Cybersecurity · head to head
Arnica vs Clio
Arnica
Cybersecurity
AI-native application security platform detecting and fixing vulnerabilities across the SDLC
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Arnica has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Arnica per-identity pricing ($25-$50/person/year) requires tracking active developers; Clio priced per user per month, so cost scales directly with headcount and adds up for growing firms
- They diverge on capability: Arnica covers AI SAST, Clio covers Matter management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Arnica and Clio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Arnica | Clio |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Per-identity subscription with annual discount | Per-user subscription with published tiers; contact vendor for current rates |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, GitHub, IDE | Web, iOS, Android, Cloud |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Legal |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Arnica
- AI SAST
- Software Composition Analysis
- Secrets detection
- IaC scanning
- Container scanning
- SBOM generation
- Agentic rules
- Pipelineless integration
Only in Clio
- Matter management
- Time and billing
- Trust accounting
- Client intake
- Document management
- Integration directory
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Arnica
- Detecting AI-generated vulnerabilities in Copilot and Cursor suggestionsnot Clio
- Finding hardcoded secrets before they reach productionnot Clio
- Mapping container vulnerabilities back to source codenot Clio
- Generating SBOM for supply chain compliance requirementsnot Clio
- Scanning infrastructure-as-code for misconfiguration risksnot Clio
Clio
- Small and mid-sized firms replacing spreadsheets and paper matter filesnot Arnica
- Firms needing compliant trust accounting without a separate systemnot Arnica
- Practices billing hourly that lose revenue to uncaptured timenot Arnica
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Arnica
- Per-identity pricing ($25-$50/person/year) requires tracking active developers
- Overage identity tracking via 90-day PR activity can be unpredictable
- Free plan limited to weekly updates, requiring upgrade for real-time scanning
- Advanced add-ons (Image Scanning, AI SAST, Agentic Rules Enforcer) pricing not published
- On-premises deployment limited to Enterprise tier
Clio
- Priced per user per month, so cost scales directly with headcount and adds up for growing firms
- Advanced features including some automation and reporting sit in higher tiers rather than the entry plan
- Aimed at small and mid-sized firms; large firms with complex matter structures often need heavier systems
- Strongest in North America, with less depth in other jurisdictions’ compliance requirements
Pricing, plan by plan
Arnica
Free- FreeFree
- No credit card required
- 14-day trial available
- Weekly risk identification updates
- Core Business$360/year
- Monthly billing option at $30/identity/month
- Annual billing at $25/identity/month (17% discount)
- Real-time risk scanning and notifications
- Core Enterprise$720/year
- Monthly billing option at $60/identity/month
- Annual billing at $50/identity/month (17% discount)
- All Core Business features
Clio
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Clio review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Arnica if
- You need ai sast.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, GitHub, IDE.
- You also want software composition analysis.
Choose Clio if
- You need matter management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- You also want time and billing.
Questions people ask
- Is Arnica or Clio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Arnica starts at Free and Clio at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Arnica or Clio?
- Arnica has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Arnica and On request for Clio.
- Does Arnica or Clio run on more platforms?
- Arnica runs on Web, GitHub, IDE. Clio runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- Can I use Arnica for free?
- Yes. Arnica has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Clio starts at On request.
- What is Arnica best used for?
- Arnica is most often used for detecting ai-generated vulnerabilities in copilot and cursor suggestions, finding hardcoded secrets before they reach production, mapping container vulnerabilities back to source code, generating sbom for supply chain compliance requirements. Of those, detecting ai-generated vulnerabilities in copilot and cursor suggestions and finding hardcoded secrets before they reach production are not what Clio is typically brought in for.
- What can Arnica do that Clio cannot?
- Arnica covers AI SAST, Software Composition Analysis, Secrets detection, IaC scanning. Clio covers Matter management, Time and billing, Trust accounting, Client intake.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Arnica: How are identities defined in Arnica pricing?
Identities are any users and other contributing entities that contributed code and/or had PR activity during the last 90 days. This ensures billing matches active developers.
SourceClio: What does Clio cost?
Clio sells per-user subscriptions across several tiers. Rates change and vary by region, so check the vendor’s current pricing page rather than relying on a third-party figure.
Arnica: What is the annual discount?
Annual prepayment offers approximately 17% savings versus monthly billing. Core Business annual is $300/identity versus $360 for monthly.
SourceClio: Does Clio handle trust accounting?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons firms adopt it, because client fund rules are strict and mishandling them is a regulatory matter.
Arnica: Can I cancel or downgrade Arnica anytime?
Yes. Subscriptions can be cancelled or downgraded at any time. Overage identities receive automatic protection with true-up invoicing.
SourceClio: Is Clio suitable for a large firm?
It is aimed at small and mid-sized practices. Large firms with complex matter and billing structures usually evaluate heavier enterprise systems.
Clio: Does Clio integrate with existing tools?
Yes. Its integration directory is the largest in legal practice software, covering Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, QuickBooks and many others.
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