The Gavel Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Gavel in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Gavel
The Insider’s Guide
Document automation for Word and PDF, plus AI contract review
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among law practice software, read from Gavel’s own pages.
Made by Gavel · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Gavel’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Gavel’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 4 of the 25 other law practice software we grade
Gavel, formerly Documate, automates legal documents from client-facing forms and internal data, in Word and PDF. It also sells Gavel Exec, an AI contract review product that works inside Word. The site says Gavel has been acquired by Relativity.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Gavel, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You build the templates yourself before it is useful, so it is a C.
- 1
Best for building legal documents from templates
Gavel turns Word and PDF forms into automated documents, from $83 a month with one builder seat and 10 templates.
- 2
Paid plans start at $83 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $83 per month, billing basis not shown.
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial on Lite, Standard and Pro.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Word document automation
Templates are built from your own Word documents with custom rules.
- 6
PDF form automation
Fillable PDFs are filled from the same questions and data.
- 7
Client-facing forms
Workflows collect client information and produce documents, and can be embedded on a website from the Pro plan.
- 8
A 1.8 GPA, above 4 of 25
That is against the other law practice software we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Gavel you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Gavel at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $83 per month, billing basis not shown
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on Lite, Standard and Pro.
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Gavel
- Category
- Law Practice Software
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for building legal documents from templates
Gavel turns Word and PDF forms into automated documents, from $83 a month with one builder seat and 10 templates. That is a different job from case management, so you will need other software too, and the template caps push you up to $210 and $290 plans.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | $83 a month for one builder seat and 10 templates, at the top of the category against a $59 middle. Standard is $210 and Pro $290. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 7-day trial on Lite, Standard and Pro with no card. No free plan. |
| Features | D | Word and PDF document automation, client forms and a template library. It is one narrow job and does not run cases, billing or trust accounts. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You build the templates yourself before it is useful, so it is a C. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with Clio Manage, Zapier, DocuSign and Stripe listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Gavel is for
- Fits if you draft the same documents over and over and want them automated
- Works for firms that already run cases in Clio and need document building
Who it is not for
- Too light for running a practice: no cases, billing or trust accounting
- Tight if you want more than 10 templates: that needs Standard at $210
- Pricey if you want payments, your own domain or DocuSign: those are Pro at $290
- Watch out: the page's billing toggle may show different prices from the ones read here
Good to know
Good for
- Firms that want to turn intake answers into finished documents
- Practices that sell document-based services online
- Teams already using Clio Manage or Zapier
Worth knowing
- The pricing page shows a Billed monthly and a Billed annually toggle, and the figures read here may not match the toggle you see; check before buying.
- Template caps apply: 10 on Lite, 50 on Standard and 100 on Pro.
- Gavel Exec contract review has its own pricing tab, which is not covered here.
- The site says Gavel was acquired by Relativity.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$83
A month to start
Gavel is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $83 per month, billing basis not shown.
Lite
$83
per month, billing basis not shown beside the figure
1 builder seat, 10 document templates, Word and PDF automation and the Clio Manage integration.
Standard
$210
per month, billing basis not shown beside the figure
1 builder seat, 50 templates, saved and reusable data, your logo, Zapier integration and phone support.
Pro
$290
per month, billing basis not shown beside the figure
2 builder and 3 organization user seats, 100 templates, legal template library, Stripe payments, custom domain, DocuSign integration.
Scale
$417
per month and up, billed annually
Sold through sales: per-seat pricing, custom limits, API access, single sign-on and an account manager.
Trying it first
7-day free trial on Lite, Standard and Pro.
Read from gavel.io on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
2 months free on annual plans
Annual plans, billed upfront, get 2 months free.
Stated on gavel.io
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Document automation for Word and PDF, plus AI contract review. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, templates, workflow automation, documents, forms.
Word and PDF document automation, client forms and a template library.
- Word document automation
- Templates are built from your own Word documents with custom rules.
- PDF form automation
- Fillable PDFs are filled from the same questions and data.
