Actionstep vs Clio
Clio scores 8.5/10 vs 7.6/10. Best for: Firms of any size that want the most widely-adopted cloud practice management platform with deep integrations and a proven track record.
Clio scores higher overall at 8.5/10 vs 7.6/10. Clio is the safe pick for most law firms. It covers everything, integrates with everything, and has the largest support ecosystem. Skip it if you're a solo attorney watching every dollar — $49/month per user for EasyStart is reasonable, but you'll want Advanced ($119) to get the features that actually matter.
Actionstep 
Clio Rank
#9 of 39
Rank
#1 of 39
Features
17/18
Features
18/18
Starting at
$69/mo
Starting at
$49/mo
User reviews
4/5 (200)
User reviews
4.6/5 (1900)
What they cost
| Actionstep | Clio | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $69 /mo | $49 /mo |
| Free trial | No | 7 days |
| Number of plans | 2 | 4 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Clio looks cheaper at $49/month vs $69/month. But sticker price is only part of the story. Look at what is included on the base plan, how many users you get, and whether you need add-ons to get the features you actually need. The $99/month plan that requires $200 in add-ons is actually more expensive than the $250/month plan that includes everything.
Where Actionstep wins
- Workflow automation is the core feature, with step-by-step matter templates that ensure nothing falls through the cracks
- Strong in conveyancing and property law workflows, which few competitors handle well
- Built-in trust accounting with compliance checks for multiple jurisdictions (US, UK, AU, NZ)
- API is robust enough to build custom integrations without hitting walls
Where Clio wins
- Largest user base in legal tech, which means 250+ integrations, active community forums, and no shortage of YouTube walkthroughs
- Clio Grow (intake and CRM) bundles into the Complete plan, so you get lead tracking without bolting on another tool
- Mobile app actually works for time tracking between court appearances and client meetings
- 7-day free trial with no credit card, plus they offer data migration assistance from competing products
Where Actionstep falls short
- No free trial — you commit based on a demo
- G2 rating of 4.0 is below average, with users citing a steeper learning curve than competitors
- Interface looks dated compared to Clio or PracticePanther
- Originally built for the Australian/NZ market, so some US-specific features feel like afterthoughts
Where Clio falls short
- Pricing adds up fast at $149/user/month for the Complete plan — a 5-attorney firm pays $745/month before any add-ons
- Trust accounting is solid but not as deep as CosmoLex, which was purpose-built for legal accounting
- Court rule calendaring requires the Advanced plan at $119/user — not available on the cheaper tiers
- Some users report the reporting tools lag behind what you'd get from a dedicated BI tool
Who is each product built for?
Actionstep
Target: 2-50 attorneys
Actionstep is the right pick if you want to systematize your firm's workflows so every matter follows the same playbook. The workflow builder is genuinely powerful. Skip it if you want a simple, pick-up-and-go tool — the setup investment is real.
Clio
Target: 1-100+ attorneys
Clio is the safe pick for most law firms. It covers everything, integrates with everything, and has the largest support ecosystem. Skip it if you're a solo attorney watching every dollar — $49/month per user for EasyStart is reasonable, but you'll want Advanced ($119) to get the features that actually matter.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Actionstep | Clio |
|---|---|---|
| Case Management | ||
| Case / matter management | ||
| Contact management | ||
| Conflict checks | ||
| Client intake forms | ||
| Client portal | ||
| Documents & Automation | ||
| Document management | ||
| Document automation | ||
| E-signatures | ||
| Email management | ||
| Billing & Accounting | ||
| Time tracking | ||
| Billing & invoicing | ||
| Trust / IOLTA accounting | ||
| Scheduling & Deadlines | ||
| Calendar management | ||
| Task management | ||
| Court rule deadlines | ||
| Platform | ||
| Reporting / analytics | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| API access | ||
Common questions
Clio scores 8.5/10 vs Actionstep's 7.6/10 in our ranking. Clio is the better pick for 1-100+ attorneys. Actionstep is better if you need firms that want to standardize their workflows with step-by-step matter templates so every case follows the same process regardless of who handles it.
Actionstep starts at $69/month. Clio starts at $49/month. Watch for add-on costs — the base price often does not include all features. Pricing last verified 2026-04-11.
Actionstep: No free trial. Clio: Yes, 7-day free trial. Always test with your actual workflow before committing to an annual plan.
Actionstep covers 17 of 18 features we track. Clio covers 18 of 18. Clio has broader feature coverage, but more features does not always mean better — pick the tool that covers what your business actually needs.
Yes, Actionstep has a mobile app. Clio does too.
Yes. The main effort is migrating your data (customer lists, job history, invoices). Plan for 1-2 weeks of overlap where you run both. Most legal practice management tools can import CSV data. Ask both vendors about migration support before you sign.
The bottom line
Pick Actionstep if...
Firms that want to standardize their workflows with step-by-step matter templates so every case follows the same process regardless of who handles it.
Pick Clio if...
Firms of any size that want the most widely-adopted cloud practice management platform with deep integrations and a proven track record.