PracticePanther vs Clio

by Gralio Feb 03, 2025

PracticePanther and Clio are both strong contenders in legal practice management software. PracticePanther offers a more user-friendly experience and a comprehensive feature set within a single platform, making it a good choice for smaller firms. Clio, while more complex, provides greater flexibility, scalability, and integrations, making it better suited for larger or growing firms needing more advanced features and connections with other software tools.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 2462 reviews and 60 websites, saving 14 hours, 10 minutes of reading.

PracticePanther

Clio

About

PracticePanther is a cloud-based practice management software designed for law firms of all sizes. It offers a suite of features to help manage cases, clients, billing, and daily operations. PracticePanther aims to streamline workflows through automation, from client intake to document management and e-signatures. Key features include time tracking, online payments, automated reminders, and a client portal for secure communication. Its intuitive interface and robust functionality make it a popular choice for legal professionals seeking to boost efficiency and improve client service.

Clio is a widely-used, cloud-based legal practice management software designed for law firms of all sizes. It offers a suite of tools including case management, billing, client intake, document storage, and calendaring, enabling you to manage your entire practice from one central platform. Clio integrates with popular tools like Microsoft Outlook and Quickbooks, and is lauded for its strong security features and user-friendly interface.

Summary

Main difference

PracticePanther and Clio are both cloud-based legal practice management software, but they cater to different needs. PracticePanther excels in its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, making it ideal for smaller firms seeking an all-in-one solution. Clio, while more complex, offers greater flexibility and scalability, along with robust integrations, making it better suited for growing firms with evolving needs.

Relative strengths of PracticePanther (compared to Clio)

Intuitive Interface and Ease of Use: PracticePanther is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easier to adopt and use, especially for smaller firms with limited tech expertise.
Comprehensive Features: PracticePanther offers a wide range of features, covering most aspects of law practice management within a single platform.
Strong Reporting Capabilities: PracticePanther provides robust reporting features for tracking billable hours and managing invoices, which is crucial for efficient billing practices.

Relative weaknesses of PracticePanther (compared to Clio)

Limited Integrations: While PracticePanther integrates with some tools, it lacks the extensive integration options offered by Clio, limiting its flexibility for connecting with other software used by the firm.
Issues with Mobile App: The PracticePanther mobile app has received criticism for its navigation and limited functionality compared to Clio’s mobile app.
Slower Customer Support: While generally helpful, PracticePanther’s customer support is often slower to respond compared to Clio’s more responsive customer service.

Who should use PracticePanther VS. Clio

PracticePanther is a user-friendly practice management solution designed for law firms. It simplifies daily operations with features like time tracking, client communication, and billing. While praised for its comprehensive features and reporting capabilities, some users have noted slow customer support response times and a less intuitive mobile app. Ideal for small firms seeking an all-in-one management tool.

Clio is a user-friendly, cloud-based legal practice management software praised for its robust features like document automation and client communication tools. Users appreciate the organized workflow and task management capabilities but note occasional issues with Clio Drive and app integrations. Ideal for small firms seeking to streamline operations and enhance client service.

Best fit for small law firms.
Specifically designed for the legal industry.

Best fit for small law firms.
Ideal for legal practices.

PracticePanther and Clio features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Law Practice Management

Supported

PracticePanther offers tools for managing cases, clients, documents, and workflows.

Supported

Clio manages cases, clients, and documents, streamlining workflows for improved efficiency.
Legal Document Automation

Supported

PracticePanther supports automated document generation and management.

Supported

Clio supports legal document automation through Clio Draft.
Payroll, Time, and Benefits

Not supported

PracticePanther does not directly support payroll, PTO, or benefits administration.

Not supported

Clio does not offer payroll, time off, or benefits features.
Client communication

Supported

PracticePanther enables client communication via secure messaging and a client portal, as confirmed by the provided materials.

Supported

Clio offers a secure client portal called "Clio for Clients" with features like secure messaging and document sharing.
Document sharing

Supported

PracticePanther enables secure document sharing between clients and attorneys through features like a secure client portal, integrated communication, and cloud storage integration.

Supported

Clio enables secure document sharing between clients and attorneys through its Clio for Clients portal and integrated features, facilitating seamless collaboration and communication.
Deadline management

Supported

PracticePanther satisfies the requirement for deadline management with features like automated court rule dates, customizable calendaring, and deadline calculation.

Supported

Clio offers robust deadline management including rule-based calendaring, automated court deadlines, customizable reminders, and integration with other calendars.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

+0

Neutral sentiment

-0.27

Neutral sentiment
Customer Service

+0

Neutral sentiment

+0.58

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Use

+0.6

Rather positive sentiment

+0.89

Strongly positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

+0.5

Rather positive sentiment

+0.5

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Implementation

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

-0.04

Neutral sentiment
Scalability

No data

+0.54

Rather positive sentiment

PracticePanther and Clio Pricing

PracticePanther offers a Solo, Essential and a Business plan. All plans include features such as contact and matter management, time and expense tracking, world-class support, secure client portal and unlimited data storage. A free trial is also available.

