Head-to-head · Legal Research Software
CourtListener vs Fastcase
CourtListener leads on 1 check, Fastcase on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCourtListener · 8.8/10
- Free planonly CourtListener
- Free trialonly Fastcase
- Most featuresFastcase · 6 of 6
CourtListener scores higher on our rubric for legal research software: 8.8 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #10.
CourtListener offers free plan; Fastcase doesn't.
CourtListener is the better fit for free U.S. opinions and docket research. Fastcase is the better fit for budget-conscious U.S. practitioners.
- CourtListener fits best
Free U.S. opinions and docket research
- Fastcase fits best
Budget-conscious U.S. practitioners
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Side by side
| Feature | CourtListener 8.8/10 Visit ↗ | Fastcase 7.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.8 | 7.8 |
| Ranking | #4 in Legal Research Software | #10 in Legal Research Software |
| Best for | Free U.S. opinions and docket research | Budget-conscious U.S. practitioners |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | — | $695/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 1 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Browser extension | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Chrome extension | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Docs, Community | Phone, Email, Live chat, Docs |
| Integrations | 4 integrations | 2 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features CourtListener 4/6 · Fastcase 6/6 | ||
| Case law search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statute & regulation search | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Docket search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legal commentary | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Citation tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Research alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Jurisdiction coverage | U.S. federal and state courts | United States: federal courts and all 50 states; additional specialty courts and jurisdictions listed in coverage |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | CourtListener is a free legal research website and searchable archive operated by Free Law Project. It is designed for lawyers, journalists, academics, researchers, and members of the public who need to search U.S. federal and state… Read the review → |
Fastcase is an online legal research platform for lawyers, law firms, educators, corporations, and bar associations. Its searchable collection covers federal and state case law, statutes, regulations, constitutions, court rules, secondary… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
CourtListener — where it wins
- Free access to federal and state court opinions
- RECAP Archive search covers federal filings and dockets
- Citation tools, alerts, APIs, and oral argument audio
Where it doesn't
- Focuses on U.S. court materials rather than broader legal content
- Federal filing and docket coverage depends on the RECAP Archive
- No paid tier for expanded features or service levels
Fastcase — where it wins
- Free plan plus $65 monthly Appellate pricing
- Federal and all 50-state case law, statutes, and regulations
- Authority Check, Forecite, alerts, mobile, desktop, and web access
Where it doesn't
- Less comprehensive than leading enterprise legal databases
- The free trial lasts one day
- Docket research is provided through the related Docket Alarm product
- CourtListener8.8/10 · Free plan
A free U.S. legal research archive with opinions, RECAP materials, citation tools, and alerts.
Visit CourtListenerFull verdict → - Fastcase7.8/10 · 1-day trial
A broad U.S. legal research platform with strong value for budget-conscious practitioners.
Visit FastcaseFull verdict →
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All legal research software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update