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Head-to-head · Legal Payments Software

Clio Payments vs Smokeball

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 8 checks side by side
Higher score Clio Payments #2 in Legal Payments Software 8.7/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 7 of 7 features Visit Clio Payments
Smokeball #5 in Legal Payments Software 8.2/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 7 features Visit Smokeball

Clio Payments leads on 0 checks, Smokeball on 0, and 8 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 8 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreClio Payments · 8.7/10
  • Free trialonly Clio Payments
  • Most featuresClio Payments · 7 of 7

Clio Payments scores higher on our rubric for legal payments software: 8.7 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.

Clio Payments is the better fit for clio firms needing integrated payments. Smokeball is the better fit for firms wanting payments within a full practice suite.

  • Clio Payments fits best

    Clio firms needing integrated payments

  • Smokeball fits best

    Firms wanting payments within a full practice suite

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Clio Payments 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Smokeball 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.2
Ranking #2 in Legal Payments Software #5 in Legal Payments Software
Best for Clio firms needing integrated payments Firms wanting payments within a full practice suite
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, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, GDPR, PCI DSS, 2FA ISO 27001, 2FA
Integrations 250+ integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Clio Payments 7/7 · Smokeball 0/7
Trust account support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Payment plans ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Client payment portal ✓ (best) Not checked yet
ACH payments ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Card payments ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Legal billing integration ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Reconciliation tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports cards, eCheck, ACH, digital wallets, and trust-account payments
  • Handles payment plans, recurring charges, reminders, and stored payment methods
  • Associates payments with bills and matters and syncs with accounting platforms
  • Online payments and trust accounting are included in the Bill plan.
  • Client portals, intake workflows, and document automation support firm operations.
  • Microsoft 365, QuickBooks Online, LawPay, and mobile apps extend its reach.
Cons
  • Built around Clio Manage rather than offered as a standalone product
  • Payment methods and availability vary by country
  • No free plan is available
  • Pricing requires a personalized quote rather than published plan amounts.
  • The broad practice suite may exceed the needs of payment-only buyers.
  • Advanced capabilities are divided across multiple plans.
Our verdict

Clio Payments is a payment processing solution for law firms using Clio Manage. It supports online and in-person card payments, eCheck and direct ACH payments, digital wallets, and trust-account transactions. Firms can accept payments…

Read the review →

Smokeball is legal practice management software for solo attorneys, small law firms, and growing legal teams, with a particular fit for people-law practices. It brings matter and contact management, intake, calendaring, tasks, document…

Read the review →
  1. Clio PaymentsLegal Payments Software 8.77-day trial
  2. SmokeballLegal Payments Software 8.2Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Clio Payments — where it wins

    • Supports cards, eCheck, ACH, digital wallets, and trust-account payments
    • Handles payment plans, recurring charges, reminders, and stored payment methods
    • Associates payments with bills and matters and syncs with accounting platforms

    Where it doesn't

    • Built around Clio Manage rather than offered as a standalone product
    • Payment methods and availability vary by country
    • No free plan is available

  • Smokeball — where it wins

    • Online payments and trust accounting are included in the Bill plan.
    • Client portals, intake workflows, and document automation support firm operations.
    • Microsoft 365, QuickBooks Online, LawPay, and mobile apps extend its reach.

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a personalized quote rather than published plan amounts.
    • The broad practice suite may exceed the needs of payment-only buyers.
    • Advanced capabilities are divided across multiple plans.

More comparisons

All legal payments software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update