MyCase vs PracticePanther: Which Is Better?
Affordable legal practice management platforms compared.
Tom Bradley
2026-02-27
Both MyCase and PracticePanther are cloud-based legal practice management platforms that cover the core workflow of a law firm—case management, billing, client communication, and document handling. They're similar enough in scope that the right choice usually comes down to specific feature priorities and firm size.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | MyCase | PracticePanther |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 10 days | 7 days |
| Starting price | ~$39/user/month | $49/user/month (annual) |
| Client portal | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in eSignature | Yes (all plans) | Yes |
| Legal AI | Yes (Pro and up) | No |
| Desktop file sync | Yes (Advanced plan) | No |
| Court deadline automation | Yes | No |
| Built-in payments | LawPay integration | PantherPayments (built-in) |
| Workflow automation | Yes | Yes (conditional workflows) |
| Business texting | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | iOS + Android |
| User base | 18,000+ firms | Tens of thousands |
MyCase
MyCase has positioned itself as a comprehensive, deeply integrated platform, particularly after merging with LawPay to create a unified case management and payments solution. It serves firms across virtually all practice areas, including immigration, where it has built-in support for automating USCIS-related workflows.
Plans and pricing: - Basic (~$39/user/month): Case management, billing, time tracking, client portal, document storage, trust accounting, conflict checks, and phone/email/chat support - Pro (~$79/user/month): Adds Legal AI (powered by 8am IQ), client intake forms, built-in CRM, text messaging suite, advanced calendar features, eSignature templates, workflow automation, lead management pipeline, and key integrations (Google, Outlook, Zapier, Smith.ai, LawToolBox, Dropbox) - Advanced (~$99/user/month): Adds MyCase Drive (two-way desktop file sync), full-text PDF/DOC search, advanced document automation with Word-based templates, open API access, and expanded reporting
Standout features: MyCase's court deadline automation stands out for litigation-heavy firms—it applies court-rules-based deadline calculations automatically, which reduces malpractice risk and manual calendar entry errors. The AI writing assistant (8am IQ) is integrated directly into the platform at the Pro tier, useful for drafting and document assistance without leaving the workflow.
MyCase Drive is a notable differentiator at the Advanced tier: it syncs firm documents between the cloud and your desktop file explorer, so attorneys can open and edit files in Word or Adobe without downloading and re-uploading. Full-text search across PDFs and Word docs (not just filenames) also speeds up conflict checks significantly.
The LawPay integration is mature and purpose-built for legal billing compliance, including trust accounting, IOLTA requirements, and the full range of invoice delivery options (email, text, portal).
Limitations: Pricing wasn't published transparently on the scraped pricing page—you may need to contact sales for exact figures. The AI and document automation features are locked behind the higher tiers. The 10-day trial is longer than PracticePanther's but still limited given the complexity of onboarding a full firm.
PracticePanther
PracticePanther leans into automation and CRM functionality more explicitly than most legal practice management tools. Its emphasis on the full client lifecycle—from intake lead to retained client to closed matter—makes it feel more sales-and-relationship-oriented than purely operational.
Plans and pricing: - Solo ($49/month billed annually, $59/month): Contact and matter management, time and expense tracking, secure client portal, unlimited data storage, mobile app, world-class support - Essential ($69/month annually, $79/month): Adds custom intake forms, basic workflow automation, eSignature, document templates, and reporting - Business ($89/month annually, $99/month): Full workflow automation with conditional logic, attorney revenue reports, business texting, advanced CRM features, and complete integrations
Standout features: PracticePanther's CRM is genuinely more developed than most legal practice management tools. It tracks contacts across the full pipeline—prospect to client to former client—with tagging, workflow triggers at each stage, and automated touchpoints. If your firm treats business development as seriously as case work, this matters.
PantherPayments is built natively into the platform (not a third-party integration), with a claim of getting firms paid 70% faster. It supports credit card, ACH, eCheck, payment plans, and custom payment links, with trust account compliance baked in. Conditional workflow logic is a standout at the Business tier: you can set branching automation based on case type, client status, or other variables, which is more flexible than simple linear workflows.
Business texting at the Business tier includes two-way messaging that logs conversations and ties them to matters for billing purposes—useful for high-volume client communication firms.
Limitations: PracticePanther doesn't offer Legal AI features as of current, which puts it behind MyCase for firms looking to leverage AI writing or document assistance. There's no equivalent to MyCase Drive for desktop file sync. Court deadline automation—critical for litigation practices—isn't mentioned as a built-in capability. The 7-day free trial is shorter than MyCase's.
When to Choose MyCase
MyCase is the better fit if your firm is litigation-heavy and needs court deadline automation, if you want Legal AI built into your workflow without a separate tool, or if desktop file sync via MyCase Drive matters for how your team works. It's also the natural choice if you're already using LawPay for payments and want a tightly unified billing stack. Firms that do a lot of immigration work benefit from the built-in USCIS form automation.
When to Choose PracticePanther
PracticePanther makes more sense if your firm prioritizes business development and client relationship management—its CRM features are richer and more intentionally built out. It's a strong choice for firms that handle high client volume and need conditional workflow automation (not just linear task chains), or for practices that want payments handled natively rather than through a merged/integrated partner. Solo practitioners will find its entry pricing and feature set appropriately scoped.
Bottom Line
MyCase and PracticePanther are closely matched, and either will handle the operational needs of most small to mid-sized firms. MyCase edges ahead for litigation practices and those who want AI assistance built in; its court deadline automation and document sync features address real pain points. PracticePanther wins on CRM depth, conditional workflow flexibility, and native payment processing. If you're primarily managing cases and billing, MyCase is the stronger platform. If you're also actively managing your pipeline and client relationships, PracticePanther is worth the look—especially at the Business tier where its automation advantages are most pronounced.