BarBooks vs Cabenet
BarBooks
barbooks.co
Cabenet
cabenet.auSide by side
| Figure | BarBooks | Cabenet |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | A$40/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 12 | 8 |
| Spec score · Legal Accounting Software | 9.2 (#2) | 7.6 (#11) |
| Product | BarBooks describes itself as cloud-based legal practice management software revolving around barristers and clerks. | Cabenet provides cloud legal accounting and integrated legal practice management, as well as QBCC construction project trust accounting. |
| 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. | Subscriptions include a locally based helpdesk, online training and an online help library with instructions and videos. |
| Trust accounting | The software provides trust-account reconciliation and says it supports industry-standard compliance. | Legal accounting includes unlimited trust and controlled monies ledgers, trust to office transfers, reconciliation and statutory month end reporting. |
Plans
BarBooks
- Sole Practitioner — MonthlyPrice not published
- Sole Practitioner — AnnualPrice not published
- BAS Service Add-onPrice not published
- Bank RecA$12 a month
- Bank Rec add-onA$12 a month
- Sole PractitionerA$60 a month
- Sole Practitioner monthlyA$60 a month
- BAS ServiceA$99, paid once
- Reader packageA$180 a year
- Sole PractitionerA$360 a year
Cabenet
- Legal accounting — 7 or MoreA$40 a month
- Integrated practice management — 7 or moreA$75 a month
- QBCC trust accounting — Add usersA$80 a month
- Legal accounting — Level 1A$90 a month
- Integrated practice management — Level 1A$210 a month
- Legal accounting — Level 2A$240 a month
- QBCC trust accounting — Start nowA$240 a month
- Integrated practice management — Level 2A$450 a month
In their own words
BarBooks
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.
Cabenet
Cabenet is a web-based service combining legal accounting, integrated legal practice management and QBCC construction project trust accounting. Practice-management intake includes AI consultation questionnaires, online identity verification, lead management and conversion of lead data into new matters. AI tools can draft or rewrite documents, insert matter data into emails and documents, and answer questions about matter files. Legal accounting provides unlimited trust and controlled monies ledgers, transfers, reconciliation, statutory month-end reporting, time recording, configurable invoices and financial, billing and fee-earner reports. QBCC accounting includes unlimited Project Trust Account ledgers, a Retention Trust Account cashbook and compliance reporting. Practice management connects with Microsoft 365, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Outlook calendar, email and Outlook To Do. Cabenet was founded in 2001 and says it has continuous national legal profession compliance certification. Data is secured with HTTPS and TLS on cloud servers in Australia. Plans start at A$40 a month for legal accounting (7 or More), ex. GST.