BetterCFRalpha

The eCFR works. It’s also from 2013.

Read regulations the way you actually work.

BetterCFR is a modern reader for the Code of Federal Regulations. Multi-pane comparison, definitions a hover away, and citations that actually go somewhere — built for the way regulatory people already think.

For anyone who reads the CFR — trade, tax, healthcare, environmental, financial services.

RoadmapShippedIn progressPlanned
Alpha · planned for Q2 2026
Alpha is scoped to the EAR and ITAR, with the following features:
  • Multi-pane workspace
    Open up to four sections side by side. Cross-reference without tab-hopping.
  • Hover definitions
    Every defined term in a part resolves inline — no hopping back to definitions sections.
  • Familiar navigation meets accessibility
    Navigation inspired by the eCFR, but fully accessible with keyboard-only navigation.
Full release · after Q3 beta
More features planned for full release.
  • Save your layout, notes & highlights
    Paragraph-level annotations and highlighting, with quick copying. Save the layouts you regularly use for quick access.
  • Timeline comparison
    See a regulation develop over time, then jump to the Federal Register to see why. Copy back to your notes.
  • Expanded coverage
    Coverage grows from just the EAR and ITAR to the full CFR post-release.
Why I made BetterCFR
An attorney-made tool for regulatory work.

Don’t get me wrong, as far as government websites go, the eCFR is great. But I got tired of flipping between tabs to make sense of the cross-references, scrolling endlessly through the Commerce Control List, and losing all progress when closing the browser. So I made BetterCFR: a tool purpose-made for regulatory work, with all the tools for working smarter — and the navigation you’re already familiar with from the eCFR.

  • Alpha testers
    We need 4–5 testers who regularly use the CFR for trade, tax, or procurement, and who can provide feedback on bugs and features.
  • Beta testers
    Beta testers will have early access to the full platform to test features and our servers.
  • Full release
    To provide all the 1.0 features on the roadmap, we’ll charge a reasonable subscription. But select features will always be free.