Head-to-head · Legal Research Software
Fastcase vs HeinOnline
Fastcase leads on 0 checks, HeinOnline on 0, and 7 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 scoreFastcase · 7.8/10
- Free trialonly Fastcase
- Most featuresFastcase · 6 of 6
Fastcase scores higher on our rubric for legal research software: 7.8 against 6.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #10 and #30.
Fastcase is the better fit for budget-conscious U.S. practitioners. HeinOnline is the better fit for deep legal literature and source research.
- Fastcase fits best
Budget-conscious U.S. practitioners
- HeinOnline fits best
Deep legal literature and source research
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Side by side
| Feature | Fastcase 7.8/10 Visit ↗ | HeinOnline 6.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.8 | 6.0 |
| Ranking | #10 in Legal Research Software | #30 in Legal Research Software |
| Best for | Budget-conscious U.S. practitioners | Deep legal literature and source research |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $695/yr | Pricing on request |
| Free plan | — | Not checked yet |
| Free trial | 1 days | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Integrations | 2 integrations | 5 integrations |
| Features Fastcase 6/6 · HeinOnline 5/6 | ||
| Case law search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statute & regulation search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Docket search | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Legal commentary | ✓ | ✓ |
| Citation tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Research alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Jurisdiction coverage | United States: federal courts and all 50 states; additional specialty courts and jurisdictions listed in coverage | United States federal and state, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, and international law |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Our verdict | 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 → |
HeinOnline is a web-based legal research platform for law libraries, universities, government organizations, and other institutions. Its collections cover law journals, government documents, statutes, regulations, legislative histories,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
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
HeinOnline — where it wins
- Extensive full-text databases across legal and government materials
- Citation navigation, ScholarCheck, alerts, and research organization tools
- Five integrations, including CourtListener, Fastcase, and Zotero
Where it doesn't
- Institution-priced annual subscriptions require a sales conversation
- Web-only access may not suit teams needing other platforms
- Its feature set centers on research rather than docket workflows
- Fastcase7.8/10 · 1-day trial
A broad U.S. legal research platform with strong value for budget-conscious practitioners.
Visit FastcaseFull verdict → - HeinOnline6.0/10 · Pricing on request
A deep institutional research platform with broad sources, citation tools, alerts, and AI summaries.
Visit HeinOnlineFull verdict →
All legal research software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update