What is a trademark?
A trademark protects a name, logo or slogan that identifies your product in the market, for the specific goods and services you register it for. In the US it is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), class by class: software is usually class 9 (downloadable software) or class 42 (software as a service). Registration gives you nationwide priority and makes it far easier to stop a copycat — and to answer an app-store dispute.
Where Wolfix raises it. The Growth department searches trademark registries for your product's name during every scan and flags a live mark that looks like a conflict. Free scans search the USPTO; paid tiers add international registries.
When you need a trademark — and when you don't
You need one now if Wolfix or your own search found no conflict and you are committed to the name: filing early secures your priority date. It also matters before a funding round, a major launch or an app-store listing where a squatter could cause trouble.
You don't need one yet if you might still rename the product, or if the search found a conflicting mark in your class — then the right next step is a different name or a conversation with a trademark attorney, not a filing that will be refused.
The options, one by one
Trademark Engine is a service Wolfix refers customers to. Filing with the USPTO yourself, LegalZoom and Trademarkia are not Wolfix partners and are included because a fair comparison needs them. Whichever route you take, the USPTO's own fee is the same: $350 per class for a base application (as of 2026-10-04, [S2]).
Trademark Engine
What it is. An online service that prepares and files US trademark applications, with every application reviewed by a licensed trademark attorney.
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). Packages start at $49 plus fees, with higher tiers at $299 and $539 that add a dedicated attorney and consultation time [S1]. On top of the package, the page lists USPTO fees of $350 per class plus $100 for its own services and platform access [S1].
Pros
- Attorney review of every application (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]) catches the common mistakes — a wrong class, a description that does not match the ID Manual — that get self-filed applications refused.
- Its page cites a $2,500 average cost for attorney clearance and filing from a 2021 AIPLA survey (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]), against $149 plus USPTO fees here.
Cons
- The $49 headline is not what you pay: with the $100 services and platform fee and the $350 USPTO fee per class (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]), a single-class filing costs at least $499.
- A filing service is not a clearance opinion or a legal strategy; if your name has a near-conflict or you need several classes and countries, you still want your own attorney.
Who it suits. A founder with a distinctive name, a clean search and one or two classes to file, who wants a professional check without attorney rates.
USPTO direct filing
Not a Wolfix partner. Named for comparison; Wolfix earns nothing from it.
What it is. Filing the application yourself through the USPTO's online Trademark Center and paying only the government fees.
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). $350 per class for a base application [S2]. Surcharges apply per class: $100 for insufficient information and $200 for using the free-form text box instead of the Trademark ID Manual [S2].
Pros
- No service fee: only the $350 government fee per class (as of 2026-10-04, [S2]).
- You control every word of the application, which suits a founder who has read the rules and has a simple word mark.
Cons
- Mistakes cost money and time: a description outside the ID Manual adds $200 per class (as of 2026-10-04, [S2]), and an examiner's objection may need a legal response you have to write yourself.
- Only for applicants domiciled in the US: an applicant whose domicile is outside the United States must be represented by a US-licensed attorney (as of 2026-10-04, [S5], [S6]), so a founder abroad cannot file this way at all.
Who it suits. A US-domiciled founder with a distinctive name, one class and the patience to learn the ID Manual.
LegalZoom
Not a Wolfix partner. Named for comparison; Wolfix earns nothing from it.
What it is. LegalZoom's attorney-led trademark service: an attorney runs the search, chooses the classes and files for you [S3].
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). $899 plus federal fees, including a federal and common-law search, attorney filing and review of USPTO follow-ups [S3]. Trademark monitoring is included for 3 months, then auto-renews at $249 a year [S3].
Pros
- An attorney performs the search, picks the classes and files (as of 2026-10-04, [S3]), which is close to a law-firm engagement at a fixed price.
- A free second search if your first choice has a problem (as of 2026-10-04, [S3]).