Plans

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Neutral

-0.27

See full Pricing page

PracticePanther and Clio review insights

2343 reviews analysed from and

Users love

PracticePanther is praised for its user-friendly interface and ease of use, even for non-tech savvy users.
The platform receives positive feedback for its robust reporting features, particularly for tracking billable hours and managing invoices.
The customer support, while sometimes slow, is generally regarded as helpful and responsive.
Many users appreciate the platform’s comprehensive features, covering most aspects of law practice management.

The pipeline feature offers a clear and organized workflow for tracking case progress.
The task feature allows for easy assignment, notification, and tracking of tasks, making billing and monitoring workload efficient.
Provides excellent tools for organizing and managing files and contacts, particularly for telecommuting employees.
User-friendly interface and a low learning curve, making it accessible for attorneys with varying levels of tech experience.

Users dislike

PracticePanther suffers from slow customer support responses, often taking more than 24 hours.
Many users find the mobile app difficult to navigate and lacking in functionality.
Issues with Microsoft Outlook integration, especially calendar and contact syncing, are frequently reported.
Some users have experienced discrepancies with billing and payment plans not being applied correctly.

Clio Drive is sluggish and often stops working, requiring frequent reinstallation.
App integrations are often buggy and poorly tested, causing more headaches than solutions.
Customer support can be unhelpful and compartmentalized, with conflicting answers and slow response times.
High pricing, especially for solo practitioners, and hidden costs for additional features.

PracticePanther and Clio Ratings

G2

4.2/5

(100)
TrustPilot

2.9/5

(20)
Glassdoor

4.2/5

(15)

G2

4.6/5

(637)
Capterra

4.7/5

(1606)
TrustPilot

4.6/5

(99)
Glassdoor

3.8/5

(494)

Company health

Employee growth

2% decrease in the last year

28% increase in the last year

Web traffic

28% decrease in the last quarter

5% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

July 2021 - $0

April 2024 - $1B

How reliable are Clio's integrations, given user reports of bugs?

Clio's integrations are reported to be buggy and poorly tested, causing problems for users. While Clio offers integrations with popular tools, user feedback indicates these integrations often malfunction and create more difficulties than they solve.

Which product offers a more intuitive mobile app experience for lawyers?

Clio offers a better mobile experience for lawyers. While PracticePanther is praised for its general ease of use, its mobile app is specifically cited as being difficult to navigate and lacking functionality. Conversely, Clio does not have the same negative feedback regarding its mobile app.

What are the advantages of PracticePanther?

PracticePanther is praised for its user-friendly interface, making it easy to learn and use, even for those less comfortable with technology. It offers robust reporting features, valuable for tracking billable hours and managing invoices efficiently. Users also appreciate the comprehensive suite of features covering many aspects of law practice management, from client intake to document management. It also offers a more affordable pricing structure compared to Clio.

What are the disadvantages of PracticePanther?

PracticePanther's disadvantages include slow customer support, a difficult-to-navigate mobile app with limited functionality, problematic Microsoft Outlook integration, particularly with calendar and contact syncing, and occasional billing discrepancies with payment plans not being applied correctly.

Alternatives to PracticePanther and Clio

Legistify

Legistify is a legal software solution designed for larger companies to manage all their legal needs in one platform. It streamlines and automates tasks like contract management, intellectual property tracking, and legal case management. This software helps businesses save time, minimize risks, and improve efficiency in their legal operations. It also offers data insights and analytics to inform business decisions.

MyCase

MyCase is legal practice management software that helps law firms organize case details, communicate with clients, and manage billing. It provides tools like calendaring, document storage, time tracking, and client portals. MyCase aims to increase efficiency, streamline operations, and improve client relationships for legal professionals. It is a popular choice for law firms of all sizes and integrates with other common software tools.

Rocket Matter

Rocket Matter is a cloud-based legal practice management software designed for law firms of all sizes. It offers tools for case management, time tracking, billing, and client intake, helping firms streamline operations and increase revenue. Rocket Matter stands out with its user-friendly interface, robust features, and award-winning customer support.

CASEpeer

CASEpeer is a cloud-based software designed specifically for personal injury law firms. This easy-to-use platform helps manage cases from intake to settlement, offering tools for task management, reporting, billing, and client communication. CASEpeer aims to streamline law firm operations, improve efficiency, and provide data-driven insights to improve client outcomes. Their focus on user-friendliness and dedicated customer support makes them a popular choice for personal injury attorneys.

Firm Central

Firm Central is a cloud-based practice management software designed for law firms. It offers tools to manage cases, track time and billing, schedule appointments, and automate document creation. Firm Central aims to streamline a law firm's operations, improve efficiency, and reduce the risk of errors. It is accessible from any location and prioritizes data security.

LegalEdge

LegalEdge offers budget-friendly case management software specifically designed for government agencies in the USA. This includes Prosecutors, Public Defenders, City and County Attorneys, Agencies, School Districts and Tribal Governments. It helps manage legal cases, investigations and workflows. They have been providing this service for over 30 years. You can contact them for a demonstration and pricing.

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