Actionstep
Actionstep is a cloud-based legal practice management software that automates workflows and centralizes matter management, accounting, and billing to help law firms run more productive and profitable businesses.
Buildium
Buildium is an all-in-one property management software designed to help real estate professionals streamline accounting, leasing, and operations for residential and association portfolios through a unified digital platform.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Actionstep | Buildium |
|---|---|---|
| Website | actionstep.com | buildium.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $49/month | $55/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2004 | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | Boston, USA |
Overview
Actionstep
Actionstep is a comprehensive legal practice management platform designed to help you run your entire firm from a single cloud-based system. Instead of jumping between disconnected tools, you can manage every aspect of a legal matter—from initial intake and document generation to time tracking and final billing—within a unified environment. The platform is built around a powerful workflow engine that lets you automate repetitive administrative tasks and ensure your team follows consistent processes for every case.
You can customize the software to match your specific practice areas, whether you handle family law, personal injury, or corporate litigation. It scales effectively for mid-sized and growing firms that have outgrown basic tools and need integrated features like trust accounting, email management, and client portals. By centralizing your data, you gain better visibility into firm performance and can focus more time on practicing law rather than managing paperwork.
Buildium
Buildium provides you with a complete toolkit to manage every aspect of your property portfolio from a single interface. Whether you handle residential units, student housing, or community associations, you can automate your most time-consuming tasks like rent collection, vacancy posting, and maintenance tracking. The platform centralizes your data so you can stop jumping between spreadsheets and focus on growing your business.
You can easily communicate with tenants through a dedicated portal, run comprehensive background checks on applicants, and manage your books with built-in accounting features. It is designed to scale with you, offering specialized tools for property managers who oversee anywhere from 50 to 5,000 units. By moving your entire operation to the cloud, you ensure your team stays connected and your data remains accessible from any device.
Overview
Actionstep Features
- Automated Workflows Build custom step-by-step processes for your matters to ensure your team never misses a deadline or a critical document.
- Integrated Accounting Manage your firm's business accounts and client trust accounts in one place without needing separate third-party accounting software.
- Document Automation Generate complex legal documents instantly by pulling data directly from your matters into your own customized Word templates.
- Email Management File emails directly to specific matters from Outlook or Gmail so your entire team can access the latest correspondence.
- Client Portal Share documents and updates securely with your clients through a private portal that improves communication and transparency.
- Time & Billing Capture every billable minute with built-in timers and generate professional, accurate invoices with just a few clicks.
- Conflict Checking Run comprehensive searches across your entire database to identify potential conflicts of interest before taking on new clients.
- Reporting & Analytics Track your firm's profitability and productivity with real-time dashboards that show you exactly where your business stands.
Buildium Features
- Online Rent Payments. Collect rent and association fees automatically through a secure portal to eliminate manual check processing and late payments.
- Resident Center. Give your tenants a dedicated mobile app where they can pay rent, submit maintenance requests, and receive community updates.
- Maintenance Management. Track work orders from start to finish and communicate directly with vendors to resolve property issues quickly.
- Property Accounting. Manage your entire general ledger, handle accounts payable, and generate detailed financial reports for your property owners.
- Rental Listings. Syndicate your vacant units to major listing sites like Zillow and Trulia with a single click to find tenants faster.
- Tenant Screening. Run credit, criminal, and eviction reports on applicants instantly to ensure you find the most qualified residents for your units.
- Owner Portals. Share financial statements and performance reports with property owners automatically to build trust and maintain transparency.
- Electronic Leasing. Send digital lease agreements for e-signature and store them securely in the cloud to close deals without meeting in person.
Pricing Comparison
Actionstep Pricing
- Matter management
- Contact management
- Document storage
- Basic time & billing
- Standard reporting
- Mobile app access
- Everything in Express, plus:
- Full office & trust accounting
- Advanced workflow automation
- Document assembly
- Email integration
- Client portal access
Buildium Pricing
- Accounting & Reporting
- Maintenance Management
- Resident & Owner Portals
- Standard Tenant Screening
- Online Rent Payments
- Email Support
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Unlimited eSignatures
- Property Inspections
- Onboarding Support
- Live Phone Support
- Performance Analytics
Pros & Cons
Actionstep
Pros
- Highly customizable workflows adapt to any practice area
- All-in-one system eliminates the need for separate accounting
- Strong document automation saves hours of manual drafting
- Centralized email filing keeps matter history organized
- Excellent visibility into firm-wide productivity and billing
Cons
- Significant learning curve due to deep customization options
- Initial setup requires time and careful planning
- Mobile app features are limited compared to desktop
- Occasional slowness when loading large document folders
Buildium
Pros
- Intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate daily tasks
- Excellent customer support with responsive live assistance
- Comprehensive accounting features replace the need for QuickBooks
- Tenant portal significantly reduces manual rent collection efforts
- Frequent software updates based on user community feedback
Cons
- Initial setup and data migration can be time-consuming
- Additional fees for certain features like electronic leases
- Mobile app for managers has fewer features than desktop