Cons
- $899 before the USPTO fee (as of 2026-10-04, [S3]), against $499 at Trademarkia and $149 at Trademark Engine before the same fee (as of 2026-10-04, [S4], [S1]).
- Monitoring auto-renews at $249 a year after 3 months (as of 2026-10-04, [S3]); cancel it unless you want it.
Who it suits. A founder who wants an attorney to own the whole filing and is willing to pay for it.
Trademarkia
Not a Wolfix partner. Named for comparison; Wolfix earns nothing from it.
What it is. A trademark search and filing site; Trademarkia is the registered trade name of the law firm Trademarkia Venture Partners [S4].
Pricing (as of 2026-10-04). Entry is $499 plus government fees, and Standard $599 [S4]. Entry includes one month of trademark monitoring, then $99 a quarter [S4].
Pros
- Filed by a law firm (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]), so an attorney-client relationship is possible once the firm accepts the engagement after a conflict check and a written retainer.
Cons
- The $499 entry price (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]) is more than three times Trademark Engine's $149 entry cost, its $49 package plus its $100 platform fee (as of 2026-10-04, [S1]), before the USPTO fee.
- Its own disclaimer says using the site does not create an attorney-client relationship (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]), and monitoring continues at $99 a quarter after the first month (as of 2026-10-04, [S4]).
Who it suits. A founder who wants a law firm to file, and may later file in other countries.
Still undecided: a trademark attorney
A trademark attorney costs more but gives you a clearance search opinion and handles objections from the examiner. For a name you plan to build a company on, that opinion is often worth more than the filing itself.
Side-by-side comparison
| Service | Service fee | USPTO fee | Attorney involved | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Engine | From $49, plus $100 services and platform fee [S1] | $350 per class [S1] | Review on every application [S1] | 2026-10-04 |
| USPTO direct filing | None | $350 per class, plus surcharges if the description is incomplete [S2] | Not required if US-domiciled; required otherwise [S5] | 2026-10-04 |
| LegalZoom | $899 [S3] | Extra, per class [S3] | Search, class selection and filing by an attorney [S3] | 2026-10-04 |
| Trademarkia | Entry $499 [S4] | Extra, per class [S4] | Filed by its law firm [S4] | 2026-10-04 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to trademark an app name?
The USPTO charges $350 per class for a base application (as of 2026-10-04, [S2]). A filing service adds $149 or more at Trademark Engine, $499 at Trademarkia and $899 at LegalZoom (as of 2026-10-04, [S1], [S4], [S3]).
Which trademark class is software?
Usually class 9 for downloadable software and apps, and class 42 for software offered as a service. Many products file in both.
Can I trademark a name someone else is using?
Not if their use came first for related goods or services and is likely to cause confusion. That is why Wolfix searches the registries during a scan — a conflict found before you file saves the fee.
Do I need a lawyer to file a trademark?
It depends on where you live. If you are domiciled outside the United States, yes: you must be represented by a US-licensed attorney (as of 2026-10-04, [S5]). If you are domiciled in the US you can file yourself, though the USPTO encourages hiring an attorney (as of 2026-10-04, [S6]); a filing service adds an attorney review, and a trademark attorney adds a clearance opinion.
Sources
Prices were read from each source's public page on the date shown.
- [S1] Trademark Engine homepage and packages — trademarkengine.com, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S2] USPTO fee schedule — uspto.gov, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S3] LegalZoom trademark registration — legalzoom.com, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S4] Trademarkia homepage, pricing and disclaimer — trademarkia.com, checked 2026-10-04 (the former /pricing page now returns 404).
- [S5] 37 CFR § 2.11(a), requirement for representation — ecfr.gov, checked 2026-10-04.
- [S6] USPTO, why hire a private trademark attorney — uspto.gov, checked 2026-10-04.
Last reviewed
Last reviewed on 2026-10-04. Government and service fees change; confirm them on the sources above before you file. This page is general information, not legal advice.