clauses apply to you. And if a choice contradicts something you said earlier, Willful will flag it.
Willful is built for how Canadians actually live: one flat fee, free updates for life, and a clean experience from start to finish.
Willful vs. Epilogue
Epilogue's main differentiator is RBC corporate executorship, where the bank acts as your executor (the person responsible for carrying out your wishes). It's a niche service. Most Canadians (84%) choose a trusted family member or friend.
Willful keeps you in control, without any bank or institution involvement.
Willful vs. ClearEstate
Willful and ClearEstate seem comparable on the surface, but they offer two different products meant for different stages of handling your estate. ClearEstate is a platform that focuses on estate settlement; Willful focuses on estate planning. ClearEstate will help you after someone has passed to ensure their estate is settled properly, while Willful gives you control now of documenting your wishes before they come into effect.
Willful vs. LawDepot vs. FormalWill
Willful isn’t the same as a generic online will kit. Platforms like LawDepot and FormalWill provide a basic template, requiring you to fill in the blanks.
Willful is different. A guided questionnaire walks you through your specific situation: from naming your beneficiaries (the people who inherit your assets) and your executor, to special gifts, family heirlooms, and pet trusts. The result is a will built around your life, not a generic form.
What is the best online will platform in Canada?
For most Canadians, an online will is a safe, legally valid way to protect the people you love. The right platform comes down to cost, ease, and confidence that it's done properly.
Experts agree: for most Canadians, a guided online platform like Willful is the smart call. It's flexible, affordable, and built to grow with your life.
Willful takes about 20 minutes to complete and can be updated for free, as many times as you need. One flat fee.
No surprises.