Legal · head to head
MyCase vs Smokeball
Smokeball
Legal
Practice management for small law firms with automatic time capture
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only MyCase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: MyCase all plans are per-user pricing, not per-firm; previously paid fees are non-refundable; Smokeball requires a Windows desktop component for automatic time capture, so it is not browser-only like its competitors
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MyCase and Smokeball actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 MyCase
Nothing recorded that Smokeball does not also cover.
Only in Smokeball
- Automatic time capture
- Matter management
- Document automation
- Billing and trust accounting
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
MyCase
- Managing billable hours and generating client invoices from time entriesnot Smokeball
- Organizing discovery documents and case materials in searchable repositoriesnot Smokeball
- Processing trust account reconciliations for client fundsnot Smokeball
- Coordinating client communications through texting and portalsnot Smokeball
Smokeball
- Firms billing hourly that lose revenue to unrecorded timenot MyCase
- Small practices replacing paper matter files and spreadsheetsnot MyCase
- Firms needing court form automation for high-volume matter typesnot MyCase
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MyCase
- All plans are per-user pricing, not per-firm; previously paid fees are non-refundable
Smokeball
- Requires a Windows desktop component for automatic time capture, so it is not browser-only like its competitors
- Quote-only pricing with no published rates
- Aimed at small firms; larger practices with complex billing arrangements generally outgrow it
Pricing, plan by plan
MyCase
Free- Basic$60/month
- Basic features
- Annual option $50/month
- Pro$120/month
- Pro features
- Annual option $100/month
- Most popular
- Advanced$150/month
- Advanced features
- Annual option $130/month
Smokeball
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Smokeball review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Smokeball if
- You need automatic time capture.
- You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want matter management.
Questions people ask
- Is MyCase or Smokeball better?
- Neither clearly leads. MyCase starts at Free and Smokeball at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MyCase or Smokeball?
- MyCase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MyCase and On request for Smokeball.
- Does MyCase or Smokeball run on more platforms?
- MyCase runs on Web. Smokeball runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use MyCase for free?
- Yes. MyCase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smokeball starts at On request.
- What is MyCase best used for?
- MyCase is most often used for managing billable hours and generating client invoices from time entries, organizing discovery documents and case materials in searchable repositories, processing trust account reconciliations for client funds, coordinating client communications through texting and portals. Of those, managing billable hours and generating client invoices from time entries and organizing discovery documents and case materials in searchable repositories are not what Smokeball is typically brought in for.
- What can MyCase do that Smokeball cannot?
- Smokeball covers Automatic time capture, Matter management, Document automation, Billing and trust accounting.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
MyCase: How much does MyCase cost?
MyCase pricing starts at $60/month per user for the Basic plan, $120/month for Pro, and $150/month for Advanced when billed monthly.
SourceSmokeball: What does Smokeball cost?
Pricing is quoted per firm and not published.
MyCase: Does MyCase offer a free trial?
Yes, MyCase offers a 10-day free trial with full access and no credit card required.
SourceSmokeball: How does automatic time capture work?
A desktop application observes work on matters and turns activity into billable entries, rather than depending on someone remembering to start a timer.
MyCase: Are there annual billing discounts available?
Yes, annual billing saves up to 16% compared to monthly billing, with Basic at $50/user/month annually, Pro at $100/user/month, and Advanced at $130/user/month.
SourceSmokeball: Does it run on Mac?
The automatic time capture component is Windows-based, which is the main platform constraint.