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Best Online Will Writer UK (2026 Review & Comparison)

· 20 min

Note: The following scenario is fictional and used for illustration.

James, a 42-year-old Cardiff accountant, spent three hours comparing online will services before finally giving up in frustration. With prices ranging from £90 to £150, Trustpilot scores between 3.8 and 4.9 stars, and every service claiming to be "the UK's best," he couldn't identify meaningful differences. When he searched "best online will UK," he found affiliate sites recommending different services on different pages. The £60 price difference between the cheapest and most expensive seemed significant, but James worried: was he risking his family's future to save money? Without clear guidance, he postponed the decision—leaving his wife and two young children unprotected.

More than 40% of UK adults now have a will, and online services have revolutionised the market. Traditional solicitor fees of £150-£500+ have given way to online services costing £90-£150, with comparable legal validity. But with Farewill, Which? Wills, Beyond, Co-op Legal Services, WUHLD, and dozens more competing for your business, how do you choose?

This comprehensive review compares the UK's leading online will services using objective criteria: pricing, legal validity, features, customer service, regulation, and real value. We'll show you exactly what you get for your money, what matters for legal compliance, and which service suits your specific needs.

Table of Contents

How We Evaluated Online Will Services

With over 32 million UK adults without a will and dozens of online services competing, independent comparison is essential. We evaluated services on seven objective criteria, not just price or Trustpilot stars.

Pricing and Value considers total cost including updates, storage, and additional documents. Legal Validity and Expert Review examines who checks wills, their qualifications, and error protection. Regulation and Insurance assesses SRA regulation, IPW/SWW membership, and indemnity insurance levels. Ease of Use evaluates completion time, question clarity, and save-and-return functionality.

Customer Support measures phone/email/chat availability and response times. Customer Reviews analyses Trustpilot ratings, volume, and common complaints. Additional Features includes storage, executor services, updates policy, and extra documents.

We excluded services with very low review counts, unclear ownership, or no professional membership. Transparency statement: This review includes WUHLD, our own service. We've applied the same objective criteria to ourselves as to competitors, highlighting both strengths and limitations.

Traditional solicitor services dropped to 49% market share in 2025, showing growing acceptance of online alternatives.

Top 5 Online Will Services Compared (At-a-Glance)

Here's how the UK's top 5 online will services compare on the metrics that matter most:

Service Single Couple Review Trustpilot Reviews Regulation Updates Storage Extra Docs Time Best For
Farewill £100 £160 Yes 4.9★ 19,000+ IPW £10/year Optional Will only 30 min Award-winning service & support
Which? Wills £99 £156 Optional (+£20) 3.8★ 400 IPW Per revision Optional Will only 30 min Independent organisation backing
Beyond £90 £135 Yes N/A N/A IPW £10/year Included (w/ sub) Will + NWR 15-30 min Budget-conscious buyers
Co-op Legal £150 £245 Yes 4.0★ 1,000+ SRA (fully regulated) Per revision Free for life Will only Variable Full solicitor regulation
WUHLD £99.99 £179.98 Yes N/A New service IPW (pending) First year free Digital Will + 3 guides 15 min Value seekers, transparency

The price range is narrow (£90-£150), so value differences come from what's included. All services produce legally valid wills when properly executed. Trustpilot ratings should be considered alongside review volume—4.9 stars from 19,000 reviews carries more weight than 4.0 stars from 12 reviews.

Regulation varies significantly: only Co-op Legal is fully SRA-regulated, while others rely on IPW membership. The "best" service depends on your priorities—awards and support (Farewill), regulation (Co-op Legal), value (WUHLD/Beyond), or independent backing (Which?).

Farewill Review: National Will Writing Firm of the Year

Farewill won National Will Writing Firm of the Year every year since 2019 and has 4.9 stars on Trustpilot from over 19,000 reviews.

Farewill charges £100 for a single will or £160 for couple wills, saving £40. The first 12 months of updates are free, then £10 per year for unlimited updates. You can start for free and only pay when ready to finalise.

The service works through a 30-minute online questionnaire. Every will is proofread and approved by a will specialist before release. You get access to live expert support seven days a week at no extra cost.

Strengths: Exceptional customer service (4.9 stars, 19,000+ reviews). Award-winning support available seven days a week. Established market leader since 2017. Start for free, pay only when ready.

Limitations: £100 price higher than some competitors. Limited complex estate support. £10/year subscription required after year one.

Emma, a Manchester GP, chose Farewill for the seven-day phone support when coordinating guardianship arrangements with her sister.

Best for: Those prioritising customer service and willing to pay a small premium for award-winning support.

Which? Wills Review: Independent Consumer Champion

Which? Wills is backed by the UK's independent consumer organisation and won Will Writing Firm of the Year (Online) 2023.

