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BarBooks

barbooks.co

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Spec score 9.3 #2 of 40 in Legal Trust Accounting Software

What it is

BarBooks is cloud-based legal practice management software for barristers, sole practitioners, and clerks. It runs on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and the web. Users can organise matter details, link contacts to matters, and set hourly or fixed fees. Invoicing tools create and customise invoices, apply interest to late payments automatically, and report on aged receivables. Listed reports cover profit and loss, GST statements, year-end tax, aged debtors, turnover, work in progress, cashflow, and activity statements. BarBooks can sync barristers’ calendars and make its calendar accessible through existing calendars and mobile apps. Bank transaction syncing and reconciliation are available through the Bank Rec add-on, listed at A$12 a month. The Sole Practitioner plan is listed at A$60 a month, with tax excluded; BAS Service is listed at A$99 a quarter. A 14-day trial includes all features. After it ends, users must buy a continuing licence or stop using and uninstall the software.

Spec sheet

Product
BarBooks describes itself as cloud-based legal practice management software revolving around barristers and clerks.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Audience
The product is designed for barristers, sole practitioners, and clerks.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Free plan
NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Integrations
The pricing page displays a “Business trackers” integration link to Amaka and describes bank transaction syncing as a Bank Rec add-on.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Mobile apps
The download page says the 14-day trial includes all features and lists Windows, Mac, and iOS; the pricing FAQ also names Android devices.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooksaustralia.com
Support
The maker offers support by help desk and live chat, and its contact page states that new users can receive free one-hour on-site training.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooksaustralia.com
Headquarters
Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaRead 28 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Analytics announcement
LinkedIn describes BarBooks Analytics as customizable chamber dashboards with real-time updates offered at no extra cost at the time of the post.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Bank reconciliation
BarBooks synchronizes bank transactions and supports transaction-by-transaction reconciliation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Calendar integration
BarBooks says it can sync barristers’ calendars and make its calendar accessible from existing calendars and mobile apps.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Company facts
LinkedIn lists BarBooks as privately held, founded in 2015, headquartered in Sydney and employing 11–50 people.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company identity
The site copyright identifies Censea Software Corporation Pty Limited, and the site lists an address at 88 Pitt Street, Redfern, Sydney, NSW 2016, Australia.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Contacts and templates
Contacts can cover firms and solicitors, be linked to matters and populate matter documents; templates are customizable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Data and backup
The pricing FAQ says data is saved and backed up automatically, stored locally on each device and on BarBooks’ server.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Data backup
The vendor says data is automatically saved and backed up locally on each device and on its server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Debt chasing
The product advertises invoice and debt-chasing workflows intended to improve collection rates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Desktop download
The vendor provides desktop downloads and says the 14-day trial includes all features.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Developer extensibility
The EULA prohibits altering, incorporating, reverse-engineering, decompiling or disassembling BarBooks except where law permits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Diary management
Diary tools synchronize calendars and support collaborative booking workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Documentation
The support center offers Australia and UK how-to libraries, release notes, training videos and ticket submission.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.barbooks.co
Expense recording
Users can record expenses and disbursements and analyze practice spending.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Independent product description
A 2016 New South Wales Bar Association journal described BarBooks as recording time, generating invoices, tracking expenses and receipts, reconciling bank statements and producing financial and tax reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nswbar.asn.au
Integration limitation
Only confirmed Outlook bookings sync inward, comments do not sync, and edits must be made in the originating system.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.barbooks.co
Invoicing
BarBooks creates invoices from recorded work, uses customizable templates and shows payments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Legal entity
The website copyright and EULA identify the maker as Censea Software Corporation Pty Ltd.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Licence model
The EULA grants a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence and keeps BarBooks intellectual property with Censea Software Corporation Pty Ltd.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Limit: mobile login failure
An App Store reviewer reported being unable to log in for weeks because the two-factor code could not be entered and said support had not communicated a fix.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: service outage
A Reddit discussion reported that a server incident left many users unable to access accounts, create cost disclosures or invoices, or record time, with a vague maintenance message.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limit: setup usability
The same journal review criticized unclear setup explanations, awkward keyboard navigation and template fields that did not handle blanks well.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nswbar.asn.au
Matter management
The product centralizes matters, logs activities, adds notes, tracks tasks and records progress.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Notable news: accessibility
LinkedIn says the CPS deployment required WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility compliance and government-grade security requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Notable news: CPS rollout
LinkedIn says BarBooks completed a national rollout across all 13 Crown Prosecution Service areas in England and Wales during February and March 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Outlook integration
The Microsoft Calendar integration syncs bookings both from BarBooks to Outlook and confirmed Outlook bookings back to BarBooks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.barbooks.co
Praise: usability and centralization
The sole Capterra reviewer praised having case and expense details in one place, the interface and the ability to perform multiple tasks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Privacy and compliance
Censea says it is bound by Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 and may use service providers subject to confidentiality obligations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Product purpose
BarBooks is cloud-based legal practice-management software built around barristers and clerks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Rating on Apple App Store
3.3 out of 5 from 10 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Capterra
5.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Release note
Release v1.7.17 added booking-subtype filtering, retained users’ position after saves and streamlined agenda navigation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.barbooks.co
Reports
Published reports include profit and loss, GST, year-end tax, transaction-summary, aged-debtors, turnover, work-in-progress and cashflow/activity statements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Security and privacy
The pricing FAQ says BarBooks will not access or otherwise use financial data contained within the software; no security certification is stated on the pages reviewed.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
System requirements
The published requirements list OS X 10.9+, Windows 8.1+ with .NET Framework 4.5, iOS 8+ and a modern Chrome, Firefox or Safari browser.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Terms and trial
The terms state a free trial lasts 14 days, after which the user must purchase a continuing licence or stop using and uninstall the software.Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Time tracking
Users can capture time spent on matters and add time entries directly to matters.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Trust accounting
The software provides trust-account reconciliation and says it supports industry-standard compliance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co

