Legal · head to head
Relativity vs Clio
Relativity
Legal
Ediscovery and legal data platform for large matters
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Relativity quote-only and expensive, typically billed on data volume, so costs escalate with matter size; Clio priced per user per month, so cost scales directly with headcount and adds up for growing firms
- They diverge on capability: Relativity covers Large-scale processing, Clio covers Matter management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Relativity and Clio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Relativity | Clio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | quote | Per-user subscription with published tiers; contact vendor for current rates |
| Platforms | Web, Cloud, Self-hosted | 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 Relativity
- Large-scale processing
- Review workflow
- Analytics and active learning
- Application ecosystem
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.
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
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Relativity
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Relativity review.
Clio
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Clio review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Relativity if
- You need large-scale processing.
- You work on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted.
- You also want review workflow.
Choose Clio if
- You need matter management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- You also want time and billing.
Questions people ask
- Is Relativity or Clio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Relativity 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, Relativity or Clio?
- Relativity starts at On request and Clio at On request.
- Does Relativity or Clio run on more platforms?
- Relativity runs on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted. Clio runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
- What is Relativity best used for?
- Relativity is most often used for large litigation with very high document volumes, corporate investigations requiring defensible, auditable review, firms whose review process is already built around the platform. Of those, large litigation with very high document volumes and corporate investigations requiring defensible, auditable review are not what Clio is typically brought in for.
- What can Relativity do that Clio cannot?
- Relativity covers Large-scale processing, Review workflow, Analytics and active learning, Application ecosystem. Clio covers Matter management, Time and billing, Trust accounting, Client intake.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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: 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: Is Relativity only for law firms?
No. Corporate legal departments and government agencies use it for investigations as well as litigation.
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: Do I need trained staff?
In practice yes. Relativity certification is a recognised specialism, and that staffing cost is part of the total.
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.