 

[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [Legal Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/legal/) \> [Legal Practice Management Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/legal-practice-management-software/) \> [Clio](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/clio/) \> Clio vs Smokeball 

# Clio vs Smokeball 

Last Updated: July 27th, 2026 

Our analysts compared [Clio](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/clio/) vs [Smokeball](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/smokeball/) based on data from our 400+ point analysis of [Legal Practice Management Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/legal-practice-management-software/), user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our [free software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=Legal Practice Management Software&cta=legal-practice-management-software). 

[Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) 

Remove Add to Compare 

[![Clio Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/8b0dc65f996f98fd178a9defd0efa077-f6f15768ddb2acce722111128d04a5d2/resources/normal/logo.png?1693316403)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/clio/)

[ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) 

Remove Add to Compare 

[![Smokeball Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/abc99d6b9938aa86d1f30f8ee0fd169f-8bb2f80abd5b93018768b0bcbc773099/resources/normal/logo.png?1693318397)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/smokeball/)

[ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) 

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Clio&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8b0dc65f996f98fd178a9defd0efa077-f6f15768ddb2acce722111128d04a5d2%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316403) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Clio&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8b0dc65f996f98fd178a9defd0efa077-f6f15768ddb2acce722111128d04a5d2%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316403) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Clio&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8b0dc65f996f98fd178a9defd0efa077-f6f15768ddb2acce722111128d04a5d2%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316403&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Clio&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F8b0dc65f996f98fd178a9defd0efa077-f6f15768ddb2acce722111128d04a5d2%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316403&price=2) 

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Smokeball&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fabc99d6b9938aa86d1f30f8ee0fd169f-8bb2f80abd5b93018768b0bcbc773099%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318397) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Smokeball&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fabc99d6b9938aa86d1f30f8ee0fd169f-8bb2f80abd5b93018768b0bcbc773099%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318397) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Smokeball&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fabc99d6b9938aa86d1f30f8ee0fd169f-8bb2f80abd5b93018768b0bcbc773099%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318397&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Smokeball&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fabc99d6b9938aa86d1f30f8ee0fd169f-8bb2f80abd5b93018768b0bcbc773099%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318397&price=2) 

### Products Insights 

Product Ranking 

## #2

among all   
Legal Practice Management Software

## #6

among all   
Legal Practice Management Software

[Find out who the leaders are](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard?post%5Ftype=auto%5Fvs%5Farticle&category%5Fslug=legal-practice-management-software&product%5Fslug=clio&category=Legal+Practice+Management+Software) 

Price Starts From 

$40/User, Monthly 

[Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Clio&category=Legal Practice Management Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/8b0dc65f996f98fd178a9defd0efa077-f6f15768ddb2acce722111128d04a5d2/resources/normal/logo.png?1693316403) 

Custom Quote 

i 

Free Trial is unavailable → 

Pros 

What we like about Clio and Smokeball: 

* Users find the interface intuitive and easy to pick up with minimal ramp-up time
* Includes unlimited cloud storage for case documents, audio and video files
* Connects with more than 200 apps including Dropbox, Outlook and Google Workspace

* Users praise data storage and organization, with strong matter-specific document search
* Includes a hybrid setup that works both online and offline for remote access
* Offers automated time tracking inside Word and Outlook, plus a 17,000+ form library

Cons 

What we dislike about Clio and Smokeball: 

* Users say loading speed is slow and integrations can be buggy
* Reports lack customization, making detailed firm insights harder to surface
* Users feel the cost runs higher than competing legal practice tools

* Users mention a steep learning curve, with the interface taking time to master
* Reporting features can fall short for firms wanting deeper performance insights
* No MacOS support, and you can't password-protect specific case information

### Our Review 

**Bottom line:** Clio and Smokeball both serve law firms well, but they fit different setups. Clio works best if you want a cloud-only platform with a huge integration network and a polished mobile app. Smokeball makes more sense if your team lives inside Microsoft Word and Outlook and wants automatic time capture without thinking about it.

Clio starts at $40 per user per month, which puts pricing out in the open. Smokeball doesn't publish a price and requires a quote, with plans typically scaled by user count and features. If transparent pricing matters to you up front, Clio has the edge here.

On day-to-day work, Clio leans on its dashboards, billing portal and 200-plus integrations to pull your stack together. Smokeball leans the other way, with deep Microsoft Office hooks, document automation tied to over 250 practice areas and the AutoTime tool that logs hours as you work.

Mobility and access also split the two. Clio is fully cloud-based with a strong mobile app for time tracking and accounting on the go. Smokeball uses a hybrid model that keeps working offline, which helps if your internet isn't always reliable, though there's no MacOS support.

If your firm wants flexible integrations, transparent pricing and remote-first work, Clio is the safer pick. If you bill hourly, draft constantly in Word and want time capture handled for you, Smokeball pays back the learning curve, especially for small to mid-sized firms willing to negotiate pricing.

