Overview

Clients can pay by credit or debit card, eCheck, digital wallet, or Pay Later with Affirm. They can do so through a firm website, secure client portal, text, tap to pay, or QR code. That range helps firms accommodate different payment preferences, though eCheck is available only to US customers.

Payments are associated with client bills, recorded in Clio, and synced to the firm’s accounting platform. For firms already using Clio Manage, this keeps collections close to billing and accounting workflows; firms outside that ecosystem have less reason to choose a processor built around it.

Key features

Payment plans and Autocharge: Firms can set payment plans and recurring payments, store client card and eCheck details, and trigger Autocharge according to fee agreements. This can suit recurring work and agreed schedules, but depends on the firm’s comfort with storing payment details.
Trust-account handling: Clio says payments can be directed to the correct trust or operating account, earned and unearned fees remain separate, and processing fees are not debited from IOLTA accounts. These controls make the product more relevant to firms managing client funds than a generic processor would be.
Security: Clio says the service is PCI compliant and that card data processing, transmission, and storage meet the highest certification level in the payments industry.
Integration and reconciliation: Payments connect to client bills, are recorded in Clio, and sync to the firm’s accounting platform. Reconciliation tools are supported, which helps keep payment records within the firm’s existing legal billing workflow.

Pricing

Online payments are included in all Clio Manage subscriptions, with fixed transaction rates; there is no separate subscription charge for Clio Payments, but transaction fees apply. The rates are 1% for eCheck and ACH, 2.95% for credit and debit cards (3.75% Amex), and 4.95% for Pay Later with Affirm. These costs make payment method mix important: firms should compare the rates with the convenience and workflow integration they need.

Clio Manage Starter costs 49.00 USD per month, starting at $49/user. It includes Clio Manage and online card, eCheck, Apple Pay, and Google Pay payments; processing fees still apply. A 7-day trial is available, and there is no free plan.

Starter includes several payment methods, but the broader Clio Payments description also names Affirm, payment channels, payment plans, and Autocharge. Firms considering Starter should confirm that the specific payment tools they need fit their subscription and workflow.

Platforms

Clio Payments is listed for web, iOS, Android, and API. Clio’s pricing page lists an iOS and Android mobile app across its plans. The product is available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Puerto Rico, with eCheck restricted to US customers.

Who it's for

Clio Payments is a strong fit for law firms using Clio Manage that want client payments connected to billing, accounting, and trust-account workflows. The range of collection channels and scheduled payments can also suit firms with recurring work. Firms outside Clio Manage, or firms that need eCheck beyond the US, should look elsewhere or assess whether the integration justifies the limitations and transaction fees.

Pros and cons

Pros

Payments flow into Clio billing and accounting: Bills, payment records, and the firm’s accounting platform remain connected.
Legal trust-account controls: Clio describes separate handling for earned and unearned fees and says processing fees are not taken from IOLTA accounts.
Flexible collection and recurring options: Multiple payment methods and channels combine with payment plans and fee-agreement-triggered Autocharge.

Cons

Transaction fees apply even though payments are included: Card, eCheck, and Affirm rates vary, so firms need to account for the payment mix rather than treating inclusion as free processing.
eCheck is geographically limited: Only US customers can use it.
The value depends on Clio Manage: The close billing and accounting integration is less compelling for firms that do not use Clio.

Alternatives

Legal Payments Software is a useful starting point for comparing tools in this category.

8am MyCase is worth considering for firms seeking a free plan or case and contact management with time entry, invoicing, and trust accounting; its MyCase Basic plan is 50.00 USD per month billed annually.
CaseFox suits readers who want a free starting tier: Solo is free, with access to 4 cases and 2 users, while Professional costs 45.00 USD per month.
Lawcus offers an alternative with case and matter management, billing and invoicing, and trust accounting; Essential is 39.00 USD per year.
LawGro may suit small teams looking for a Starter plan at 29.00 USD per month billed yearly, including 3 team members and 15 hours of time per week.
CosmoLex is an option for firms seeking time tracking, invoicing, online payments, and trust accounting; Launch is 49.00 USD per month, billed monthly per user.
LeanLaw is another choice for firms seeking time and expense tracking, e-payments, reporting, and IOLTA trust accounting; Core is 55.00 USD per month per user.
BQE CORE is an alternative to consider if its optional CRM modules and quote-based pricing suit your requirements.
Lawmatics is an alternative to consider for its Essential plan, which includes client intake, lead management, calendaring, custom forms, e-signature, SMS, and task management.

Verdict

Choose Clio Payments if your firm uses Clio Manage and wants collections, client billing, accounting sync, and trust-account handling in one workflow. Its payment channels and automation give firms useful ways to collect and schedule payments, but transaction charges and US-only eCheck availability are meaningful constraints. Firms that do not use Clio Manage, or that prioritize a free plan or a different legal-practice workflow, should compare alternatives.

	Clio Payments	Smokeball
Free trial	Yes
Paid from	$49/mo
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Web	Android, iOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	No	No
Trust account support	Yes
Payment plans	Yes
Client payment portal	Yes
ACH payments	Yes
Card payments	Yes
Legal billing integration	Yes
Reconciliation tools	Yes
Client intake forms		Yes

Clio Payments vs Smokeball

Clio Payments

Smokeball