Smokeball

smokeball.com
Legal Tech
Weekend Project

Cloud-based legal practice management software for law firms

How to Replace Smokeball

Overview

Smokeball is a comprehensive practice management platform designed specifically for law firms to streamline operations, manage cases, and improve client communication. It combines document automation, time tracking, billing, and matter management in a single cloud-based solution.

Features

40 features across 23 categories

Accounting(2)

Expense Tracking

Record and categorize expenses with automatic reconciliation and client billing options.

Trust AccountingPremium

Manage client trust accounts with compliance reporting and reconciliation tools.

Also in: Jobber, Melio, Lemonway

Administration(1)

User Management

Add, remove, and manage team members with role-based permissions.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Smartsheet

Analytics(1)

Practice AnalyticsAIPremium

Dashboard with key performance indicators and practice metrics for business insights.

Also in: Hugging Face, Notion, Smartsheet

Automation(1)

Workflow AutomationAIPremium

Create automated workflows to standardize processes and reduce manual data entry.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Billing(2)

Billing & Invoicing

Create and send invoices automatically based on tracked time and expenses.

Invoice Templates

Customizable invoice templates with firm branding and configurable line items.

Also in: Insightly, Airtable, Obsidian

CRM(1)

Contact Management

Maintain detailed client and contact information with relationship tracking.

Also in: monday.com, Setmore, HubSpot

Case Management(2)

Case Management

Centralized platform to organize case details, deadlines, and matter information.

Matter Status Tracking

Track matter lifecycle from intake to closure with customizable status workflows.

Collaboration(1)

Matter Notes

Attach notes and comments to matters for team collaboration and record keeping.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Obsidian

Communication(2)

Client Portal

Secure portal for clients to access case status, documents, and communicate with their attorney.

Email Management

Integrated email system with automatic matter linking and archive functionality.

Compliance(2)

Audit TrailsPremium

Complete audit logs tracking all user actions and data modifications for compliance.

Conflict CheckingAI

Automated conflict of interest checking against client and matter databases.

Customization(1)

Custom FieldsPremium

Create custom fields for matters, clients, and contacts to match firm-specific workflows.

Data Management(2)

Bulk Matter ImportPremium

Import multiple matters from external sources with data mapping and validation.

Data Export

Export matter data, financial reports, and documents in multiple formats.

Documentation(1)

Knowledge BasePremium

Internal wiki and knowledge management system for firm procedures and resources.

Documents(3)

Document AutomationAI

Automatically generate legal documents with smart templates and conditional clauses.

Document Automation TemplatesAIPremium

Library of pre-built legal document templates with conditional logic and smart fields.

Document Management

Organize, search, and retrieve case documents with version control and secure storage.

Integration(1)

API & WebhooksPremium

RESTful API and webhook support for custom integrations and third-party connections.

Mobile(1)

Mobile App

Native iOS and Android apps for time tracking, task management, and document access on the go.

Notifications(1)

Email Notifications

Customizable email alerts for deadlines, task assignments, and matter events.

Productivity(3)

Batch OperationsPremium

Perform bulk actions on multiple matters, tasks, or contacts simultaneously.

Calendar & Deadline Management

Automated deadline tracking and calendar management with email reminders.

Task Management

Create, assign, and track tasks with priority levels and completion status.

Reporting(2)

Compliance ReportsPremium

Generate compliance and regulatory reports for billing hour requirements and trust accounting.

Financial ReportingPremium

Generate comprehensive financial reports including revenue, expenses, and profitability metrics.

Security(4)

Backup & Recovery

Automated daily backups with disaster recovery and point-in-time restoration options.

Data Encryption

End-to-end encryption for all data at rest and in transit with compliance certifications.

Role-Based Access Control

Set permissions and restrict access based on user roles within the firm.

Two-Factor Authentication

Enhanced security with optional two-factor authentication for user accounts.

Templates(2)

Matter Templates

Pre-configured matter setups with automated workflows for specific practice areas.

Matter Templates

Pre-built matter templates for common practice areas to accelerate new case setup.

Time & Billing(3)

Recurring Time Entries

Set up recurring time entries for routine billable activities.

Time Entry Templates

Pre-defined time entry templates for common tasks to speed up billing entry.

Time Tracking

Track billable hours across multiple matters with automatic timer and manual entry options.

Pricing

Starter

$99/mo
  • Essential practice management for solo practitioners

Professional

Popular
$299/mo
  • Full practice management for small to medium firms

Business

$599/mo
  • Advanced features for growing law firms

Enterprise

Contact Sales
  • Custom solutions with dedicated support

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Smokeball

Monthly$99/mo
Yearly$1.2k/yr
5-Year Total$5.9k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $948
SaaS
$1.2k
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $2.8k
SaaS
$3.6k
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $4.7k
SaaS
$5.9k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 40 features at very easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Smokeball alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 40 features.

Buy Smokeball

Better Value
Monthly cost$990/mo
3-year total$35,640
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Smokeball saves ~$1,320 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 40 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

29 known integrations

Adobe SignAsanaBoxClioDocuSignDropboxGoogle AnalyticsGoogle DriveGoogle WorkspaceHelloSignHubSpot CRMLawLyticsMailChimpMicrosoft Office 365Microsoft TeamsMonday.comMyCaseNeedlesOneDrivePayPalQuickBooks OnlineSalesforceSlackSquare PaymentsStripeTwilioXeroZapierZoom