Pricing offers three tiers: £99 for Self-Service single wills, £119 with Expert Legal Review, or £169 Premium Package. Mirror wills cost £156 for Self-Service, £189 with Expert Review, or £259 Premium. Which? uses pay-per-revision updates with no annual subscription option.

The service works through a 30-minute online questionnaire. You can choose optional expert legal review by specialist paralegals supervised by an SRA-regulated solicitor.

Strengths: Trusted Which? backing. Award-winning service with transparent tiered pricing. SRA-supervised team. Flexible self-service or expert review options.

Limitations: Lower Trustpilot rating (3.8 stars, 400 reviews) versus Farewill. Pay-per-revision updates expensive for frequent changes. Expert review costs extra £20. Premium package (£169) approaches solicitor prices.

David, 56, chose Which? Wills for the trusted brand and £119 expert review option without full solicitor fees.

Best for: Those wanting independent organisation backing and flexible service tiers without frequent updates.

Beyond Review: Value-Focused Service

Beyond offers the lowest upfront cost at £90 for a single will.

Pricing is straightforward: £90 for single wills, £135 for couples. An optional subscription costs £10 per year for unlimited updates plus secure physical storage. National Will Registration (normally £30 value) is included in the base price.

Beyond works through a 15-30 minute online questionnaire. You pay only when you print and sign, not upfront—reducing purchase risk. The will is reviewed by professionals before release.

Strengths: Lowest upfront price (£90). National Will Registration included. £10/year subscription covers both updates and storage. Pay only when finalising.

Limitations: Limited public review data. Smaller brand recognition. Less detailed specialist qualification information.

Sarah, a new mum, chose Beyond for the £90 price and included National Will Registration, with the option to add updates later for £10/year.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers with straightforward estates who want lowest upfront cost and National Will Registration included.

Co-op Legal Services is the only fully SRA-regulated option among major online will services.

Pricing is premium: £150 for single wills, £245 for mirror wills. All prices include VAT with fixed-fee pricing—no hourly billing surprises. Updates use pay-per-revision pricing with no annual unlimited option.

Co-op Legal offers multiple service channels: online, telephone, video call, or face-to-face in your home. You work with qualified legal professionals throughout. Wills are drafted by SRA-regulated solicitors, not paralegals or will writers.

Strengths: Full SRA regulation (highest legal oversight). Free lifetime storage. Multiple delivery options including in-person. Legal Ombudsman access. Trusted Co-op brand. Fixed-fee pricing.

Limitations: Highest price (£150 vs £90-£100). Pay-per-revision updates. Lower Trustpilot rating (4.0 stars). Regulation premium may be unnecessary for straightforward estates.

Robert, 61, chose Co-op Legal for his moderately complex estate (£450,000 with business assets), valuing full SRA regulation and free lifetime storage.

Best for: Those prioritising maximum regulation, SRA protection, Legal Ombudsman access, or in-person service options.

WUHLD Review: Best Value Comprehensive Package

WUHLD offers value through included supporting documents and free will preview before payment—unique among major providers.

Pricing is competitive: £99.99 for single wills, £179.98 for couples. The first year of updates is included free. No subscription fees or recurring charges exist. One-time payment with no credit card required for preview.

WUHLD works through a guided online questionnaire taking approximately 15 minutes. You preview your entire will free before paying anything—no other service offers complete preview without payment or credit card. The will is reviewed by qualified specialists.

You receive a legally valid will plus three supporting documents: Testator Guide (how to execute your will correctly), Witness Guide (instructions for your witnesses), and Asset Inventory Guide (for your executors). Digital document storage and first year of updates are included free.

Strengths: Four documents included (versus will-only elsewhere). Unique free preview before payment. Second-lowest price (£99.99). 15-minute platform. No recurring subscriptions. Supporting documents reduce execution errors.

Limitations: New service with limited review history. Smaller brand recognition. IPW membership pending. Less proven track record than established competitors.

Lisa, 41, chose WUHLD for the free preview and included Witness Guide after her mother's will was contested due to witness errors.

Full disclosure: WUHLD is our service. We've applied the same objective criteria to ourselves. The strengths reflect genuine differentiators; the limitations are real trade-offs.

Best for: Value-conscious buyers wanting supporting documents, free preview, one-time payment, and clear executor guidance.

Price Comparison: What You Actually Pay

Upfront price is just one factor. To understand real value, consider total cost over five years including updates, storage, and what's included in the base price.

