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Entrusted vs Atticus: Which Estate Settlement Software Is Right for You?

Choosing the right software to help you settle an estate is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an executor. The tools you use will shape how you spend your time, how well you stay organized, and how smoothly you communicate with beneficiaries over the months ahead.

If you’re comparing options, you’ve likely come across both Atticus and Entrusted. Both platforms aim to simplify the estate settlement process for executors who are navigating probate for the first time. But they take meaningfully different approaches to solving the challenges executors face.

This guide provides a straightforward comparison to help you understand which tool better fits your situation. We’ll look at features, pricing, strengths, and limitations so you can make an informed decision.

Quick Comparison: Entrusted vs Atticus at a Glance

Before diving into the details, here’s a high-level view of how these two platforms compare:

Feature Atticus Entrusted
Document Processing Manual data entry AI-powered automatic extraction
Beneficiary Access None (executor-only) Built-in transparency portal
Task Generation Static checklist with forms database Dynamic, jurisdiction-aware engine
Estate Model Static once configured Living model that adapts as you go
Platform iOS app only Web-based (works on any device)
Forms Database 5,250+ probate court forms State-specific task generation
Multi-Executor Support Basic sharing Full collaboration tools
Family Communication External (email, phone) Built-in update system

Who Each Tool Is Best For

Atticus may be a better fit if you:

  • Strongly prefer a native iOS mobile app
  • Want access to an extensive library of court forms
  • Don’t need to share progress with beneficiaries
  • Are comfortable manually entering asset information

Entrusted may be a better fit if you:

  • Want AI to handle document processing and reduce manual work
  • Need to keep beneficiaries informed without constant update calls
  • Are managing the estate from out of state
  • Work with co-executors and need collaboration tools
  • Prefer web-based access from any device

What Is Atticus?

Atticus positions itself as a DIY probate and estate settlement platform that helps executors navigate the process independently. Founded in 2018 by a graduate of Campbell University’s Trust & Wealth Management program, the company has built tools specifically for families settling estates without professional help.

Key Features

Step-by-Step Guidance: Atticus provides an interactive checklist that guides users through estate settlement tasks one step at a time. The guidance is personalized based on your state and situation.

Probate Forms Database: One of Atticus’s standout features is its searchable database of over 5,250 probate court forms covering jurisdictions across the United States and Canada. This can save significant time hunting for the right paperwork.

Asset Inventory: The app includes tools to organize and track estate assets. Users can snap photos of items and add them to the inventory, though the data entry itself is manual.

State-Specific Information: Atticus provides access to local laws, forms, and relevant deadlines based on where the estate is being settled.

Reporting: The platform generates reports that can be useful for family updates and court filings.

Pricing

Atticus does not publicly display pricing on their website. Based on user reviews, the Plus version costs approximately $15 per month. Prospective users need to sign up to see full pricing details.

Strengths

  • Comprehensive forms database with 5,250+ documents across US and Canada
  • Mobile-first design optimized for iOS users
  • Industry recognition including Fast Company World Changing Ideas finalist
  • Liability protection guarantee as a confidence-builder for executors
  • Canadian coverage for cross-border estates

Limitations to Consider

Based on user reviews and publicly available information:

  • iOS only: Currently only available as an iOS app. Android users cannot access the platform. A web interface is available but the primary experience is mobile.

  • Manual data entry: Asset information must be entered manually. There’s no automatic extraction from documents, which means more time spent on data entry.

  • No beneficiary portal: The platform is designed for executors only. If you need to keep family members informed about progress, you’ll need to communicate through email, phone calls, or other external methods.

  • Support responsiveness: Some users have reported delays in receiving responses to support requests, though experiences vary.

  • Reporting issues: A few users mention that reporting features don’t always work as expected in the iOS app or web portal.

What Is Entrusted?

Entrusted is an AI-powered estate settlement platform designed specifically for executors. Rather than providing a static checklist, Entrusted uses artificial intelligence to process documents, generate personalized task lists, and keep everyone involved in the process informed through a shared transparency portal.

Key Features

AI Document Understanding: Upload estate documents like wills, bank statements, insurance policies, or property deeds, and Entrusted automatically extracts key information. Account numbers, beneficiary names, property details, and asset values are identified and added to your estate inventory without manual entry.

Beneficiary Transparency Portal: A unique feature that gives beneficiaries read-only access to see estate progress. Family members can check the status of the settlement, view shared documents, and understand what’s happening next without calling the executor for updates.

Jurisdiction-Aware Task Engine: Based on the state where probate is filed, the estate’s complexity, and the documents you’ve uploaded, Entrusted generates a personalized roadmap of tasks. This isn’t a generic checklist. It adapts to your specific situation and updates as new information becomes available.

