HoudiniEsq vs PracticePanther
HoudiniEsq
houdiniesq.comPracticePanther
practicepanther.comSide by side
| Figure | HoudiniEsq | PracticePanther |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $20.67/mo | $49/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 4 |
| Spec score · Legal Practice Management Software | 9.2 (#5) | 8.7 (#18) |
| Audience | HoudiniEsq says it serves attorneys, paralegals, law libraries, law schools, investigators, state and federal agencies, and consultants. | The company says its plans are designed for law firms ranging from solo practitioners to larger firms with multiple attorneys. |
| Billing and payments | Yes | Yes |
| Case management | Case management covers clients, matters, email, documents, tasks, todos, notes, time, invoices, fees, expenses, trust, staff, and more. | Its case management features track case details and documents, support custom workflows, and provide reports and tagging. |
| Client intake | Yes | Yes |
| Client portal | The secure client portal lets firms specify what is viewable and for how long, and lets clients pay invoices directly in the portal. | Yes |
| Document automation | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2008 | PracticePanther says it was founded in 2012. |
| Integrations | Listed integrations include Outlook, Word, Excel, QuickBooks, Google Calendar, Google Drive, CalendarRules.com, SoftFile.com, and the US Postal Service. | Listed integrations include Outlook, Gmail, MailChimp, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, Zapier, and LawToolBox. |
| Product | HoudiniEsq is a web-based legal practice management suite available on-premise or in the cloud. | PracticePanther describes itself as law practice management software for legal professionals that combines case management, billing, payment processing, task management, calendaring, and business texting. |
| Support | Support is available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern by email, with context-sensitive help and tutorials in the application. | The pricing page lists support by phone, email, videos, and support forum; higher plans include VIP support with faster replies and access to senior technicians. |
| Time tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Trust accounting | Yes | Yes |
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
PracticePanther
- Solo$49 a month
- Essential$69 a month
- Business$89 a month
- Business Pro$114 a month
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.
PracticePanther
PracticePanther is law practice management software combining case records, billing, payments, tasks, calendars, and business texting. Case tools track matter details and documents, with custom workflows, reports, and tags. Firms can bill hourly, by flat fee, or on contingency, create payment plans and invoices, and accept debit-card, credit-card, or eCheck payments. Document tools provide templates and cloud management with Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Box integrations. Client-facing features include intake forms, a secure portal, and two-way texting. Listed integrations also include Outlook, Gmail, MailChimp, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, Zapier, and LawToolBox, with API access for other connections. Plans start at $49 a month per user, and a seven-day trial needs no credit card. Every plan includes iPhone, iPad, and Android apps. Business Pro adds trust and operating accounting, reconciliation, and general-ledger, accounts-receivable, and expense management.