TurboCourt alternative: e-filing versus the whole case
TurboCourt does one thing we do not: it e-files directly with some courts. It also does nothing before or after the form.
Competitor pricing read from their own published pages on 2026-10-10. Prices change; check theirs before deciding.
What TurboCourt actually is
TurboCourt is a guided-interview system integrated with the courts themselves. It operates in California, Arizona, Texas, New Hampshire and Hawaii, and in many jurisdictions it does not merely fill the form — it transmits it to the court. That integration is genuine and we do not have it.
Pricing is per jurisdiction and per case type rather than a published tier list. Observed figures: a $54.95 service fee on a California filing, $3.80 per filing for Arizona e-Serve, free in Texas, and a 3% card surcharge in New Hampshire from September 2025. For a California small claims filing, budget around $55 on top of the court's own fee.
Where TurboCourt wins
- It can e-file. If your county accepts electronic filing through TurboCourt, you may never visit the courthouse to file. That is a real convenience and the main reason to use them.
- It is court-sanctioned. Several courts link to it directly, which is about as strong a trust signal as exists in this category.
- It covers more than small claims — family law, civil, traffic. If you have a non-small-claims matter, we cannot help at all.
Where it leaves you on your own
TurboCourt is a filing utility. Before and after the filing, there is nothing:
- No demand letter. Yet California expects you to have asked for payment before you file, and the SC-100 asks you to confirm it. This is also the step where most disputes actually settle.
- No mailing with proof of delivery.
- No guidance on which county or which branch. The interview assumes you already know.
- No service-of-process help. This is where self-represented cases most often fail — wrong server, late service, or proof never filed.
- No evidence organisation and no hearing preparation. You get a filed form and a date, and then you are alone in a courtroom.
- Interface. It is a functional form wizard built for throughput, not a product designed for a stressed person on a phone at 11pm.
Side by side
| TurboCourt | File My Small Claims | |
|---|---|---|
| Demand letter | No | Free |
| Certified mailing with proof | No | $29 |
| Fills SC-100 | Yes | Yes |
| E-files with the court | Yes, where supported | No — you file |
| Tells you which county and branch | No | Yes, all 58 |
| Service deadline help | No | Yes |
| Evidence organiser | No | Yes |
| Hearing preparation | No | Yes |
| Post-judgment collection | No | Yes |
| Price, one California small claims case | ~$55 | $49 |
| Other states and case types | Yes | No — California small claims only |
TurboCourt figures observed on their own jurisdiction pages, 2026-10-10. Pricing varies by court, so check yours.
Using both is reasonable
There is no conflict here. Use our free builder for the demand letter and, if the case proceeds, use TurboCourt to e-file if your county supports it. That gets you the settlement-stage work and the convenience of electronic filing. The parts TurboCourt does not cover — service, evidence, the hearing — are the parts most likely to cost you the case.
Common questions
How much does TurboCourt cost in California?
It varies by court and case type rather than being a single published price. A California service fee of $54.95 has been observed, and that is on top of the court’s own filing fee of $30 to $75 for small claims. Check the figure for your specific county before relying on it.
Can TurboCourt e-file my small claims case?
In some California counties, yes, and that is its main advantage over us. Availability depends on whether your county has integrated with TurboCourt for small claims, so check your court’s website. Where it is available it can save you a trip to the courthouse.
Does TurboCourt write a demand letter?
No. It is a filing utility and starts at the form. That matters because California expects you to have asked the defendant to pay before filing, the SC-100 asks you to confirm it, and the demand stage is where a large share of these disputes actually end.
Start with a demand letter
Most California small claims cases settle before anyone sees a courtroom. The letter is free to write, and you can have us print and certified-mail it for $29.
No account needed to start. We are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice.