NotaryPro vs. Downtown Notary: Which Online Notary is Better?

Key Takeaways

• NotaryPro offers competitive pricing with better deals for additional witnesses and mailing services, while Downtown Notary offers a better price for additional notary seals.
• NotaryPro allows account-free, seamless booking directly through a browser, while Downtown Notary requires account creation.
• NotaryPro offers free, AI-powered, preformatted templates, whereas Downtown Notary offers a mix of free and paid templates that may require you create a Gmail account.
• NotaryPro offers live drafting with immediate delivery, while Downtown Notary provides unspecified wait times and potentially higher costs for complex documents.
• NotaryPro caters to businesses with tailored pricing and bulk options, unlike Downtown Notary, which lacks business-specific perks.

Canada’s online notary market is highly competitive, driven by an insatiable demand for simple and efficient notary services. NotaryPro and Downtown Notary are key players in the market, offering useful but distinct value propositions. 

In this comparison, we’ll explore the benefits of each platform and highlight some notable differences. More specifically, we’ll dive into each company’s pricing, booking experience, legal template offering, and document drafting services. Let’s take a closer look at which notary service is a better choice for your personal or corporate notary needs.

Pricing: NotaryPro vs Downtown Notary

NotaryPro and Downtown Notary each offer competitive pricing, with different strengths depending on your specific needs. Both services offer flexibility to suit a range of preferences and budgets. Here’s a breakdown of each pricing structure so you can choose which is best for you.

NotaryPro’s Pricing for Online Notary Services

NotaryPro charges $39.95 for an online notary appointment, which includes an embossed notary seal and a digital e-signature. Each additional notary seal is $38.95, and any extra witnesses provided cost $12.95. Regular print and mail service costs $14.95 with added fees for expedited mail, xpresspost, and international mail.

NotaryPro’s Live Document Drafting Pricing

NotaryPro offers competitive pricing for its live document drafting service, at $99.95. This price includes your live drafting appointment and getting your document notarized. This transparent pricing structure remains the same, regardless of the complexity of your document.

NotaryPro Business pricing

We offer tailored pricing solutions for businesses seeking efficient and cost-effective notary services. Our Bulk Savings Packages allow companies to pre-purchase Instant Notary Service Seals with substantial savings. We also offer a NotaryPro+ Account for $35 a month, where users get a monthly notary appointment and 25% off additional appointments.

Downtown Notary’s Pricing for Online Notary Services

Downtown Notary charges $37.99 for an online notary appointment, with an embossed notary seal and a digital e-signature. An additional notary seal is $24.99, lower than what NotaryPro charges. That said, each additional witness costs $37.99, nearly three times the price of NotaryPro’s additional witness cost. If you’d like to add regular print and mail service, it’s $20.99.

Downtown Notary’s Document Drafting Pricing 

For document drafting services, Downtown Notary charges $45.99 (and up) plus the cost of notarization ($37.99), for a total cost of $83.98. However, the final price depends on the complexity of the document — so it may increase. Downtown Notary’s website doesn’t specify whether you’ll receive your document immediately or if there’s a waiting period. Although its drafting costs are comparable to NotaryPro’s, you’ll likely have to wait longer for your document.

Downtown Notary’s Business Pricing

While Downtown Notary provides reliable services, it doesn’t offer pricing perks tailored for business clients. This means options may be limited for businesses seeking bulk discounts or specialized packages for ongoing notary needs. Businesses requiring higher notarization volumes may want to explore alternatives that cater to organizational needs.

Better Pricing Offer: NotaryPro vs Downtown Notary

NotaryPro and Downtown Notary cater to different client preferences, offering diverse options for notarization and document drafting. For a standard appointment, Downtown Notary is two Canadian dollars cheaper at $37.99 compared to NotaryPro’s $39.95. However, an additional witness is only $12.95 with NotaryPro, while Downtown Notary charges $37.99.