### User Sentiment Summary 

Clio has a user sentiment rating of 93 based on 1435 reviews. Smokeball has a user sentiment rating of 95 based on 747 reviews. 

![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 1435 reviews 

![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 747 reviews 

Synopsis 

Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data. 

93% 

of users recommend this product

Clio has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 1435 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites. 

95% 

of users recommend this product

Smokeball has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 95% when considering 747 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites. 

User Review Scores 

**FinancesOnline** 

**4.6** (18) 

**4.9** (14) 

**G2.com, Inc** 

**4.5** (243) 

**4.8** (176) 

**Software Advice, Inc** 

**4.7** (1147) 

**4.76** (189) 

**GetApp** 

n/a 

**4.7** (179) 

**Capterra Inc** 

n/a 

**4.8** (189) 

**TrustRadius** 

**4.7** (27) 

n/a 

### Awards 

SelectHub awards earned by these products based on a comprehensive analysis by our research analysts. 

Clio stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. 

![User Favorite Award]()

Smokeball stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. 

![User Favorite Award]()

### Product Assistance 

Training Resources 

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Support 

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

### Product Basics 

Company Size 

i 

Small

Medium

Large

Small

Medium

Large

Platforms Supported 

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

Deployment Supported 

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Comparison of Top Alternatives 

[Clio Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio/alternatives/) 

[Smokeball Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/smokeball/alternatives/) 

### Screenshots 

![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() 

![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() 

### Key Features 

* **Time tracking** – Logs hours from calendar events, tasks, notes, Outlook and Gmail, with mobile entry on the go.
* **Document management** – Stores unlimited legal files with keyword search, custom categories and an e-Signature portal for sending documents out.
* **Billing workflow** – Sends bills through the Clio Connect portal, processes late-payment interest and runs card payments via Clio Payments.
* **Client intake** – Uses Quick Intake and online forms to log leads, sync calendars and open new matters without juggling tools.

* **AutoTime tracking** – Captures time automatically inside Word and Outlook and ties it back to the matching legal matter.
* **Document automation** – Drafts files from matter data with over 17,000 forms and 250-plus practice-area templates built in.
* **Billing workflow** – Builds custom invoices from tracked time and connects to LawPay and QuickBooks Online for payments and accounting.
* **Client portal** – Smokeball Communicate lets you message clients, share files and log every exchange as billable time in one place.

### Top Alternatives in Legal Practice Management Software 

[  8am MyCase ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/8am-mycase/) [  AbacusLaw ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/abacuslaw/) [  Actionstep ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/actionstep/) [  Amicus Attorney ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/amicus-attorney/) [  BaseNet ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/basenet/) [  Bill4Time ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/bill4time/) [  CARET Legal ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/caret-legal/) [  CaseFox ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/casefox/) [  Clio Manage ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/clio-manage/) [  CosmoLex ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/cosmolex/) [  Filevine ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/filevine/) [  Firm Central ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/firm-central/) [  Lawmatics ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/lawmatics/) [  Lead Docket ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/lead-docket/) [  LEX Reception ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/lex-reception/) [  MerusCase ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/meruscase/) [  PracticePanther ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/practicepanther/) [  Rocket Matter ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/rocket-matter/) [  Smokeball ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/smokeball/) [  Tabs3 ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/legal-practice-management-software/tabs3/) 

### Related Categories 

Clio and Smokeball can also be found with other leading products in these categories: 

[Legal Case Management Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/legal-case-management-software/) 

[Legal Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/legal-software/) 

Show more 

[Legal Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/legal-software/) 

Show more 

### Head-to-Head Comparison 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![8am MyCase Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS 8am MyCase](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/8am-mycase-vs-clio/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Actionstep Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Actionstep](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-actionstep/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Bill4Time Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Bill4Time](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-bill4time/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Clio Manage Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Clio Manage](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-clio-manage/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![CosmoLex Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS CosmoLex](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-cosmolex/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Filevine Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Filevine](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-filevine/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Firm Central Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Firm Central](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-firm-central/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Lawmatics Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Lawmatics](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-lawmatics/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![MerusCase Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS MerusCase](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-meruscase/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![PracticePanther Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS PracticePanther](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-practicepanther/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Rocket Matter Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Rocket Matter](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-rocket-matter/) 

![Clio Software Tool]() 

![Smokeball Software Tool]() 

[Clio VS Smokeball](https://www.selecthub.com/legal-practice-management-software/clio-vs-smokeball/) 

**About SelectHub (and our data)** 

We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies.

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() 

![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() 

**Tier 1:**  
Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment.  
Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. 

**Tier 2:**  
Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs.  
Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. 

**Tier 3:**  
Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost.  
Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. 

[Close](#)

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