Legal · head to head
Clio vs Relativity
Relativity
Legal
Ediscovery and legal data platform for large matters
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Clio priced per user per month, so cost scales directly with headcount and adds up for growing firms; Relativity quote-only and expensive, typically billed on data volume, so costs escalate with matter size
- They diverge on capability: Clio covers Matter management, Relativity covers Large-scale processing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Clio and Relativity actually diverge.
| Attribute | Clio | Relativity |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-user subscription with published tiers; contact vendor for current rates | quote |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Cloud | Web, Cloud, Self-hosted |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Legal).
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 Clio
- Matter management
- Time and billing
- Trust accounting
- Client intake
- Document management
- Integration directory
Only in Relativity
- Large-scale processing
- Review workflow
- Analytics and active learning
- Application ecosystem
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Clio
- Small and mid-sized firms replacing spreadsheets and paper matter filesnot Relativity
- Firms needing compliant trust accounting without a separate systemnot Relativity
- Practices billing hourly that lose revenue to uncaptured timenot Relativity
Relativity
- Large litigation with very high document volumesnot Clio
- Corporate investigations requiring defensible, auditable reviewnot Clio
- Firms whose review process is already built around the platformnot Clio
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Relativity
- Quote-only and expensive, typically billed on data volume, so costs escalate with matter size
- Complex enough that certified specialists are a job title, which is a real staffing cost
- Considerable overkill for small matters, where lighter self-service tools are far cheaper
Pricing, plan by plan
Clio
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Clio review.
Relativity
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Relativity review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Clio if
- You need matter management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- You also want time and billing.
Choose Relativity if
- You need large-scale processing.
- You work on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted.
- You also want review workflow.
Questions people ask
- Is Clio or Relativity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Clio starts at On request and Relativity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Clio or Relativity?
- Clio starts at On request and Relativity at On request.
- Does Clio or Relativity run on more platforms?
- Clio runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud. Relativity runs on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted.
- What is Clio best used for?
- Clio is most often used for small and mid-sized firms replacing spreadsheets and paper matter files, firms needing compliant trust accounting without a separate system, practices billing hourly that lose revenue to uncaptured time. Of those, small and mid-sized firms replacing spreadsheets and paper matter files and firms needing compliant trust accounting without a separate system are not what Relativity is typically brought in for.
- What can Clio do that Relativity cannot?
- Clio covers Matter management, Time and billing, Trust accounting, Client intake. Relativity covers Large-scale processing, Review workflow, Analytics and active learning, Application ecosystem.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Clio: 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.
Relativity: What does Relativity cost?
It does not publish rates. Ediscovery is generally billed on data volume and users, quoted per matter or organisation.
Clio: 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.
Relativity: Is Relativity only for law firms?
No. Corporate legal departments and government agencies use it for investigations as well as litigation.
Clio: 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.
Relativity: Do I need trained staff?
In practice yes. Relativity certification is a recognised specialism, and that staffing cost is part of the total.
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.