LawDepot Alternative: MakeLease vs LawDepot
Prices and features verified: · by MakeLease Editorial Team
The short answer
Choose LawDepot if…
- you want the lease questionnaire to ask for your property's location and work state-specific deposit-return rules into the document
- you also need wills, powers of attorney, business or family documents, and want them all in one subscription
- you want a variant lease such as rent-to-own or a short-term rental agreement from the same provider
- you want an optional paid route to a lawyer through LawDepot's partner before you sign
- you are comfortable entering a card and setting a reminder to cancel the trial before it renews
Choose MakeLease if…
- you need one residential lease drafted, downloaded and signed without entering a card
- you want e-signature included at no cost today, with tenants signing from an emailed link and no account of their own
- you would rather not manage a trial that turns into a monthly subscription
- you are prepared to check your state's landlord-tenant rules and add any required clauses or disclosures yourself
- you also want a free tenant portal, renewals and maintenance work orders alongside the lease
Who should choose which
First-time landlord renting one unit
Better fit: MakeLease
You need one lease, signed, this week. With LawDepot that means either a single-document purchase (which does not include eSign) or a free trial that asks for a card and renews at $49 per month. MakeLease costs nothing today and needs only a free account. Plan time to look up your state's rules, because MakeLease will not add them for you.
Landlord who wants the interview to handle state differences
Better fit: LawDepot
LawDepot's lease questionnaire starts by asking for the property type and location and includes state-specific rules for returning the security deposit. MakeLease's wizard is not state-specific. If that guidance is what you are paying for, LawDepot is the better fit.
Small landlord who also needs a will or an LLC agreement
Better fit: LawDepot
LawDepot's subscription covers its whole template library across estate, business, family and real estate documents. MakeLease covers the lease plus free landlord forms only. If you will use several non-rental documents this year, the annual plan at $155.88 may be worth it.
Landlord managing tenants after the lease is signed
Better fit: MakeLease
MakeLease includes a free tenant portal, renewals and maintenance work orders. LawDepot's plans are built around document access, and its pricing page lists no tenant-management features.
Landlord who wants a lawyer to look at the lease
Better fit: LawDepot and MakeLease together
Neither product is a law firm. LawDepot links to a paid partner service, JustAnswer, for legal questions. MakeLease does not offer attorney access. With either tool, a local landlord-tenant attorney can review your draft before anyone signs.
Pricing: LawDepot vs MakeLease
| LawDepot | MakeLease | |
|---|---|---|
| Price to start | Free 7-day trial, then $49/month[1] | $0, no card[34] |
| Card required | Yes, card required for the free trial[5] | No card[34] |
| Real-estate documents only | PaidEssentials: $35/month or $107.88/year[4] | $0, no card[34] |
| Every document, billed yearly | Paid1-Year Pro: $155.88/year, renews annually[2] | $0, no card[34] |
| One document, no subscription | PaidSingle Document License: $7.50 to $119 one-time, depending on the document; no eSign[3][10] | YesFree (free account required)[34] |
| What happens after the trial | Renews automatically unless cancelled before the trial ends[9][5] | No card[34] |
| Account needed | Free account to create and save drafts; license to download or print[7] | Free account to generate or send[34] |
LawDepot prices are from its US pricing page. Its public pricing page gives a $7.50 to $119 range for single documents and does not name the price of a residential lease specifically, so we have not stated one. Under LawDepot's terms, it has no obligation to refund a free trial that properly converted to a paid plan, and annual subscriptions can be refunded within 30 days of initial purchase.
