Updated October 2026
Best Client Portal and Client Communication Software for Law Firms
Firms keep clients informed in one of four ways: nothing (and a ringing phone), the portal built into their case management system, a standalone client platform, or a client app that reaches out on its own. Here is how the main options compare on what clients actually use, texting, integrations and pricing.
We make Quilia, so read our entry with that in mind. Every fact about another product links to that company's own site.
At a glance
| Product | How clients use it | Texting | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quilia Client app and digital case assistant | Native iOS and Android apps and a web app, or clients just reply by text to ℚ, the digital case assistant. No portal login. | Two-way, three ways. Your team messages clients in CaseChat, by app notification or text, and their text replies land back in the chat. Staff can also add Quilia’s number to a group text from their own phones, and CaseChat saves the thread to the case. And ℚ, the digital case assistant, texts each client about their own case and asks for what the file is missing. | Subscription. Request a demo for pricing. |
| Case Status Client engagement app on top of your CMS | A native app (4.9 stars across about 46,000 App Store ratings, per the App Store), a firm-branded app, or a web portal. | Texts for notifications and login codes. Two-way texting: not stated on their site. | Not public. |
| Hona Client portal, texting and AI case manager | A passwordless web portal and two-way texting. It also has mobile apps. | Two-way. Its AI case manager, Lia, texts or calls personal injury clients between appointments. | Not public. Lia is priced separately, by case volume. |
| Clio for Clients Built into Clio | A client portal clients sign in to, including the Clio for Clients mobile app. | Two-way texting in Clio Manage, which needs a toll-free number. | Comes with Clio. |
| 8am MyCase client portal Built into 8am MyCase | A web portal clients log in to. | Included on every plan except Basic. | Comes with MyCase. |
| Client Portal by Filevine Built into Filevine | A web portal clients are invited to. | Two-way, through Text-to-Case-File. | Billed per client invite. |
| 8am CASEpeer client portal Built into 8am CASEpeer | A client portal. | On the Pro and Advanced plans. | Comes with CASEpeer. |
| Smokeball Communicate Built into Smokeball | A client portal. | Two-way SMS through Communicate, on the Boost, Grow and Prosper+ plans. | Comes with Smokeball. |
The options, one at a time
Quilia
Best for: Firms that want clients to send what each case needs, written straight into their case management system, on every case type.
How clients use it: Native iOS and Android apps and a web app, or clients just reply by text to ℚ, the digital case assistant. No portal login.
Texting: Two-way, three ways. Your team messages clients in CaseChat, by app notification or text, and their text replies land back in the chat. Staff can also add Quilia’s number to a group text from their own phones, and CaseChat saves the thread to the case. And ℚ, the digital case assistant, texts each client about their own case and asks for what the file is missing.
Integrations: Clio, Filevine, 8am MyCase, 8am CASEpeer, SmartAdvocate, Litify, Neos, Smokeball, Salesforce, PracticePanther and more, with client answers and uploads synced back.
Pricing: Subscription. Request a demo for pricing.
Case Status
Best for: Firms that want a polished, optionally firm-branded app that pushes stage-by-stage updates to clients.
How clients use it: A native app (4.9 stars across about 46,000 App Store ratings, per the App Store), a firm-branded app, or a web portal.
Texting: Texts for notifications and login codes. Two-way texting: not stated on their site.
Integrations: Litify, Neos, 8am MyCase, Clio, Filevine, SmartAdvocate, 8am Docketwise, PracticePanther, Smokeball, 8am CASEpeer, MerusCase, Salesforce and more, plus Zapier.
Pricing: Not public.
Hona
Best for: Personal injury firms that want intake, a client portal and an AI case manager in one platform.
How clients use it: A passwordless web portal and two-way texting. It also has mobile apps.
Texting: Two-way. Its AI case manager, Lia, texts or calls personal injury clients between appointments.
Integrations: Filevine, Clio, MyCase, CASEpeer, SmartAdvocate, Litify, Neos, Smokeball, Salesforce, PracticePanther, Lawcus, GrowPath and more.
Pricing: Not public. Lia is priced separately, by case volume.
Clio for Clients
Best for: Firms on Clio that need clients to message the firm and see shared documents and events.
How clients use it: A client portal clients sign in to, including the Clio for Clients mobile app.
Texting: Two-way texting in Clio Manage, which needs a toll-free number.
Integrations: Part of Clio.
Pricing: Comes with Clio.
8am MyCase client portal
Best for: Firms on MyCase that want a place for clients to view case information, share documents and message the firm.
How clients use it: A web portal clients log in to.
Texting: Included on every plan except Basic.
Integrations: Part of MyCase.
Pricing: Comes with MyCase.
Client Portal by Filevine
Best for: Firms on Filevine that want a portal tied to their case phases.
How clients use it: A web portal clients are invited to.
Texting: Two-way, through Text-to-Case-File.
Integrations: Part of Filevine.
Pricing: Billed per client invite.
8am CASEpeer client portal
Best for: Personal injury firms on CASEpeer that want clients to see case status and message the firm.
How clients use it: A client portal.
Texting: On the Pro and Advanced plans.
Integrations: Part of CASEpeer.
Pricing: Comes with CASEpeer.
Smokeball Communicate
Best for: Firms on Smokeball that want a client portal and texting alongside their documents.
How clients use it: A client portal.
Texting: Two-way SMS through Communicate, on the Boost, Grow and Prosper+ plans.
Integrations: Part of Smokeball.
Pricing: Comes with Smokeball.
How to choose
Start with what your clients will actually do. If they will not remember a password, a portal they have to log in to will sit unused, and a tool that reaches them by text will not. Then check your case management system: "we integrate with Filevine" can mean anything from a one-way notification to answers written back into the case.
Finally, name the problem you are solving: status calls, missing documents, or clients who go quiet. Different tools are built for different ones. If the case management system itself is the open question, see our case management software comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best client portal software for law firms?
It depends on what you need clients to do. If you only need a place for clients to message the firm and see documents, the portal built into your case management system may be enough. If you want polished, branded updates pushed to clients, look at Case Status. If you want clients to send what each case is missing, written straight into your CMS, look at Quilia.
Do clients actually use law firm client portals?
Often not. A portal waits for a client to remember a password and log in, and in our experience clients log in when something is wrong. Tools that reach clients by text, like Quilia and Hona, get answers without a login.
Is my case management system's built-in portal enough?
For basic messaging and document sharing, often yes, and it is already included. Built-in portals mostly show clients what your team shares, and chasing missing items usually stays with your staff.
What is the difference between a client portal and a client app?
A portal is a place clients can log in to and look. A client app reaches out: it sends updates, asks for documents and details, and brings the answers back to your team. Some products, like Quilia, also let clients simply reply by text.
Are Case Status and Hona the same company?
No. Case Status and Hona are separate companies with separate products.
How do law firms cut down on "what is the status of my case" calls?
Tell clients what is happening before they have to ask, in a channel they already use. Phase-by-phase updates, plain-language explanations of each stage, and a way to ask a question by text all cut status calls.
See Quilia on your own cases
- ℚ texts each client about their own case, with no login.
- Answers and uploads sync back to your case management system.
- Works on every case type your firm handles.
- Messages are translated into each client’s language.