Clio vs MyCase
Honest comparison of Clio and MyCase for law firms. Features, pricing, integrations, and which platform fits your practice size and workflow.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Clio | MyCase |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ~$39/user/mo | ~$39/user/mo |
| Integrations | 250+ apps | 30+ apps |
| Client Portal | Yes (Clio Connect) | Yes (built-in) |
| Billing & Payments | Yes + trust accounting | Yes + LawPay |
| Document Management | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | Full-featured | Full-featured |
| Client Intake | Clio Grow (separate) | Built-in |
| Learning Curve | Moderate | Low |
Clio
Our PartnerClio is one of the most widely adopted cloud-based practice management platforms. It offers case management, billing, client intake, and a massive integration ecosystem with over 250 apps.
Best For: Mid-size firms that need deep integrations and a mature ecosystem
Pricing: Starting around $39/user/month (EasyStart) up to $129/user/month (Complete)
Pros
- 250+ integrations including Clio Manage and Clio Grow
- Strong billing and trust accounting tools
- Excellent mobile app for iOS and Android
- Large user community and support resources
Cons
- Higher price point at the Complete tier
- Can feel complex for solo practitioners
- Some advanced features locked behind higher plans
MyCase
Our PartnerMyCase is built for small to mid-size firms looking for an affordable, intuitive platform. It covers case management, billing, client communication, and built-in payment processing through LawPay integration.
Best For: Small firms and solos who want simplicity without sacrificing features
Pricing: Starting around $39/user/month (Basic) up to $69/user/month (Advanced)
Pros
- Clean, easy to learn interface
- Built-in client portal and messaging
- Affordable pricing across all tiers
- Strong document management included
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations than Clio
- Reporting can be limited on lower tiers
- Less customizable for complex workflows
Detailed Breakdown
Clio and MyCase represent two fundamentally different philosophies in case management software for lawyers, and understanding each platform's history and market position helps firms make a more informed choice.
Clio was founded in 2008 and has grown into the largest cloud-based practice management platform in the legal industry, serving over 150,000 legal professionals worldwide. Its core strength is the integration ecosystem: with over 250 connected applications spanning billing, document automation, client intake, accounting, and communication tools, Clio positions itself as the central hub of a best-of-breed technology stack. The platform's billing engine is among the most mature in legal tech, supporting LEDES invoicing for insurance defense work, trust accounting with three-way reconciliation for compliance, and automated payment reminders through Clio Payments. Clio Grow, the firm's separate client intake and CRM product, adds lead tracking, automated follow-up sequences, and intake form builders — though it requires an additional subscription that significantly increases the per-user cost. For firms that want granular control over every aspect of their technology stack and the ability to connect specialized tools for each function, Clio provides the flexibility to build exactly the system they need.
MyCase, now part of the AffiniPay family (along with CasePeer and LawPay), takes a deliberately streamlined approach designed for small firms that value simplicity and speed. MyCase bundles client communication, document management, calendaring, task management, and payment processing into a single affordable package with minimal configuration required. Its built-in client portal is a standout feature: clients can log in to check case status updates, exchange secure messages with their attorney, upload and download documents, and pay invoices — all without the firm needing to purchase or configure additional software. For solo practitioners and small firms with 1 to 5 attorneys, MyCase often wins on time-to-value because it can be set up and operational in a single day. The trade-off is a smaller third-party integration marketplace, less granular reporting capabilities on lower pricing tiers, and fewer options for firms that outgrow its built-in features and need specialized tools.
Key Differences
Integration Ecosystem
Clio wins on sheer volume with 250+ integrations. MyCase covers the essentials but has a smaller marketplace. If your firm relies on niche tools, Clio likely connects to them.
Ease of Use
MyCase is consistently praised for its clean interface and fast onboarding. Clio is powerful but takes more time to configure, especially at the Complete tier.
Pricing at Scale
Both start at similar price points, but Clio's top tier costs nearly double MyCase's. For firms watching their budget, MyCase offers more value per dollar.
Client Intake
Clio splits intake into a separate product (Clio Grow), which adds cost. MyCase includes basic intake features in the main product at no extra charge.
Pricing Deep Dive
Both Clio and MyCase start at approximately $39 per user per month for their entry-level plans, but the total cost of ownership diverges significantly as you add features. Clio offers four tiers: EasyStart ($39), Essentials ($69), Advanced ($99), and Complete ($129 per user per month). Most firms need at least the Essentials plan for trust accounting and custom fields, and the Complete plan to unlock advanced reporting, task automation, and premium support. When you add Clio Grow for client intake functionality — which starts at $49 per user per month — a fully loaded Clio setup can cost $178 or more per user per month.
MyCase offers three tiers: Basic ($39), Pro ($59), and Advanced ($69 per user per month). The Advanced plan includes workflow automations, enhanced reporting, and built-in intake forms. For a five-attorney firm, the annual cost difference between fully loaded Clio ($178/user) and MyCase Advanced ($69/user) approaches $6,500 per year. Firms should also consider implementation costs: Clio's broader feature set often requires professional configuration (which Big Mode provides), while MyCase's simpler setup frequently allows firms to self-implement with minimal outside help. Both platforms include document storage, though Clio's storage limits vary by plan while MyCase provides unlimited storage on all paid tiers.
When We Recommend Each
Clio
Excels At: Mid-size firms that need deep integrations and a mature ecosystem
We typically recommend Clio for firms that prioritize 250+ integrations including clio manage and clio grow and strong billing and trust accounting tools.
MyCase
Excels At: Small firms and solos who want simplicity without sacrificing features
We typically recommend MyCase for firms that prioritize clean, easy to learn interface and built-in client portal and messaging.
Migration Considerations
Big Mode Consulting handles migrations between Clio and MyCase regularly, and the process is well-established. A typical migration involves exporting contacts, matters, documents, notes, time entries, and billing history from the source platform and importing them into the destination with careful field mapping to ensure nothing is lost or misaligned.
The most common challenge in a Clio-to-MyCase migration is translating Clio's custom fields and matter structures into MyCase's more standardized format. In the reverse direction (MyCase to Clio), the main consideration is setting up Clio's more extensive configuration options — custom fields, matter types, and integration connections — to take full advantage of the platform's capabilities. Documents transfer cleanly in both directions, including folder structures and metadata.
We typically complete the full migration in two to four weeks with minimal disruption to your practice. This timeline includes test migration, team review, data validation, and a final cutover weekend where we switch over the live system. During the transition period, we provide training sessions tailored to your team so everyone is productive on day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Help Deciding?
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