When I Die Files vs. Everplans: which legacy platform is right for you?

Everplans and When I Die Files both want to solve the same fundamental problem: making sure your family isn't left scrambling when you're gone. But they approach it from different angles.

Everplans comes from the organizational side. It's a vault. A well-built, secure vault where you store documents, account information, and instructions, then grant access to trusted people.

When I Die Files comes from the personal side. It starts with the question: what do you want to say to the people you love? And then it builds the vault around that. Stories, letters, documents, passwords -- all in one place, secured with end-to-end encryption.

Here's how they stack up.

What each product does

Everplans is a digital estate planning vault. You store your important documents (will, insurance, property records), account credentials, medical wishes, and funeral preferences. You assign "deputies" -- trusted contacts who get access to specific sections of your vault, either immediately or after you pass away. The free tier holds 10 items. Premium ($99.99/year) gives you unlimited storage and 5 GB of file uploads.

When I Die Files combines a secure document vault with guided legacy letter writing and story prompts. You store the same practical information Everplans holds, but you also write personal messages to individual family members, record your life stories, and control exactly who sees what and when. One-time purchase, no annual subscription.

Head-to-head comparison

Where Everplans wins

Established track record. Everplans has been operating since 2012. They've built partnerships with financial advisors, insurance companies, and large employers who offer Everplans as a benefit. That institutional presence means they've been tested at scale. When I Die Files is pre-launch.

Deputy granularity. The deputy system is well-designed. You can assign multiple deputies with different access levels, set waiting periods before access is granted, and control which sections each person can see. It's a thoughtful implementation of the "who sees what when" problem.

B2B distribution. If your employer or financial advisor offers Everplans as a benefit, you may get it at a significant discount (some partners offer it for under $30/year). That changes the value proposition considerably.

Free tier. Everplans lets you start with 10 items for free. It's limited, but it lets you explore the platform before committing money.

Where When I Die Files wins

Legacy letters. This is the clearest differentiator. Everplans has no way to write personal messages to individual family members. There are no letter templates, no guided prompts, no delivery controls for private messages. When I Die Files was built around this feature. You can write a letter to your daughter, your spouse, your best friend -- and set conditions for when they receive it.

If the idea of leaving personal words for the people you love matters to you, this is the deciding factor. Our guide to legacy letters explains why these matter as much as legal documents.

Story writing. Everplans stores documents. It doesn't help you create personal content. When I Die Files includes guided story prompts that help you capture your life history, values, and experiences. The prompts make it manageable for people who'd otherwise stare at a blank page.

End-to-end encryption. Everplans uses standard SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit and encrypted storage at rest. When I Die Files uses end-to-end encryption, meaning even we can't read your stored content. For sensitive documents like financial records and deeply personal letters, that's a meaningful difference. See our guide on secure document storage for why this matters.

One-time pricing. Everplans costs $99.99 every year. If you stop paying, you lose access to premium features. Over five years, that's $500. Over ten years, $1,000. When I Die Files is a one-time purchase. Your vault stays accessible regardless of whether you pay again.

Emotional warmth. This is subjective, but it matters. Everplans feels like a compliance tool -- efficient, organizational, clinical. When I Die Files is designed to feel like you're creating a gift for your family. The prompts are warm. The letters are personal. The experience is meant to be meaningful, not just functional.

Pricing comparison

Who should choose which

Choose Everplans if:

• Your employer or financial advisor offers it as a benefit
• You primarily need document storage and don't plan to write letters or stories
• You want to start with a free tier and see how it works
• You prefer an established platform with a track record
• An iOS app is important to you

Choose When I Die Files if:

• Legacy letters and personal messages matter to you
• You want guided story writing alongside document storage
• End-to-end encryption is a priority
• You prefer paying once instead of annual subscriptions
• You want a platform that feels personal, not clinical

Can you use both?

Technically, yes. You could use Everplans for its deputy system and organizational features while using When I Die Files for the personal content: letters, stories, and the emotional side of your legacy. But most people won't want to maintain two platforms for overlapping purposes. If the personal legacy matters to you, When I Die Files is designed to handle both sides in one place.

---

When I Die Files is currently in pre-launch. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when we go live.

More comparisons: Best Everplans Alternatives | When I Die Files vs. StoryWorth | When I Die Files vs. Trust & Will