Features compared
| LawDepot | MakeLease | |
|---|---|---|
| Create a lease | YesGuided questionnaire; drafts saved in a free account[7][23] | YesFree, guided 8-step wizard[34] |
| Download or print the finished lease | PaidNeeds a license, trial or subscription[8][7] | YesFree (free account required)[34] |
| E-signature | PaidTrial or subscription only; not included with one-time purchases[10][11] | YesFree; tenant needs no account[36] |
| State-tailored lease interview | YesAsks for property location; includes state-specific deposit-return rules[23] | NoNot state-specific; you add state rules[35] |
| Document library beyond rentals | YesHundreds of templates: estate, business, family, real estate[28] | PartlyLease plus free landlord forms[34] |
| Rental paperwork around the lease | YesInspection report, rent receipts, notice to enter, rent-to-own and short-term rental agreements[24][25] | PartlyLease plus free landlord forms[34] |
| Access to a lawyer | PaidThrough partner JustAnswer, priced separately[27] | NoNot offered[35] |
| Tenant portal | NoNot listedF1[1][4] | YesFree[34] |
LawDepot also offers an Editor for final wording changes and an online notary service ($25 for the first seal). MakeLease has no equivalent row for either, so they are covered under where LawDepot wins rather than in this table.
- F1. LawDepot's pricing page lists only document-access options (Free 7-Day Trial, 1-Year Pro Subscription, Single Document License, Essentials Access). None mentions a tenant portal, and we did not find one on the LawDepot pages cited here.
✓ included · ✗ not offered · Paid = paid plan or per-use fee · Partial = offered with a limit noted in the cell. Bracketed numbers link to the source.
Where LawDepot is better
- Breadth: LawDepot says it has hundreds of document templates across estate, business, family and real estate. MakeLease covers the residential lease and a set of free landlord forms.
- State-tailored interview: LawDepot's lease questionnaire asks for the property's location and includes state-specific rules for returning the security deposit. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses; you add your state's rules yourself.
- Track record: LawDepot's story starts in 2001 and its copyright line runs from 2002. The company is Sequiter Inc., based in Alberta, Canada.
- Lease variants: LawDepot offers a rent-to-own lease and a separate short-term rental agreement for stays of 30 days or less.
- Editing: LawDepot's Editor lets you make final wording changes that the questionnaire cannot.
- Extra services: LawDepot offers online notarization ($25 for the first seal, $10 for each additional seal) and a paid route to lawyers through its partner JustAnswer. MakeLease offers neither.
What changed recently
- 2026-09-10: LawDepot's Terms and Conditions state they were last modified on September 10, 2026. We read the current version only and did not compare it with earlier ones.[21]
- 2026-10-26: LawDepot's US Residential Lease Agreement page shows a last-updated date of October 26, 2026. It still showed that date when we rechecked it on October 27, 2026.[26]
Other LawDepot alternatives
MakeLease is not the only free option. These tools ranked above us in our roundup of free lease generators, mainly because they offer state-specific lease content and MakeLease does not.
Avail
Best for: Landlords who want a free, state-specific lease with e-signature and can live with the standard clauses.
The free plan (named Unlimited) includes state-specific lease templates with digital signing. Avail says all its lease templates and e-sign options are free, offers a free printable lease PDF, and lets you upload your own lease and send it for e-signature at no cost. Avail says the free tier is not a trial.[37][38][39][40][41]
What Avail charges forInnago
Best for: Landlords who want a free downloadable state lease template plus free online signing in the same place.
Innago's pricing page lists online leasing and document storage as free with no setup fee, monthly fee or contract. Its site publishes a residential lease template page for every state and DC (credited to REI Grove), and its signing page says you can sign and store as many leases and documents as you like for free, using Dropbox Sign as its e-signature partner.[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]
What Innago charges for
Switching from LawDepot
- Before cancelling LawDepot, download any finished documents you want to keep. LawDepot's help center says that after you cancel you can still view saved documents but need a new license or subscription to print or download them.
- Sign in to LawDepot and cancel from the Help Center: open "How do I end my free trial?" and use the End Free Trial button (or "How do I cancel my subscription?" for a paid plan). Do this before the trial's end date and time.
- Cancel while signed in rather than by email. LawDepot says requests sent by email or without signing in take at least one business day to process, which can push you past the renewal deadline. Its separate cancellation form asks for the first and last four digits of your card.
- Watch for LawDepot's cancellation confirmation email, which it says is sent right away. If it doesn't arrive, check your spam folder before assuming the cancellation went through.
