Actionstep vs Clio (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Actionstep if

• Fits if you run a midsize firm and want matter workflows built around each practice area
• Works for firms in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand or Canada

Look elsewhere if

• Watch out: there are no published prices, and each product and add-on is per user plus implementation fees, by quote
• Skip it if you want to try it yourself, as there's no trial and setup runs through certified partners
• Not for you if you're outside North America and want the Legal Accounting suite, which isn't sold there
• Pricey if you need document automation, intake forms, AI time capture or analytics, as each is an add-on module
• Watch out: AI workflow automation is listed as coming soon, so it isn't there yet

Pick Clio if

• Fits if you want trust reconciliation and the firm's books in the same tool as billing
• Works for firms that plan to add intake and legal AI from the same vendor later

Look elsewhere if

• Watch out: only Starter has a published price, and Core, Signature and Elite are quoted on request
• Tight if you're on Starter, which has no client portal, texting, conflict checks, document templates, custom fields or integrations
• Pricey if you want workflows, custom reports or SSO, which need Signature or Elite, and Clio Grow intake is an add-on on Core and Signature
• Watch out: card payments cost 2.95% (3.75% for Amex), eCheck 1% and Affirm 4.95%, and court e-filing is paid per filing
• Skip it if you want a long trial, as it's 7 days and there's no free plan

Actionstep

• Actionstep publishes no prices: each product and add-on is priced per user plus implementation fees, by quote.
• It is built for midsize firms and set up through Actionstep's certified partners rather than self-serve sign-up.
• The Legal Accounting suite, with the general ledger and payables, is sold only in North America.
• Document automation, intake forms, AI time capture and analytics are separate add-on modules; AI workflow automation is listed as coming soon.

Clio

• Clio publishes a price only for Starter; Core, Signature and Elite are quoted on request or after a demo.
• Starter leaves out the client portal, texting, conflict checks, document templates, custom fields and third-party integrations, which start on Core.
• Card payments cost 2.95% (3.75% for Amex), eCheck and ACH 1%, and Affirm pay-later 4.95%; court e-filing is paid per filing.
• Automated workflows, custom reports and SSO need Signature or Elite, and Clio Grow intake is an add-on on Core and Signature.

Actionstep

Matters and workflows

Matter and case management with task and process management, advanced calendaring and workflow automation that a firm shapes to each practice area.

Time, billing and trust accounting

Time capture with time suggestions and timesheets, billing, and trust and client accounting are included with practice management.

Legal Accounting

A multi-currency general ledger, bank reconciliation, payables and receivables, P&L statements, budgeting, forecasting and revenue recognition. North America only.

Builder and Capture

Builder fills letters, forms and contracts from matter data with conditional fields and a Word integration. Capture adds branded intake forms that can be embedded on a firm's site.

Actionstep Intelligence

Trace passively records billable work across Actionstep, Outlook and Word and drafts time entries; Acumen answers plain-language questions about firm performance.

Mobile app

iOS and Android apps to see appointments and tasks, run timers and create time entries, add file notes by voice, and search matters and contacts.

Clio

Matters, documents and calendars

Every plan stores contacts, matters and unlimited documents, with calendaring, tasks, a firm dashboard and Clio's iOS and Android apps.

Billing and online payments

Hourly, flat-rate and contingency billing, payment plans, UTBMS and LEDES codes, and online payment by card, eCheck, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Legal accounting built in

Bank sync, a chart of accounts, trust and operating reconciliation, check printing and cash or accrual reports on every plan, with a free licence for the firm's accountant.

AI inside Clio Manage

From Core, AI drafts bills on a schedule, writes client updates from matter activity, turns documents into calendar events and tasks, and ranks tasks.

Clio Work

A legal AI workspace that reads a matter's files to build timelines and spot gaps, finds jurisdiction-matched authority checked by a citator, and drafts in Clio Work or Microsoft Word.

Client portal and texting

From Core, clients use the Clio for Clients portal and app to message, share documents, pay and follow their matter, and the firm can text reminders.

Actionstep

Pricing could not be confirmed. See actionstep.com.

Clio

• Starter$49

  per user / month; monthly or annual billing not stated

  Matters, contacts, unlimited document storage, time and billing, online payments, trust accounting and built-in legal accounting. Three eSignatures.

• CoreCustom

  Adds AI billing and client updates, conflict checks, client portal and texting, document templates, integrations and 15 eSignatures. Price on request.

• SignatureCustom

  Adds matter stages, automated workflows, split and multi-currency billing, custom reports, SAML SSO and unlimited eSignatures. Price on request.

• EliteCustom

  Signature plus the Clio Grow intake suite: AI lead handling, intake forms, online booking, review requests and a website builder. Price on request.

Actionstep

No public discounts listed.

Clio

• Other savings

  Elite bundle saving

  Clio's pricing page labels Elite, which bundles Signature with the Clio Grow intake suite, as saving over 17%.