Bill4Time vs MerusCase

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Our analysts compared Bill4Time vs MerusCase 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

Bill4Time provides law firms of all sizes with productivity and practice management solutions. Track and review billable activities from any device in real time. Expedite payment with pre-filled digital invoices and secure online payments. Provide clients with a self-service portal to track their invoices, payment status and transaction history. Use the customizable dashboard to keep tabs on all case-related activities and transactions and centrally access firm data.

Administrators can design automated workflows to assign, track, schedule and prioritize tasks and legal obligations. Supports trust accounting with IOLTA reconciliation and QuickBooks integration. Run preconfigured reports on KPIs, productivity, task management, brand recognition, reputation and more.
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Meruscase is a scalable cloud-based solution for firms of all sizes to save time on various practice operations: automate documents, track billable time and manage calendaring, email and legal cases. It provides 360 degree visibility of relevant case data with robust predictive searching modules. Users can batch scan documents and auto-populate forms using custom templates. Maximize revenues with intuitive time tracking, customized e-billing and comprehensive bookkeeping.

Administrators can delegate tasks, while team members can collaborate on them with increased transparency using color-coded tiered calendaring. Leverage 35 built-in reporting modules to gain data-driven insights on billing and cash flow patterns, workloads, performance and more. Keeps data secure with SSL encryption and regular backups. The vendor also offers automatic updates, seamless migration, personalized training, unlimited cloud storage, remote accessibility and dedicated support.
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$27/User, Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$39/User, Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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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

  • Uninterrupted Service: Provides maximum uptime with environmental controls and power systems designed to resist local outages and natural disasters. 
  • Unlimited Storage: Never lose track of critical case information with easy uploading and storage of legal documents. 
  • Mobile Access: Stay connected to important tools and tasks with a mobile app. 
  • Flexible Project Management: Efficiently juggle multiple projects by customizing default labels according to the firm’s requirements. 
  • Maximize Billable Time: Capture every moment of billable time with offline time tracking, mobile tracking and retroactive addition of time entries. 
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  • Quick Access: Locate specific documents, client information and case records easily with purpose-built data management tools. 
  • Automated Data Collection: Automatically collect, review and store case documents and legal records with AI-enabled scanning tools, eliminating human errors and omissions. 
  • Universally Accessible Training: Prepare tailored training routines and timelines with an open knowledge base. 
  • Manage Work Comp: Streamline workers' compensation adjudication cases by accessing Jet File and EAMS (Electronic Adjudication Management System). 
  • Easy Data Recovery: Recover data at a moment’s notice with regular backups. 
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  • Time Tracking: Track billable and non-billable time, staff contractors, consultants and internal non-client time with separate timers. Convert meetings to billable hours and run multiple timers at the same time. Review daily and weekly time entries to measure the firm’s productivity and financial health. Set up custom activity types and work code lists to improve efficiency. 
  • Expense Tracking: Upload images of receipts to track case-related expenses in real time. Leverage two-way image syncing to track expenses internally or charge a flat percentage markup. Comes with built-in configurable UTBMS billing codes. 
  • Integrations: Integrate with third-party applications such as QuickBooks, Outlook, Google Calendar, Box, NetDocuments, Cyber Revolution and more. 
  • Billing and Invoicing: Create pre-filled bills, detailed invoices and statements with configurable payment terms, currency and late fees. Set up tailored payment plans and link invoices to online payment options. 
    • Invoice Templates: Track the status of invoices in real time. Override default payment rates and add a brand logo, currency, company details, payment terms, late fees and more. Prepare invoices en masse and generate summary reports. Provide clients with flat rates, percentage discounts, hybrid billing options and online payment methods. 
  • Online Payments: Securely process online payments with various flexible payment options, including eCheck and credit cards. Ensure compliance with IOLTA, ABA and state bar guidelines. Run payment-related reports to maximize efficiency. 
  • Client Management: Get 24/7 access to client and project information from any device. Customize the dashboard for quick access to specific information, such as client info, outstanding balances, assigned account manager and more. Centrally store all case-related data, contacts and notes. Tailor the client’s budget according to the firm’s financial goals. 
  • Case Tracking: Organize cases with custom notes and files. Assign activities to specific cases and track pending tasks with the shared schedule. Get status updates on essential activities with the customizable notification center. 
  • Tasks: Set up automated workflows to assign, track and schedule tasks. Add custom descriptions, details, priority levels and due dates. Search for specific tasks with custom filters, such as due date, assigned employee, completion status and priority level. Convert completed tasks into time entries. 
  • Accounting: Get complete visibility of outstanding balances, credits and debits, pending projects and balance adjustments. Supports trust accounting. 
  • Reporting: Run preconfigured reports to evaluate accounting activity, client details, entry specifics, legal matter, user activity and productivity. Export recorded data in PDF or CSV format for analysis by external auditors. 
  • Client Portal: Provide clients with a self-service portal. Get real-time access to invoices, payment history, outstanding balances and the payment portal. Improve brand awareness by embedding the firm’s logo into the client portal and payment gateway. 
  • Customization: Prepare custom invoices to match the firm’s existing layout, data fields and format. Create custom reports with extra columns, optional views and additional filters. Set up custom rate tables with flexible billing rates. 
  • Firm Metrics: Leverage the configurable dashboard to track monthly performance metrics, measure key performance indicators, set utilization targets and develop competitive billing rates. Evaluate unique data points to generate actionable insights. Track the firm’s reputation on review sites and take corrective action where necessary.  
  • Data Security: Protect the firm’s data with 256-bit SSL encryption. Provide round-the-clock protection and comply with SSAE 18 SOC 1 reporting standards. 
  • Permissions and Access: Limit visibility into restricted information with permission-based access. Assign permissions for every function and provide third-party contractors with temporary access. Track logins automatically. 
  • Mobile Application: Get unrestricted access to the firm’s data, legal matters, dashboard and activity timers via a native app for mobile devices. Get daily, weekly and monthly progress reports, add case details, communicate with clients and view outstanding balances.  
  • Legal Documentation: Upload and store an unlimited number of case-related documents. Create custom folders and subfolders and share access with the entire firm. Leverage file duplication and templates to standardize document creation. Search for specific documents and quotes faster with fuzzy search. Implement completely new conventions or use the built-in structure.  
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  • Document Management: Connect legal documents with associated matters, cases, contacts and assignments. Keep track of pending documents and case status with regular reporting. 
    • Form Automation: Pull case data from associated matters like client names, addresses, case notes, numbers and more to automatically fill out legal forms and documents. Convert documents into PDF court forms or Word format, as per firm requirements. 
    • Predictive Search: Search for specific legal documents with stackable search filters and the Global Search tool. Turbo-caching predictive algorithms search associated matters for any and all relevant documents. 
    • Batch Scanning: Scan and upload multiple sets of documentation at once. Process the records into single and multi-page documents and sort them into relevant case files. 
  • Time and Expense Tracking: Interact directly with the time tracking and billing portals to identify billable hours and track payments, year-end reconciliations, balance forwards and overpayments. Create and manage separate trust and operating accounts in accordance with industry regulations. 
    • Time Tracking: Track billable hours spent on client activities like meetings, hearings, communications and documentation. Add notes to specific time entries and retroactively edit the ledger in case of errors. 
    • Billing Management: Provide clients with versatile payment methods supported by Ledes, ESIS, Chubb, PDF and more. 
    • Reporting: Generate reports based on preset data fields to create insights into the firm’s cash flow patterns, reliable clients, profitable practice areas and productivity. 
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: Synchronize calendar and email entries for seamless collaboration between team members and clients. 
    • Email Management: Integrate existing email clients with the in-platform tool to automatically organize all correspondence. Link emails to relevant matters and track related communications between team members and clients. 
    • Calendar Management: Stay on top of deadlines, events, hearings and appointments with synchronized calendar entries. Connect events to associated legal matters and allow access to everyone on the case files. 
    • Task Management: Assign tasks to team members, track individual attorney contributions and set up alerts for pending tasks. 
  • Backup and Security: Secure firm data and documentation with daily backups performed nightly. Updates are issued regularly and are easy to install. 
    • Cloud Storage: Store an unlimited number of legal documents and files and access them globally from any device with an internet connection. 
    • Security: Protect firm information from vulnerabilities with SSL encryption. It is HIPAA compliant. 
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Product Ranking

