Clio Payments

Clio Payments is a payment processor integrated with Clio Manage, best suited to law firms that want client collections connected to their billing and accounting workflows. Its range of payment channels and trust-account handling make it a practical fit for Clio firms, though transaction fees and the US-only eCheck option are meaningful constraints.

Overview

Clients can pay by card, eCheck, digital wallet, or Pay Later with Affirm, using a firm website, secure client portal, text, tap to pay, or QR code. Firms can also set payment plans and recurring payments, making the service useful for ongoing work as well as one-off bills.

Payments are associated with client bills, recorded in Clio, and synced to the firm’s accounting platform. That connection can reduce reconciliation work for a firm already using Clio Manage; a firm outside that workflow has less reason to choose a processor built around it.

Key features

• Payment plans and Autocharge: Firms can store card and eCheck details and trigger Autocharge based on fee agreements. This suits recurring work and agreed schedules, but depends on a firm’s willingness to store client 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 safeguards address important legal-accounting needs.
• Payment-method limits: Cards, digital wallets, and Affirm widen client choice, but eCheck is available only to US customers. Firms outside the US should not plan their payment workflow around eCheck.
• Security: Clio says its payments are PCI compliant and card-data processing, transmission, and storage meet the highest certification level available in the payments industry.

Pricing

Clio Payments costs nothing as an included feature of all Clio Manage subscriptions; transaction fees apply. The fixed 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. The percentage charges mean firms should weigh payment convenience against transaction cost, particularly if clients commonly use cards or Affirm.

It includes Clio Manage, online card, eCheck, Apple Pay, and Google Pay payments, with processing fees applying. A 7-day trial is offered, but there is no free plan. Clio Payments itself is included across Clio Manage subscriptions, so the separate payment feature does not remove the underlying subscription cost.

Platforms

Clio Payments is available on web, iOS, Android, and through an API. Clio also lists mobile apps for iOS and Android across its plans. Its product page gives availability in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Puerto Rico, though eCheck remains US-only.

Who it's for

This is strongest for firms using Clio Manage that want collections, billing records, accounting sync, and trust-account workflows in one system. Firms elsewhere may find the integration less valuable, and firms outside the US that need eCheck should look for another option.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Multiple payment methods and channels give clients several ways to pay.
• Pro: Automatic bill association and accounting sync can limit manual payment-record handling for Clio firms.
• Pro: Trust and operating account routing, separation of earned and unearned fees, and protection of IOLTA balances suit legal accounting workflows.
• Con: Transaction fees apply at every payment tier, including the included feature.
• Con: eCheck is restricted to US customers, limiting that method for firms in other supported countries.

Alternatives

• 8am MyCase may suit firms seeking case and contact management, time entry, invoicing, and trust accounting, with a free trial and free plan; MyCase Basic is $50 a month, billed annually.
• CaseFox is worth considering for firms wanting a free tier: Solo is free forever, with access to 4 cases and 2 users, while Professional is $45 a month.
• Orion ePay is another paid payment option for firms comparing legal payment tools; contact Orion for pricing.
• Bill4Time may fit firms looking for time and billing features alongside client, expense, and portal management; its Time & Billing plan is $49 a month, billed monthly.
• LEAP is another paid option for firms comparing legal software.
• Centerbase is another paid option for firms comparing legal software.
• LawGro may appeal to firms comparing paid legal software with a free trial; its Starter plan is $29 a month, billed yearly.
• LeanLaw may suit firms seeking e-payments and trust accounting alongside time and expense tracking; Core costs $55 a month per user.
• Browse Legal Payments Software for more options.

Verdict

Clio Payments is a sound choice for law firms already working in Clio Manage, especially those that value trust-account safeguards and payment-to-billing integration. Its chief reason to choose is that connected workflow; its chief reason to look elsewhere is the ongoing transaction fees, compounded for non-US firms by the lack of eCheck access.