Living Estate Model: Unlike static tools where you enter information once and then maintain it manually, Entrusted’s estate profile evolves as you add documents, discover new assets, and complete tasks. The system adapts to reality rather than forcing you to work around a rigid structure.

Multi-Executor Collaboration: Full tools for co-executors to coordinate tasks, share documents, and track who’s handling what. This prevents duplicate work and keeps everyone aligned.

Professional Access: Attorneys, CPAs, and other professionals can be granted access to work alongside you in the system, with appropriate permission levels.

Pricing

Entrusted offers tiered pricing based on the features you need:

  • Starter Plan: Full guided workflow for one estate, AI document extraction (up to 50 documents), beneficiary portal (up to 5 beneficiaries), state-specific task generation, and email support.

  • Complete Plan: Everything in Starter plus unlimited document uploads, unlimited beneficiary portal access, priority support, multi-executor collaboration tools, and professional sharing.

  • Enterprise Plan: For professionals managing multiple estates, with white-label options and API access.

Strengths

  • AI reduces manual work: Document processing that would take hours happens automatically
  • Family transparency: Beneficiary portal reduces “where are we?” calls and prevents information asymmetry
  • True web application: Works on any device with a browser, no app download required
  • Adaptive workflow: Tasks update based on what the system learns from your documents
  • Out-of-state friendly: Designed with remote executors in mind
  • Professional integration: Easy to bring in attorneys and CPAs when needed

What Makes Entrusted Different

The core difference is philosophy. Atticus provides tools to help you do the work yourself more efficiently. Entrusted uses AI to do some of that work for you, while keeping everyone involved informed through a shared system.

If you upload a bank statement to Entrusted, it reads the document, identifies the institution, extracts the account number and balance, and adds that asset to your inventory. With Atticus, you’d manually enter that same information.

If a beneficiary wants to know what’s happening with the estate, Entrusted’s portal lets them check progress directly. With Atticus, you’d need to call or email them with updates.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Document Management and Processing

Atticus: Documents are stored and organized within the app, but processing is manual. You enter asset information by typing it in or taking photos of items. This approach works but requires significant time investment as you work through estate paperwork.

Entrusted: AI-powered extraction automatically processes uploaded documents. Bank statements, insurance policies, account correspondence, and property records are analyzed and key information is added to your inventory. This can save hours of manual data entry, especially for estates with many accounts.

Winner for: Executors who want to minimize manual work and have many documents to process will prefer Entrusted. Those who want a simple mobile-first approach may prefer Atticus’s manual method.

Task Guidance and Workflow

Atticus: Provides step-by-step checklists with access to an extensive forms database. The guidance is state-specific and covers what you need to do in a logical sequence. The forms library is particularly valuable for finding obscure court documents.

Entrusted: Generates a dynamic, jurisdiction-aware task list that updates based on your specific estate. As you upload documents and complete tasks, the system adapts. New assets trigger new tasks. Completed steps disappear from your view. The workflow is personalized rather than generic.

Winner for: Executors who want a comprehensive forms library will appreciate Atticus. Those who want an adaptive system that evolves with their estate will prefer Entrusted.

Beneficiary Communication

Atticus: Does not include built-in beneficiary communication features. Executors must keep family members informed through external channels like email, phone calls, or family meetings. This is the traditional approach but can lead to many “update calls” from beneficiaries wanting to know where things stand.

Entrusted: Includes a transparency portal where beneficiaries can log in and see estate progress. They can view which tasks are complete, what documents have been processed, and what comes next. This single source of truth reduces family tension and the executor’s communication burden.

Winner for: Executors who need to keep multiple beneficiaries informed will significantly benefit from Entrusted’s portal. Those settling a simple estate with few beneficiaries may not need this feature.

For more on why beneficiary communication matters, see our guide on what beneficiaries wish executors knew.

Multi-Executor Collaboration

Atticus: Offers basic sharing features so co-executors can access the same information. The collaboration tools are functional but limited compared to purpose-built team features.

Entrusted: Provides full collaboration tools designed for co-executors. You can assign tasks, track who’s responsible for what, and see activity logs showing what each person has done. This prevents duplicate work and keeps coordination smooth, especially important when co-executors live in different locations.

Winner for: Co-executors who need to coordinate closely will find Entrusted’s collaboration tools more robust.

Platform and Accessibility

Atticus: Built as an iOS mobile app with a supporting web interface. The primary experience is designed for iPhone users. Android users cannot use the native app, though some features are accessible via web browser.

