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    Virdix vs. Hello Divorce for California Divorce: Full Comparison (2026)

    By Virdix Editorial TeamJuly 21, 2026Updated July 20265 min read
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    Person comparing Virdix and Hello Divorce for a California divorce filing on a laptop

    Hello Divorce and Virdix both focus on California divorce, which makes this a closer comparison than most. The real differences are in pricing model, how much human support is bundled in, and how deep the form coverage goes.

    Neither Virdix nor Hello Divorce is a law firm for the purposes of the core document-prep product. Hello Divorce does offer paid add-on access to licensed attorneys and mediators for legal advice; Virdix does not offer legal advice at any tier.

    Quick Comparison

    VirdixHello Divorce
    FocusCalifornia document prep and guided filing onlyCalifornia-founded divorce platform offering DIY forms plus paid mediation, coaching, and attorney add-ons
    Price (as of July 2026)Free during open betaTiered plans reported in the $99 to $1,999+ range depending on tier, plus a separate flat-fee summary dissolution option reported around $1,500 for both spouses; court filing fees ($435 to $450 per spouse) are separate
    Plan structureOne free tier during beta, no upsellsMultiple named tiers (DIY-style forms-only plan up through mediator-led "Cooperative Divorce" tier with unlimited mediator hours)
    Forms covered68+ California-specific Judicial Council forms across divorce, custody, support, and restraining ordersDivorce and settlement forms, with case management and specialist support layered on top of the higher tiers
    Attorney/mediator accessNot offered; information and document prep onlyAvailable as paid add-ons: on-demand attorney consultations, legal coaching hours, certified mediator sessions
    Respondent-side supportYes, purpose-built for people responding to a filingPrimarily structured around the filing spouse's process, though both spouses can use the platform
    County-specific filing detailBuilt for all 58 California countiesCounty cost breakdowns published for several counties (Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, and others)
    Comparison of a free California document preparation platform against a tiered divorce and mediation service
    Hello Divorce layers paid mediation and attorney add-ons on top of its forms; Virdix is a free, single-tier document prep tool during beta.

    Where Hello Divorce Is a Reasonable Fit

    Hello Divorce was built specifically around California divorce and has invested in real human support layered on top of the forms: on-demand attorney phone consultations, legal coaching hours, and certified mediators for couples who need to actually negotiate terms rather than just fill out paperwork. If your case has some disagreement that needs a neutral third party, or you want the option to pay for a licensed attorney's advice without a full retainer, Hello Divorce's tiered model is built for exactly that.

    Where Virdix Is Built Differently

    Virdix is a pure document-prep and guidance tool with no human coaching or mediation layer, which keeps it narrower but also keeps it free during the open beta with no upsell path to a paid tier. The form library goes deep on California county-level filing instructions and covers custody, child support, and domestic violence restraining order case types in addition to divorce, using the same guided, plain-language flow throughout.

    Virdix is also built specifically to support respondents, people who were served with divorce papers rather than the ones who filed, which is a use case that's easy to underserve when a platform is designed primarily around the petitioner's journey.

    See how this applies to your case

    Virdix prepares these forms step by step, using the official Judicial Council forms for your case. Free during open beta.

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    County-specific California divorce filing instructions on a document preparation platform
    Virdix builds filing instructions for all 58 California counties.

    What Neither Service Does

    Virdix does not offer legal advice, mediation, or attorney access at any tier. Hello Divorce's base DIY tier is also document-prep only; legal advice and mediation only come with its paid add-ons. Neither can guarantee a court outcome or represent you in a contested hearing. For a broader category-level comparison rather than a single named competitor, see A Hello Divorce Alternative for California Filers.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Hello Divorce cheaper than Virdix?

    As of July 2026, Virdix is free during its open beta. Hello Divorce's published tiers are reported in the roughly $99 to $1,999+ range depending on how much human support (coaching, mediation, attorney time) is included, plus separate court filing fees. Virdix's post-beta pricing has not been announced yet.

    Does Hello Divorce offer legal advice?

    Its base plans are document-prep only. Higher tiers add paid access to licensed attorneys for legal advice and to certified mediators for negotiation support. Virdix does not offer legal advice or mediation at any tier.

    Can I use Virdix for a contested case?

    Virdix can help you prepare the required forms so you can file them yourself, regardless of whether a case is contested, but it does not provide legal strategy, negotiation, or representation. If your case is genuinely contested, consult a licensed attorney, and consider Hello Divorce's mediation tier or independent mediation if you and your spouse are willing to negotiate directly.

    Which counties does each platform cover?

    Virdix builds filing instructions for all 58 California counties. Hello Divorce publishes detailed cost and process guides for a number of major counties, with broader statewide coverage for its core forms.

    Is Virdix respondent-friendly?

    Yes. Virdix is specifically built to help the responding spouse, including deadline tracking and the forms needed to file a response, not just the forms for the person who initiated the case.

    Which one should I use?

    If you and your spouse need a mediator or want paid attorney phone consultations built into the same platform as your forms, Hello Divorce's tiered model covers that. If you want deep California-specific document prep and guided filing at no cost during Virdix's beta, and you don't need mediation or attorney access bundled in, Virdix is built for that.


    Pricing and feature information for Hello Divorce reflects publicly available information as of July 2026, sourced from Hello Divorce's own published pages and independent industry coverage (see sources below). Hello Divorce's specific current plan pricing lives at hellodivorce.com/plans and should be confirmed directly, as tier names and prices can change. Virdix is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hello Divorce.

    Sources checked (July 2026): hellodivorce.com/divorce-in-california/divorce-cost; hellodivorce.com/summary-dissolution; hellodivorce.com/plans (tier names referenced, specific dollar figures not published on that page at time of check); independent 2026 industry roundups referencing Hello Divorce tier pricing; Virdix internal pricing page (virdix.co/pricing).

    #Virdix vs Hello Divorce#Hello Divorce California#California divorce document preparation#California divorce comparison#divorce mediation California
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    Virdix Editorial Team

    Virdix publishes plain-language guides to California family court procedure, based on the official Judicial Council of California forms and the state courts self-help resources. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.

    This article is general information about California family law procedure, not legal advice for your situation. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney. For advice about your specific case, consult a licensed California attorney.

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