Clio vs Tabs3 (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 Tabs3 if

• Fits if billing and trust accounting are the part of the firm you most need sorted
• Works for firms that want the choice of running it on their own servers

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you want the full suite: $89 plus $35 for matter management is $124 a user a month
• Skip it if you want to try it today, since the 10-day trial starts after a call
• Watch out: online payments and CRM are separate paid add-ons, with CRM from $147 a month
• Watch out: prices are 'starting at', volume discounts apply, and a user is anyone who tracks time or works in the software

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.

Tabs3

• PracticeMaster matter management is an extra $35 per user / month on cloud, so the full suite costs more than the headline $89.
• Prices are listed as starting figures with volume discounts, and a user means anyone who tracks time or works in the software.
• The vendor says the free trial runs 10 days and starts only after a conversation with its team.
• Online payments and CRM are separate paid add-ons; CRM starts at $147 per month for up to 3 PracticeMaster users.

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.

Tabs3

Time and billing

Tracks time and costs, sets flexible rates and fees, and produces customized client statements and management reports.

Trust accounting

The trust module supports unlimited trust accounts and up to 99 bank accounts, with a three-way reconciliation report and low-balance alerts.

Financials

General ledger, accounts payable and bank reconciliation are part of the same system, so trust balances show on client statements and billing records.

PracticeMaster matter management

A paid add-on that keeps each matter's contacts, emails, documents, fees and calendar together, with a conflict checker and document assembly.

WorkFlows

PracticeMaster can trigger routine steps such as follow-up emails, appointments or document generation when set conditions occur.

Tabs3 Connect mobile access

Included with each cloud license, it lets users enter time, view matters and check the firm calendar from a phone, tablet or laptop.

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.

Tabs3

• Tabs3 OnSite$69

  per user / month, starting at

  On-premises subscription for firms that run their own servers and backups. Includes billing, financials and Tabs3 Connect; volume discounts may apply.

• Tabs3 Cloud$89

  per user / month, starting at

  Hosted version with billing, financials, Tabs3Pay payments and Tabs3 Connect mobile access. Volume discounts may apply.

• PracticeMaster add-on (Cloud)$35

  per user / month, added to Tabs3 Cloud

  Adds matter management, document automation, calendars and conflict checks to the cloud subscription.

• PracticeMaster add-on (OnSite)$32

  per user / month, added to Tabs3 OnSite

  The same matter-management module for the on-premises subscription.

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%.

Tabs3

No public discounts listed.