- Client-facing forms
- Workflows collect client information and produce documents, and can be embedded on a website from the Pro plan.
- Legal template library
- Pre-built legal templates and court forms come with the Pro plan.
- Online payments
- The Pro plan can collect payments through Stripe, for selling online legal services.
- Gavel Exec
- A separate contract review product that drafts, reviews and redlines inside Word, priced on its own tab.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Clio Manage
- Zapier
- DocuSign
- Stripe
Gavel is made by Gavel.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
4/25
Other law practice software it is graded above
Gavel's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 4 of the 25 other law practice software we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 4 of 25) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $83 a month, against a middle price of $59 for the category: 9 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 9 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 26 law practice software we grade, cut by the letter each got. Gavel’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 25
- CFree plan and trialAbove 17 of 25
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 25
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 25
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 4 of 25
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 11 law practice software. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Gavel is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Gavel you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 13 of the 25 other law practice software grade higher. It costs $996 a year.
What you could make
- Documents, templates and forms: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
What this rests on. Gavel’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Lawmatics, Clio, MyCase and PracticePanther
The 4 tools Gavel is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Lawmatics
Paid
Client intake, legal CRM and marketing automation for law firms.
- Only Lawmatics lists iOS and Android apps.
- Gavel also covers templates, workflow automation and documents.
- Lawmatics also covers sales pipeline, marketing automation, email campaigns, business texting and appointment booking.
- 2.8GPA
Clio
Free trial · from $49/mo
Practice management, legal accounting and legal AI for law firms.
- Only Clio lists iOS and Android apps.
- Gavel also covers templates, workflow automation, documents and forms.
- Clio also covers time tracking, invoicing, bookkeeping, case management and trust accounting.
- 2.2GPA
MyCase
Free trial · from $50/mo
Case management, billing and client portal for small law firms.
- Only MyCase lists iOS and Android apps.
- Gavel also covers templates, workflow automation and documents.
- MyCase also covers time tracking, invoicing, business texting, case management and trust accounting.
- 2.2GPA
PracticePanther
Free trial · from $49/mo
Law practice management with built-in payments and accounting.
- Only PracticePanther lists iOS and Android apps.
- Gavel also covers templates, workflow automation and documents.
- PracticePanther also covers time tracking, invoicing, business texting, case management and trust accounting.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Gavel free?
No, Gavel is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial on Lite, Standard and Pro.
How much does Gavel cost?
Gavel lists 4 plans. Lite: $83 per month, billing basis not shown beside the figure.
What platforms does Gavel work on?
Gavel is available on Web.
Does Gavel offer any discounts?
Gavel publicly lists the following: 2 months free on annual plans.
Does Gavel have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Gavel is listed for Web.
Does Gavel have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Gavel is listed for Web.
Is Gavel open source?
Gavel is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Gavel have an API?
Yes. Gavel offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Gavel integrate with?
Gavel's listing names Clio Manage, Zapier, DocuSign and Stripe. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Gavel?
Gavel is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Gavel?
The closest alternatives to Gavel in our directory are Lawmatics, Clio, MyCase and PracticePanther.
How does Gavel compare with other law practice software?
Gavel's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 4 of the 25 other law practice software we grade, and level with 8.
Is Gavel good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Gavel D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $83 a month, against a middle price of $59 for the category: 9 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Gavel?
To replace Gavel you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Gavel’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Gavel's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Gavel. Prices change, so check gavel.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Gavel, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/gavel
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Gavel: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/gavel
Know someone choosing between law practice software?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/gavel/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded law practice software after Gavel, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Law Practice Software Insider's GuideEvery one of the 26 law practice software we grade, compared
- Clio Insider's GuidePractice management, legal accounting and legal AI for law firms2.8 GPA
- CARET Legal Insider's GuideCloud practice management with billing and accounting for law firms2.2 GPA
- CosmoLex Insider's GuideLaw practice management with trust and business accounting built in2.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Gavel’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Gavel is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Gavel. Prices and plans change: check gavel.io before you buy.