TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Clio

    Score8.2 out of 10
    N/AClio is web-based legal practice management software for solo practitioners and small firms. It is designed to replace multiple different systems (like document management, case management, and accounting software) to streamline the amount of technology that small firms need to manage.

    $49

    per month

    Smokeball

    Score8.2 out of 10
    N/ASmokeball in Chicago offers their flagship cloud-based legal case management application featuring time tracking, file and document management, billing, and legal form generation.N/A
    Pricing
    ClioSmokeball
    Editions & Modules
    EasyStart
    $49
    per user/per month
    Clio Grow
    $59
    per user/per month
    Essentials
    $89
    per month per user
    Advanced
    $129
    per month per user
    Complete
    $159
    per month per user
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    ClioSmokeball
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsAll pricing tiers have a 7-day free trial. Discount available for annual pricing.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    ClioSmokeball
    Considered Both Products
    Clio
    No answer on this topic
    Smokeball
    Chose Smokeball
    Smokeball had more features and the customer support is incredible!
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    59%
    Would buy again
    10 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    59%
    Delivers good value for the price
    10 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    53%
    Happy with the feature set
    9 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    56%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    9 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    53%
    Implementation went as expected
    9 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    User Ratings
    ClioSmokeball
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.1
    (27 ratings)
    8.0
    (3 ratings)
    Usability
    9.2
    (5 ratings)
    7.5
    (2 ratings)
    Support Rating
    6.4
    (4 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    ClioSmokeball
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Clio
    Clio allows our law firm to track all aspects of a matter, such as documents, emails, time entries, tasks, and notes, in one place. This is ideal for our mid-sized law firm, which handles general litigation, personal injury, and family law. A feature we appreciate is the client portal's secure way to share updates, documents, and invoices.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    1. Small and medium-sized law firms: Smokeball is specifically designed for small and medium-sized law firms, making it well suited for this type of organization. 2. Firms looking to streamline their workflow: Smokeball's range of features, including document management, time tracking, email management, calendar management, and task management, make it well suited for firms looking to streamline their operations and increase efficiency. 3. Firms looking to improve collaboration: Smokeball's centralized document repository and task management system make it easy for teams to collaborate and access information, making it well suited for firms looking to improve collaboration among team members.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Clio
    • Provides an interface with NextChapter Bankruptcy.
    • Provides an interface with the forms on our website and landing pages to allow for easy transmission of potential clients into our Clio system from these sources with little human intervention.
    • Its billing, invoicing and payment integration makes the billing cycle for clients easier.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    • Document Management: Smokeball provides a centralized document repository where users can store and organize all their case-related documents. This helps to improve document accessibility and collaboration among team members.
    • Time Tracking: Smokeball automatically tracks time spent on a case, eliminating the need for manual time tracking. This results in improved billing accuracy and helps the firm to accurately bill clients for the time spent on their cases.
    • Email Management: Smokeball integrates with a user's email account and automatically categorizes emails as they come in. This helps users to quickly find and access important emails, reducing the amount of time spent searching for information.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Clio
    • Document management. It's still far easier for me to create Word templates and just use Word.
    • Centralized filing of client files. Like I said, I use Word. I work on a Mac and use Mac's tag structure. Clio should find a way to gather all files that have a certain tag and allow me to access them through Clio. Instead, I use Hazel and DropBox.
    • Case planning and budgeting. I use OmniFocus for project management, a self-created Excel spreadsheet for project budgeting and a cloud-based service for Gantt charts. How hard would it be to add robust project management tools to Clio?
    • Search feature for stored documents and information. Evernote has Clio beat hands-down, but I don't put client-sensitive information (only caselaw) on Evernote.
    • Case notes. This feature may be useful for high-volume practices, but I never use it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    • User Interface: Some users have reported that the user interface could be improved to make it more user-friendly and intuitive.
    • Customer Support: Some users have reported long response times and inconsistent quality of customer support, which could be improved to provide better service to users
    • Mobile Accessibility: Currently, Smokeball does not have a mobile app, which limits accessibility for users who are frequently on the go.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Clio
    We have been able to streamline our task management and everyday office procedures by using Clio to its fullest potential. We have a hire client retention rate because we can easily keep track of leads and follow ups. Clio Draft is saving us time on drafting legal documents and correspondence espondence. Overall, we are able to save time and money on everything tasks
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    Clio
    Clio is intuitive and easy to learn. Even new staff or attorneys with limited tech experience can quickly navigate through tasks, matters, billing, and calendars. This reduces training time and increases productivity, especially in a busy mid-sized law firm. Because it’s cloud-based, Clio can be accessed from any device, anywhere. Whether I am working in the office, at home, or in court, I have full access to my cases, documents, and time entries.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    Smokeball just works! It's very user-friends and they have techs and videos to help you with everything
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Clio
    When I contact them, I am told that the person who can help me cannot be reached but that I should call back. When I call, I cannot get ahold of anyone who can help. Sales/support does not respond to my emails. Maybe if you are part of a large firm they treat you differently.
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Clio
    We did not use any other practice management software, but I did evaluate Rocket Matter as a potential alternative. Rocket Matter does not have the same robust intake software that Clio Grow does and therefore it was not even a plausible alternative for us to implement. Clio is constantly updating and evolving based on feedback from users and that makes it the kind of program that can grow with your business needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    Smokeball felt simpler for us because the automatic time tracking works better than Clio’s.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Clio
    • Hard to judge ROI, but it saves us money compared to our old server based system (ProLaw)
    • More accessible from more places. I was able to continue working during a two week trip to the beach.
    • The Client Portal (Clio Connect) is a positive way to send clients document securely, avoids the forwarded email / forwarded attachment problem.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Smokeball
    • Keeping track of time lets us spend more time on law and less on tracking!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots