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

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

Pick LegalServer if

• Fits if you run a legal aid, public defender or government law office
• Makes sense if you want to configure intake and case types without code

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you run a for-profit firm, as the vendor says it doesn't target them
• Skip it if you need a price first, since only a call is offered
• Watch out: the text-message module is an add-on
• Skip it if you want to try it yourself, as no trial is listed

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.

LegalServer

• No prices are published; the site directs visitors to schedule a call.
• It is built for legal aid, public defense and government offices, and the vendor says it does not target the profit needs of a for-profit law firm.
• The SMS text module is described as an add-on feature.

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.

LegalServer

Intake and case creation

Intake tools are configured to match an organization's data entry and workflows, with conflict checks and a poverty-level assessment tool cited by customers.

Documents and discovery

Files can be stored and searched in cases, and discovery can be uploaded where it fits the workflow.

Timekeeping and calendar

A timekeeping suite and a shared calendar for appointments, events, tasks and deadlines.

Reports and grants

Built-in reports with manager views and caseload benchmarks by case type, plus grants and funder management modules.

Texting, email and immigration forms

Built-in email and text messaging, with an SMS module that runs through Twilio, and a module for USCIS and DOJ immigration forms.

Configuration without code

Administrators can change modules, intake and case types themselves. A Reports API supports pulling data into tools such as Power BI.

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.

LegalServer

Pricing could not be confirmed. See legalserver.org.

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%.

LegalServer

No public discounts listed.