The math is simple
A patent attorney charges $2,800–$5,000 for a prior art search. We use AI to search the same patent databases and deliver a plain-English report for $149. Within 1 business day, not 6 weeks.
Check My Invention — $149 →"Search to figure out patentability: $2,800. Provisional: $10K. Total average: $35K."
— r/patentlaw · 36 upvotes
"How expensive is it to patent? I heard 20-30K!!!!"
— r/Patents
"If you don't have money for a patent, you likely don't have the capital to materialize your invention."
— r/Patents · 12 upvotes
"I am trying to understand the difference in quality. How can I justify spending almost 10x more?"
— r/Patents
You shouldn't need $35K just to find out if your idea is worth pursuing.
| Option | Cost | Time | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Patents (DIY) | Free | 4–20 hours of your time | Raw listings. Hope you guessed the right keywords. |
| Patent Attorney | $2,800–$5,000 | 2–6 weeks | Legal memo you might need a lawyer to read. |
| PriorArtCheck | $149–$499 | 1 business day | Plain-English report + attorney-ready details. |
Answer a few guided questions. No legal jargon — write it like you'd explain it to a smart friend. Takes about 10 minutes.
Semantic matching across millions of US patents and applications. Finds conceptually similar inventions even when they use different terminology.
Plain-English assessment of what exists, how close it is, and your next steps. Take it to your attorney — or use it to decide if you need one.
All plans: encrypted & confidential · 1 business day delivery · 30-day money-back guarantee
Is my idea worth pursuing?
Am I clear to build?
Ready to file
For context: Patent attorneys typically charge $600–$3,500 for a search alone, $5,000–$15,000 for a provisional filing, and $8,000–$15,000+ for a full utility patent.
Different, not worse. Attorneys bring legal interpretation — we bring breadth and speed. Our AI uses semantic matching to search millions of patents for conceptual similarity, not just keyword overlap. Many patent attorneys actually recommend clients do preliminary research before the first meeting — it saves billable hours and focuses the conversation on strategy.
For filing a patent, yes. We provide prior art search and analysis, not legal advice. Think of us as Step 1: find out if it's worth pursuing before you invest in the legal process. Your attorney gets a head start instead of starting from scratch at $400/hour.
Every submission is encrypted and covered by our Inventor Confidentiality Agreement. We never file patents on anything you submit. We make money from reports, not your IP.
Read the full agreement →Find out where your invention stands. $149. Report within 1 business day. Money-back guarantee.
Check My Invention Now →Questions? support@priorartcheck.com