The comparison
| Tool | Main job | Who it's built for | Published pricing | What we couldn't verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clio (Manage, Duo, Work) | Practice management plus AI (Duo, Clio Work) | Solo, small and mid-sized firms | Not read (403). Press reported Clio Work at USD 199 per user per month at its October 2025 launch | Manage prices, what Duo includes |
| MyCase | Practice management with 8am IQ AI by plan | Small and mid-sized firms | USD 50, 100, 130 per user per month billed annually (USD 60, 120, 150 monthly); 10-day trial, no card | Accuracy of the AI assistants |
| Smokeball | Practice management with Bill, Boost, Grow, Prosper+ plans; Archie AI add-on | Firms by size; Grow is for three or more staff | No amounts; depends on users, plan, term and add-ons; request a quote | Prices, trial |
| Filevine | Case management with LOIS AI suite, intake, depositions | Firms by practice area and size, government, in-house | No amounts; "All packages are custom built"; free LOIS Explore tier | Prices, what each package includes |
| PracticePanther | Practice management in Solo, Essential, Business, Business Pro | Solo to mid-sized firms | USD 49, 69, 89, 114 per user per month billed annually (USD 59, 79, 99, 124 monthly); 7-day trial, no card | AI features (none listed), integrations |
| Docketwise | Immigration case management and forms | Immigration firms | USD 80, 100, 120 per user per month in one set and USD 90, 120, 140 in the other | Which set is yearly |
Who each is for
MyCase. The one with the clearest public pricing and AI broken out by plan: Pro adds a writing and document assistant, Advanced adds case and discovery assistants. See our MyCase review and MyCase IQ vs Clio Duo.
Smokeball. Document and matter-centred, with AI sold as an add-on (Archie). No prices to compare. See MyCase vs Smokeball and our Smokeball review.
Filevine. Custom-built packages and a broad AI suite, aimed across firm sizes and practice areas, plus government. See Filevine vs Clio and Filevine alternatives.
PracticePanther. Lowest published per-user rates on this list and no AI listed on its pricing page. See MyCase vs PracticePanther and the Clio vs PracticePanther vs Rocket Matter guide.
Docketwise. Only if immigration is your practice. See Clio vs Docketwise.
Pricing, as shown on October 21, 2026
Published per-user monthly prices (billed annually first): PracticePanther USD 49 to 114, MyCase USD 50 to 130, Docketwise USD 80 to 120 (first set, unlabeled). Smokeball and Filevine don't publish amounts. Clio: not readable by us. Per-seat prices aren't comparable across products without checking what each plan includes (MyCase puts AI in Pro and Advanced; PracticePanther lists none).
What we couldn't verify
- Clio's current Manage and Duo prices (site returned 403; we didn't work around it).
- Any Smokeball or Filevine price.
- AI quality for any vendor.
- Which Docketwise price set is yearly.
- Migration cost and data export terms from Clio.
- Security certifications for all vendors.
How to choose
- List your must-haves: trust accounting, billing, intake, AI, your practice area.
- Get written quotes at your user count from Clio and any vendor that doesn't publish prices.
- Trial MyCase (10 days) or PracticePanther (7 days) with real, non-sensitive matters.
- Ask each vendor how they import Clio data and what it costs.
- Price the whole stack: AI add-ons, payments and e-signature, not only the seat.
Sources
- MyCase pricing (page read October 21, 2026) (Vendor claims; plan prices annual and monthly, 8am IQ by plan, 10-day trial)
- Smokeball pricing (page read October 21, 2026) (Vendor claims; plans, Archie add-on, no amounts)
- Filevine pricing (page read October 21, 2026) (Vendor claims; custom packages, LOIS AI, free LOIS Explore, no amounts)
- PracticePanther pricing (page read October 21, 2026) (Vendor claims; four plans, monthly and annual prices, 7-day trial)
- Docketwise pricing (page read October 21, 2026) (Vendor claims; plans, two price sets)
- LawNext: Clio Work standalone (April 21, 2026, read October 21, 2026) (Press report; USD 199 launch price, standalone availability)
Questions and answers
What are the best Clio alternatives?
MyCase, Smokeball, Filevine, PracticePanther and, for immigration, Docketwise. We haven't tested them; fit depends on practice area, size and budget.
Which Clio alternative is cheapest?
Among published prices, PracticePanther starts at USD 49 per user per month billed annually and MyCase at USD 50. Clio's prices weren't readable by us, so we can't say it's more expensive.
Does MyCase have AI like Clio Duo?
MyCase lists 8am IQ assistants by plan: writing and document assistant from Pro, case and discovery assistants on Advanced. See our MyCase IQ vs Clio Duo comparison.
Is there a free trial for Clio alternatives?
MyCase offers 10 days with no credit card and PracticePanther 7 days with no card. Smokeball's pricing page doesn't mention a trial; Filevine has a free LOIS Explore tier.
Can I move my data from Clio?
We couldn't verify any vendor's import terms from the pages we read. Ask each for the process, timeline and cost in writing.
Operational information, not legal advice. Tool descriptions are each vendor's own claims, read October 21, 2026; we did not test any product. Prices change; check the vendor page before you decide.