Legal · head to head
NetDocuments vs Clio
The short version
- Each has a real cost: NetDocuments quote-only pricing per user with no published rates; Clio priced per user per month, so cost scales directly with headcount and adds up for growing firms
- They diverge on capability: NetDocuments covers Matter-centric filing, Clio covers Matter management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which NetDocuments and Clio actually diverge.
| Attribute | NetDocuments | Clio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | quote | Per-user subscription with published tiers; contact vendor for current rates |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud | Web, iOS, Android, Cloud |
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 NetDocuments
- Matter-centric filing
- Ethical walls
- Email management
- Version control
- Search
- Retention
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.
NetDocuments
- Firms needing enforceable ethical walls rather than folder permissionsnot Clio
- Capturing email into the matter record instead of individual inboxesnot Clio
- Moving document management off on-premise serversnot Clio
Clio
- Small and mid-sized firms replacing spreadsheets and paper matter filesnot NetDocuments
- Firms needing compliant trust accounting without a separate systemnot NetDocuments
- Practices billing hourly that lose revenue to uncaptured timenot NetDocuments
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
NetDocuments
- Quote-only pricing per user with no published rates
- Migrating an existing document store is a substantial project, and legacy metadata rarely survives cleanly
- Aimed at mid-size and large firms; solo practices find it heavier than needed
- Adoption depends on fee earners filing correctly, and habits are the hard part
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
NetDocuments
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the NetDocuments review.
Clio
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Clio review.
Which should you pick?
Choose NetDocuments if
- You need matter-centric filing.
- You work on Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- You also want ethical walls.
Choose Clio if
- You need matter management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- You also want time and billing.
Questions people ask
- Is NetDocuments or Clio better?
- Neither clearly leads. NetDocuments starts at On request and Clio at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, NetDocuments or Clio?
- NetDocuments starts at On request and Clio at On request.
- Does NetDocuments or Clio run on more platforms?
- NetDocuments runs on Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud. Clio runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- What is NetDocuments best used for?
- NetDocuments is most often used for firms needing enforceable ethical walls rather than folder permissions, capturing email into the matter record instead of individual inboxes, moving document management off on-premise servers. Of those, firms needing enforceable ethical walls rather than folder permissions and capturing email into the matter record instead of individual inboxes are not what Clio is typically brought in for.
- What can NetDocuments do that Clio cannot?
- NetDocuments covers Matter-centric filing, Ethical walls, Email management, Version control. Clio covers Matter management, Time and billing, Trust accounting, Client intake.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
NetDocuments: What does NetDocuments cost?
It quotes per user and does not publish rates.
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.
NetDocuments: Why not just use SharePoint or Dropbox?
Neither expresses matter-centric security or ethical walls in an auditable way, which is a professional obligation rather than a preference in legal practice.
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.
NetDocuments: Does it handle email?
Yes, capturing correspondence into the matter record, which is where most legal email otherwise fails to land.
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.
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.