- Create a free MakeLease account and re-enter your lease terms in the 8-step wizard. There is no import from LawDepot, so keep your old draft open for reference.
- Check your state and city landlord-tenant rules (deposit limits, required disclosures, notice periods) and add anything required. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses.
- Download the PDF and send it for e-signature. Tenants sign from an emailed link without creating an account.
Frequently asked questions
Is LawDepot actually free?
Only partly. A free LawDepot account lets you create documents and save your progress, but LawDepot says an active license is required to download, print, or access the final version. Getting the finished lease means buying a single-document license, an Essentials or Pro subscription, or starting the 7-day free trial, which asks for a credit card.[7][5][3]
Does LawDepot charge after the free trial?
Yes, unless you cancel. LawDepot's pricing page says the Free 7-Day Trial renews at $49 per month after one week, and its help center says the license renews automatically after the one-week period. LawDepot says your card won't be charged if you cancel before the trial period is up. Some Trustpilot reviewers report being surprised by the monthly charge; in its public replies, LawDepot says renewal information is provided during sign-up.[1][9][5][32][33]
How do I cancel the LawDepot free trial?
LawDepot's help center points to an End Free Trial button with on-screen instructions. Cancel while signed in: LawDepot says requests sent by email or without signing in take at least one business day to process, so they can miss the deadline. It also says it emails a confirmation immediately after you cancel. Download any documents you want first, because printing or downloading after cancellation needs a new license.[12][13][14][16]
Is LawDepot legit?
LawDepot is a long-running document service operated by Sequiter Inc., based in Alberta, Canada, and its copyright line dates to 2002. It states that it is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice. Most complaints concern billing rather than the documents: some Trustpilot reviewers report that the free trial turned into a paid subscription they did not expect, and one wrote that "free isn't free." LawDepot's public replies say the trial renews automatically unless cancelled before it ends.[28][29][22][31][33]
Can I e-sign a lease on LawDepot without a subscription?
No. LawDepot's help center says documents bought with a one-time charge do not include the eSign tool, and starting an eSign session needs an active Free Trial, Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription. MakeLease includes e-signature at no cost today, and tenants sign without creating an account.[10][36]
Can I get a refund from LawDepot?
It depends on what you bought. LawDepot's terms say it has no obligation to refund a free trial that properly converted to paid access, or one-time purchases. Annual subscriptions can be refunded within 30 days of initial purchase. For billing questions, LawDepot's help center directs you to customer support.[19][20]
Is there a free LawDepot alternative for a residential lease?
For a single residential lease, yes. LawDepot lets a free account create and save a draft, but downloading or printing the finished document needs a license, and its free route is a 7-day trial that asks for a card and renews at $49 per month. MakeLease lets you create a lease, download the PDF and send it for e-signature at no cost today, with no card; you need a free account to generate, save or send. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses and does not offer LawDepot's wider library of legal documents.[7][5][1][34][35]
Is there a LawDepot alternative with no trial to cancel?
MakeLease does not ask for a card, so there is no trial that converts to a paid plan. With LawDepot, the free trial asks for a credit card and the license renews automatically after the one-week period unless you cancel; requests sent by email or without signing in take at least one business day to process. If you still want LawDepot for one document, its Single Document License is a one-time charge of $7.50 to $119, but it does not include eSign.[34][5][9][13][3][10]
Is the MakeLease lease specific to my state?
No. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses, so you need to check your state's and city's rules and add any required terms or disclosures yourself. If you want the questionnaire to handle state differences, LawDepot's lease interview asks for the property's location and includes state-specific deposit-return rules.[35][23]
Try MakeLease for your next lease
Answer eight short sections, generate a PDF and send it for e-signature. It costs nothing today and no card is asked for; you create a free account when you generate the lease. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses, so check your state's lease rules before you sign.
Sources and methodology
- We read each company's public pricing, feature and help pages on the date shown. We did not create accounts, start trials or contact sales.
- A claim appears on this page only if a public page supports it. Anything we could not load or confirm was left out rather than guessed.
