Migration consultation
Start with a one-on-one meeting with your dedicated customer onboarding specialist to discuss the process and timelines.
AbacusLaw review: How it compares to Clio
How does AbacusLaw compare to Clio? See a side-by-side comparison of AbacusLaw pricing, support, security, and remote access to help you choose the best cloud-based legal practice management software for your law firm.
Clio vs. AbacusLaw
| Feature | Clio | AbacusLaw |
|---|---|---|
| Support | 24/5 support (Monday to Friday) — Clio’s award-winning team offers unlimited support at no additional cost. Our in-house customer support team is available 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday, via phone, email, or live chat. | 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET (Monday to Friday) — AbacusLaw support is available 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, and is closed on US holidays including July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Outside those hours, you’ll need to submit a ticket through the customer portal and wait for the next business day. |
| Remote access | Easy access from anywhere, anytime — Clio is cloud-based, so you’re not tied to a single location or a single machine. Clio can be accessed securely from anywhere using an up-to-date web browser and internet connection, with no server to set up or maintain. Clio offers a financially backed 99.9% uptime guarantee, so you’ll always be able to get access to your work, even in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. | Requires extra setup and licensing — AbacusLaw is Windows desktop software that runs on your firm’s server. Working remotely means either paying for Abacus Private Cloud hosting or installing additional server-side services to enable the mobile app and client portal, which are licensed separately. |
| Security | Dedicated security team with stringent policies in place — Clio understands the obligations firms have to uphold tight security standards when dealing with sensitive client data. Clio performs regular automatic backups and makes use of geo-redundant servers to protect from physical threats. Our dedicated cybersecurity team monitors the software around the clock. | Security depends on how you deploy it — Run AbacusLaw on your own server and the security burden sits with your firm: you handle physical access, IT support, maintenance, and updates. Shifting that to CARET means paying for Abacus Private Cloud hosting on top of your software license. |
| Total cost of ownership | We make sure your operating costs stay low — Clio keeps your overhead low. Every Clio plan includes maintenance and support at no additional cost. Because Clio is cloud-based, there are no expensive on-premises servers to buy, and no dedicated server hardware to house, power, or replace. | Additional server, hardware, and maintenance costs — For firms with two or more users, AbacusLaw requires a dedicated server or a PC that isn’t assigned to an individual, running Windows Server or Windows Pro. On-premises software also means IT support, maintenance, and updates, plus easily overlooked costs like electricity and floor space. |
| Debit and credit card processing rates | Lower fees, no surprises — Pay 2.95% on all standard credit and debit cards, 3.75% on American Express, and 1% on eChecks and ACH. No monthly fees, no per-transaction fees, and no extra charge on international cards. | High fees will cost you — AbacusLaw charges 3% for standard cards, 3.5% for specialty and corporate cards, and 3.9% for American Express, plus an extra 1.5% on international transactions and a $20 monthly fee if you don’t process payments. |
| Pricing | Flexible pricing that meets your business needs — Choose from a range of flexible pricing plans, starting at $49/user/month billed annually or $59/user/month with monthly billing. Easily upgrade your subscription as your firm grows. | Prepare to pay for costly add-ons — AbacusLaw doesn’t publish pricing, so you’ll need to contact sales for a quote. Expect add-ons: the mobile app and client portal are licensed separately, cloud hosting through Abacus Private Cloud costs extra, document automation means buying HotDocs, and training beyond the free resources is billed as professional services. |
Are you already an AbacusLaw user?
Switching is as easy as 1, 2, 3
Migrating data is never fun. AbacusLaw users switching to Clio get complimentary assistance from our dedicated data migrations team. We make it easy for you to securely move your data.
Data export & processing
Our migration specialists will give you guidance on how best to export your data. They will then prepare your data to be imported to Clio.
Data import & review
Once the import is complete, our migration specialists review the accuracy of your data and make sure you’re ready to get started with Clio.
I started using Clio in 2012 when I was tasked with the job of searching for a practice management program by the attorneys I worked for. I found Clio and loved it. When I moved to a different law firm, I convinced them to dump Abacus and move to Clio. They loved it. When one of the attorneys from that firm broke off to work independently and asked me to join them, I told them I would only go if she would let me use Clio.
Other ways Clio supports its customers
Industry-leading content
Clio is your trusted resource for the latest ideas on running a more efficient, profitable law firm. We produce a variety of content ranging from blog posts and our annual Legal Trends Report to our in-depth webinars.
Exclusive community
The Clio Community is an online platform where Clio customers come together to discuss important legal topics, learn how to better use Clio, and ask questions specific to their practice area.
Annual conference
ClioCon is one of the most highly anticipated and influential legal events. It attracts thousands of legal and technology leaders from across the world who want to learn, be inspired, and innovate.
This form couldn't be loaded. Ad blockers and strict privacy settings can prevent it — disable your blocker for this site, then reload.