Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Legal Research Software

Westlaw vs Lexis+

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score Westlaw #1 in Legal Research Software 9.4/10 Pricing on request · 7-day trial Free trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Westlaw
Lexis+ #2 in Legal Research Software 9.2/10 Pricing on request · 7-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Lexis+

Westlaw leads on 0 checks, Lexis+ 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 scoreWestlaw · 9.4/10
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresWestlaw · 6 of 6

Westlaw scores higher on our rubric for legal research software: 9.4 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Westlaw is the better fit for full-service U.S. legal research. Lexis+ is the better fit for comprehensive U.S. legal research.

  • Westlaw fits best

    Full-service U.S. legal research

  • Lexis+ fits best

    Comprehensive U.S. legal 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 Westlaw 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Lexis+ 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.2
Ranking #1 in Legal Research Software #2 in Legal Research Software
Best for Full-service U.S. legal research Comprehensive U.S. legal research
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request · 7-day trial Pricing on request · 7-day trial
Free plan — —
Free trial 7 days 7 days
Free trial length 7 days · no card needed 7 days
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Westlaw 6/6 · Lexis+ 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: state and federal jurisdictions Federal and state U.S. jurisdictions; specific coverage varies by content type
Our review
Pros
  • Broad federal and state primary-law and secondary-source coverage
  • KeyCite, alerts, dockets, and litigation analytics in one platform
  • AI-powered Deep Research and document analysis capabilities
  • Searches case law, statutes, dockets and secondary legal sources
  • Shepard’s provides citation analysis and treatment signals
  • Combines Practical Guidance, AI-supported search and research alerts
Cons
  • Pricing requires contact with sales and varies by plan and configuration
  • Access is delivered through the web platform
  • Its scope is centered on U.S. federal and state jurisdictions
  • Pricing requires contacting sales or reviewing online-store packages
  • Content access varies by subscription package and jurisdiction
  • Web access is the listed platform; no free plan is provided
Our verdict

Westlaw is Thomson Reuters’ online legal research platform for attorneys, law firms, government agencies, courts, and other legal professionals. It combines searchable state and federal case law with statutes, regulations, court rules,…

Read the review →

Lexis+ is a legal research and workflow platform for law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies and law schools. Its coverage spans federal courts, all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with federal…

Read the review →
  1. WestlawLegal Research Software 9.4Pricing on request · 7-day trial
  2. Lexis+Legal Research Software 9.2Pricing on request · 7-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Westlaw — where it wins

    • Broad federal and state primary-law and secondary-source coverage
    • KeyCite, alerts, dockets, and litigation analytics in one platform
    • AI-powered Deep Research and document analysis capabilities

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contact with sales and varies by plan and configuration
    • Access is delivered through the web platform
    • Its scope is centered on U.S. federal and state jurisdictions
  • Lexis+ — where it wins

    • Searches case law, statutes, dockets and secondary legal sources
    • Shepard’s provides citation analysis and treatment signals
    • Combines Practical Guidance, AI-supported search and research alerts

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting sales or reviewing online-store packages
    • Content access varies by subscription package and jurisdiction
    • Web access is the listed platform; no free plan is provided
  • Westlaw9.4/10 · Pricing on request · 7-day trial

    A broad core research platform for legal professionals handling complex U.S. matters.

    Visit WestlawFull verdict →
  • Lexis+9.2/10 · Pricing on request · 7-day trial

    A broad U.S. legal research workspace combining authorities, guidance, citation analysis and alerts.

    Visit Lexis+Full verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update