- Complaints are quoted only as what some reviewers report, with a link. They are not statements of fact.
- We do not publish scores or star ratings. We re-check every source monthly and date each change.
- LawDepot's US pricing, terms, about, residential lease, talk-to-a-lawyer and cancellation pages were read on 2026-10-27 in headless Chrome without signing in. MakeLease facts were verified on 2026-10-26.
- LawDepot's help center loads its answers with JavaScript and has no per-article URLs, so help-center sources link to the help center home and name the article title in the label.
- We did not create a LawDepot account, start a trial or reach checkout. Prices shown inside LawDepot's checkout, including what a residential lease costs as a single document, were not checked.
- Trustpilot was used only for reported customer experiences and LawDepot's public replies. We do not cite ratings or review counts.
- We compared US plans only. LawDepot also operates in Canada, the UK, Australia and other countries with different pricing.
- [1] LawDepot pricing page: Free 7-Day Trial · accessed 2026-10-27
“Free 7-Day Trial Subscription: Unlimited access to all documents for one week. After one week, renews at $49 per month. Cancel any time.”
- [2] LawDepot pricing page: 1-Year Pro Subscription · accessed 2026-10-27
“1-Year Pro Subscription: $155.88 for one year of unlimited access to all documents. Renews annually. Cancel any time.”
- [3] LawDepot pricing page: Single Document License · accessed 2026-10-27
“Single Document License: Buy a single document for a one-time charge of $7.50 – $119, depending on the document.”
- [4] LawDepot pricing page: Essentials Access (real estate) · accessed 2026-10-27
“Essentials Access: Get unlimited access to a category of documents. After one free week, pay monthly. Or, buy unlimited access for one year that renews annually. Cancel any time. Real estate documents: $35/month or $107.88/year”
- [5] LawDepot Help Center: How long is the free trial? · accessed 2026-10-27
“LawDepot's Free Trial lasts for seven days. During this time you can create, download, and print as many documents as needed. To sign up for the Free Trial, LawDepot asks for your credit card information; this is so that we can provide uninterrupted service once the trial period ends and the monthly subscription begins. Your card won't be charged if you cancel your Free Trial before the trial period is up.”
- [6] LawDepot Help Center: Are the forms free? · accessed 2026-10-27
“Once you create your free account, you'll receive an email that confirms the account creation and reminds you when to cancel before the trial rolls over to a monthly subscription. If you cancel your trial subscription within the seven-day period, your card will not be charged.”
- [7] LawDepot Help Center: How do I create an account? · accessed 2026-10-27
“With a free LawDepot account, you can create documents, save your progress, and return to your document at any time. An active licence is required to download, print, or access the final version of your documents.”
- [8] LawDepot Help Center: How do I download my document? · accessed 2026-10-27
“If you do not have a license or subscription: You must purchase a license or subscription in order to download a document.”
- [9] LawDepot Help Center: Why do I have charges on my credit card? · accessed 2026-10-27
“Your Free Trial has ended. The Free Trial gives you one week of uninterrupted access to all of LawDepot's documents. This license automatically renews after the one-week period. However, there are no obligations to stay subscribed; you may cancel online at any time.”
- [10] LawDepot Help Center: Is eSign included in document license purchase? · accessed 2026-10-27
“Documents purchased with a one-time charge, including the Multi-Year Essentials License, do not include access to the eSign tool. Although some documents may display the eSign option on the document preview page, starting an eSign session requires an active LawDepot subscription, such as a Free Trial, Monthly Subscription, or Yearly Subscription.”
- [11] LawDepot Help Center: Is eSign safe and secure? · accessed 2026-10-27
“Audit trails with electronic signature completion certificates Recipient link expiration after 45 days and inactive session timeouts”
- [12] LawDepot Help Center: How do I end my free trial? · accessed 2026-10-27
“To cancel your free trial, simply click the button below and follow the on-screen instructions. End Free Trial”
- [13] LawDepot Help Center: I cancelled but still got charged. · accessed 2026-10-27
“It's also possible you missed the cancellation deadline if you submitted your request without signing in or through email because it takes at least one business day for LawDepot to process these requests.”
