NetDocuments
NetDocuments is a cloud-native document management platform designed to help legal professionals and government agencies securely create, organize, and collaborate on sensitive documents and email communications.
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 | NetDocuments | Smokeball |
|---|---|---|
| Website | netdocuments.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 | 1999 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Lehi, USA | Chicago, USA |
Overview
NetDocuments
NetDocuments provides you with a secure, cloud-native environment to manage your firm's most critical documents and email. Instead of juggling scattered files across local servers, you get a centralized workspace where every document is indexed, searchable, and protected by enterprise-grade security. You can organize your work by client or matter, ensuring that your entire team stays aligned and productive whether they are in the office or working remotely.
The platform solves the headache of version control and document chaos by providing check-in/check-out capabilities and seamless integration with Microsoft Office. You can automate your document lifecycles and maintain strict compliance with built-in governance tools. It is specifically built for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government entities that require high-stakes security and reliable uptime without the burden of maintaining on-premise hardware.
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
NetDocuments Features
- ndOffice Integration Open, edit, and save documents directly within Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook to maintain your existing workflow.
- Predictive Email Filing Organize your inbox quickly by using AI-powered suggestions to file emails into the correct client or matter folders.
- Advanced Search Find exactly what you need in seconds with full-text search that indexes every word within your documents and metadata.
- Optical Character Recognition Convert your scanned PDFs and images into fully searchable documents automatically so no information stays hidden.
- Secure External Sharing Collaborate safely with outside counsel or clients using secure links and private portals instead of risky email attachments.
- Mobile App Access Review, edit, and share your important files from any location using the native iOS and Android mobile applications.
- Version Control Track every change made to a document and revert to previous versions easily to ensure you always have the right draft.
- CollabSpaces Create dedicated virtual rooms to share specific documents with external parties while maintaining full control over permissions.
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
NetDocuments 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
NetDocuments
Pros
- Exceptional uptime and reliability compared to on-premise solutions
- Seamless integration with the Microsoft Office suite
- Powerful search capabilities that find documents instantly
- Robust security features that satisfy strict client audits
- Easy organization through matter-centric filing systems
Cons
- Initial setup and configuration requires significant planning
- Learning curve for users moving from traditional folders
- Pricing is higher than general-purpose storage providers
- Administrative interface can feel complex for new users
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