Pricing
The letter builder is free. You pay when you want something mailed with proof, or when you want the whole case prepared. Court fees are separate and go to the court.
Free
$0 forever
- Demand letter builder and PDF download
- All 58 county court guides
- Every claim-type and forms guide
- Filing fee, deadline and interest calculators
- Post-judgment collection guide
Single Case
$49 one-time, one case
- Everything in Free
- SC-100 preparation for one case
- SC-104 service walkthrough
- Evidence organizer
- Hearing prep script
- Post-judgment worksheets
- 30-day refund
Most popular
Starter
$19 per month, or $190/yr
- Everything in Single Case
- Unlimited cases, 3 active at once
- Saved parties and letter templates
- Case timeline reminders
- Cancel in one click
- 30-day refund
Pro
$39 per month, or $390/yr
- Everything in Starter
- Unlimited active cases
- Bulk letter sending
- 1 certified mailing credit each month
- Extra mailings at $24 instead of $29
- Priority support
Add-on: we print and certified-mail your letter — $29
Available on every plan, including Free. USPS Certified Mail with an electronic return receipt and tracking, so you can prove the other side received it. We print and send it; you never go to a post office. Pro includes one credit a month and pays $24 after that.
Compared with the alternatives
The honest picture, with sources. Competitor prices were read from their own pricing pages on 2026-10-10.
| What you want | California courts | JusticeDirect | TurboCourt | Us |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demand letter written | Not offered | Free tool, or $600 attorney letter | Not offered | Free |
| Letter mailed with proof | Not offered | $29.50 | Not offered | $29 |
| Court forms filled | Free (Guide & File) | Included in $650 | ~$55 | $49 |
| Hearing preparation | Not offered | $49.50 | Not offered | Included |
| Evidence assembly | Not offered | $50 + $0.65/page | Not offered | Included |
| Consultation with a lawyer | Self-help centers, free | $449 | Not offered | Not offered |
| 12 claims in a year | Free | $7,800 | ~$660 | $390/yr |
Where the courts beat us: California's own Guide & File is free and will generate your forms. If all you need is a filled SC-100 and you are confident about venue, service and the hearing, use it — we would rather tell you that than sell you something you do not need. What it will not do is write or mail your letter, pick your courthouse, organize your evidence or prepare you to speak.
Where a law firm beats us: JusticeDirect is a law firm. They can advise you on your actual case, and we cannot — we are software. If your claim is complicated, disputed on the law, or worth far more than $12,500, that is worth the money.
What is not included, ever
- Court filing fees — $30 to $75, paid to the court. $100 if you have filed more than 12 small claims in 12 months.
- Service of process — the sheriff or a process server charges separately.
- Legal advice — we are not a law firm and do not provide it.
- Filing or appearing for you — you file, you attend. Small claims is built that way.
Common questions
Is there really a free plan?
Yes. The demand letter builder, all 58 county court guides, every claim-type guide and all the calculators are free and need no account. Most people who never pay us still get their letter sent, because a large share of these disputes end at the letter stage.
What does the $29 mailing include?
We print your letter and send it by USPS Certified Mail with an electronic return receipt and tracking. You get the tracking number and the delivery record, which is the proof a judge will want to see. It is non-refundable once handed to USPS because the postage is genuinely spent.
Can I pay once instead of subscribing?
Yes. Single Case is $49 one-time and covers one complete case with no subscription. It sits on the same pricing page as the monthly plans rather than being hidden, because a one-off lawsuit is a one-off need for most people.
How do I cancel?
One click from your billing page, and it takes effect immediately. No email, no phone call, no retention flow. You keep access until the end of the period you already paid for.
Do I still have to pay court fees?
Yes, and they go to the court, not to us. California charges $30 to $75 to file depending on the amount claimed, or $100 if you have filed more than 12 small claims in 12 months. Service of process costs extra. If you cannot afford the filing fee, form FW-001 asks the court to waive it.
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.