Plans and prices

Sole Practitioner — Monthly Price not published Complete practice management platform · 1:1 onboarding support · Unlimited customer support · Live chat and help desk Read 20 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Sole Practitioner — Annual Price not published Complete practice management platform · 1:1 onboarding support · Unlimited customer support · Live chat and help desk Read 20 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
BAS Service Add-on Price not published BAS completion and lodgement service Read 20 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Bank Rec A$12 a month $12 /Month Add-on · Sync bank transactions and reconcile them Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Bank Rec add-on A$12 a month $12 /Month; tax excluded Bank-transaction synchronization · reconciliation Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Sole Practitioner A$60 a month $60 /Month; Prices are in AUD. Tax excluded Complete practice management platform · Bank Rec is a $12 /Month add-on Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Sole Practitioner monthly A$60 a month $60 /Month; tax excluded Complete practice-management platform · hundreds of feature updates · no setup or hidden fees · onboarding and support Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
BAS Service A$99, paid once $99 /Quarter Add-on · BAS completion and lodgement service Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Reader package A$180 a year $180 for the full Reader’s package, excluding GST Bank Rec included · complimentary BAS service · barrister rate applies at renewal Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Sole Practitioner A$360 a year $360 /Year (page also shows ~~$720~~ and 50% OFF); Prices are in AUD. Tax excluded Complete practice management platform · Bank Rec is a $12 /Month add-on Read 30 Sep 2026 · barbooks.co
Sole Practitioner annual promotion A$360 a year $360 /Year (shown against $720; 50% OFF with code JOINBARBOOKS); tax excluded Complete practice-management platform · hundreds of feature updates · no setup or hidden fees · onboarding and support Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co
Enterprise Priced on request Contact us for pricing Enterprise-grade solutions · priority support · training materials · live chat/help desk Read 15 Oct 2026 · barbooks.co

Every BarBooks plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Matter records can link contacts and fees.
  • Invoices can apply late-payment interest automatically.
  • Reports include GST, work in progress, and cashflow.
  • Calendar syncing connects with existing calendars and mobile apps.
  • Data is automatically saved and backed up.

Limits

  • No free plan is listed.
  • The 14-day trial requires a licence for continued use.
  • Bank Rec costs A$12 a month as an add-on.
  • Sole Practitioner is A$60 a month, tax excluded.

Who it suits

BarBooks is designed for barristers, sole practitioners, and clerks who need matter management, invoicing, and financial reporting. Its calendar syncing and mobile access may also suit users who manage work across devices.

BarBooks in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

BarBooks is cloud-based legal practice software built around barristers and clerks, with tools for matters, billing and practice finances. It suits barristers and sole practitioners who want those workflows together; practices that need a broader case-management suite should compare other options.

Trust accounting, client ledgers and matter-level billing give it a legal-finance focus, while a 14-day trial lets prospective users evaluate the product before committing. Its core subscription is paid, and bank reconciliation and BAS services can add to the cost.

Key features

Matter records can hold linked contacts and customised hourly or fixed fees. That flexibility is useful for practices billing by different methods, and matter-level billing and client ledgers keep financial activity tied to legal matters rather than treating it as generic invoicing.

Users can create and customise invoices, apply interest automatically to late payments and review aged receivables. The reports span profit and loss, GST, financial year-end tax, aged debtors, turnover, work in progress, cashflow and activity statements. This range should help a sole practitioner monitor both outstanding bills and broader practice finances; the product’s stated strengths are financial administration rather than a wide set of case-management workflows.

