Storyworth vs. Living Legend: Which Memoir Writing Service Is Right for You?

If you’ve been thinking, “I should write my life story someday”, you’ve probably come across Storyworth. It’s one of the better-known names in the space, offering a year of emailed prompts that turn into a printed book at the end. But it’s not the only option.

Living Legend is another autobiography writing service that takes a very different approach—more guided, more personal, and a lot faster. In this post, we’ll compare Storyworth vs. Living Legend so you can decide which memoir writing service is the best fit for you or a loved one.

Storyworth at a Glance

Storyworth works by sending weekly prompts for a full year. You (or the person you gift it to) answer each question, usually in writing, though voice notes are now supported too. At the end of twelve months, Storyworth compiles all those answers into a hardcover book.

  • Cost: Inexpensive - $99 per year

  • Deliverable: One hardcover book (300 pages included; extras cost more)

  • Timeframe: 12 months of writing before you print

This makes Storyworth a solid choice if you want to write your own story at a steady pace and don’t mind waiting until the end of the year to see a finished product.

Living Legend at a Glance

Living Legend is more of a done-for-you memoir writing service. Instead of typing responses week after week, you schedule a single one-hour interview with a professional interviewer. They guide the conversation, pull out memories and details, and then revise an AI-written draft to mak sure your chapter that sounds like you.

  • Cost: $349 for each interview (bundled discounts available)

  • Deliverables: A polished, 1,000+ word chapter written for you, 2 hardcover books, a PDF, and even an audiobook

  • Timeframe: Draft within 7 days of your interview; printed book in ~2 weeks

This makes Living Legend a good fit if you’ve been putting off your story for years, don’t enjoy writing, or simply want results fast.

Which One Fits You Best?

Choose Storyworth if…

  • You enjoy writing consistently.

  • You want to reflect week by week.

  • You’re comfortable with a yearlong process before printing a book.

Choose Living Legend if…

  • You want results quickly (weeks, not a year).

  • You’d prefer to simply talk and have someone else do the writing.

  • You’re looking for a Storyworth alternative with more polish and flexibility.

Why People Choose Living Legend as a Storyworth Alternative

Many people start looking for Storyworth alternatives because they realize:

  • They don’t have the time or energy to type out 52 weekly stories.

  • They want a more professional biography writing service than DIY prompts.

  • They need a polished story sooner—maybe for a milestone birthday, anniversary, or holiday gift.

Although Storyworth is loved by many, customer reviews highlight the downsides of weekly prompts:

“[Storyworth] was exhausting…The biggest thing is having to re-read it for typos or grammar errors. I see why published authors pay someone to proofread for them.” - Barbara P

“I worked hard at this tiresome chore because my Storyworth subscription was a gift from my daughter, but I did not enjoy it and I would neither do it again, nor recommend it to anyone else.” - John D

“My life is very busy and I cannot keep up with a story every week” - Julie H

“I like being able to tell my stories, but you really have to be in the mood and have the time to sit and think about things and that takes a while… You can't just knock them out week after week as I think Storyworth expects you to.” - Turrilynn

Living Legend positions itself between expensive ghostwriters (who can charge $10,000+) and cheap DIY subscriptions. It’s an accessible, high-quality family history writing service where your story is handled by trained interviewers and editors, but without the elite price tag.

The Emotional Payoff

At the end of the day, both services are about legacy and connection.

  • With Storyworth, the joy comes from watching a story grow week by week.

  • With Living Legend, the relief is immediate: one conversation, and you have a finished chapter ready to share with family.

Imagine handing your grandchildren a hardcover book with your name on the cover. Whether you write it yourself or hire someone to write it for you, the result is the same: your story, captured forever.

If you’ve been searching for “hire someone to write my life story” or wondering whether Storyworth is the right fit, the answer depends on your style.

  • Storyworth: Best for those who can commit to a steady yearlong project.

  • Living Legend: Best for people who want a life story writing service that’s fast, polished, and done-for-you.

Either way, the most important step is starting. Your family will thank you for it.

✅Ready to get started? Purchase your first conversation with Living Legend today—your story, our words, their treasure.