Which Free Bankruptcy Tool Is Better? A Fair, Side-by-Side Comparison
Both Upsolve and the Open Bankruptcy Project (OBP) are nonprofit organizations providing free bankruptcy resources. But they serve very different purposes. Upsolve helps low-income individuals prepare Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings through a guided app. OBP provides empirical research, screening tools, and educational content covering all bankruptcy chapters across a network of 161 specialized domains.
Neither is "better" in an absolute sense -- it depends on what you need.
| Feature | Upsolve | Open Bankruptcy Project |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Nonprofit status | 501(c)(3) | 501(c)(3) |
| Chapters covered | Chapter 7 only | All chapters (7, 11, 12, 13, Sub V) |
| Filing preparation | Yes -- guided app | No -- research/education only |
| Personal info required | Yes -- detailed financial data | None collected |
| Income screening | Yes (means test built in) | Yes (1328(f) screener, means test guides) |
| Empirical data | Limited | 4.9M federal cases, 94 districts |
| Open source | Partial | Fully open source |
| State-specific content | Limited guides | 161 domains with state/city guides |
| Attorney directory | Yes | No |
| Advertising | No ads | No ads |
| Research citations | -- | Cited by federal judiciary (26-BK-3) |
Upsolve has helped thousands of people file Chapter 7 without an attorney. Their app walks you through the entire process, from the means test to generating the petition and schedules.
OBP is the largest independent bankruptcy research network, analyzing 4.9 million federal cases. Its tools help you understand the system before you engage with it -- without ever asking who you are.
Absolutely. Many people start with OBP to research their options, understand discharge eligibility, and learn about their local district's patterns. Once they decide Chapter 7 is the right path, they can use Upsolve to prepare their filing. The two platforms complement each other well.
Yes, Upsolve is a nonprofit that offers a free Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing tool. They are funded by grants and donations. However, their tool only covers Chapter 7 and requires you to enter personal financial information into their app.
Yes, OBP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All tools, data, and research are free and open source. OBP does not collect personal information and does not prepare bankruptcy filings.
No. Upsolve only supports Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings. If you need Chapter 13, Chapter 11, or Chapter 12 information, OBP covers all chapters through its research network.
OBP is primarily a research platform with 4.9 million federal cases analyzed across 94 districts. Upsolve is primarily a filing tool. If you need data, statistics, or educational content, OBP is the better fit. If you need help preparing Chapter 7 forms, Upsolve is the better fit.
Yes, Upsolve's filing tool requires you to enter detailed personal and financial information to generate your bankruptcy forms. OBP's screening and research tools work with aggregated federal data and never ask for personal information.
Upsolve is best for filing Chapter 7. OBP is best for research across all chapters. Use both.