Clio Payments

Clio Payments is an online payment processing solution built into Clio Manage for law firms. Clients can pay by credit or debit card, eCheck, digital wallet, or Pay Later with Affirm, using a firm website, secure client portal, text, tap to pay, or QR code. Firms can set payment plans and recurring payments, store client card and eCheck details, and configure Autocharge triggers based on fee agreements. Payments are associated with client bills and synced to the firm’s accounting platform. Clio says payments can go to the correct trust or operating account, earned and unearned fees remain separate, and processing fees are not debited from IOLTA accounts. Listed transaction rates are 1% for eCheck and ACH, 2.95% for cards (3.75% for Amex), and 4.95% for Pay Later with Affirm. Online payments are included in Clio Manage subscriptions, with transaction fees applying. The product is listed in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Puerto Rico; eCheck is available only to US customers. A 7-day trial is available.

Clio Payments connects client payment options with Clio Manage billing and accounting workflows. Online payments are included in Clio Manage subscriptions, but the listed transaction rates apply.

Clio Payments suits law firms using Clio Manage that want clients to pay through multiple channels and have payments associated with bills and accounting. Firms outside the US should note that eCheck is limited to US customers.

Clio Payments is a payment processor integrated with Clio Manage, designed for law firms that want collections tied to billing and accounting. It suits firms already working in Clio best. Its main appeal is the connected workflow; transaction fees are the key cost to weigh.

Overview

Clients can pay by credit or debit card, eCheck, digital wallet, or Pay Later with Affirm. Payments can come through a firm website, secure client portal, text, tap to pay, or QR code, giving clients several ways to pay without limiting the firm to a single collection channel.

Payments are associated with client bills, recorded in Clio, and synced to the firm’s accounting platform. That connection is useful for firms already relying on Clio Manage; firms seeking a standalone processor have less reason to choose a tool built around that system.

Key features

• Payment plans and Autocharge: Firms can establish payment plans and recurring payments, store card or eCheck details, and trigger Autocharge according to fee agreements. This can suit recurring work and agreed schedules, though firms should consider whether storing payment credentials fits their practices.
• Trust-account handling: Clio says payments can be routed to the correct trust or operating account, earned and unearned fees remain separate, and processing fees are never debited from IOLTA accounts. These are meaningful safeguards for firms managing client funds.
• Security: Clio describes Payments as PCI compliant and says card data processing, transmission, and storage meet the payments industry’s highest certification level.
• Support: Clio provides a Help Center for Payments guidance and support, plus phone and email contact.

Pricing

Online payments are included in all Clio Manage subscriptions, with transaction fees applying at fixed rates. The rates are 1% for eCheck and ACH, 2.95% for credit and debit cards (3.75% Amex), and 4.95% for Pay Later with Affirm. Firms should compare those per-transaction costs with the value of having payments attached to Clio billing and accounting.

Clio Payments is shown at no cost because it is included in Clio Manage subscriptions; that does not make it a standalone free plan, and transaction fees still apply. The pricing note offers a 7-day trial.

It includes Clio Manage and online card, eCheck, Apple Pay, and Google Pay payments, with processing fees applying. The pricing page also lists a mobile app for iOS and Android across its plans. Starter is the clearest entry point for firms seeking Clio Manage alongside payment acceptance, but firms should account for user-based pricing and transaction charges.

Platforms

Clio Payments is listed for Android, iOS, web, and API. The product is available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Puerto Rico, but eCheck is available only to US customers. Firms outside the US can use other supported payment methods, but should not plan on eCheck.

Who it's for

Clio Payments is a strong fit for law firms using Clio Manage that want client payments, billing records, accounting synchronization, and trust-account handling in one workflow. It is less compelling for firms that do not use Clio Manage, or for non-US firms that require eCheck acceptance.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Multiple payment methods and collection channels give clients flexibility, including portal, text, tap to pay, and QR code options.
• Pro: Automatic bill association and accounting synchronization reduce the separation between payment collection and firm records.
• Pro: Trust-account routing and protection against debiting IOLTA for processing fees address law-firm-specific accounting concerns.
• Con: Transaction charges apply even though online payments are included with Clio Manage, and Pay Later with Affirm carries a 4.95% rate.
• Con: eCheck is limited to US customers, narrowing payment choice for firms elsewhere.
• Con: The workflow is centered on Clio Manage, so firms outside that ecosystem have less reason to adopt it.

Alternatives

Legal Payments Software is a useful next step for comparing tools in this category.

• 8am MyCase is worth considering for firms seeking case and contact management with time entry, invoicing, and trust accounting; its MyCase Basic plan is $50 a month billed annually, with a free plan and free trial also available.
• CaseFox may suit firms that want a free starting tier: its Solo plan is free, limited to 4 cases and 2 users, while Professional is $45 a month.
• LEAP is an alternative for firms seeking case management, document automation, legal accounting and billing, and legal AI, with custom pricing.
• Orion ePay is another paid payment option, with custom pricing.
• Actionstep is an alternative practice-management product with per-user pricing plus implementation fees.
• Bill4Time may suit firms focused on time and billing; its Time & Billing plan is $49 a month billed monthly, and a free plan is available.
• CosmoLex is an option for firms seeking time tracking, invoicing, online payments, and trust accounting; Launch is $49 a month billed monthly per user.
• TimeNet Law offers a $39.99 a month plan that renews monthly per user.

Verdict

Choose Clio Payments if your firm uses Clio Manage and wants client collections connected to bills, accounting, and trust-account workflows. The integration and law-firm-specific account handling are its strongest reasons to choose it; firms outside Clio or sensitive to transaction charges should compare alternatives before committing.