SwiftProbate vs Empathy

Empathy is a bereavement support platform that combines grief care with estate settlement tools, available free through participating employers and life insurance carriers. SwiftProbate is a $39 self-service informational tool focused on personalized probate checklists with county-level guidance. Here is how they compare.

This comparison is for informational purposes only. SwiftProbate is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

Last updated: April 4, 2026

What is Empathy?

Empathy is a VC-funded bereavement platform that provides combined grief support and estate settlement guidance. Backed by $172M+ in funding, it partners with major life insurance carriers (including BMO Insurance and Securian Financial) and employers to offer its services free to bereaved families. The platform includes care managers for human support, administrative help with account closures and insurance claims, grief counseling resources, and a mobile app with step-by-step guidance. Access is typically limited to beneficiaries of participating insurance policies or employees at participating companies.

Key Differences

Access Model

SwiftProbate

Available to anyone. Free tier with basic checklist; full plan is $39 one-time with no access restrictions.

Empathy

Free to families, but only available through participating employers and life insurance carriers. You cannot purchase it directly.

Focus

SwiftProbate

Focused specifically on probate guidance — personalized checklists, county-specific research, deadline tracking, and document management.

Empathy

Combined grief support and estate settlement. Emphasizes emotional well-being alongside practical tasks.

Probate Depth

SwiftProbate

AI research engine generates county-specific probate guidance from 3,200+ county guides. Deadline calculation based on date of death.

Empathy

Provides general estate settlement guidance with step-by-step walkthroughs. Not specifically focused on probate court procedures.

Human Support

SwiftProbate

AI chat assistant (Grace) for follow-up questions. No human support staff. Recommends consulting an attorney when needed.

Empathy

Includes care managers and connections to professionals (attorneys, financial advisors) as part of the service.

Feature Comparison

FeatureSwiftProbateEmpathy
Pricing
Price$39 one-timeFree (through employer/insurer)
Available to anyoneNo — requires employer/insurer partnership
Free tierN/A — free if you have access
Features
Personalized researchLimited
Document management
Family collaborationLimited
Chat assistantNo (has care managers)
Coverage
State-specific guidanceAll 50 states + DC
County-level guides3,200+
Institution guides160+
Support
Grief supportYes — core feature
Human specialistsYes — care managers
Legal advice providedNo (connects to attorneys)

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Why Consider SwiftProbate

  • You do not have access to Empathy through an employer or insurance carrier
  • You want detailed, county-level probate guidance with 3,200+ county guides
  • You want AI-generated research personalized to your specific assets and jurisdiction
  • You want an AI chat assistant for ongoing probate questions
  • You prefer a tool focused specifically on probate procedures and deadlines

Why Consider Empathy

  • You have access through your employer or life insurance policy (it is free)
  • You want combined grief support and estate settlement guidance in one platform
  • You value human care managers over AI-only support
  • The emotional support aspect is important to your family
  • The estate is relatively simple and does not need county-level probate depth

Which is Right for You?

Choose SwiftProbate if...

Anyone who wants affordable, personalized probate guidance with county-level depth — especially if they do not have access to Empathy through an employer or insurer.

Choose Empathy if...

Families who have access through a participating employer or insurance carrier and want combined grief support and estate settlement help in one platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sign up for Empathy directly?
No. Empathy is available through participating employers and life insurance carriers. If your employer or the deceased's insurance provider partners with Empathy, you may have access. Otherwise, you will need a different tool. SwiftProbate is available to anyone for $39 (with a free tier).
Does Empathy provide county-specific probate guidance?
Empathy provides general estate settlement guidance with step-by-step walkthroughs. For county-specific probate court details, filing requirements, and fee schedules, SwiftProbate's database of 3,200+ county guides provides more depth.
Can I use both Empathy and SwiftProbate?
Yes. If you have access to Empathy, you could use it for grief support and human care manager access while using SwiftProbate for detailed, county-specific probate checklists and AI-powered research. The tools focus on different aspects of the post-loss experience.
Is Empathy better because it is free?
Empathy is free to families who have access through an employer or insurance carrier, which is a significant advantage. However, it is not available to everyone, and its focus is broader (grief support + estate settlement) rather than deep probate-specific guidance. If you do not have access to Empathy, SwiftProbate provides detailed probate guidance at $39.

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  • Personalized to your assets, heirs, and jurisdiction
  • Deadlines calculated from your date of death
  • Track progress and store documents in one place
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Informational guidance only — not legal advice

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Feature and pricing information is based on publicly available data as of April 2026 and may have changed. SwiftProbate is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.