- [14] LawDepot Help Center: Will I receive a confirmation of my cancellation? · accessed 2026-10-27
“We will send you an email confirmation immediately after you cancel your LawDepot account.”
- [15] LawDepot Help Center: What happens to my saved document when I cancel the subscription? · accessed 2026-10-27
“When you cancel your subscription, you may still log in to your account and view your documents but you'll need to purchase a new license or subscription to print or download a copy.”
- [16] LawDepot Help Center: If I cancel my account, can I still access my documents? · accessed 2026-10-27
“Before cancelling your account, ensure you download the documents to your desktop or laptop for easy retrieval. Your documents are securely saved in your account, however, you require an active license to print them in future.”
- [17] LawDepot Help Center: What's the difference between "Change Answers" and "Editor"? · accessed 2026-10-27
“The Editor allows you to perform final document edits that cannot be completed from the question template.”
- [18] LawDepot cancellation request form · accessed 2026-10-27
“Please provide the following information to complete your cancellation request. Requests may take up to one day to process. What credit card did you use for your subscription?”
- [19] LawDepot Terms and Conditions: Guarantees and Refunds · accessed 2026-10-27
“LawDepot® has no obligation to refund One-Time Purchases. ... LawDepot® has no obligation to refund for Free Trials properly converted to paid product access. ... Annual Subscriptions are subject to a refund within 30 days of initial purchase.”
- [20] LawDepot Help Center: Can I get a refund? · accessed 2026-10-27
“Please contact a Customer Support Representative for refunds and other billing inquiries.”
- [21] LawDepot Terms and Conditions: last modified · accessed 2026-10-27
“These Terms were last modified on September 10, 2026.”
- [22] LawDepot Terms and Conditions: legal advice · accessed 2026-10-27
“LawDepot® is not a law firm and does not provide Legal Advice”
- [23] LawDepot Residential Lease Agreement page: how to write · accessed 2026-10-27
“To create a standard agreement, first select the kind of rental property and its location. ... Security deposit: Add information on deposits if required, including the amount and state-specific rules for returning the deposit.”
- [24] LawDepot Residential Lease Agreement page: FAQ "What steps should I take after I make my lease agreement?" · accessed 2026-10-27
“Before a tenant moves into the property, complete a Rental Inspection Report to document the property's condition. To help manage your property, use key documents such as Rent Receipts and Notice to Enter, while staying up to date with leasing legislation and renewals.”
- [25] LawDepot Residential Lease Agreement page: lease types · accessed 2026-10-27
“LawDepot offers a rent-to-own (option-to-purchase) lease agreement. ... If you have a property you use for short-term leases (30 days or less), use our Short-Term Rental Agreement template.”
- [26] LawDepot Residential Lease Agreement page: last updated · accessed 2026-10-27
“Last updated October 26, 2026”
- [27] LawDepot Talk to a Lawyer page · accessed 2026-10-27
“LawDepot's partner, JustAnswer, makes expert legal advice accessible and affordable. ... JustAnswer connects you with verified attorneys at a clear, upfront price.”
- [28] LawDepot About page · accessed 2026-10-27
“In 2001, LawDepot's founder Ken Sawyer needed a Promissory Note ... What started as a simple IOU expanded into hundreds of document templates to address the many real-life situations that people face every day. ... We're based in Alberta, Canada, with offices in the United States and the United Kingdom.”
- [29] LawDepot site footer (pricing page) · accessed 2026-10-27
“LawDepot is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice. We provide information and software and you are responsible for appropriately using this material. ©2002-2026 LawDepot® (Sequiter Inc.). All Rights Reserved.”
- [30] LawDepot Help Center: How much does online notarization cost? · accessed 2026-10-27
“The first seal with Online Notary is $25. Each additional seal is $10. A single document typically only needs one seal. LawDepot subscribers also receive 20% off.”
