In Clio vs MyCase, Clio is usually the better fit for firms that want a deep ecosystem, a dedicated intake CRM in Clio Grow and many integrations, while MyCase is usually the better fit for small firms that want an all-in-one system with a strong built-in client portal and a simpler learning curve. Both handle matters, time, billing, trust accounting, documents and payments well. The deciding factors are intake, integrations and total cost at your firm's size.
This comparison covers intake, billing and payments, document automation, the client portal, integrations, pricing structure, migration, a decision table and the mistakes firms make when they switch.
What Clio and MyCase are.
Clio is a family of cloud legal software products. Clio Manage is the practice management system for matters, calendars, tasks, time, billing, trust accounting and documents. Clio Grow is a separate legal CRM for intake, from first inquiry to signed engagement. Clio also sells payments, document automation and client communication tools, and hosts a large App Directory of third-party integrations.
MyCase is an all-in-one practice management platform for small and mid-size firms, part of the AffiniPay family that also includes LawPay. It covers case management, calendaring, time and billing, trust accounting, documents, a built-in client portal, payments, and lead management and intake on its higher tiers.
Intake: Clio Grow vs MyCase lead management.
Intake is where a firm wins or loses revenue, and it is the clearest difference between the two.
Clio Grow is a dedicated intake CRM. It gives firms web intake forms, a lead inbox, a pipeline with custom stages, automated follow-up emails, appointment booking, engagement letters with e-signature, and conversion of a signed lead into a Clio Manage matter with the data carried across. Because it is a separate product with its own focus, it offers more depth for firms with real marketing volume and an intake team. We cover it in detail in our guide to Clio Grow intake automation.
MyCase builds lead management into the core product on its higher tiers: intake forms on your website, a lead pipeline, tracking of lead sources, and conversion of a lead into a case without switching systems. For a firm with a handful of inquiries a week, one system is simpler. For a firm running paid ads across several practice areas with a dedicated intake coordinator, Clio Grow's depth tends to matter more.
Billing, documents and the client portal.
Billing and payments. Both support hourly, flat fee and contingency matters, trust accounting with three-way reconciliation reports, invoice templates and online payments by card and bank transfer. Clio Payments is built into Clio Manage. MyCase Payments is built into MyCase, and its parent company also owns LawPay. Both let clients pay from the invoice, and both separate operating and trust deposits, which is essential for compliance with state bar rules.
Document automation. Clio offers Clio Draft for building templates that fill from matter data, plus integrations with other document automation tools. MyCase has document templates and automation built into the product on its higher tiers. Firms with complex, high-volume forms, such as estate planning or immigration, should test their three most-used documents in each system before deciding.
Client portal. MyCase's client portal is one of its strengths: clients log in to message the firm, view documents, see invoices and pay, all in one place, and firms often cite it as a reason for choosing MyCase. Clio offers secure client communication and document sharing through its own client app and portal. Both are acceptable. MyCase tends to feel more complete out of the box for client-facing work.
“Law firms rarely lose money on the software they pick. They lose it on the leads nobody followed up and the matter history that did not survive the migration.”
Integrations and pricing structure.
Integrations. Clio's App Directory is one of the largest in legal software, covering accounting, call tracking, answering services, e-signature, document storage, marketing tools and more, plus a documented API. MyCase has a smaller but solid set of integrations, including QuickBooks Online, and an API. If your firm depends on specific tools, such as a call tracking platform, a virtual receptionist or a marketing CRM, confirm the integration exists and syncs the fields you need.
Pricing structure. Both are priced per user per month in tiers, with discounts for annual billing. Clio Manage has been sold in tiers named EasyStart, Essentials, Advanced and Complete, with Clio Grow included only in the top bundle or bought separately. MyCase has been sold in Basic, Pro and Advanced tiers, with lead management and advanced features on the higher tiers. What scales the bill is users, the tier each firm needs for intake and automation, and add-ons such as payments processing fees and advanced document or AI features. Vendors change packaging often, so check both pricing pages for current tiers and list prices.
| Factor | Clio | MyCase |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Clio Manage plus separate products like Clio Grow | One all-in-one platform with tiered features |
| Intake | Clio Grow, a dedicated legal intake CRM | Lead management built into higher tiers |
| Billing and payments | Clio Payments built in, trust accounting | MyCase Payments built in, trust accounting |
| Document automation | Clio Draft and integrations | Built-in templates and automation on higher tiers |
| Client portal | Client app and secure sharing | Strong built-in portal, often a deciding factor |
| Integrations | Very large App Directory and API | Smaller catalog, core integrations and API |
| What scales the bill | Users, tier, Clio Grow and add-ons | Users, tier and add-ons |
| Best fit | Growing firms with intake teams and many tools | Small firms wanting simplicity in one system |
Migrating to Clio or MyCase, step by step.
What usually goes wrong.
- Choosing on base-plan price, then finding intake, automation or document features require a higher tier or a separate product.
- Migrating before reconciling trust, which carries errors into the new system and complicates bar compliance.
- Moving documents without their matter links, leaving thousands of files that are hard to find.
- Setting up intake forms with no source or campaign fields, so marketing spend cannot be tied to signed cases.
- Skipping training, so attorneys keep time in spreadsheets and the new system shows half the billable hours.
- Assuming an integration syncs everything, when it only moves contacts and not matters, notes or call records.
Who each platform fits.
Choose Clio if your firm is growing, runs meaningful marketing, has or plans an intake team, relies on several outside tools, or wants the widest integration options. Choose MyCase if your firm is small to mid-size, values a strong client portal and one simple system, and prefers fewer moving parts over maximum flexibility. For a broader look at intake and marketing CRMs, see our guide to the best CRM for law firms.
Where the software stops and the work begins.
Neither Clio nor MyCase will build your intake process, connect your website and call tracking with source data, write follow-up sequences for unsigned leads, report cost per signed case by channel, or migrate years of matters cleanly on its own. That setup, integration and tracking work is what we do for law firms.
Is Clio better than MyCase?
Neither is better for every firm. Clio is usually stronger for growing firms that want a dedicated intake CRM in Clio Grow and a very large integration directory. MyCase is usually stronger for small firms that want one simple system with a built-in client portal. Test both with your own matters and your most-used documents before deciding.
Does MyCase have intake like Clio Grow?
MyCase includes lead management on its higher tiers, with website intake forms, a lead pipeline, source tracking and conversion of leads into cases. Clio Grow is a separate, dedicated intake CRM with more depth in pipelines, automated follow-up, booking and engagement letters. Firms with high inquiry volume and an intake team often prefer Clio Grow.
How is Clio priced compared with MyCase?
Both are priced per user per month in tiers, with annual billing discounts. Clio Manage is sold in several tiers and Clio Grow is added separately or in the top bundle. MyCase is sold in tiers with more features included at higher levels. Compare the full stack your firm needs, including intake and payments, on each vendor's current pricing page.
Can I migrate from MyCase to Clio or Clio to MyCase?
Yes. Both vendors offer migration assistance from common legal systems, including each other. Confirm what data is included, such as matters, contacts, notes, time entries, invoices, documents and custom fields. Reconcile trust accounts before the move, map fields in advance, and spot-check matters after import before turning off the old system.
Which has the better client portal, Clio or MyCase?
MyCase is widely regarded as having the stronger built-in client portal, where clients can message the firm, view documents, see invoices and pay in one place. Clio offers secure client communication and document sharing through its own client app. Both work well, so the choice depends on how much client-facing work your firm handles.