AbacusLaw review: How it compares to Clio

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.