Rocket Matter vs Smokeball

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Our analysts compared Rocket Matter vs Smokeball based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Legal Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Rocket Matter provides law firms with a user-friendly practice management platform capable of everything from case management and CRM to time tracking and billing. Store all case-related data and documents in one place and track them via kanban boards. Leverage robust reporting tools to get actionable insights. Automatically link time entries to invoices and product mass invoices with custom billing rules. SImultaneously manage both trust and operating accounts.

Securely create, store and share an unlimited number of legal documents. Use predefined parameters and templates to organize legal matters and develop automated workflows for all phases of a case. Create an invoice schedule that supports multiple billing plans and payment methods. Facilitate same-day payments with electronic invoices and online payments. Integrate with third-party technologies to improve scalability.
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Smokeball is a hybrid solution to manage various facets of a legal firm, including cases, billing, documents, clients and daily operations. It provides comprehensive billing including automated timekeeping & activity tracking, custom invoices, online payments and trust accounting. Users can create and manage legal documents and forms using over 20,000 forms, perform e-filing and request e-signatures. Assign, collaborate and automate tasks and workflows with smart reminders on priorities, events and deadlines, as well as increased visibility with convenient access to its intuitive legal calendar. It also provides centralized access to organize relevant legal case data and a secure portal to enhance client communication.

