Brandwave

HotDocs vs Spellbook:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Spellbook had more branded searches than HotDocs among legal document automation software worldwide. Spellbook had about 22,200 branded searches, while HotDocs had 18,100. Spellbook made up 37.7% of all legal document automation software searches we track, and HotDocs accounted for 30.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about legal document automation software, HotDocs appeared in four of the five answers and Spellbook in three. HotDocs was mentioned before Spellbook in three out of five answers.

Among legal document automation software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Spellbook, about 23% more searches than HotDocs

Spellbook 22.2K searchesHotDocs 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

HotDocs, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Spellbook in 3

HotDocs in 4 of 5Spellbook in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

HotDocs, named ahead of Spellbook in 3 of 5 answers

HotDocs first in 3Spellbook first in 2

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Top legal document automation software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HotDocs was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Spellbook was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. HotDocs was listed before Spellbook in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Gavel1st
  2. Clio Draft2nd
  3. HotDocs3rd
  4. Spellbook4th
  5. Ironclad5th
  6. Contract Express6th
  7. Juro7th
  8. Documate8th
  9. Lawyaw9th
  10. Docassemble–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • HotDocs4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Gavel4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Spellbook3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Clio Draft3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ironclad3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Juro3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Contract Express2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Documate1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lawyaw1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Docassemble0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about legal document automation software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is HotDocs or Spellbook more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for HotDocs and Spellbook by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 legal document automation software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

HotDocs and Spellbook among legal document automation software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Spellbook, HotDocs. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSpellbookHotDocsDocumateClio DraftContract ExpressIroncladGavelDocassembleLawyawJuroAfterpattern
Oct 202539.3%32%4.2%11.7%4.2%1.8%1.6%1.6%2.8%0.25%0.57%
Nov 202537%37%3.3%11%3.9%1.8%1.8%1.5%2%0.23%0.35%
Dec 202535.1%35.1%3.1%10.5%3.7%1.7%1.4%7%1.9%0.21%0.27%
Jan 202639.6%32.3%3.4%11.8%3.4%2.3%1.6%2.9%2.3%0.25%0.25%
Feb 202639.8%32.5%3.4%9.7%3.4%2.9%1.8%4.3%1.8%0.16%0.25%
Mar 202639.4%32.3%7.9%7.9%3.5%2.3%1.9%2.8%1.5%0.31%0.31%
Apr 202633.8%41.3%6.7%8.2%2.9%2%1.4%2%1.3%0.26%0.17%
May 202636.6%36.6%7.2%8.9%3.1%2.6%1.5%1.6%1.4%0.23%0.18%
Jun 202635%35%5.6%10.5%4.6%3.7%1.4%1.9%1.7%0.33%0.17%
Jul 202638%31.1%6.1%11.3%4%4%1.3%1.8%1.8%0.29%0.23%
Aug 202633.6%33.6%10%10%4.5%3.5%1.7%1.3%1.3%0.2%0.17%
Sep 202637.7%30.8%11.2%9.2%4.1%2.7%1.5%1.2%1.2%0.19%0.12%

How has the HotDocs and Spellbook comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for legal document automation software worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Spellbook overtook HotDocs to become the leader among legal document automation software worldwide, with 37.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, HotDocs lost share of searches among legal document automation software worldwide, from 33.6% to 30.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HotDocs’ and Spellbook’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

HotDocs

1 branded search term

  • hotdocs

Spellbook

1 branded search term

  • spellbook

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among legal document automation software

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