Key Takeaways:
- Clio offers a broader ecosystem with deep integrations and extensive third-party app support, making it ideal for larger or growing firms.
- MyCase provides an all-in-one, client-facing platform with built-in communication tools that suits small to mid-sized practices.
- Neither platform automatically captures time spent on emails, calls, or texts — leaving billable hours on the table.
- Time Miner integrates with both Clio and MyCase, filling the time-capture gap that practice management software leaves behind.
- Choosing the right stack means pairing a strong practice management platform with tools that maximize revenue
recovery.
Introduction
Choosing the right practice management software is one of the most consequential decisions a law firm makes. The
wrong choice costs time, money, and productivity. The right one becomes the backbone of how your firm
operates.
In 2026–27, two platforms continue to dominate the conversation: Clio and MyCase. Both are cloud-based, both are
widely adopted, and both offer compelling feature sets. But they serve different types of firms — and understanding
those differences can save you from a costly switch down the road.
This guide breaks down the core differences, compares them feature by feature, and explains where each platform
falls short — and how to close that gap.
What Is Clio?
Clio is one of the most widely used legal practice management platforms in the world. It's built to serve the full
spectrum of legal work — from case management and document storage to billing, client intake, and court calendaring.
Clio's strength is its ecosystem. It integrates with hundreds of third-party tools, making it attractive to firms
that want flexibility and a customizable tech stack. It's particularly well-suited to growing firms and those with
complex, multi-practice workflows.
What Is MyCase?
MyCase takes a more consolidated approach. It bundles case management, billing, document storage, and client
communication into a single, tightly integrated platform — including a built-in client portal and two-way texting.
For small to mid-sized firms that want fewer tools to manage, MyCase's all-in-one design reduces friction and keeps
client communication centralized. It's designed to feel intuitive from day one.
Clio vs MyCase: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Category | Clio Manage | MyCase |
|---|---|---|
| Target Firm Size | Solo to large (scales with add-ons and API integrations) | Solo to medium (all-in-one with included tools, easier out-of-the-box setup) |
| Ease of Setup | More complex; often needs customization and setup of add-ons | Ready to go; minimal configuration required |
| Features Included | Base plan: core time & docs; add apps (Grow, Payments, etc.); Premium plans for AI, CRM | All core tools built-in: intake forms, CRM, billing, eSign, basic AI, payments |
| Time Tracking | Manual entry (hourly or decimal); integrates with timers; no built-in passive capture | Automatic (passive) capture available via tools like TimeMiner; easy time logging |
| Billing | Flexible (hourly, retainer, flat-fee, value billing); advanced invoicing (with add-ons) | Streamlined billing/invoicing included; supports split invoices, trust accounts |
| Reporting | Highly customizable reports and dashboards; can export data for external analysis | Pre-built, visual reports; quick insights but less customization |
| Client Portal | Optional add-on; full-featured (secure messaging, file upload, payment) | Built into every plan; easy for client communication and billing transparency |
| Mobile App | Full-featured app (case management, billing, document signing) | Core app (basic case access, messaging, billing) |
| Integrations | 250+ apps (Google, Outlook, QuickBooks, LawPay, etc.); open API for custom integrations | Limited to key integrations (e.g., LawPay, some docs); no open API |
| Support | 24/5 phone/chat; extensive documentation and community forums | Email and chat support, knowledge base; award-winning onboarding |
| Pricing | From ~$49/user (EasyStart); higher tiers and add-ons add cost | Basic ~$50/user (annual); Pro/Advanced ~$100–130/user |
Head-to-Head: Where Each Platform Leads
Case & Matter Management
Both platforms handle case management competently. Clio offers slightly more granular control over matter structure,
custom fields, and workflow stages — useful for firms managing diverse practice areas simultaneously.
MyCase keeps things cleaner and more visual, which appeals to attorneys who want to get in and out fast without
navigating nested menus.
Client Communication
This is where MyCase pulls ahead for many small firms. Its built-in client portal, secure messaging, and native
two-way texting create a seamless client communication loop — all without third-party add-ons.
Clio can match this functionality, but often requires connecting additional tools to achieve the same result.
Billing and Invoicing
Both platforms support hourly billing, flat-fee arrangements, and LEDES-format invoices. Clio's billing module is
more configurable and suited to firms experimenting with different
billing strategies
— including contingency,
hybrid, and retainer-based structures.
MyCase keeps invoicing straightforward and fast, which suits firms that prioritize speed over customization.
Integrations
Clio is the clear winner here. With over 250 integrations spanning legal research, document automation, accounting,
and more, it's the more extensible platform.
That said, both
Clio
and
MyCase
integrate with Time Miner — which means either platform can be paired with automated
time capture to recover billable hours that manual logging misses.
Reporting
Clio's reporting is more detailed out of the box — matter profitability, origination tracking, timekeeper
productivity. MyCase covers the core metrics most small firms need but offers less depth for multi-attorney
analytics.