Its real-time reporting and dashboarding modules enable data-driven insights on business trends, performance, finance and profitability. It offers intuitive integrations with Lawpay, QuickBooks, MS Word and Outlook, and more. to enhance its billing, payment and management functionality. In addition to its user-friendly remote accessibility, its hybrid implementation enables both online and offline access. Firms are entitled to dedicated onboarding, training and support services.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Streamlined workflows
  • Strong document management
  • Good customer support
  • Mobile app available
Cons
  • Limited reporting
  • Costly for small firms
  • Inconsistent integrations
  • Learning curve for users
  • Occasional bugs
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$109 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$39/Month
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Simplified Automation: Manage ongoing cases and projects with automated workflows and customize them with plug-and-play templates.  
  • Connection On-the-Go: Access case information, tasks and essential tools remotely with a mobile app. 
  • All-in-One Billing: Eliminate billing errors and duplicate data with hassle-free batch billing, invoicing and electronic payment collection. 
  • Optimized Task Tracking: Track ongoing tasks in real time with a visual feed of ongoing tasks delivered via customizable Kanban boards. 
  • Short Subscription Periods: Try out the software extensively with a minimum subscription period of three months and cancel if it’s not a fit. 
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  • Easy Access to Information: Consolidate all case-related information, including documents, contacts, workflow and communication in a central hub. 
  • Requires Minimal Training: Minimize time spent on reskilling and training employees using the intuitive user interface and training materials. 
  • Automated Billing: Accurately track time and create bills for client work via the AutoTime module. 
  • Seamless Integrations: Integrate with all the popular apps like Microsoft Office, Outlook Calendar, Contacts, email clients and more. 
  • Matter-Specific Document Search: Easily locate particular documents and case files. Find documents used in specific contexts, depending on the firm’s requirements. 
  • Increased Productivity: Smokeball automates time-consuming tasks like document generation and billing, freeing up your time to focus on what matters most: serving your clients.
  • Improved Client Communication: Smokeball's secure client portal allows you to share documents, invoices, and other information with clients instantly, keeping them informed and engaged throughout the legal process.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Smokeball provides a central platform for your team to collaborate on cases, share ideas, and track progress, streamlining your workflow and fostering a more efficient work environment.
  • Boosted Profitability: Smokeball's accurate time tracking and billing features help you capture every billable hour and ensure you are getting paid for all the work you do.
  • Reduced Costs: By automating manual processes and eliminating paper, Smokeball helps you save time and money, allowing you to reinvest those resources back into your business.
  • Improved Scalability: Smokeball grows with your firm, providing the tools and resources you need to manage your caseload effectively, regardless of size.
  • Enhanced Security: Smokeball's cloud-based platform is backed by robust security measures, ensuring your data is always safe and protected.
  • Peace of Mind: Smokeball's reliable performance and expert support team give you the peace of mind to focus on what you do best: practicing law.
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  • Time and Billing: Use multiple timers and intuitive screen-capture tools to track billable time efficiently. Edit time entries in bulk and process them into invoices. Connect to QuickBooks for two-way synchronization of accounting data. 
    • Invoices: Create custom invoices with tailored branding, fonts and colors. Send digital invoices to clients with online payment options, including credit cards and eChecks. 
    • Billing Rates: Supports multiple billing rates, such as hourly billing, flat rates and contingency fees. Assign custom rates on a matter or client basis. 
    • Retainers: Maintain a minimum balance for trust accounts. Automatically request funds when the account balance falls below the minimum. 
    • Tax Calculations: Add custom tax rates to legal matters and automatically calculate deductibles. 
  • Integrations: Supported integrations include QuickBooks, LexCharge, NetDocuments, Office 365, Microsoft Outlook, Box, Dropbox, LawToolBox, Google Calendar and more. 
  • Online Payments: Accept credit card payments with a transparent processing fee of 2.95%. Provide clients with flexible payment plans, evergreen retainers and automated recurring billing. 
  • Tasks: Draft a series of predetermined tasks for specific legal matters. Administrators can create, track, update and assign tasks to employees. Assign due dates to set priority levels. Directly bill for tasks upon completion. 
  • Legal Calendar: Always stay on top of important events, appointments, hearings, touchpoints and tasks with firm-wide calendars. Color-code calendar entries based on staff members and choose from classic or datebook views. Convert calendar events to billable time with the Bill-As-You-Work tool. Access the calendar on the go and synchronize entries with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook. 
    • Jurisdictional Rules: Automatically calculate Statute of Limitations. Access jurisdictional rules to avoid potential malpractice claims. 
  • Contact Management: Drag and drop contacts with the Copy-to-Contact tool. Create custom fields and tags to capture client-specific information. Organize the contact database to view related connections and direct relationships. Check for conflicts of interest and drill deeper into matter-related information, including case status, matter name, contact role and more. 
  • Mobile Application: Use the mobile application for unrestricted access to case information, communications, the legal calendar and time tracker. Securely upload and view confidential data. App security includes fingerprint identification, facial recognition and PIN authentication. 
  • Matter Management: Use matter templates to create automated workflows for repetitive tasks. Classify cases by matter types and create task and event parameters for each class. Edit matter templates with custom billing methods, tasks, events, due dates and statutes of limitations. 
    • Matter Dashboard: Get a 360-degree view of a matter’s calendar events, time and billing information, associated contacts and account balances. Uncover hidden relationships between agencies, guardians, adjusters and family members for contextual insights. 
    • Matter Checklist: Create a matter checklist. Automatically trigger new tasks on completion of existing ones. 
  • Communicator: Securely communicate with colleagues and share case-related files. Save complete correspondence history to individual or matter-specific channels. Give commands in natural language and organize conversations by matter-types. Supports video conferencing. 
  • Legal Projects: Break down complicated projects into manageable phases of automated tasks, custom data and calendar calculations. Move from one phase to another with automatic access to predefined data. Run reports to track project status and get real-time notifications via Communicator and mobile devices. 
