The verdict
Clio vs MyCase
Clio is the better choice for growing firms that already use several specialist tools and want them connected to one system. MyCase is the better value for small firms that want case management, billing, a client portal, intake, and texting in one subscription without stacking add-ons. If your firm has fewer than ten users and no complex integration needs, start your trial with MyCase.
Best for firms that want the largest ecosystem
Clio
- Our rating: 4.7 / 5
- Starting price: $49 / user / month
- Free plan: No
Best for small firms that want most features in one subscription
MyCase
- Our rating: 4.5 / 5
- Starting price: About $50 / user / month
- Free plan: No
At a glance
| Clio | MyCase | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Firms that want the largest ecosystem | Small firms that want most features in one subscription |
| Starting price | $49 / user / month (EasyStart) | $50 / user / month billed annually, $60 monthly (Basic) |
| Free plan or trial | No free plan, 7-day free trial | No free plan, 10-day free trial |
| Deployment | Cloud, with web and mobile apps | Cloud, with web and mobile apps |
| Plans | EasyStart, Essentials, Advanced, Expand | Basic, Pro, Advanced |
| Client portal | Essentials and above | Limited on Basic, full on Pro and above |
| Intake and CRM | Clio Grow add-on, included in Expand | Intake forms and legal CRM on Pro and above |
| E-signature | 3 on EasyStart, 15 on Essentials, unlimited on Advanced and Expand | Unlimited on Pro and above |
| Payments | Clio Payments: 2.95% cards, 1% eCheck and ACH | LawPay-powered payments with no monthly fee |
Clio is the better fit for firms that want the biggest integration ecosystem and a system they can scale into, while MyCase suits small firms that want more of the practice in one subscription for less money. Both are cloud practice management systems with matters, calendars, documents, time tracking, billing, and trust accounting. The real differences show up in how each one packages features, how far it connects to other software, and what you pay once you pick the plan you actually need.
Clio ranks first and MyCase second in our ranking of the best law practice management software. Here is how they compare head to head.
Core features
On the basics, the two systems are closer than their marketing suggests. Each one organizes work by matter, tracks time and expenses, generates invoices, accepts online payments, tracks trust balances, and stores documents against cases. Both offer mobile apps for time entry and case lookups away from the office.
The split comes in the extras. Clio spreads its feature set across four plans (EasyStart, Essentials, Advanced, and Expand) and sells some of its most useful tools as add-ons, including Clio Grow for intake and an AI add-on. MyCase uses three plans and puts more into the middle one. MyCase Pro includes unlimited e-signature, document generation, automated workflows, intake forms with a legal CRM, two-way texting, and its 8am IQ writing and document assistant. MyCase Advanced adds Desktop Drive for PC and Mac, conflict check tracking, split billing, and an open API.
Winner: MyCase for small firms, because its Pro plan covers intake, e-signature, workflows, and texting without separate purchases. Clio wins for firms that want to choose each piece and grow into a larger system.
Integrations
This is Clio’s clearest advantage. It has the largest integration library in legal practice management, so it fits around the email, accounting, document, phone, and marketing tools a firm already uses. QuickBooks integration is available on Clio’s Essentials plan and above. Firms that run intake through a separate CRM, use specialist document automation, or connect several reporting tools tend to land on Clio for this reason.
MyCase lists more than 70 integrations on its Pro plan, including QuickBooks, and offers an open API on Advanced. That covers most small firms. It also sells MyCase Accounting as a $39 per user per month add-on on Pro and Advanced for firms that want their books inside the same system.
Winner: Clio. If your firm depends on several outside tools, Clio connects to more of them.
Client portal and communication
Both products give clients a secure place to see documents, messages, and invoices, but they handle it differently by tier. On Clio, the client portal is not included on EasyStart and starts at Essentials. MyCase includes a limited client portal on Basic, and Pro adds two-way texting, chat, and a call log, so client conversations sit inside the case record.
Small firms that field a lot of client calls and texts will feel this difference quickly. Keeping texts out of personal phones also helps with confidentiality and record keeping.
Winner: MyCase. Client messaging and texting are central to the product rather than an extra.
Intake and growth tools
Clio Grow is Clio’s intake and CRM product. It tracks potential clients through a matter pipeline, sends online intake forms, books consultations with reminders, generates documents for signature, and runs multi-step email campaigns. Its AI acquisition feature can respond to inquiries after hours, screen leads for fit and conflicts, and book appointments. Grow is included in the Expand plan and sold as an add-on to the other tiers, with no published add-on price.
MyCase includes intake forms and a legal CRM on Pro and Advanced. The tools are simpler, with lighter marketing automation, but there is nothing extra to buy and new clients move straight into case management.
Winner: Clio for firms that run real marketing and want deeper intake. MyCase wins on simplicity and cost for firms with modest lead volume.