Calendar syncing makes the BarBooks calendar accessible from existing calendars and mobile apps, which can help barristers keep scheduling in their established tools. Bank transaction syncing and reconciliation require the Bank Rec add-on, and BAS completion and lodgement are sold separately. Those services are useful for practices wanting more financial administration in the same product, but they make the advertised core subscription an incomplete picture of total cost for users who need them.

The pricing FAQ says data is backed up automatically and stored both on each device and on BarBooks’ server. The company says it will not access or otherwise use financial data in the software. Help desk and live chat support are offered, and new users can receive free one-hour on-site training. The pages reviewed do not state a security certification.

Pricing

BarBooks has no free plan. Its free trial lasts 14 days and includes all features; after the trial, users must buy a continuing licence or stop using and uninstall the software. This is enough time for a short evaluation, but not a permanent no-cost option.

Sole Practitioner: A$60 a month (billed $60 /Month), with a complete practice management platform. Prices are in AUD and tax is excluded. It suits a solo practice wanting the core tools, but Bank Rec is a separate $12 /Month add-on.

Bank Rec: A$12 a month (billed $12 /Month) for bank transaction syncing and reconciliation. It is an additional recurring cost for users who need those functions.

BAS Service: A$99, paid once (billed $99 /Quarter) for BAS completion and lodgement. It fits practices seeking that service without folding it into the core subscription.

Sole Practitioner — Monthly and Sole Practitioner — Annual are also described as complete practice management plans with 1:1 onboarding, unlimited customer support, live chat and help desk, but both have custom pricing. Enterprise has custom pricing and offers enterprise-grade solutions, priority technical and customer support, training materials, live chat and help desk. Bank Rec Add-on and BAS Service Add-on are also named without prices; the priced Bank Rec and BAS Service entries give the charges above. The page does not state seat limits or a renewal term for the plans.

Platforms

BarBooks is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. The pricing FAQ also names Android devices, while the download page says the 14-day trial includes all features and lists Windows, Mac and iOS.

Who it's for

BarBooks is most compelling for barristers, clerks and sole practitioners who need matter billing, trust accounting, client ledgers and financial reports in one legal-focused product. Its configurable fees and aged-debt reporting serve practices with varied billing and collection needs. It is less suited to buyers primarily seeking broad case-management capabilities or to anyone requiring a free plan.

Pros and cons

Pro: Matter-linked contacts, flexible hourly or fixed fees, trust accounting and client ledgers address legal financial workflows directly.

Pro: Aged receivables and a broad set of financial reports support both bill collection and practice-level monitoring.

Pro: Five platform options, calendar syncing and a full-featured 14-day trial make it possible to assess the product across desktop and mobile use.

Con: Bank reconciliation is not included in the A$60 a month Sole Practitioner plan; Bank Rec costs A$12 a month extra.

Con: BAS completion and lodgement are separate, priced at A$99, paid once (billed $99 /Quarter).

Con: The trial ends after 14 days, with no free plan to continue using.

Alternatives

Account Legal is worth considering for a reader who wants multiple trust accounts and unlimited clients at $19.94 a month, with downloadable client and account reports. Its listed plan is a paid monthly subscription and it has a free trial.

CosmoLex may suit a reader looking for time tracking, invoicing, online payments, trust accounting and ledgers in a per-user Launch plan at $49 a month. It supports Android, iOS and web and offers a free trial.

LexNebulis is the alternative to examine if a free, open-source, self-hosted option is the priority; its free plan is listed at free and supports Linux, API and web.

Orion ePay is another paid alternative, with Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows support; its pricing is available by contacting Orion.

Dye & Durham Legal Accounts is a paid option for readers comparing legal accounts software, with Android, iOS and web support; contact the maker or request a demo for pricing.

LawPracticeZA is a paid alternative with Android, API, iOS and web support; its subscription is quoted after a demo.

Actionstep may suit readers prioritising matter and case management, client intake and form management, and document management; its Practice Management plan is priced per user plus implementation fees.

Aderant Expert Sierra is another paid alternative, available on Android, iOS and web, with pricing provided through a demo request.

For broader comparisons, browse Legal Accounting Software, Legal Trust Accounting Software and Legal Practice Management Software.

Verdict

Choose BarBooks if you are a barrister or sole practitioner who wants matter-linked billing, trust accounting and financial reporting across desktop and mobile platforms. Its strongest case is the concentration of legal financial workflows in one product; look elsewhere if you need broader case-management tools, a free tier, or bank reconciliation included in the core subscription.

Verdict

BarBooks brings matter billing, financial reports, and calendar tools together for legal practices centered on barristers. Its trial is limited to 14 days, and several listed services have separate prices.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to BarBooksAll alternatives →