  • Advanced Reporting: Leverage robust reporting tools to evaluate the firm’s productivity, efficiency and financial health. Built-in reports include origination reports, allocation reports, matter budget, productivity per user, productivity per matter and collections reports. Export reports to Microsoft Excel. 
    • Business Intelligence Module: Dig deeper into firm data to identify bottlenecks and evaluate KPIs based on matters, invoices, tags, clients, activities, contacts and more. Create tailored reports with custom queries, sums, averages and calculations. Arrange data into custom groups through a simple drag-and-drop interface.  
  • Legal Documentation: Scan legal documents directly from a Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 or iX100 scanner and store them in matter-specific folders and sub-folders. Access documents globally from any device with an internet connection. 
  • Document Creation: Create documents faster by merging legal templates and custom fields with client and matter data. Get automated notifications about errors and omissions and convert completed documents to time entries. Directly upload documents and images from Office 365. Request and share case-related documents with clients. 
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  • Time and Expense Tracking: Automatically track time spent on in-platform tasks, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook and associate it with relevant legal matters. Prepare invoices for billable hours and run reports on profitability and productivity. 
    • Productivity Insights: Generate productivity reports by practice area, staff member and matter. Identify non-billable hours, potential issues and productive staff members to improve the firm’s bottom line. 
    • Automated Billing: Populate billing entries and send invoices directly from the time and expense tracking portal. Pull data from associated matters to automatically create customizable entries. 
  • Document Automation: Draft and edit documents automatically from the information stored in associated legal matters. Integrate with Microsoft Word to move documents and generate PDFs directly from the source. 
    • Document Standardization: Improve the firm’s standard documentation processes with smarter fonts, letterheads and state-prescribed texts. 
    • Form Library: Access over 17,000 public legal documents through the Law Firm Form Library portal. Organize the forms by matter, contacts and/or practice areas and search by keywords. Automate form retrieval processes with “If, Then Else” and “Ask” commands. 
    • Area Specific Automation: Populate legal documentation with information specific to the associated matter. Eliminate overlapping of data with over 250 unique practice areas to choose from. 
  • Client Portal: Smokeball Communicate provides clients with a simple messaging and file-sharing portal. Collaborate on cases, share updates and send files securely with multi-factor authentication and full encryption. 
    • Time Tracking: Automatically log all the hours spent on client correspondence to transform them into billable time. Concentrate all communication through a single portal to simplify tracking and billing. 
    • Communication Management: Directly turn messages into tasks. Manage all email correspondence, in-platform messages and in-app communications under the same roof. 
  • Electronic Filing and Signatures: Integrate with InfoTrack and DocuSign to attach signature clauses to documents. Additionally, insert text boxes, radio buttons, checkboxes and more. 
    • Document Status: Keep track of all the documents sent for signatures. Automatically save the signed documents alongside associated legal matters. 
    • Court Searching and Tracking: Utilize InfoTrack to run searches across PACER, state courts, Federal and Bankruptcy courts, and trial and appeal boards. 
    • Filing Resources: Fill out 1099S forms, sign IT Electronic Signatures and legally incorporate firms anywhere in the U.S. Electronically file documents directly from the relevant legal matter with automated expense tracking. 
  • Mobile Application: View and edit legal documentation, attend hearings, send emails and add billing entries from anywhere via the mobile app. Get a quick and clean overview of the legal calendar. 
  • Workflow Management: Assign tasks to team members and set multiple reminders for important events, dates and hearings. 
    • Workflow Automation: Set up standardized automated workflows for regular processes like client intakes, filings, closings and more. 
    • Next Step: Create a sequence of simple or multi-step tasks against each other for every legal matter. Set up prescriptive tasks, litigation reminders and drafting deadlines in advance. 
    • Daily Digest: Broadcast an email every morning to staff members with reminders of upcoming tasks and events. 
  • Case Management: Organize legal cases according to practice areas with matter-specific information. 
    • Digital File: Automatically structure all email correspondence according to associated matter. Staff members have complete access to every file relevant to their work. 
    • Data Structuring: Organize matter-specific information like emails, notes, documentation, billing information, contacts, case numbers and more under one file. Access files from any device with an internet connection. 
  • Email Management: Sort thousands of emails into relevant folders to simplify access by staff members. Integrate with Microsoft Outlook to save an unlimited number of emails, grouped together by associated matter. 
    • Email Time Tracking: Send and receive emails to automatically log billable hours through the time tracking extension. Draft an email via the toolbar to autofill the address bar. 
    • PDF Creation: Convert any document to a PDF file or combine multiple ones into a single PDF before sending an email attachment. 
  • Calendar Management: Create calendar entries and automatically link associated matter and client files to get a 360-degree view of legal cases. Sort the calendar by workweek, month and case timeline to always stay on top of obligations. 
    • Integration: Integrate with Microsoft Outlook to automatically track events and accepted invitations. 
    • Calendar Sync: Access everyone’s legal calendar to stay on top of important events and hearings. Automatically synchronize important dates and tasks across the entire staff’s calendars. 
  • Firm Insights: Use the firm insights dashboard to generate reports on matter-type profitability, referral revenue, real-time performance and more. Filter reports based on practice areas for greater insights and agile decision-making. 
    • Flexible Analysis: Combine time tracked and billing reports to get greater insights into non-billable hours, profitable practice areas, write-offs, discounts and productivity. 
    • Workload Analysis: Identify which practice areas need more work. Use the insights dashboard to evenly distribute the workload between attorneys, assistants and paralegals. 
    • Fixed-Fee Data: Adjust fixed fees, client expectations and staff workloads based on real data from firm insights that show the true cost of work performed for each client. 
  • Billing Management: Prepare custom invoices for firm activity traced by the time tracking portal. Interact directly with the relevant time entries to review and approve invoices. 
    • Integrations: The billing portal integrates with LawPay to process credit card payments and online transactions. Manage trust and operating accounts ethically and offer clients flexible payment options. Additional integrations include QuickBooks Online. 
    • Activity Codes: Create custom activity codes for similar time and expense entries to expedite data entry and billing. 
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Product Ranking

