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Case Management Software for Small Law Firms (2026)
Quick Answer
When I checked on October 20, 2026, Clio, MyCase and PracticePanther all published per-user case management plans: Clio from $49 per user per month [1], MyCase Basic from $50 per user per month billed annually [2] and PracticePanther Solo from $49 billed annually [4]. On terms, MyCase says there's no long-term contract or setup fee [2][3], and Clio says you can cancel any time, effective at the end of your term [1]. For seat minimums, only Lawmatics lists one (3 users) [9], while Smokeball, Filevine and Actionstep ask you to contact sales [6][7][8].
Below, I compare features, seat minimums and contract terms. I took everything from each vendor's own pricing page; I haven't tested these tools and I don't rate them. Read how I check prices.
I don't use affiliate links on this site. I may earn a commission if I add affiliate links later; it never changes what I list or the prices shown.
Key Takeaways
- Clio includes matter and contact management on every plan. That covers Starter, Core, Signature and Elite [1].
- Clio's client portal starts on Core; automated workflows start on Signature. Starter has neither, per Clio's plan table [1].
- Clio lets you cancel any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current monthly or annual term, with data export up to 90 days after [1].
- MyCase has no setup fee and no long-term contract. If you cancel, the plan stays active to the end of the term, with no refunds [3].
- PracticePanther sells a plan named "Solo". It's $49 per user per month billed annually or $59 monthly [4].
- Lawmatics requires at least 3 users. That's on Essential and Premium, and 5 on Enterprise; Lawmatics is intake and CRM software [9].
- Smokeball, Filevine and Actionstep are contact sales. None of them lists a price on its pricing page [6][7][8].
What does case management software for a law firm include?
Case management software keeps a firm's matters, contacts, calendar, tasks and documents in one place, and most plans add time tracking and billing [1][2].
On the pricing pages I checked, the listed features include matter and contact management, calendaring, tasks, document storage, time and billing, trust accounting, a client portal, e-signature, automated workflows, court calendaring rules and conflict checks [1][2]. Which ones you get depends on the plan.
Choose a plan with trust accounting if you hold client funds; Clio and MyCase list it from their entry plans [1][2].
Which case management features come on each plan?
Clio publishes a full plan-by-plan feature table; MyCase lists what each plan adds; the other vendors list far fewer features on their pricing pages [1][2].
Clio's "No" cells below are Clio's own wording. MyCase Advanced includes everything in Pro per its page, but I've left the Advanced workflows and e-signature cells blank because I haven't confirmed them as listed items [2].
| Vendor | Plan | Matter/case management | Trust accounting | Client portal | Workflows | E-signature | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clio | Starter | Yes | Yes | No | No | 3 | [1] |
| Clio | Core | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 15 | [1] |
| Clio | Signature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | [1] |
| Clio | Elite | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | [1] |
| MyCase | Basic | Yes | Yes | [2] | |||
| MyCase | Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | [2] | |
| MyCase | Advanced | Yes | Yes | [2] | |||
| PracticePanther | Solo / Essential | [4] | |||||
| PracticePanther | Business | Unlimited | [4] | ||||
| PracticePanther | Business Pro | Yes | [4] | ||||
| CosmoLex | Launch / Core / Pro | Yes | [5] | ||||
| Smokeball | Bill, Boost, Grow, Prosper+ | [6] | |||||
| Filevine | Custom packages | [7] | |||||
| Actionstep | Request Pricing | [8] |
Prices as of the date shown; confirm on the provider's site.
A blank cell means I couldn't confirm it on the vendor's pricing page, not that the feature or term is missing.
What do case management tools cost, and what are their seat minimums and terms?
USD per user per month unless noted, checked on October 20, 2026.
| Vendor | Starting price | Minimum users | Contract / cancellation | Setup / onboarding | Free trial | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clio | From $49/user (billing period not given) [1] | Cancel any time; ends at end of monthly or annual term; export within 90 days [1] | Self-serve migration on Starter, guided on Core and up [1] | Yes [1] | [1] | |
| MyCase | $50 annual / $60 monthly (Basic) [2] | No long-term contract; active to end of term; no refunds [3] | No setup fee [3] | 10 days, no card [2] | [2][3] | |
| PracticePanther | $49 annual / $59 monthly (Solo) [4] | 7 days, no card [4] | [4] | |||
| CosmoLex | $49 (Launch, billed yearly) [5] | Yes [5] | [5] | |||
| Smokeball | Contact sales | Price depends on contract term (vendor FAQ) [6] | [6] | |||
| Filevine | Contact sales | [7] | ||||
| Actionstep | Contact sales | Implementation fees (no amount given) [8] | [8] | |||
| Lawmatics (intake/CRM) | Contact sales | 3 (Essential, Premium), 5 (Enterprise) [9] | [9] |
Prices as of the date shown; confirm on the provider's site.
A blank cell means I couldn't confirm it on the vendor's pricing page, not that the feature or term is missing.
Which law firm software has a seat minimum?
Among the vendors I checked, only Lawmatics states a minimum: 3 users on Essential and Premium, and 5 on Enterprise [9].
Lawmatics is intake and CRM software rather than case management. For Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, CosmoLex, Smokeball, Filevine and Actionstep, I couldn't find a stated minimum on the pricing page, so those cells are blank. A blank doesn't tell you either way, so ask the vendor.