The Gap Neither Platform Fills
ere's what most comparison articles leave out: neither Clio nor MyCase automatically captures time.
Both platforms rely on attorneys to start a timer, remember to log a call, or manually enter time after the fact.
Research consistently shows that attorneys lose 10–25% of billable hours due to delayed or incomplete time entries.
A quick email at 7 PM, a five-minute call between hearings, a text exchange resolving a client question — these
disappear without a trace.
This is the problem that Historical Time Mining addresses. Rather
than waiting for attorneys to remember what they
did, automated tools scan your communications retroactively and surface billable activity you didn't log at the
time.
Time Miner was built specifically to solve this. It connects to your email (Gmail or Outlook), call logs, and text
records, then matches activity to your clients and matters. The result is a set of ready-to-review time entries that
never would have made it into your practice management system otherwise..
If you want to understand how much you're currently losing, theROI Calculator gives you a quick, concrete number
based on your hourly rate.
How Time Miner Works With Both Platforms
One of Time Miner's practical advantages is that it doesn't force you to choose sides. Whether your firm runs on Clio
or MyCase, Time Miner integrates with both — syncing contacts and matters directly so recovered time entries map to
the right files automatically.
The workflow is simple:
- Import contacts and matters from your practice management platform
- Connect your email and upload phone call logs
- Time Miner identifies billable activity tied to each client
- Review suggested entries and push them to your billing system
This makes it an ideal complement to either platform, filling the time-capture gap that practice management software wasn't designed to solve. Learn more about how the integration works on the Time Miner Integrations page.
Who Should Choose Clio?
Clio is the stronger choice if your firm:
- Has five or more attorneys and expects to grow
- Manages multiple practice areas with complex matter structures
- Relies on a customized tech stack with several third-party integrations
- Needs detailed productivity and profitability reporting
- Wants flexibility in Value Billing arrangements and non-hourly fee structures
Who Should Choose MyCase?
MyCase is the stronger choice if your firm:
- Is a solo practice or small firm (2–10 attorneys)
- Prioritizes streamlined client communication and a polished client portal
- Wants an out-of-the-box solution without extensive configuration
- Prefers a single monthly bill over managing multiple subscriptions
- Values speed and simplicity over deep customization
What About Switching Costs?
Platform migrations carry real risk. Data migration, staff retraining, workflow disruption, and integration rebuilds
can add up quickly — in both time and money.
Before switching, it's worth asking whether your current platform's limitations are platform problems or process
problems. Slow billing often isn't a software issue. Missed time entries rarely are, either. Those problems persist
regardless of which platform you're on — unless you add a tool like an
Automated Timekeeping Software
layer that
captures time passively.
Our blog post on
Manual vs Automated Time Tracking
explores this distinction in detail, and it's a useful read
before making any major platform change.
The Bottom Line
Clio and MyCase are both excellent platforms. The right choice depends on your firm's size, complexity, and the level
of customization you need.
But whichever platform you choose, the underlying revenue leak — billable time that goes unlogged because attorneys
are focused on client work, not timekeeping — remains the same.
The firms that recover the most revenue aren't necessarily the ones on the best practice management platform.
They're the ones that pair good software with tools that capture what falls through the cracks.
Time Miner was built for exactly that. It integrates with both Clio and MyCase, and the first 30 days are free —
with no commitment required.
Time Miner is an automated legal timekeeping tool founded by practicing attorneys. It connects to Clio, MyCase,
Gmail, Outlook, and major carrier call logs to surface billable time you've already earned.
Start your free 30-day
trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Clio or MyCase better for a solo attorney?
MyCase is generally the better fit. Its all-in-one design and straightforward billing mean less time configuring software. Clio's deeper feature set can feel like overkill for a one-person operation — though it becomes a stronger choice as your firm grows.
Q2: Can I switch from Clio to MyCase (or vice versa) without losing my data?
Both platforms support data export and migration, but no switch is without friction. Matter history, billing records, and contacts can typically be carried over — though the process takes time. Map out what you need to migrate and test on a small batch before committing.
Q3: Why do attorneys still miss billable time even when using practice management software?
These platforms only track time you remember to enter. Late-night emails, quick calls, and text exchanges rarely make it into a timer. That's the gap Time Miner closes — surfacing billable activity from your communications retroactively.
Q4: Does Time Miner work if my firm uses Clio for billing but Gmail for email?
Yes. Time Miner connects to your email and call logs separately from your practice management platform. It pulls matter data from Clio or MyCase, matches it to your communications, and identifies billable time — no direct connection between the two platforms needed. See the Time Miner Integrations page for details.
Q5: How do Clio and MyCase handle billing for firms that use flat fees or hybrid arrangements?
Both support flat-fee billing, but Clio offers more flexibility for mixed models — hourly, contingency, retainer, and flat fee across different matters. MyCase handles common structures cleanly but has less depth for complex arrangements. Either way, tracking time on flat-fee matters still matters for profitability — and that's where a time capture layer pays off.