Entrusted: Built as a web application that works on any device with a browser. Whether you’re on a laptop, tablet, Android phone, or iPhone, you get the same full-featured experience. No app download required.

Winner for: iOS users who prefer a native mobile app may like Atticus’s approach. Everyone else, especially those who switch between devices or use Android, will prefer Entrusted’s web-based access.

Support and Resources

Atticus: Provides support through their expert team, though some users report variable response times. The platform includes educational resources through Atticus Magazine with articles on probate topics.

Entrusted: Offers email support with the Starter plan and priority support with faster response times on the Complete plan. The platform includes educational content integrated into the workflow, explaining what each task means and why it matters.

Winner for: Support quality can vary with any platform. Both provide educational resources, though delivered differently.

Who Should Choose Atticus?

Atticus is a solid choice for executors who:

  • Use iOS as their primary device and want a native mobile app experience
  • Need access to a comprehensive forms database and expect to file many court documents
  • Prefer manual control over data entry and don’t mind typing in asset information
  • Don’t need to share progress with beneficiaries through a dedicated portal
  • Are settling a Canadian estate since Atticus has specific Canadian jurisdiction coverage
  • Have a straightforward estate with fewer documents to process

If you’re comfortable with the manual approach and don’t need beneficiary transparency features, Atticus provides a functional toolkit for the job.

Who Should Choose Entrusted?

Entrusted is likely the better fit for executors who:

  • Have many documents to process and want AI to reduce manual data entry
  • Need to keep beneficiaries informed and would benefit from a shared transparency portal
  • Are managing the estate from out of state and need robust remote capabilities
  • Work with co-executors and need collaboration tools to coordinate effectively
  • Want an adaptive workflow that updates based on what you discover
  • Use non-iOS devices or prefer web-based access over app downloads
  • Plan to involve professionals like attorneys or CPAs who need system access

If reducing manual work and keeping family members informed are priorities, Entrusted’s AI-powered approach and transparency features address those needs directly.

What Real Users Say

About Atticus

Positive reviews highlight the peace of mind from having guided steps: “I honestly don’t know how we could have done this without all the help.” Users appreciate the mobile app for quick access to their checklist while on the go.

Critical reviews note the platform is “mainly a series of checklists with a simple inventory database.” Some users report that reporting features don’t work reliably, and a few mention difficulty getting responses from customer support.

About Entrusted

Users frequently mention the time saved through AI document processing: “Upload your documents and let Entrusted build your estate inventory automatically” is how the platform describes it. The beneficiary portal receives positive feedback for reducing family tension and update requests.

The adaptive workflow is noted as helpful for executors who don’t know what they don’t know, since the system surfaces tasks based on what it learns from your documents.

Making Your Decision

Both Atticus and Entrusted are legitimate tools that help executors navigate a difficult process. Either is better than trying to settle an estate with spreadsheets, paper files, and internet searches alone.

The right choice depends on what matters most to you:

Choose based on your workflow preference: Do you want to maintain control through manual entry, or do you want AI to handle the data extraction? Atticus takes the first approach; Entrusted takes the second.

Choose based on your communication needs: Do you need to keep multiple beneficiaries informed? If family transparency matters, Entrusted’s portal is a significant advantage. If you’re the only person who needs access, this feature doesn’t apply.

Choose based on your device: If you’re committed to iOS and want a native mobile app, Atticus delivers that. If you use Android, work from a laptop, or switch between devices, Entrusted’s web-based approach provides more flexibility.

Choose based on estate complexity: For simpler estates with fewer documents, manual entry might not be burdensome. For complex estates with many accounts and properties, AI-powered processing saves significant time.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Before deciding, consider:

  1. How many documents do I expect to process? (More documents = more value from AI extraction)
  2. How many beneficiaries will want updates? (More beneficiaries = more value from transparency portal)
  3. Am I managing this from out of state? (Remote executors benefit from robust web access)
  4. Do I have co-executors? (Collaboration tools matter more with multiple people)
  5. What devices do I use most? (iOS users may prefer Atticus; others may prefer Entrusted)

Get Started with Entrusted

Settling an estate is one of the most challenging responsibilities you can take on. The right tools make a meaningful difference in how smoothly the process goes and how confident you feel along the way.

If reducing manual work through AI, keeping beneficiaries informed with a transparency portal, and having an adaptive workflow sound valuable to you, Entrusted was built to address exactly those needs.

See your personalized probate roadmap in minutes. Upload your first document and let Entrusted show you the path forward. The first steps as an executor become clearer when you have the right guidance.

Start your free trial with Entrusted today and discover how AI-powered estate settlement can save you time, reduce stress, and keep everyone on the same page.

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