Pricing and total cost
Clio’s plans start at $49 per user per month, with higher prices for each tier above EasyStart. Clio does not refund the current term if you cancel, so check whether monthly or annual billing makes more sense before you commit. MyCase publishes all three prices: Basic is $50 per user per month billed annually or $60 monthly, Pro is $100 annually or $120 monthly, and Advanced is $130 annually or $150 monthly. MyCase says there is no long-term contract or setup fee.
Headline prices are close, but the totals diverge once you add features. A Clio firm that wants the client portal, QuickBooks, automated workflows, and intake has to move up tiers and may add Clio Grow. A MyCase firm gets the portal on Basic and intake, workflows, and e-signature on Pro. Payment processing matters too: Clio Payments charges 2.95% on cards and 1% on eCheck and ACH, while MyCase uses LawPay with no monthly fee. Ask MyCase for its processing rates during the demo so you can compare both on a year of client payments.
Winner: MyCase on predictable, published pricing for small firms. Clio can still be cost effective for firms that only need its lower tiers.
Ease of use and onboarding
MyCase is generally easier for a small firm to set up because more features are switched on in one plan and the menus stay compact. Clio has more depth and more settings, which helps larger firms but adds a learning curve for a solo attorney who just wants to track time and bill. Both vendors offer free trials without a credit card: 7 days for Clio and 10 days for MyCase.
Use the longer MyCase window to run real matters from intake to invoice. For Clio, plan the seven days carefully and decide in advance which plan tier you are testing, because the feature set changes a lot between EasyStart and Advanced.
Winner: MyCase for a fast start. Clio wins for firms that will invest time in configuring the system.
Security and AI
Security questions are the same for both products. Before signing, ask either vendor about multifactor authentication, user permissions by matter, audit logs, and data export. Ask how AI features handle client data, since lawyers have duties of confidentiality and competence when they use generative AI. MyCase includes its 8am IQ assistants in Pro and Advanced, with a discovery OCR allowance on Advanced. Clio sells its AI tools as a separate add-on priced through sales.
Winner: Tie. Both handle the security basics. MyCase includes more AI in the plan price, while Clio keeps AI optional.
Which should you choose?
Choose Clio if your firm is growing, uses several specialist tools, or wants a system with the deepest set of integrations and an intake CRM that can scale with paid marketing. Choose MyCase if you are a solo or small firm that wants case management, billing, client messaging, intake, and e-signature in one predictable subscription. Either way, run three real matters through the trial before you sign.
During each trial, test the same short list so the comparison stays fair:
- Open a new matter from an intake form and send an engagement letter for signature.
- Record time on your phone, then turn it into an invoice with a trust retainer applied.
- Have a client log in to the portal, read a message, and pay an invoice.
- Sync the payment to QuickBooks Online and check that trust and operating stay separate.
Pros and cons
Clio
Pros
- Largest integration ecosystem
- Handles many practice areas
- Strong mobile apps
Cons
- Add-ons raise the real cost
- Entry plan is limited
- More than some solo attorneys need
MyCase
Pros
- Most features included in the plan
- Easy client portal and messaging
- Built-in payments
Cons
- Entry tier omits some key features
- Fewer integrations than Clio
- Published pricing varies
Which should you choose?
Choose Clio if
- You rely on many outside tools and need the largest integration library
- You want a deeper intake CRM through Clio Grow
- Your firm is growing and will use higher tiers
- You only need the core features of a lower plan
Choose MyCase if
- You want intake, e-signature, and workflows in one plan
- Client texting and messaging matter to your practice
- You prefer published prices with no setup fee
- You are a solo or small firm that wants a quick setup
See the full ranking
Best Law Practice Management Software in 2026
We compare six practice management systems on fit, features, and price, and name the right pick for solo attorneys, small firms, and litigation practices.
Frequently asked questions
Is MyCase cheaper than Clio?
Usually, once you compare the plans you would actually use. Entry prices are close, at $49 per user per month for Clio and $50 billed annually for MyCase. MyCase Pro, at $100 per user per month billed annually, includes intake, workflows, and unlimited e-signature, while Clio puts some of those features in higher tiers or add-ons.
Can you move from MyCase to Clio, or Clio to MyCase?
Yes. Ask the new vendor what migration help it offers and which records it can import, such as contacts, matters, time entries, and documents. Before you switch, export everything from your current system, reconcile your trust account, and confirm in writing which data comes across. Plan the switch for the start of a billing cycle so invoices stay clean.
Which is better for a solo attorney, Clio or MyCase?
MyCase is the better fit for most solo attorneys because more features come in each plan and setup is quicker. Clio is a better choice for a solo who expects to grow, wants specific integrations, or plans to run paid marketing through Clio Grow. Try both, since the trials are free and need no credit card.
Do Clio and MyCase both handle trust accounting?
Yes. Both track client trust balances and are built for law firm billing, and MyCase includes trust accounting on its Basic plan. Ask each vendor to demonstrate a retainer moving from trust to operating and a three-way reconciliation report, and check the results against your state bar’s rules before you rely on them.