Legal · head to head
Smokeball vs Relativity
Smokeball
Legal
Practice management for small law firms with automatic time capture
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Relativity
Legal
Ediscovery and legal data platform for large matters
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Smokeball requires a Windows desktop component for automatic time capture, so it is not browser-only like its competitors; Relativity quote-only and expensive, typically billed on data volume, so costs escalate with matter size
- They diverge on capability: Smokeball covers Automatic time capture, Relativity covers Large-scale processing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Smokeball and Relativity actually diverge.
| Attribute | Smokeball | Relativity |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Web, iOS, Android | Web, Cloud, Self-hosted |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), 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 Smokeball
- Automatic time capture
- Matter management
- Document automation
- Billing and trust accounting
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.
Smokeball
- Firms billing hourly that lose revenue to unrecorded timenot Relativity
- Small practices replacing paper matter files and spreadsheetsnot Relativity
- Firms needing court form automation for high-volume matter typesnot Relativity
Relativity
- Large litigation with very high document volumesnot Smokeball
- Corporate investigations requiring defensible, auditable reviewnot Smokeball
- Firms whose review process is already built around the platformnot Smokeball
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Smokeball
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Smokeball review.
Relativity
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Relativity 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.
Choose Relativity if
- You need large-scale processing.
- You work on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted.
- You also want review workflow.
Questions people ask
- Is Smokeball or Relativity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Smokeball 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, Smokeball or Relativity?
- Smokeball starts at On request and Relativity at On request.
- Does Smokeball or Relativity run on more platforms?
- Smokeball runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Relativity runs on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted.
- What is Smokeball best used for?
- Smokeball is most often used for firms billing hourly that lose revenue to unrecorded time, small practices replacing paper matter files and spreadsheets, firms needing court form automation for high-volume matter types. Of those, firms billing hourly that lose revenue to unrecorded time and small practices replacing paper matter files and spreadsheets are not what Relativity is typically brought in for.
- What can Smokeball do that Relativity cannot?
- Smokeball covers Automatic time capture, Matter management, Document automation, Billing and trust accounting. Relativity covers Large-scale processing, Review workflow, Analytics and active learning, Application ecosystem.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Smokeball: What does Smokeball cost?
Pricing is quoted per firm and not published.
Relativity: What does Relativity cost?
It does not publish rates. Ediscovery is generally billed on data volume and users, quoted per matter or organisation.
Smokeball: 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.
Relativity: Is Relativity only for law firms?
No. Corporate legal departments and government agencies use it for investigations as well as litigation.
Smokeball: Does it run on Mac?
The automatic time capture component is Windows-based, which is the main platform constraint.
Relativity: Do I need trained staff?
In practice yes. Relativity certification is a recognised specialism, and that staffing cost is part of the total.