Clio vs LawPay
Which legal practice management software is right for your firm?
Quick Answer
This comparison is often misunderstood — Clio is a full practice management platform while LawPay is primarily a legal payment processor (though LawPay Pro adds practice management features). Most firms use LawPay *with* Clio via integration, not instead of it. If you need practice management AND payments, Clio with Clio Payments is the more integrated choice. If you only need payment processing or want superior payment-specific features, LawPay as a standalone tool (or integrated with another system) is excellent.
At a Glance
| Clio | LawPay | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $39-$129/user/mo | Classic $19/mo flat; Pro from ~$29/user/mo + processing fees |
| Best For | Full practice management with integrated payments | Specialized legal payment processing & compliance |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Clio | LawPay |
|---|---|---|
| Matter Management | LawPay Pro only | |
| Time Tracking | LawPay Pro only | |
| Client Portal | Payment portal only | |
| Trust Accounting (IOLTA) | Payments compliance | |
| Payment Processing | Clio Payments | |
| Next-Day Funding | ||
| eCheck (ACH) Processing | ||
| Client Financing Options | LawPay Advance | |
| Billing & Invoicing | LawPay Pro only | |
| Payment Plans / Installments | ||
| Document Management | ||
| Integrations | 200+ | MyCase, Smokeball, Clio (as integration) |
| QR Code Payments |
Pricing Comparison
Clio Pricing
- Full practice management
- Clio Payments integrated
- Credit card processing ~1.5-2.5%
- ACH/eCheck: 1%
- No monthly processing fee
- Everything in EasyStart
- Trust accounting
- Client portal
- Custom fields
- Workflow automation
- Advanced reporting
- Clio Grow CRM
- Client intake
- Full suite
LawPay Pricing
- Payment processing
- IOLTA-compliant trust payment links
- Credit card: ~1.95% + $0.20
- eCheck: $0.20 flat
- Next-day funding
- Unlimited payment links
- Classic features plus
- Time tracking & billing
- Matter management
- Reporting
- Client portal
- Payment plans
Who Should Choose What?
✅ Choose Clio if...
- You need full practice management alongside payment processing (most firms)
- You want billing and payments deeply integrated with matter records
- You prefer a single vendor for practice management and payments
- You want invoices, billing history, and payments linked to matters automatically
- You need Clio Grow for client intake alongside payments
✅ Choose LawPay if...
- You only need payment processing and already have practice management software
- Next-day funding matters for your firm's cash flow
- You want LawPay Advance for client financing options (payment plans they can fund)
- Your current practice management software integrates with LawPay but not Clio Payments
- QR code payments or text-to-pay are important client-facing features
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use LawPay with Clio or Clio Payments instead?
Many firms use Clio integrated with LawPay rather than Clio Payments. However, this creates some friction — eCheck (ACH) is not supported through the Clio-LawPay integration, and processing fees may be billed separately. Clio Payments offers tighter integration with no monthly fee and competitive rates, while LawPay offers next-day funding and more payment-specific features. For most firms, Clio Payments is more convenient; for firms prioritizing cash flow or specific LawPay features, the integration is worth considering.
What are the processing fees for Clio Payments vs LawPay?
Clio Payments charges approximately 1.5-2.5% per credit/debit card transaction and 1% per ACH/eCheck transaction with no monthly fee. LawPay Classic charges approximately 1.95% + $0.20 per credit card transaction and $0.20 flat per eCheck, plus the $19/month platform fee. For high-volume firms, the rate difference can add up — calculate based on your firm's average monthly card volume to determine which is cheaper for your situation.
What is LawPay Advance?
LawPay Advance is a client financing feature that allows your clients to pay legal fees in installments while your firm receives the full payment upfront (minus a fee). It's similar to how healthcare providers offer patient financing. This can help firms win clients who need legal services but can't afford a large retainer upfront. Clio Payments doesn't offer this type of client financing feature.
Is LawPay IOLTA compliant?
Yes, LawPay was built specifically for attorneys and is designed for IOLTA compliance. It's approved by all 50 state bars and ensures client trust funds are never commingled with operating funds during payment processing. Both LawPay and Clio Payments are designed for legal payment compliance, but LawPay's longer history in legal payments (founded 2008) means it has been through more regulatory scrutiny.
Can I use LawPay as my only software?
LawPay Classic is payment-only and requires separate practice management software. LawPay Pro adds billing, time tracking, matter management, and a client portal, making it a lightweight practice management option. However, LawPay Pro is less feature-rich than dedicated platforms like Clio or MyCase — it's best for very small firms with simple needs rather than growing practices that need robust matter management and reporting.
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The Verdict
For most law firms, Clio with integrated Clio Payments is the more convenient, fully integrated solution — your billing, matters, and payments are unified without maintaining two separate platforms. LawPay wins as a standalone tool if you need next-day funding, client financing options (LawPay Advance), or if you're using a practice management platform that integrates with LawPay but not Clio Payments. Many firms use both in combination — worth evaluating fees carefully if you're in that camp.