#20

among all
Legal Software

#31

among all
Legal Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

86
91
94
97
95
97
75
99
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Integrations and Extensibility
Mobile Capabilities
Time and Expense Management
Client and Contact Management
Billing and Payments
Time and Expense Management
Dashboard and Reporting
Billing and Payments
Client and Contact Management
Matter/Case Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Rocket Matter
Smokeball
+ Add Product + Add Product
Billing And Payments Calendaring And Legal Docketing Client And Contact Management Dashboard And Reporting Document Management Matter/Case Management Mobile Capabilities Task Management Time And Expense Management 94 95 75 58 83 100 65 100 97 97 99 81 91 89 88 100 0 25 50 75 100
94%
0%
6%
94%
0%
6%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
92%
0%
8%
92%
0%
8%
80%
0%
20%
100%
0%
0%
50%
0%
50%
79%
0%
21%
78%
0%
22%
89%
0%
11%
100%
0%
0%
89%
0%
11%
67%
0%
33%
83%
0%
17%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
0%
0%
86%
0%
14%
83%
0%
17%
83%
0%
17%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 214 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 747 reviews
88%
of users recommend this product

Rocket Matter has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 214 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

95%
of users recommend this product

Smokeball has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 95% when considering 747 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

n/a
4.9 (14)
4.0 (16)
4.8 (176)
n/a
4.76 (189)
n/a
4.7 (179)
4.4 (195)
4.8 (189)
5.0 (3)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Rocket Matter and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Mobile Capabilities and Integrations and Extensibility.

Mobile Capabilities Award
Integrations and Extensibility Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Smokeball and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall Legal Software available today. Smokeball stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

