CaseDesk vs HoudiniEsq
CaseDesk
casedesk.lawHoudiniEsq
houdiniesq.comSide by side
| Figure | CaseDesk | HoudiniEsq |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $24.17/mo | $20.67/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 8 |
| Spec score · Legal Practice Management Software | 9.2 (#7) | 9.2 (#5) |
| Client portal | The privacy policy says the optional client portal is served from the user’s computer and documents are hidden from portal clients unless individually made visible. | The secure client portal lets firms specify what is viewable and for how long, and lets clients pay invoices directly in the portal. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Integrations | The privacy policy lists Google Gmail and Calendar, AI providers, Stripe, QuickBooks Online, Twilio, Box, OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, CourtListener, and PACER RSS integrations. | Listed integrations include Outlook, Word, Excel, QuickBooks, Google Calendar, Google Drive, CalendarRules.com, SoftFile.com, and the US Postal Service. |
| Product | CaseDesk is a legal case-management desktop application published by Fulks, Inc. | HoudiniEsq is a web-based legal practice management suite available on-premise or in the cloud. |
Plans
CaseDesk
- Free betaFree
- CaseDesk Pro$290 a year
- BetaFree
- CaseDesk Pro Monthly$29 a month
- CaseDesk Pro Annual$290 a year
HoudiniEsq
- Solo Practitioners LicenseFree
- The Cloud & Beyond$48 a month
- In-house Practice$21 a month
- In-house Enterprise$39 a month
- FREE Solo Practitioners LicenseFree
- In-house Practice$248 a year
- In-house Enterprise$464 a year
- The Cloud & Beyond$576 a year
In their own words
CaseDesk
CaseDesk is legal practice management software for work spanning intake through post-judgment, with tools for docketing, deadlines, conflicts, evidence, documents, research, drafting, and billing. It lists purpose-built matter fields and tools for 106 practice areas. Its deadline engine calculates jurisdiction-specific dates, accounts for court days and holidays, and cites the rule behind each date. A 13,400-entry legal reference library and live CourtListener search are built in. Gmail and Outlook messages go to a review queue so users decide whether to file them to a matter. Case data is stored locally in a SQLCipher-encrypted database by default, with optional field- and file-level encryption. Optional Cloud Sync stores encrypted ciphertext, though document files remain on users’ computers. The app can work offline; internet connections are used for enabled integrations and version checks. The beta runs free for 90 days per machine, followed by two weeks of read-only access. Pro costs $29 a month or $290 a year per attorney.
HoudiniEsq
HoudiniEsq is a legal practice management suite for handling matters, documents, communications, time, and billing. Available on the web, on-premise, or in the cloud, it brings together client and matter records, tasks, notes, invoices, fees, expenses, trust accounting, and staff information. The suite includes client intake, a client portal, time tracking, billing and payments, an email client, and an AI assistant. Users can create, edit, and annotate Word and PDF files in HoudiniEsq without Microsoft Word or Adobe installed. Workflow automation can prepare draft documents, send email and notifications, fill fields, and complete routine tasks. Custom forms, fields, types, subtypes, and project codes support configuration. Integrations include Outlook, Word, Excel, QuickBooks, Google Calendar, and Google Drive; the QuickBooks connector handles client details and financial and trust transactions. The free solo license is for one person working alone; adding users requires a multi-seat license. Listed paid plans are $21 a month, $39 a month, and $48 a month, each priced per user.