Here's the five-year cost comparison:

Service Upfront (Single) Year 1-5 Updates Storage (5 yrs) Extra Docs Total 5-Year Cost
Farewill £100 £40 (4 years × £10) £0-50 (optional) £0 £140-190
Which? Wills £119 (w/ review) £60-100 (est. 2 revisions) £0-50 (optional) £0 £179-269
Beyond £90 £40 (4 years × £10) Included w/ sub £0 (NWR inc.) £130
Co-op Legal £150 £60-100 (est. 2 revisions) £0 (free for life) £0 £210-250
WUHLD £99.99 £0 (year 1 free) Included (digital) 3 guides inc. £99.99

Beyond offers the best five-year value at £130 if you need regular updates. WUHLD offers best value if you don't need updates beyond year one at £99.99 total. Which? and Co-op Legal become most expensive over time due to pay-per-revision models.

Farewill's £10/year unlimited updates provide excellent value for people with changing circumstances like new children or house moves. Your life stage affects your real cost—young families with growing children need frequent updates, favouring subscription models.

Watch for hidden costs: National Will Registration (£20-£30 extra at most services—Beyond includes it free), professional executor services (£495-£2,750 optional), expert review fees (Which? charges £20 extra, others include free), and storage fees.

Over 85% of UK adults using will advisers choose fixed-fee pricing.

The most common concern about online wills: "Are they legally valid?" The answer is yes, when properly executed. The law doesn't care how your will was created—only that it meets specific legal requirements.

Under Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837, a will is legally valid if it's in writing, made by someone aged 18 or over with testamentary capacity, signed by the testator in the presence of two independent witnesses present simultaneously, and each witness signs in the presence of the testator.

Online services simply help you draft the content. Validity depends entirely on proper execution—signing and witnessing—not whether a solicitor or software created the document. A will created online and properly executed has identical legal status to one drafted by a £500/hour solicitor.

Online wills can fail due to witness errors, lack of capacity, improper storage, or ambiguous wording. Expert-reviewed services with proper guidance prevent these problems.

Online wills work well for: married couples with adult children, UK property owned jointly, estates under £500,000, standard assets, and clear wishes.

Use a solicitor for: business ownership, property abroad, complicated family structures, estates over IHT threshold, trusts, or expected contests.

More than 90% of estates have no Inheritance Tax liability, meaning most UK adults have straightforward estates suitable for online services.

When to Use an Online Will vs a Solicitor

Use an online will service (£90-£150) when: You're married/in a civil partnership with straightforward beneficiaries, own your home jointly, have an estate under £500,000, want to leave everything to spouse then children, have UK assets only, and have a stable family situation.

Rachel and Tom own a £280,000 house jointly, have £40,000 savings, and two children. They want everything to each other, then split between children. An online will is perfect—a solicitor would cost £300+ extra without additional legal protection.

Use a solicitor (£150-£500+) when: You own a business, have property abroad, need tax planning, have children from multiple relationships, own property as tenants in common, want trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries, expect contests, or have complex assets.

Marcus owns an £800,000 property portfolio, has children from two relationships, and wants a trust for his disabled daughter. This requires specialist solicitor advice (£750) for tax planning and contest minimisation.

Grey area: Unmarried couples with shared property, estates just over IHT threshold, or straightforward estates with one difficult family member. Start with a free preview service, then consider a solicitor consultation (£100-150) if needed.

Your Situation Online Service Risk Solicitor Value Recommendation
Married, kids, house, under £500k estate Very Low Limited Online (£90-150)
Unmarried, shared property, no kids Low-Medium Moderate Online + legal ownership advice
Business owner, under £500k estate Medium Moderate-High Consider solicitor (£300-500)
Complex family, over £500k estate High High Solicitor (£500+)
Blended family, business, overseas assets Very High Very High Specialist solicitor (£750+)

Traditional solicitor fees range from £150-£225 for simple wills, £300-£500 for complex cases, and £1,000+ for very complex estates.

What to Look for When Choosing an Online Will Service

Use this checklist to evaluate any online will service:

1. Regulation and Professional Membership: Check for SRA regulation or IPW/SWW membership. IPW/SWW members must hold £2 million professional indemnity insurance. Over 25% of UK adults falsely believe all will-writing services are regulated—verify membership directly.

2. Expert Review: Ensure a qualified professional reviews your will. Software can't catch logical errors or unclear instructions.

3. Total Cost: Calculate upfront price plus update costs, storage fees, and extras over five years. Example: £90 upfront plus £20 per update (×3) equals £150 versus £110 with free updates.

4. Customer Reviews: Check Trustpilot rating and volume. Farewill's 4.9 stars from 19,000+ reviews is more reliable than 5.0 stars from 12 reviews. Minimum: 100+ reviews, 4.0+ stars.

5. Support: Verify phone/email/chat availability and response times. Best: seven-day phone support, clear FAQs.

6. Transparency: Can you preview before paying? Free preview reduces purchase risk.

7. Included Documents: Check for supporting documents (witness guide, executor guide). Research shows 20-30% of homemade wills fail due to execution errors.