Analysts' Pick Award
User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Robust Document Management: Centralized repository for contracts, pleadings, and other legal documents, enabling easy access and organization.
Automated Billing and Time Tracking: Streamlined billing processes and accurate time tracking, reducing administrative burden and improving revenue.
Efficient Case Management: Comprehensive case management features, including task tracking, calendar integration, and document sharing, for seamless case coordination.
Seamless Collaboration: Secure client portal and internal collaboration tools facilitate efficient communication and document sharing among team members.
Enhanced Client Relationship Management: Integrated CRM capabilities, including contact management, billing history, and communication tracking, foster strong client relationships.
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Data Management: The platform’s data storage and organization capabilities are top-notch, according to 100% of users reviewing this feature.
Functionality: According to 91% of users who reviewed this aspect, the software offers various useful functions, including task management, case organization, accounting and AutoTime.
Ease of Use: 88% of users who mentioned this element said the solution is straightforward with an intuitive UI and robust knowledge base.
Integrations: 81% of users mentioning this aspect were satisfied with the variety and effectiveness of available integrations.
Service and Support: All the users who reviewed customer service mentioned that it’s responsive.
Automation: 75% of users who mentioned this element swear by the platform’s automation feature, especially document templates and automated emails.
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Limited Customization Options: Rocket Matter's pre-configured templates and limited customization capabilities may not align with the specific needs of some legal firms, hindering their ability to tailor the software to their unique workflows.
Complex User Interface: The software's interface has been described by some users as cluttered and overwhelming, requiring a significant learning curve for new users and potentially hindering efficient workflow.
Insufficient Reporting Capabilities: The reporting functionality within Rocket Matter may not provide the depth and flexibility required by legal firms to generate comprehensive insights and make informed decisions.
Limited Integration Options: While Rocket Matter offers some integrations, its compatibility with third-party applications may be limited, restricting the ability of legal firms to connect with other essential software tools.
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Steep Learning Curve: Smokeball's interface can be complex and require significant training, especially for users unfamiliar with legal practice management software.
Limited Customization: While Smokeball offers some customization options, it may not be flexible enough for law firms with unique workflows or specific needs.
High Cost: Smokeball can be expensive, especially for small law firms or solo practitioners.
Integration Challenges: Integrating Smokeball with other legal software applications can be challenging and may require technical expertise.
Limited Reporting: Some users find Smokeball's reporting features insufficient for generating detailed insights into firm performance.
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Rocket Matter is a leading legal software that has received generally positive user reviews in the past year. Many users have praised its intuitive user interface, which makes it easy to learn and use. Additionally, Rocket Matter's robust features, such as time tracking, billing, and document management, have been well-received by users. One of the main strengths of Rocket Matter is its ability to integrate with other popular legal software, such as Clio and PracticePanther. This makes it a versatile option for law firms that use multiple software programs. Additionally, Rocket Matter's customer support has been praised by many users, who have found it to be responsive and helpful. However, some users have also reported some weaknesses with Rocket Matter. One common complaint is that the software can be slow at times, especially when handling large files. Additionally, some users have found the pricing to be somewhat high. Overall, Rocket Matter is a solid legal software option that offers a wide range of features and integrations. While it may not be the best option for all law firms, it is a good choice for those who are looking for a user-friendly and feature-rich software. Rocket Matter is most suited for small to mid-sized law firms that are looking for a comprehensive legal software solution. Its intuitive user interface, robust features, and integrations with other popular legal software make it a good option for firms that are looking to improve their efficiency and productivity.

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User reviews of Smokeball paint a mixed picture, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. While some users find it incredibly helpful for streamlining workflows and enhancing collaboration, others struggle with its complex interface and limited customization options. Positive reviews often praise Smokeball's ability to automate tasks, save time, and increase efficiency. One user remarked, "My billable hours increased by over 50% while my work hours remained the same!" Another noted, "Smokeball has made my job of opening new files and maintaining case information exceedingly easy." These comments highlight the software's potential to improve productivity and profitability, especially for busy legal practices. However, some users find Smokeball's steep learning curve and complex interface a significant drawback. One reviewer lamented, "It took me months to feel comfortable using all the features." Another commented, "The interface can be overwhelming, especially for users unfamiliar with legal practice management software." These challenges highlight the need for comprehensive training and support, which may be lacking for some users. Comparatively, users often cite Smokeball's robust security features and comprehensive functionality as key advantages over competitors like Clio and PracticePanther. One user noted, "I feel confident that my client data is safe with Smokeball's encryption and access controls." Another commented, "Smokeball offers everything I need to manage my practice effectively, from document creation to billing and reporting." These comments emphasize Smokeball's strong security and wide range of features, making it a compelling option for law firms seeking a comprehensive legal practice management solution. However, its higher cost compared to competitors can be a barrier for some. One user remarked, "Smokeball is a great program, but it's simply too expensive for my small solo practice." This highlights the importance of considering individual needs and budgets when choosing a legal practice management software. Overall, user reviews suggest Smokeball is a powerful and feature-rich legal practice management solution, but its complexity and cost may not be suitable for all users. Law firms should carefully weigh the software's strengths and weaknesses against their specific needs and budget before making a decision.

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Screenshots

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