The SmartVault Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about SmartVault 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.
SmartVault
The Insider’s Guide
Document management and client portal for accounting firms
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among accounting and invoicing tools, read from SmartVault’s own pages.
Made by SmartVault · checked Nov 13, 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 SmartVault’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SmartVault’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 22 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade
SmartVault is a cloud document management system and branded client portal for accounting and tax firms. It stores files without a storage cap, collects documents from clients and connects to tax-prep software. Higher plans add unlimited e-signatures, ID verification and proposals.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about SmartVault, taken from its own pages and our grades.
A web portal where you set up folders, templates and branding, and no store rating on record.
- 1
Best for document storage and a client portal for accounting firms
SmartVault is document management and a client portal for accounting firms, with links to the main tax software.
- 2
Paid plans start at $65 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $65 per user / month, billed annually ($85 billed monthly).
- 3
You can try it first
Trial available on request; its length is not stated
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Document management
Cloud storage with file versioning, full-text search, email capture, activity logs and user permissions, plus a connected desktop app.
- 6
Branded client portal
Clients exchange password-protected files and respond to document requests through a portal carrying the firm's branding.
- 7
Tax software integrations
Lists direct integration with Lacerte, ProConnect and ProSeries, and configurable links to UltraTax CS, Drake and CCH.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 22 of 127
That is against the other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace SmartVault 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.
SmartVault at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $65 per user / month, billed annually ($85 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Trial available on request; its length is not stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- SmartVault
- Category
- Accounting & Invoicing
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for document storage and a client portal for accounting firms
SmartVault is document management and a client portal for accounting firms, with links to the main tax software. It costs $65 to $85 per user a month with a minimum of 2 or 3 users, and the trial length is not stated.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | $65 per user a month billed annually ($85 monthly), against a $20 middle, and $85 for Accounting Unlimited. With the 2-user minimum, the floor is $130 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | D | A trial is available on request but its length is not stated, and there is no free plan. |
| Features | B | Unlimited storage, a branded portal, e-signatures, ID checks, proposals, file retention and links to Lacerte, UltraTax, Drake and CCH Axcess cover the whole job. |
| Ease of use | C | A web portal where you set up folders, templates and branding, and no store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with QuickBooks Online and the main US tax packages. |
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 SmartVault is for
- Fits if your firm files in Lacerte, ProConnect, UltraTax or Drake and needs a client portal
- Works for practices with at least 2 or 3 staff sharing one document store
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you are on your own, since every plan has a user minimum of 2 or 3
- Pricey if you need unlimited e-signatures, ID verification or file retention, which need Accounting Unlimited at $85 per user
- Not for you if you want a self-serve start, as plans are booked through a demo or trial request
- Watch out: SmartRequestAI bundles are sold separately from the plans
Good to know
Good for
- Tax and accounting firms exchanging many documents with clients
- Firms using Lacerte, ProConnect, ProSeries, UltraTax or Drake
- Firms that want e-signatures and proposals in the same system
Worth knowing
- Every plan has a user minimum: 3 on Business Pro and 2 on the Accounting plans.
- Unlimited e-signatures, ID verification and file retention need Accounting Unlimited at $85 per user / month.
- SmartRequestAI bundles are sold separately from the plans.
- There is no published free plan, and plans are booked through a demo or trial request.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$65
A month to start, for each person
SmartVault is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $65 per user / month, billed annually ($85 billed monthly).
A trial is available on request but its length is not stated, and there is no free plan.
Business Pro
$65
per user / month, billed annually ($85 billed monthly)
Unlimited storage, clients and collaborators, branded portal and document requests. 3-user minimum.
Accounting Pro
$65
per user / month, billed annually ($85 billed monthly)
Adds accounting and tax integrations, advanced security, tax folder templates and SmartProposal. 2-user minimum.
Accounting Unlimited
$85
per user / month, billed annually ($110 billed monthly)
Adds unlimited e-signatures, ID verification, PDF form fillers, quotes and proposals, and file retention. 2-user minimum.
Trying it first
Trial available on request; its length is not stated
Read from smartvault.com on Nov 13, 2026.
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 management and client portal for accounting firms. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: workflow automation, documents, forms, file sharing, quotes and estimates.
Web only, with QuickBooks Online and the main US tax packages.
- Document management
- Cloud storage with file versioning, full-text search, email capture, activity logs and user permissions, plus a connected desktop app.
