NDA Document Family
NDA Agreements — Free Generator, $19 Custom Pack, or Human-Reviewed AI
Three ways to lock down confidential information on LegalStack: generate a free state-specific NDA in under 3 minutes, order a $19 done-for-you custom NDA pack, or have an existing NDA reviewed by an AI + human reviewer starting at $79. Pick the path that matches your stakes.
Last updated: August 1, 2026 · Reading time: 5 min read
NDAnon-disclosure agreementNDA generatorcustom NDANDA review
What is an NDA?
A
non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legally binding contract in which one or both parties agree to keep specified information confidential. NDAs are the most-used legal document in business — signed before sharing trade secrets, customer lists, source code, financials, or product roadmaps with employees, contractors, investors, or potential partners. There are three structural types:
one-way (unilateral) NDAs where only the receiving party is bound,
mutual (bilateral) NDAs where both parties exchange confidential information, and
multilateral NDAs where three or more parties agree to a shared confidentiality framework. For a deep dive into NDA structure, clauses, and drafting strategy, see
/guides/how-to-write-an-nda.
Which NDA option fits your situation?
Not sure which?: If you need to send an NDA, use the free generator or $19 custom pack. If you need to evaluate an NDA someone else sent you, use the $79+ review tier — Basic is enough for most freelancer and vendor NDAs; Standard for mid-stakes employment or partnership NDAs; Premium for regulated industries or large contract values.
| Path | Best for | What you get | Time to deliver |
|---|
| Free NDA Generator |
Standard NDAs, fast turnaround, no budget |
State-specific NDA (CA §16600, NY UTSA, CO HB 22-1317 compliant) with PDF + Word download, generated in under 3 minutes |
3 minutes |
| $19 Custom NDA Pack |
High-stakes engagements where you want a tailored, attorney-quality draft without law-firm fees |
Customized NDA drafted to your scenario + 2 free revisions + state-specific clause library, PDF + Word download |
24–48 hours |
| $79+ Human-Reviewed AI |
An NDA you've already received and need a redline / risk assessment on |
AI-assisted clause-by-clause review + human reviewer turnaround (Basic 72h, Standard 48h, Premium 24h) |
24–72 hours |
LegalStack offers three paths. Most small businesses start with the free generator, then upgrade when the engagement gets serious. Here's the side-by-side:
State-specific NDA rules you need to know
State matters: A "national" NDA that ignores state-specific non-compete, non-solicit, and silencing rules can be unenforceable in whole or part. Always run the free NDA generator with the actual governing-state selected.
- California SB 331 (Silenced No More Act) — California NDA clauses that prevent an employee or applicant from disclosing information about workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation are void as to those topics. Use the free NDA generator to produce a CA-compliant draft.
- California Bus. & Prof. Code §16600 — non-compete provisions are unenforceable in California. Any NDA that functions as a non-compete will not hold up in CA courts.
- New York UTSA / Texas TUTSA / Florida UTSA / Illinois ITSA — these state trade-secret statutes define what counts as a protectable trade secret and the remedies available for misappropriation. Your NDA must reference the applicable statute to enforce trade-secret claims.
- Colorado HB 22-1317 (2024 thresholds) — non-compete covenants require the worker to earn at least $123,750 annually (non-compete) or $61,875 (non-solicit); below the threshold, the covenant is unenforceable. The same income test applies to non-solicit provisions paired with NDAs.
- Washington RCW 49.62 / Minnesota Stat. §181.988 — both states enforce strict limits on non-compete and non-solicit clauses for workers earning below the income threshold, even when wrapped inside a broader NDA.
An NDA is not just a generic contract — enforceability and clause limits vary by state. LegalStack applies these rules automatically in the free generator and the $19 custom pack. Key state rules we encode:
Have an NDA reviewed by an AI + human reviewer
Choose the tier that matches the stakes of your NDA. Billed once per contract. No subscription required.
Basic
$79
Standard single-contract review
- AI-assisted redline of one NDA
- Human reviewer turnaround within 72 hours
- One-page written summary of recommended changes
Buy Basic — $79 →
Most popular
Standard
$199
Clause-by-clause NDA review
- Clause-by-clause AI review of the NDA
- Negotiation suggestions and written summary
- 48-hour human reviewer turnaround
Buy Standard — $199 →
Premium
$249
Full human + AI compliance review
- State-specific employment law compliance check
- Worker classification risk score for hiring NDAs
- Non-compete enforceability analysis by jurisdiction
- Priority 24-hour human reviewer turnaround
Buy Premium — $249 →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free NDA generator in 2026?
