Head-to-head · Legal Case Management
Clio Manage vs Smokeball
Clio Manage leads on 0 checks, Smokeball on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreClio Manage · 8.9/10
- Free trialonly Clio Manage
Clio Manage scores higher on our rubric for legal case management: 8.9 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.
Clio Manage is the better fit for firms wanting a broadly established all-in-one platform. Smokeball is the better fit for small firms that value document automation and desktop tools.
- Clio Manage fits best
Firms wanting a broadly established all-in-one platform
- Smokeball fits best
Small firms that value document automation and desktop tools
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Side by side
| Feature | Clio Manage 8.9/10 Visit ↗ | Smokeball 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #1 in Legal Case Management | #3 in Legal Case Management |
| Best for | Firms wanting a broadly established all-in-one platform | Small firms that value document automation and desktop tools |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome extension |
| Support | Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs | Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Compliance | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA | ISO 27001, 2FA |
| Integrations | 6 integrations | 6 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Clio Manage 3/5 · Smokeball 3/5 | ||
| Matter management | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Client portal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Time tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Billing tools | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Mobile apps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Practice areas | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Clio Manage is a cloud-based legal practice management system for law firms, from solo practitioners through enterprise practices. Its workspace brings together matter and contact management, calendars, deadlines, tasks, documents,… Read the review → |
Smokeball brings matter management, client intake, document automation, time tracking, billing, trust accounting, calendaring, reporting, and a client portal into one legal practice management product. It is aimed at solo attorneys, small… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Clio Manage — where it wins
- Covers matters, deadlines, documents, time, billing, and trust accounting
- Client portal, mobile apps, dashboards, and broad integrations
- SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, SSO/SAML, and two-factor support
Where it doesn't
- No free plan; the trial lasts seven days
- Client intake generally requires the separate Clio Grow product
- Advanced workflow and automation controls require higher tiers
Smokeball — where it wins
- Automates documents with more than 20,000 templates
- Combines intake, matters, billing, trust accounting, and client portal
- Offers Windows desktop, web, and mobile access
Where it doesn't
- Plans are quote-based rather than publicly priced
- The native desktop application is Windows-only
- Support is not available 24/7
- Clio Manage8.9/10 · 7-day trial
An established all-in-one workspace for matters, billing, documents, and trust accounting.
Visit Clio ManageFull verdict → - Smokeball8.7/10 · Pricing on request
A broad legal workflow suite centered on document automation and matter management.
Visit SmokeballFull verdict →
More comparisons
All legal case management comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update