8. Update Policy: Verify first-year status, subscription costs, and per-revision pricing. Best practice: first year free, £10-20/year unlimited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which is the best online will service in the UK?

A: The best online will service depends on your needs. Farewill (£100) offers award-winning service with excellent customer support and over 19,000 five-star Trustpilot reviews. WUHLD (£99.99) provides the best value with four documents included and free preview before paying. Which? Wills (£99) suits those wanting independent consumer organisation backing. Co-op Legal Services (£150) is best for those prioritising full SRA regulation and free lifetime storage.

Q: Are online wills legally valid in the UK?

A: Yes, online wills are legally valid in the UK if they meet the requirements of Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837. The will must be in writing, signed by you in the presence of two independent witnesses who also sign. The online service simply helps you draft the content—validity depends on proper execution and witnessing, not how the will was created.

Q: How much does an online will cost in the UK?

A: Online will costs in the UK typically range from £90 to £150 for a single will. Farewill charges £100, WUHLD costs £99.99, Beyond is £90, Which? Wills starts at £99, and Co-op Legal Services is £150. This compares to £150-£500+ for a solicitor-drafted will. Most online services charge £10/year for unlimited updates after the first year.

Q: What's the difference between Farewill and Which? Wills?

A: Farewill (£100) won National Will Writing Firm of the Year and offers exceptional customer service with unlimited phone support seven days a week. Which? Wills (£99-£169) is backed by the independent consumer organisation Which? and won Online Will Writing Firm of the Year 2023. Both offer expert review, but Farewill has significantly more Trustpilot reviews (19,000+) compared to Which? (400).

Q: Are online will services regulated in the UK?

A: Will-writing is not a reserved legal activity in the UK, so most online services are unregulated. However, reputable services offer protection through professional body membership—IPW or SWW members must hold minimum £2 million professional indemnity insurance and follow codes of practice. Co-op Legal Services is fully SRA-regulated. When choosing a service, check for IPW or SWW membership and professional indemnity insurance coverage.

Q: Can I update my online will after I've created it?

A: Yes, most online will services offer updates. Farewill and Beyond charge £10/year for unlimited updates after the first year free. WUHLD includes the first year free, then charges per update. Which? Wills and Co-op Legal charge per revision with no annual subscription option. Always check update costs before committing.

Q: Should I use an online will service or a solicitor?

A: Use an online will service (£90-£150) if your estate is straightforward: you're married or in a civil partnership, have standard beneficiaries, own UK property jointly, and your estate is under £500,000. Use a solicitor (£150-£500+) if you have complex needs: business ownership, property abroad, children from multiple relationships, or estates over IHT threshold.

Q: What happens to my will if the online company goes out of business?

A: Your will remains legally valid regardless of whether the company exists. However, you'll need to store it safely yourself. Most services offer optional storage—free with Co-op Legal for life, £10/year with Beyond's subscription. Always keep your physical will in a secure location and tell your executors where it is.

Q: How long does it take to create a will online?

A: Creating a basic will online typically takes 15-30 minutes to answer the questionnaire. However, you should spend additional time gathering information first: full names and addresses of executors and beneficiaries, details of assets and their values, guardian preferences for children. Most services let you save and return.

Q: Do online wills include inheritance tax planning?

A: Most online will services provide limited inheritance tax planning. They typically cover basic IHT concepts and spousal exemption, but not complex strategies like trusts or business property relief. If your estate exceeds £325,000 plus £175,000 residence nil-rate band, consult a specialist solicitor for IHT planning.

Conclusion

Key takeaways:

  • Best overall: Farewill (£100)—award-winning support, seven-day phone access, 19,000+ five-star reviews
  • Best value: WUHLD (£99.99)—will plus three guides, free preview, transparent pricing
  • Best budget: Beyond (£90)—lowest upfront cost with National Will Registration included
  • Best regulation: Co-op Legal (£150)—fully SRA-regulated with free lifetime storage
  • Best flexibility: Which? Wills (£99-£169)—tiered pricing from self-service to premium

All reviewed services produce legally valid wills when properly executed. The "best" depends on your priorities: exceptional support (Farewill), independent backing (Which?), lowest price (Beyond), full regulation (Co-op Legal), or comprehensive value (WUHLD).

What matters most is that you create your will. More than 32 million UK adults remain without wills, leaving families vulnerable to intestacy rules. Choose the service that addresses your needs and complete your will this week.

Need Help with Your Will?

Now that you understand how online will services compare, the next step is protecting your family by creating your will.

Create your will with confidence using WUHLD's guided platform. For just £99.99, you'll get your complete will (legally binding when properly executed and witnessed) plus three expert guides. Preview your will free before paying anything—no credit card required.

Legal Disclaimer:

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.

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