Centerbase
Centerbase is a cloud-based legal practice management software that provides mid-sized law firms with integrated tools for timekeeping, billing, accounting, and matter management to streamline their entire legal practice.
Smokeball
Smokeball is a cloud-based legal practice management software that helps small to mid-sized law firms manage matters, track time automatically, and generate documents to increase overall firm productivity.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Centerbase | Smokeball |
|---|---|---|
| Website | centerbase.com | smokeball.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $39/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No 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 | 2003 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Dallas, USA | Chicago, USA |
Overview
Centerbase
Centerbase provides you with a unified platform to manage every aspect of your law firm, from the first client intake to the final financial report. You can move away from disconnected systems by using a single tool that handles matter management, time tracking, and complex legal billing. The platform is built specifically to handle the intricate requirements of mid-sized firms that need more flexibility than basic out-of-the-box solutions.
You can automate your unique workflows and customize data fields to match how your specific practice areas operate. Because it includes full double-entry accounting, you can manage your firm’s business health and trust accounts without jumping between different software. It helps you capture more billable time and get paid faster through automated collections and online payment options.
Smokeball
Smokeball is a cloud-based legal practice management platform designed to help you run a more productive and profitable law firm. It centralizes your entire practice by combining matter management, automated document creation, and lead tracking in one interface. You can manage every detail of a case from initial intake to final billing without jumping between different applications or manual spreadsheets.
The platform solves the common headache of manual time entry by automatically recording every minute you spend working on documents and emails. This ensures you never miss a billable hour and provides deep insights into your firm's profitability. Whether you practice family law, estate planning, or personal injury, you can use pre-built matter types and automated forms to slash the time spent on administrative tasks.
Overview
Centerbase Features
- Legal Accounting Manage your firm's finances with built-in double-entry accounting and trust management designed specifically for legal compliance.
- Automated Billing Generate complex invoices in minutes and set up automated payment reminders to keep your cash flow consistent.
- Matter Management Organize every document, contact, and calendar event related to a case in one centralized, searchable digital file.
- Time Tracking Capture every billable minute with easy-to-use timers and mobile entries that sync directly to your billing dashboard.
- Document Automation Create legal documents instantly by pulling data directly from your matters into your custom firm templates.
- Client Intake Streamline how you onboard new clients with digital forms that automatically create new records in your system.
Smokeball Features
- Automatic Time Tracking. Capture every billable second automatically as you work on documents and emails so you never miss a minute of revenue.
- Document Automation. Generate complex legal documents in seconds using a library of over 20,000 automated forms that pull data directly from your matters.
- Matter Management. Organize all your files, contacts, and deadlines in one digital location to keep your entire team synchronized on every case.
- Legal Billing. Create professional invoices and manage trust accounting effortlessly with built-in tools that sync directly with your tracked time and expenses.
- Lead Management. Track potential new clients from the first phone call through the intake process to ensure no new business falls through the cracks.
- Mobile App. Access your entire law firm from your pocket to view matter details, call clients, and track time while you are on the go.
Pricing Comparison
Centerbase Pricing
Smokeball Pricing
- Time and expense tracking
- Legal billing and invoicing
- Trust accounting
- Smokeball Payments integration
- Basic reporting
- Mobile app access
- Everything in Bill, plus:
- Full matter management
- Document management
- Email management with Outlook
- Tasks and workflows
- Shared firm calendar
Pros & Cons
Centerbase
Pros
- Highly customizable to fit unique law firm workflows
- Excellent all-in-one integration of billing and accounting
- Robust reporting capabilities for tracking firm productivity
- Reliable cloud access for remote legal work
- Strong document management and version control features
Cons
- Initial setup and configuration can be complex
- Steep learning curve for non-technical staff members
- Mobile app functionality is more limited than desktop
- Customization often requires assistance from professional services
Smokeball
Pros
- Automatic time tracking captures revenue you might otherwise miss
- Extensive library of automated legal forms saves hours of drafting
- Deep integration with Microsoft Word and Outlook streamlines workflows
- Excellent customer support and personalized onboarding experience
Cons
- Higher price point compared to some basic competitors
- Steep learning curve due to the vast feature set
- Full automation features require the desktop version