- Branded client portal
- Clients exchange password-protected files and respond to document requests through a portal carrying the firm's branding.
- Tax software integrations
- Lists direct integration with Lacerte, ProConnect and ProSeries, and configurable links to UltraTax CS, Drake and CCH.
- E-signatures and ID checks
- Accounting Unlimited includes unlimited e-signature requests and knowledge-based authentication for ID verification.
- Proposals
- SmartProposal is included on the Accounting plans for pricing and sending proposals; Accounting Unlimited allows unlimited quotes and proposals.
- Compliance tools
- Compliance Vault with WISP templates and scheduled deletion of old client files are part of Accounting Unlimited.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Lacerte
- ProConnect
- ProSeries
- UltraTax CS
- Drake Tax
- CCH Axcess
- QuickBooks Online
SmartVault is made by SmartVault.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/127
Other accounting and invoicing tools it is graded above
SmartVault's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 22 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on features (B, above 86 of 127) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $65 a month for each person, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 80 of the 90 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 7 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 128 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. SmartVault’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 127
- DFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 127
- BFeaturesAbove 86 of 127
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 127
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 127
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 101 accounting and invoicing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. SmartVault 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 SmartVault 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: 85 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools grade higher. It costs $780 a year.
What you could make
- Documents, forms and quotes and estimates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. SmartVault’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
Liscio, TaxDome, Canopy, Financial Cents and Karbon
The 5 tools SmartVault is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Liscio
From $19/mo
Client file and communication portal for accounting firms.
- SmartVault also covers forms and quotes and estimates.
- Liscio also covers templates and tasks.
TaxDome
Paid
Practice management and client portal for tax and accounting firms.
- Only TaxDome lists an iOS app.
- SmartVault also covers file sharing and quotes and estimates.
- TaxDome also covers templates and invoicing.
- 1.6GPA
Canopy
From $74/mo
Practice management software for accounting and tax firms.
- Only Canopy lists iOS and Android apps.
- SmartVault also covers documents, forms, file sharing and quotes and estimates.
- Canopy also covers time tracking, invoicing and reports.
- 2.4GPA
Financial Cents
Free trial · from $19/mo
Practice management for accounting and bookkeeping firms.
- SmartVault also covers forms, file sharing and quotes and estimates.
- Financial Cents also covers tasks, time tracking, invoicing and reports.
- 1.6GPA
Karbon
From $59/mo
Practice management software for accounting firms.
- Only Karbon lists iOS and Android apps.
- SmartVault also covers documents, forms, file sharing and quotes and estimates.
- Karbon also covers tasks, shared inbox, time tracking and invoicing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 SmartVault free?
No, SmartVault is a paid product, but you can try it first. Trial available on request; its length is not stated.
How much does SmartVault cost?
SmartVault lists 3 plans. Business Pro: $65 per user / month, billed annually ($85 billed monthly).
What platforms does SmartVault work on?
SmartVault is available on Web.
Does SmartVault have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SmartVault is listed for Web.
Does SmartVault have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. SmartVault is listed for Web.
Is SmartVault open source?
SmartVault is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does SmartVault integrate with?
SmartVault's listing names Lacerte, ProConnect, ProSeries, UltraTax CS, Drake Tax, CCH Axcess and QuickBooks Online.
Who makes SmartVault?
SmartVault is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to SmartVault?
The closest alternatives to SmartVault in our directory are Liscio, TaxDome, Canopy, Financial Cents and Karbon.
How does SmartVault compare with other accounting and invoicing tools?
SmartVault's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 22 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 20.
Is SmartVault good value for money?
ToolGPA grades SmartVault D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $65 a month for each person, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 80 of the 90 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of SmartVault?
To replace SmartVault 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 SmartVault’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from SmartVault's own pages on 13 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 SmartVault. Prices change, so check smartvault.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- SmartVault, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/smartvault
- 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, "SmartVault: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/smartvault
Know someone choosing between accounting and invoicing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/smartvault/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded accounting and invoicing tools after SmartVault, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Accounting & Invoicing Insider's GuideEvery one of the 129 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Invoice Insider's GuideFree invoicing app from Zoho for freelancers and small businesses3.6 GPA
- Zoho Books Insider's GuideOnline accounting from Zoho, with a free plan and six paid tiers3.4 GPA
- Cash App Taxes Insider's GuideFree federal and state tax filing inside Cash App3.2 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 SmartVault’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. SmartVault is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by SmartVault. Prices and plans change: check smartvault.com before you buy.