NotaryPro is also a more economical option when it comes to mailing, its print and mail service starts at $14.95. Mailing service fees are slightly higher with Downtown Notary, as they start at $20.99. If you’re looking to save on shipping or witness costs, NotaryPro is a better option. If you require additional notary seals, Downtown Notary offers better savings at $24.99 per seal versus NotaryPro’s $38.95. 

In addition, NotaryPro’s platform features AI-generated document templates for free, saving you money and preserving formatting. You also don’t have to create an account with NotaryPro, making the online notary experience more seamless.

Further, NotaryPro provides a more transparent pricing structure and pricing options tailored to businesses. Downtown Notary offers a comparable notary price — but the add-on services between the two differ. Although NotaryPro is a few dollars more, it also offers a considerable amount of value.

Booking: NotaryPro vs. Downtown Notary

NotaryPro and Downtown Notary offer slightly different booking experiences, and the one best for you will depend on your personal preferences. Both platforms cater to various user needs, balancing thoroughness and ease of use. Let’s dive into some more details on each booking process. 

Booking with NotaryPro

NotaryPro makes booking a notary appointment remarkably easy by eliminating the need to create an account. You can book an appointment directly through your internet browser without signing up or providing details upfront. This streamlined process saves time, making it particularly convenient for busy individuals and businesses. 

Furthermore, there’s no need to download or install software, like Adobe, because our platform is fully accessible online. This hassle-free approach ensures you can focus on completing your notary appointment without dealing with passwords, accounts, or software downloads.

Booking with Downtown Notary

You must create an account before booking a notary appointment with Downtown Notary. You need to provide some personal information and agree to a lengthy service agreement. When your account is created, you must change your password and log in multiple times, which can be time-consuming. Such hurdles can detract from the overall customer experience, making it less streamlined.

Legal Document Templates: NotaryPro vs Downtown Notary

Downtown Notary and NotaryPro both offer document templates, but their approaches cater to different user needs. Downtown Notary offers templates for sale and for free, while NotaryPro provides a free, extensive library of AI-powered legal templates. Let’s explore each offering in greater detail. 

NotaryPro’s Free Document Templates

NotaryPro offers a comprehensive library of legal templates to choose from, and all of them are free. They open directly in your browser, so you won’t need to take any additional steps or download software. Our fillable templates are powered by AI — all you have to do is fill in the blanks to populate your information and create your document. Another perk is the templates come preformatted in your browser, reducing the risk of spacing or formatting errors you might encounter when updating a Microsoft Word document.

With NotaryPro’s AI templates, you can skip downloading software and rest easy knowing you’ll have a perfectly formatted document in minutes. 

Downtown Notary’s Templates

Downtown Notary offers both paid and free document templates. They come in Google Forms and Word format, here’s a little more information:

Fillable Templates for a Fee

Downtown Notary offers two fillable templates for a fee: a Statutory Declaration for Marriage Abroad and an OSAP Affidavit template. Each template costs $5.65, and you fill in your information through a Google Form — but this approach has notable limitations. One drawback is that users must have a Google account to access and use the templates.

As such, if you don’t have a Google account, you’d have to create one before using this template service. It’s also unclear whether you’ll get your document right after completing the Google Form, or if there’s a waiting period. Compared to other platforms with seamlessly integrated technology, Downtown Notary’s use of Google Forms may feel restrictive. 

Free Document Templates 

Downtown Notary offers some free document templates in Microsoft Word format. While useful, you must download the template files and manually edit them. You then have to convert them to PDF using software like Adobe, adding extra steps to the process. You would have to do all of this, and then upload your document to Downtown Notary’s website to book your appointment. One drawback of using Microsoft Word templates is you run the risk of making formatting and spacing errors while editing your document.

The only template not offered in Word format is Downtown Notary’s free Travel Consent Letter. However, it’s created with a Google Form, which may not work for everyone.

