HoudiniEsq vs PCLaw
HoudiniEsq
houdiniesq.comPCLaw
pclawtimematters.comSide by side
| Figure | HoudiniEsq | PCLaw |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $20.67/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 8 | 1 |
| Spec score · Legal Practice Management Software | 9.2 (#5) | 7.6 (#94) |
| Audience | HoudiniEsq says it serves attorneys, paralegals, law libraries, law schools, investigators, state and federal agencies, and consultants. | PCLaw is presented as software designed for law firms and legal professionals. |
| Billing and payments | Yes | Yes |
| Document automation | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States | Apex, North Carolina, United States |
| Time tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Trust accounting | Yes | PCLaw includes trust accounting features and supports multiple bank accounts, including client trust and IOLTA accounts. |
Plans
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
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.
PCLaw
PCLaw combines legal matter management, billing, and legal accounting for law firms and legal professionals. It keeps client information and files together, tracks matters and calendars, and can automate precedents, forms, and documents. Billing covers billable and non-billable time, LEDES-formatted bills, and electronic billing. Its Dashboard brings together firm financial performance, matter progress, appointments, and billable hours. PCLaw Go is a timekeeping app for Android and iOS that links recorded time to cases, clients, and matters. PCLaw Payments, powered by FeeWise, supports online client payments. The maker describes PCLaw as an on-premises solution and offers separate system-requirements resources for PCLaw and PCLaw Enterprise. It runs on Windows, Android, and iOS, with self-hosted deployment. Pricing is paid and available by customized quote. AMP Membership includes upgrades, expert support, and P|T University training; firms without active membership may lose access to upgrades, member-only features, training, and other benefits.