LexisNexis vs. Westlaw: Which Legal Research Platform Is Right for You?

As lawyers and their legal teams juggle complex cases and tight deadlines, reliable legal research is a critical advantage. That’s why choosing the right legal research platform matters. By far the two biggest players in this space are LexisNexis and Westlaw. So which one of these platforms is right for you?

Here we explore the LexisNexis vs. Westlaw debate to compare and contrast the platforms and to explain how they work for different users. While free legal research tools are available, many firms will opt for one of these two “big guns.”

Lexis vs Westlaw: Which tool is right for you?

Lexis and Westlaw are the top research tools for the legal industry. While they have many of the same capabilities, there are some key differences between these platforms. 

Search capabilities and database breadth

Any good research platform needs good coverage of a wealth of legal materials, including case law, statutes, legal documents, and secondary sources. The platform also requires the capability to search those materials thoroughly and efficiently. 

Lexis database and search capabilities

Lexis provides an extremely comprehensive legal database. This includes case law, statutes, verdicts, regulations, and legal documents filed with the courts. In addition, Lexis offers secondary sources, guides, and access to news (both legal and non-legal).

Another Lexis benefit is its array of search options. A Lexis user can search by citation, browse a topic, enter a natural language query, or use Boolean logic. (Boolean logic uses words such as “and,” “or,” and “not” to narrow down or broaden searches.) 

Westlaw database and search

Westlaw also provides excellent coverage of case and statutory law across the U.S. For secondary sources, Westlaw has an advantage over Lexis with thousands of practice guides and treatises. As for search options, Westlaw generally allows the same types of searches as Lexis. 

Advanced legal analytics & research tools

The key question in citation analysis is: is it good law? Both Lexis and Westlaw offer some unique tools that assist with citation analysis. The platforms also provide other advanced research tools, as outlined below.

Lexis advanced tools

Lexis features the following advanced tools for research and analytics:

• Shepard’s Citation Service: This provides an updated view of how courts have treated a particular case or statute. 
• Brief Analysis: Lexis users can upload a brief or motion and initiate an AI-powered scan of the document with this feature. Brief Analysis will pinpoint the legal concepts from the document and provide recommendations for additional research.
• Lexis Answers: This provides answers to natural language questions, such as “What are the elements of breach of contract?”, which can be narrowed down to a particular jurisdiction.
• Search Term Maps: This tool maps your search terms within a case, empowering users to easily identify patterns and relationships.
• Ravel View: Ravel View is a graphic representation of top research results using circles and lines, with larger circles for the most-cited cases and lines displaying the citing relationships with other cases.
• Lexis+ Litigation Analytics: This tool provides insights into potential damages, judges, courts, and opposing counsel.

Westlaw advanced tools

Westlaw offers its own advanced features:

• Keycite: Keycite will answer the “is it good law?” question for a case, statute, regulation, or administrative decision. For intellectual property purposes, it will also confirm the validity—or lack thereof—of a trademark or patent.
• Claims Explorer: Enter the facts of your case and this tool will provide a list of potential legal claims to consider.
• AI Jurisdictional Surveys: Input a query on a legal question and receive an AI-generated starting point for research.
• Quick Check: When opposing counsel includes a quotation from a cited case, use generative AI to determine whether the quotation is used accurately.

Pricing structures

Lexis+ offers flexible pricing options tailored to firms of different sizes. Starting plans for solo practitioners can be as low as $200 per month. Larger firms with more custom features and higher support levels can pay over $1000 per month.

Westlaw Precision has separate pricing plans for law firms and general counsel. Firms with a number of attorneys over a certain limit (currently 10) must contact Westlaw sales for pricing.

Demos, free trials, and discounts

Lexis+ offers a two-day free trial and free product demos. For U.S. law students, the LexisNexis Rewards program allows users to earn points for using Lexis for research, attending training sessions, and viewing videos. The points can be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and charitable donations.

Westlaw also offers a free custom demo and a free trial.

Value for money: LexisNexis vs. Westlaw

Both Westlaw and Lexis offer excellent value for the money. However, Westlaw is generally more affordable than Lexis and may be more suitable for some solo practitioners and small firms.

How to choose the best solution for your law firm

When deciding which of these research solutions is the best for your firm, take the following considerations into account.

• What is your biggest pain point, or what problem are you trying to solve, and which tool does it better? 
• Is price a factor? 
• Does one platform offer a solution the other one does not? 
• Does one more seamlessly fit into your firm’s current tools? 
• How important is having AI tools or AI-enabled tools in your firm’s decision?

Take advantage of free trials and product demos to explore these issues. 

Special considerations for different user groups

For solo practitioners and small firms, Westlaw’s lower subscription costs may make it a more practical solution. For larger law firms and in-house counsel, Lexis offers larger discount rates than Westlaw for multi-year deals. 

Many law students and academics tend to prefer Westlaw over Lexis. In addition, Lexis offers the LexisNexis rewards program for U.S. law students, which is a deciding factor for many.

Final thoughts on LexisNexis vs Westlaw

Both LexisNexis and Westlaw provide highly effective research platforms. While LexisNexis has somewhat more advanced AI-powered capabilities, Westlaw is more affordable for many smaller firms. The right choice between the two will depend on your firm’s needs.

We published this blog post in April 2025. Last updated: April 8, 2025.

Posted in: Technology