Can you cancel law firm case management software any time?
Clio says yes, and cancellation takes effect at the end of your current monthly or annual term [1]. MyCase has no long-term contract but gives no refunds [3].
With Clio, you can export your data while your account is active or within 90 days of cancellation [1]. With MyCase, the subscription stays active to the end of the term [3]. Smokeball's FAQ says price depends on users, plan, contract term and add-ons, which confirms terms exist but not what they are [6]. I couldn't verify terms for PracticePanther, CosmoLex, Filevine or Actionstep.
Which plans include a client portal or automated workflows?
Clio's client portal starts on Core and its automated workflows start on Signature; MyCase adds automated workflows on Pro [1][2].
Clio Core also adds conflict check, document and matter templates and full-text search, and Signature adds matter stages, matter budgets and custom reporting [1]. MyCase Pro adds unlimited e-signature, workflows, intake and CRM, and texting [2]. For what each Clio plan costs and includes, see what each Clio plan includes.
Choose Clio Starter if you don't need a client portal or templates; skip it if you do, because both start on Core [1].
Which vendors don't publish a price?
Smokeball, Filevine, Actionstep and Lawmatics don't publish a price, so you get a quote from sales [6][7][8][9].
Smokeball marks every plan "Get pricing" [6]. Filevine says "All packages are custom built", and its free LOIS Explore trial doesn't include case management [7]. Actionstep says "Request Pricing" and prices per user plus implementation fees, with no amount given [8]. Their AI tools are covered in which legal AI tools publish a price.
What should a small firm check before signing?
Check five things before you sign: seat minimum, annual or monthly commitment, cancellation and refund terms, the data export window, and add-ons sold separately.
Ask about migration help too: Clio lists self-serve migration on Starter and guided migration on Core and up [1]. If trust accounting is part of your decision, compare it in billing software for law firms and trust accounting.
What did I leave out, and why?
Rocket Matter is out of the comparison because its pricing page shows conflicting starting prices (see the FAQ below). I couldn't verify Centerbase or Zola (CARET Legal), so they aren't listed. AI-only tools and billing-only tools are covered in their own posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which case management software can a solo lawyer start on?
Clio, MyCase and PracticePanther all price per user, so one user can start. Clio starts from $49 per user per month [1], MyCase Basic is $50 per user per month billed annually [2], and PracticePanther sells a plan named "Solo" at $49 billed annually [4]. I couldn't find a stated seat minimum for any of the three.
Can I cancel Clio or MyCase anytime?
Yes for Clio: you can cancel any time, and it takes effect at the end of your current monthly or annual term, with data export up to 90 days after [1]. MyCase has no long-term contract, but the plan stays active to the end of the term and there are no refunds [3].
How much does case management software cost?
From $49 per user per month, at the low end of what I checked. Clio starts from $49 per user per month [1], and MyCase Basic is $50 per user per month billed annually [2]. For every plan side by side, see law firm management software prices compared, or the full price table on the homepage.
How much does Rocket Matter cost?
I can't give a reliable price. Rocket Matter's own site lists conflicting starting prices, because its FAQ and its plan table don't match, so I left it out of this comparison until they agree. Check rocketmatter.com for a current quote, and confirm what's included before you sign.
Does Clio include trust accounting on every plan?
Yes. Trust account management, trust account reporting and trust and operating reconciliation are on all four Clio plans, from Starter up [1]. Trust balance notifications and QuickBooks, Xero and TrustBooks integrations start on Core. Clio's FAQ says accounting is part of every plan, not a separate purchase.
Does MyCase charge a setup fee?
No. MyCase's help center says there's no setup fee and no long-term contract [3]. If you cancel, your subscription stays active to the end of the term, with no refunds. MyCase also offers a 10-day free trial with no credit card [2], so you can try it before you pay.
Conclusion
The facts I could verify cover three things: whether a vendor states a seat minimum, how cancellation works and which plan holds the features you need. Clio and MyCase publish the most on all three [1][2][3]. For the contact-sales vendors, those answers come from a sales call.
Next steps:
- Compare every vendor in the full law firm software price table.
- See prices by plan in law firm management software prices compared.
- Check what each Clio plan includes.
- Ask each contact-sales vendor about seat minimums, contract length and cancellation before signing.
- Confirm terms on the vendor's page on the day you buy.
References
- Clio pricing, https://www.clio.com/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-20)
- MyCase pricing, https://www.mycase.com/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-20)
- MyCase help center, "How much does MyCase cost?", https://supportcenter.mycase.com/en/articles/9369812-how-much-does-mycase-cost (checked 2026-10-20)
- PracticePanther pricing, https://www.practicepanther.com/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-20)
- CosmoLex pricing, https://www.cosmolex.com/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-20)
- Smokeball pricing, https://www.smokeball.com/pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
- Filevine pricing, https://www.filevine.com/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-20)
- Actionstep pricing, https://www.actionstep.com/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-20)
- Lawmatics pricing, https://www.lawmatics.com/pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
Prices and terms last checked October 20, 2026. Prices, plans, features and terms are subject to change; confirm on each vendor's site before you buy. This isn't legal advice.