Best Legal Software 2021

AbacusLaw vs. PracticePanther

Is AbacusLaw or PracticePanther the better solution for you? This in-depth, feature-by-feature breakdown will help you select the best legal practice management software to help grow your law firm.

Legal practice management software helps legal professionals grow their businesses and interact with clients. With the variety of legal practice management solutions available on the market today, choosing the best system for your law firm can be a complicated decision.

We created a guide comparing AbacusLaw versus PracticePanther, two popular legal practice management solutions, to simplify the purchasing process. We offer in-depth analysis of both solutions, and include a head-to-head comparison of their unique features, to help you choose the best system for your law firm.

Comparison Summary

AbacusLaw and PracticePanther are both widely-used legal practice management solutions with thousands of customers each. Both solutions include features that help legal professionals grow their law firms and better serve clients. These features include contact management, case management, time & expense tracking, online payments, and reporting.

Although AbacusLaw and PracticePanther are both priced comparably and offer similar functionality, there are key differentiators between these solutions:

  • AbacusLaw is an on-premise legal practice management solution that includes a full accounting suite. Also, AbacusLaw only supports Windows operating systems.
  • PracticePanther is a cloud-based legal practice management solution that integrates with QuickBooks. Only PracticePanther supports both Windows and Mac operating systems.

When comparing the two, it's important to focus on the specific tools offered by each vendor, and the corresponding subscription price. Here's a quick test to determine which solution is best for you:

You'll prefer AbacusLaw if:

  • You desire an on-premise solution
  • You desire built-in accounting tools
  • You prefer to work with less software vendors

Try AbacusLaw Today

You'll prefer PracticePanther if:

  • You desire a cloud-based solution
  • Your law firm uses Mac OS
  • QuickBooks integration is a must-have feature

Try PracticePanther Today


Table of Contents

AbacusLaw & PracticePanther Price Comparison

AbacusLaw and PracticePanther both charge monthly subscription fees to access their platforms. AbacusLaw starts at $69.99 per user per month. PracticePanther pricing ranges from $49 to $89 per month depending on the subscription plan that you choose.

AbacusLaw Pricing Details

AbacusLaw pricing starts at $69.99 per user per month. If you would like to host AbacusLaw off-site on AbacusNext’s cloud servers, you can purchase a subscription to Abacus Private Cloud for an additional $250 to $300 per user per month.

PracticePanther Pricing Details

PracticePanther pricing ranges from $49 to $89 per month. The company offers a 11% to 22% discount for annual contracts that are paid upfront. Here’s an overview of PracticePanther’s pricing plans:

  • Solo plan: $49 per user per month
  • Essential plan: $69 per user per month
  • Business plan: $89 per user per month

AbacusLaw & PracticePanther Feature Comparison

AbacusLaw and PracticePanther are both robust solutions that offer useful features including contact management, case management, time & expense tracking, online payments, and reporting. Although these systems offer similar functionality, there are important differentiating features:

  • AbacusLaw is an on-premise system that includes a full accounting suite, and only supports Windows operating systems.
  • PracticePanther is a cloud-based system that integrates with QuickBooks, and supports both Windows and Mac operating systems.

For a full analysis of their features, read our AbacusLaw and PracticePanther reviews.

FeatureAbacusLawPracticePanther
Cloud-basedAdd-onYes
On-premiseYesNo
Windows supportYesYes
Mac OS supportNoYes
DashboardYesYes
Contact managementYesYes
Text MessagingNoYes
Client intake formsYesYes
CalendarYesYes
Task managementYesYes
Document managementYesYes
Time and expense trackingYesYes
Billing and invoicingYesYes
Automated invoice remindersNoYes
Online paymentsYesYes
AccountingYesNo
ReportingYesYes
IntegrationsYesYes

AbacusLaw's Unique Features

AbacusLaw offers several features not found in PracticePanther. It's important to understand the features below to determine if AbacusLaw is ideal for your business.

On-premise

AbacusLaw is the only on-premise legal practice management solution. AbacusLaw is hosted on self-managed servers on location. On-premise servers require ongoing maintenance and updates.

Built-in Accounting

AbacusLaw includes a full accounting suite in its platform. AbacusLaw’s accounting tool is double-entry, and can be used for all major tasks related to managing trust and operating accounts. If you prefer working with less software vendors, and using one unified system for accounting and practice management, AbacusLaw is the best option for you.

PracticePanther's Unique Features

PracticePanther offers several features not found in AbacusLaw. It's important to understand the features below to determine if PracticePanther is ideal for your business.

Cloud-based

PracticePanther is a cloud-based legal practice management system. It can be accessed from any location with internet connectivity through computer or mobile device. PracticePanther is hosted on cloud servers that do not require maintenance or updates on your end.

AbacusLaw offers cloud-based hosting through their Abacus Private Cloud. However, this service costs $250 to $300 per user per month. This cost makes AbacusLaw a far less affordable cloud-based option than PracticePanther.

Mac OS Support

Because PracticePather is accessed through a browser, it can be accessed on any operating system. Currently, AbacusLaw only supports Windows. If you currently use Mac OS in your law firm, PracticePanther is the best choice for you.

QuickBooks Online Integration

PracticePanther is the only solution that integrates with QuickBooks Online. If you currently use QuickBooks Online, or if you outsource your accounting to a third-party firm, PracticePanther is the best option for you.

Text Messaging

PracticePanther is the only solution that offers native text messaging on its platform. Although this solution only supports one-way texting, it is a useful tool for notifications and event reminders that can be sent to you firm members or your clients.

Currently, AbacusLaw only supports text messaging through integrations with third-party vendors, like Twilio. These vendors typically charge monthly subscription fees, making AbacusLaw the most expensive option if you desire text messaging in your solution.

Automated Invoice Reminders

PracticePanther helps you collect payments through automated invoice reminders. You can use PracticePanther to track your clients’ outstanding balances, and automatically send invoice reminders on set time intervals. You can send an unlimited number of invoice reminders with PracticePanther.

Bottom Line

AbacusLaw and PracticePanther are two popular legal practice management solutions available on the market today. Both solutions are ideal for solo to medium sized law firms. Features found in these solutions include contact management, case management, time & expense tracking, online payments, and reporting.

The best solution for your law firm will likely depend on your feature preferences:

  • If you desire an on-premise solution that includes a complete accounting package, we recommend AbacusLaw for your law firm.
  • If you desire a cloud-based solution that supports Mac OS, PracticePanther is the best solution for you.

If you’re interested, visit AbacusLaw or PracticePanther today to get started.

Lloyd Park

Lloyd Park is a Research Analyst at SoftwarePundit, where he conducts in-depth analyses of software markets and products. Lloyd also has experience managing the development of software platforms and is an expert in content production & media software. You can connect with Lloyd on LinkedIn.

Lloyd is an expert in several software categories including:

  • Dental software
  • Email marketing software
  • Field service management software
  • Legal software
  • Property management software

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