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DIY RTI vs paid filing service — pros, cons, and the 2026 verdict

Until 2024, paid RTI services made sense — drafting an RTI required statutory fluency most citizens lacked. In 2026, free AI drafters (like ours) generate a legally-correct §6(1) application in 60 seconds. Below: when paid still helps, and when DIY is strictly better.

AttributeOption AOption B
Time to fileDIY (with AI): 5-10 min. Paid: 1-3 days (their team drafts + sends).
CostDIY: only ₹10 govt fee. Paid: ₹150-1,500 service fee + ₹10.
Quality of draftDIY (AI Drafter + Outcome Predictor): generally as good as paid services for routine queries. For complex multi-section requests, paid may be better.
PrivacyDIY: only the PIO sees your application. Paid: their staff also sees it.
Learning valueDIY: you learn the process and can refile anytime. Paid: you stay dependent.
Appeal handlingDIY: First Appeal Builder is free. Paid: charged separately.
When paid still wins— Multi-state coordinated requests
— You are physically unable (mobility/reading)
— You explicitly want hand-holding
When DIY wins (most cases)— You can read English/Hindi
— Your request is for one record
— You have 10 minutes
— You want to keep the service fee

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This comparison reflects RTI Wiki's understanding of competing options as of April 2026. We are not affiliated with filemyrti.com or CIC.