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Legal · head to head

Smokeball vs Teamwork

Smokeball logo

Smokeball

Legal

Practice management for small law firms with automatic time capture

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Teamwork logo

Teamwork

Professional Services

Project management software that lets you work your way

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Teamwork has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Smokeball requires a Windows desktop component for automatic time capture, so it is not browser-only like its competitors; Teamwork the free plan allows 5 users, 5 projects and 100 MB of file storage
  • They diverge on capability: Smokeball covers Automatic time capture, Teamwork covers Task management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Smokeball and Teamwork actually diverge.

Attributes where Smokeball and Teamwork differ
AttributeSmokeballTeamwork
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop, Api
CategoryLegalProfessional Services
FoundedUnknown2007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Teamwork

  • Task management
  • Gantt charts
  • Board view
  • Time tracking
  • Project templates
  • Client management
  • Invoicing
  • Resource scheduling

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 Teamwork
  • Small practices replacing paper matter files and spreadsheetsnot Teamwork
  • Firms needing court form automation for high-volume matter typesnot Teamwork

Teamwork

  • Project and task management for client services teamsnot Smokeball
  • Tracking billable time, budgets and profitability against projectsnot 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

Teamwork

  • The free plan allows 5 users, 5 projects and 100 MB of file storage
  • Projects are capped even on paid plans, at 300 on Basics and 600 on Accelerate
  • Automations are rationed by tier, at 100 on free, 20,000 on Accelerate and 100,000 on Optimize
  • Single sign on is Enterprise only
  • The two highest tiers publish no price at all

Pricing, plan by plan

Smokeball

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Smokeball review.

Teamwork

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 projects
    • Max 5 users
    • Task/list/board/Gantt views
  • Basics$9.99/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited templates
  • Accelerate$24.99/month
    • All Basics features
    • Smart forms
    • 20,000 automations
  • Optimize$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • Quoting
    • 100,000 automations

Which should you pick?

Choose Smokeball if

  • You need automatic time capture.
  • You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want matter management.
Smokeball review

Choose Teamwork if

  • You need task management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop, Api.
  • You also want gantt charts.
Teamwork review

Questions people ask

Is Smokeball or Teamwork better?
Neither clearly leads. Smokeball starts at On request and Teamwork at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Smokeball or Teamwork?
Teamwork has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Smokeball and Free for Teamwork.
Does Smokeball or Teamwork run on more platforms?
Smokeball runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Teamwork runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop, Api.
Can I use Teamwork for free?
Yes. Teamwork has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smokeball starts at On request.
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 Teamwork is typically brought in for.
What can Smokeball do that Teamwork cannot?
Smokeball covers Automatic time capture, Matter management, Document automation, Billing and trust accounting. Teamwork covers Task management, Gantt charts, Board view, Time tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Smokeball: What does Smokeball cost?

Pricing is quoted per firm and not published.

Teamwork: What is the difference between Basics and Accelerate plans?

Basics ($9.99/user/month) includes time tracking and basic automations (100 limit). Accelerate ($24.99/user/month) adds smart forms, capacity planning, 20,000 automations, client invoicing, and integrations with HubSpot and QuickBooks.

Source
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.

Teamwork: How much do I save with annual billing?

Annual subscriptions save 29% compared to monthly billing on paid plans. The Free plan is not affected.

Source
Smokeball: Does it run on Mac?

The automatic time capture component is Windows-based, which is the main platform constraint.

Teamwork: Is there a free trial available?

Yes, 14-day free trials are available for Basics and Accelerate plans. No credit card is required.

Source
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