NotaryPro vs Downtown Notary’s Templates

Downtown Notary and NotaryPro both offer document templates, but their approaches cater to different user needs. Downtown Notary offers paid and free templates, with fillable Google Forms for some documents and Word templates for others. Downtown Notary requires users to have a Google account, meddle with formatting in Microsoft Word, and convert files to a PDF, which can feel less streamlined.

NotaryPro’s approach eliminates these steps for a time-saving solution to document preparation. We offer a free, extensive library of preformatted legal templates powered by AI, so you can populate your details directly from your browser. NotaryPro also offers a larger library of document templates to choose from, giving you a much wider selection.

Document Drafting Services: NotaryPro vs Downtown Notary

When it comes to professional document drafting services, convenience and efficiency are key. NotaryPro’s Live Document Drafting offers real-time drafting during online appointments — enabling collaboration and quick turnaround times. Downtown Notary offers traditional drafting services that may take longer but meet essential requirements. Let’s examine each drafting service in greater detail.

NotaryPro’s Live Document Drafting Service

NotaryPro’s Live Document Drafting service enables you to get legal documents drafted by a professional in real time. Your completed document will be sent to your inbox immediately after your meeting. Since we offer same-hour appointments, and you’ll receive your completed document immediately after your meeting, with no wait. Many alternative document drafting providers have a longer waiting period, ranging from a few days to weeks.

Since a professional drafts your document during your appointment, you can also review it instantly. This means any changes can be made on the fly without delay. 

What’s more, NotaryPro offers both document drafting and notarization in one quick appointment, so you can complete both processes at once. This saves you from scheduling two services and eliminates the waiting period between them. Since a professional drafts your document in real time, you’ll have the opportunity to ask document-specific questions. You can ask about formatting, which details to add or remove, and more for added peace of mind. 

Additionally, NotaryPro can draft a broad range of documents, including the documents in its legal template library. Some drafting services draft a limited range of documents, while NotaryPro offers a substantial variety of options. 

Downtown Notary’s Document Drafting Service

Downtown Notary’s document drafting service is more traditional, as it isn’t live. The drafting service involves requesting a document, providing your information, and waiting to receive it. According to their website, you may also pay more for drafting services if your document is more complex.

Its website doesn’t mention same-hour drafting services or how long it takes to receive a drafted document. Moreover, Downtown Notary advertises the drafting of Statutory Declarations and Affidavits but it doesn’t mention other documents. If Statutory Declarations and Affidavits are the only documents Downtown Notary can draft, your options are rather limited. 

Which Document Drafting Service is Right for You? 

Both NotaryPro and Downtown Notary offer unique advantages when it comes to professional document drafting. If you’re looking for a faster, more collaborative approach, NotaryPro is a better choice. You can expect to receive your document immediately, so there’s no guesswork around when it’ll be ready. NotaryPro can also draft many different documents for you, while Downtown Notary only advertises Statutory Declarations and Affidavits .

If you’d like to receive your document without attending a meeting and you’re in no rush, Downtown Notary can be a good option. Its website doesn’t specify how long you’ll wait to receive a drafted document, but it doesn’t mention instant service. Furthermore, you may be charged extra if your document is more complex, while NotaryPro charges the same amount regardless of document complexity. 

The Better Online Notary Platform: NotaryPro vs Downtown Notary

In the highly competitive Canadian online notary market, both NotaryPro and Downtown Notary offer valuable services tailored to different user needs.

NotaryPro excels in providing seamless digital solutions, including live document drafting, a comprehensive template library, and account-free booking. It’s a top choice for those who prioritize speed, convenience, and business-friendly options. NotaryPro also offers more transparent pricing for document drafting, and a better price for a second witness and mailing services.

Downtown Notary offers a comparable price for notary services and boasts a better price for a second notary seal. The provider may not be the best option for businesses, however, as it doesn’t offer business pricing perks. Its platform is a good fit for clients who are comfortable combining tools like Google Forms or Word with notary services. 

Each platform brings unique strengths, ensuring that whether you’re an individual or a business, you can find a service that perfectly aligns with your specific preferences.