- [31] Trustpilot 1-star reviews of LawDepot (review dated Jul 22, 2026) · accessed 2026-10-27
“since this is a onetime use I chose the "free for one week" plan. But this company failed to stress that free isn't free.”
- [32] Trustpilot 1-star reviews of LawDepot (renewal charge; review dated Sep 2, 2026) · accessed 2026-10-27
“I signed up for the 7 day free trial to take care of some paperwork for my grandmother with cancer. Left it open for a couple months because it was only $12.99 a month and I did not know what other legal paperwork I may need. Went to cancel it like 45 days later and it was actually $49 a month.”
- [33] Trustpilot: LawDepot's public reply to a 1-star review (Sep 16, 2026) · accessed 2026-10-27
“LawDepot offers a subscription-based service that includes a free trial period, after which the subscription renews automatically unless canceled before the end of the trial. Information about the subscription and renewal process is provided during sign up, and customers can manage or cancel their subscriptions through their account settings at any time.”
- [34] MakeLease lease agreement generator · accessed 2026-10-26
“Creating a lease, downloading the PDF and sending it for e-signature cost nothing today, and no card is asked for. You need a free account to generate, save or send a lease.”
- [35] MakeLease generator: honest limits · accessed 2026-10-26
“MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses. It does not collect rent, run credit or background checks, syndicate listings, or have a mobile app.”
- [36] MakeLease e-sign guide · accessed 2026-10-26
“Tenants sign from an emailed link without creating an account. MakeLease records the signer's name, a timestamp, IP address and browser user agent, and stores a SHA-256 hash of the generated PDF.”
- [37] Avail pricing: free plan · accessed 2026-10-27
“Unlimited $0/unit Unlimited Units Access basic rental property management tools. ... Use state-specific leases with digital signing”
- [38] Avail lease agreement page: cost FAQ · accessed 2026-10-27
“All Avail lease agreement templates and e-sign options are free to use.”
- [39] Avail lease agreement page: printable PDF · accessed 2026-10-27
“Prefer a physical lease you can print? Download our free lease PDF and other helpful templates now.”
- [40] Avail lease agreement page: upload your own lease · accessed 2026-10-27
“Simply upload your lease, add unlimited digital signatures for free, and send it directly to your tenants — all within our platform.”
- [41] Avail pricing FAQ: free tier vs trial · accessed 2026-10-27
“Our base Avail pricing tier is entirely free for landlords, with no time limits or hidden trial expirations.”
- [42] Innago pricing page · accessed 2026-10-27
“Every Feature listed below is included in your Innago account at absolutely no cost to you.”
- [43] Innago pricing page: leasing row · accessed 2026-10-27
“No Setup Fee No Monthly Fee No Contract ... Online Leasing & Document Storage FREE”
- [44] Innago sitemap: state lease pages · accessed 2026-10-27
“https://innago.com/residential-lease-agreement/alabama/ … https://innago.com/residential-lease-agreement/wyoming/ … https://innago.com/residential-lease-agreement/district-of-columbia/”
- [45] Innago California residential lease agreement page · accessed 2026-10-27
“To make your journey easier, REI Grove is offering a California lease agreement template for download.”
- [46] Innago online lease signing page · accessed 2026-10-27
“Sign and store as many leases and other documents as you like, as always – for free.”
- [47] Innago online lease signing page: e-signature partner · accessed 2026-10-27
“Our eSignature partner, Dropbox Sign (formerly Hellosign), helps us ensure that both your convenience and security are making a serious improvement.”
- [48] Innago online lease signing page: custom templates · accessed 2026-10-27
“Create as many custom lease templates as you need. Automated fields make the process a breeze.”
- [49] Innago free landlord forms page · accessed 2026-10-27
“Lease Agreements, Addendums, Notices, & Many More Available. Easily Download, Edit, or Print Documents. Sign Online With Our Free Software.”
LawDepot, Avail and Innago are trademarks of their respective owners. MakeLease is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them. Names are used only to identify the products being compared. This page is general information, not legal advice.