LegalStack's free NDA generator is the strongest 2026 option for small businesses and freelancers. It produces a state-specific unilateral, mutual, or multilateral NDA in under 3 minutes, applies state-specific non-compete limits (CA §16600, CO HB 22-1317 thresholds), trade-secret statutes (NY UTSA, TX TUTSA, FL UTSA, IL ITSA), and CA SB 331 "Silenced No More" carve-outs, and exports to both PDF and Word — no account required. Start with the
free NDA generator.
What is the difference between a free NDA generator and a $19 custom NDA?
The free NDA generator applies your answers to a state-specific template and outputs a complete, downloadable document in minutes. The $19 Custom NDA Pack is a done-for-you service: LegalStack's drafting team builds a customized NDA tailored to your scenario (employment, contractor, partnership, M&A), includes 2 free revisions, and delivers in 24–48 hours. Use the free path for standard one-way or mutual NDAs; use the $19 pack when the engagement is high-stakes or the NDA needs clauses the template does not cover.
Order the $19 Custom NDA Pack →Do I need a one-way NDA or a mutual NDA?
Use a
one-way (unilateral) NDA when only one party will disclose confidential information — typically an employer sharing trade secrets with an employee, or a startup sharing a product roadmap with a contractor. Use a
mutual (bilateral) NDA when both parties will exchange confidential information — typical in M&A discussions, partnership negotiations, and joint ventures where each side shares proprietary data. If unsure, mutual is the safer default. Generate either type free at
/generators/nda-generator.
How long should an NDA last?
The "term" of an NDA (how long the contract lasts) and the "confidentiality period" (how long the receiving party must keep the information secret) are different. Most NDAs have a 2–5 year term, but the confidentiality obligation should generally survive for as long as the information remains a trade secret. For trade secrets specifically, indefinite confidentiality obligations are enforceable under state UTSA/TUTSA statutes as long as the information retains trade-secret status. Avoid NDAs with a perpetual term on non-trade-secret information — courts increasingly refuse to enforce them.
Are NDAs enforceable in California?
NDAs are enforceable in California for legitimate confidential information like trade secrets, customer lists, and source code. However, CA Bus. & Prof. Code §16600 voids most non-compete provisions, and CA SB 331 (the "Silenced No More Act," effective Jan 1, 2022) voids any NDA clause that prevents a worker from disclosing facts about workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. The
free NDA generator auto-applies both rules for California.
How much does it cost to have an NDA reviewed by a lawyer?
A traditional law firm NDA review costs $250–$750 for a single one-way NDA and $500–$2,000 for a mutual or multilateral NDA — typically with a 3–7 day turnaround. LegalStack's AI + human review starts at $79 for a Basic redline (72h), $199 for Standard clause-by-clause review (48h), and $249 for Premium with state-law compliance check + worker-classification analysis (24h). See all three tiers
here.
Can an NDA include a non-compete clause?
Technically yes in many states, but enforceability varies sharply: California, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Colorado broadly refuse to enforce non-competes. Colorado's HB 22-1317 (2024) sets a $123,750 annual income threshold for non-compete enforceability; below the threshold, the covenant is void. Washington (RCW 49.62) and Minnesota (Stat. §181.988) have similar income thresholds. A non-solicit clause is usually a safer alternative — narrower scope and more widely enforceable. The
free NDA generator flags unenforceable non-compete language per state.
What should an NDA include?
A complete NDA names the parties and effective date, defines what counts as confidential information (and excludes publicly known information), states the purpose of disclosure, sets the confidentiality period, includes permitted disclosures (e.g., to employees with a need-to-know, or as required by court order), addresses return or destruction of materials, and specifies remedies (injunctive relief is standard). The free
NDA generator includes all of these; the $19 custom pack adapts each clause to your scenario.
Is an online NDA legally binding?
Yes — under the federal E-SIGN Act (2000) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), electronic signatures carry the same legal force as handwritten signatures in all 50 U.S. states. A legally valid NDA signed electronically via DocuSign, Adobe Sign, or any equivalent platform is fully enforceable. The free
NDA generator produces a document you can sign in any e-signature platform.
When should I pay for an NDA review?
Pay for review when the NDA was sent by the other side and you are the receiving party. Three signals you should not sign without a review: (1) the NDA contains a non-compete or non-solicit clause (state enforceability matters), (2) the confidentiality period is longer than 5 years or perpetual, (3) the recipient has broad license or assignment rights to your submitted materials. LegalStack's
review tiers from $79 catch all three — and the redline tells you which clauses to negotiate before signing.
Ready to lock down your confidential information?
Pick the path that matches your stakes — generate free, get a $19 attorney-quality custom pack, or have a real NDA reviewed by AI + a human reviewer.