#11

among all
Legal Software

#34

among all
Legal Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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88
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99
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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Bill4Time
MerusCase
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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 88 57 99 33 65 89 100 100 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 329 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 157 reviews
95%
of users recommend this product

Bill4Time has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 95% when considering 329 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

94%
of users recommend this product

MerusCase has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 94% when considering 157 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

n/a
4.3 (4)
4.3 (13)
4.6 (5)
4.77 (166)
4.7 (70)
4.8 (150)
4.7 (78)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Bill4Time and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Task Management. Bill4Time stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Task Management Award

MerusCase stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Customizable Invoices: Users appreciate the ability to personalize invoices with their firm's branding and preferred layout, ensuring a professional presentation to clients.
Detailed Reporting: Bill4Time offers comprehensive reports that provide insights into billable hours, expenses, and overall firm performance, enabling data-driven decision-making.
Client Portal: The secure client portal facilitates seamless communication and collaboration, allowing clients to access invoices, make payments, and share documents conveniently.
Mobile App: The mobile app empowers attorneys to track time, manage expenses, and stay connected while on the go, enhancing flexibility and productivity.
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Intuitive Interface: Many users find MerusCase easy to navigate and use, even without prior experience with legal software. They appreciate the logical layout and straightforward design.
Robust Features: MerusCase offers a comprehensive suite of tools that streamline various aspects of legal practice, such as calendar management, task assignment, and document storage. This allows lawyers to manage their cases efficiently.
Strong Customer Support: Users consistently praise MerusCase's responsive and helpful customer support team. They appreciate the quick response times and knowledgeable assistance provided.
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Limited Functionality for Legal Professionals: Bill4Time may not be the best fit for all law firms due to limitations in features specifically designed for legal professionals, such as trust accounting and conflict checking.
Usability Challenges: Some users find the interface to be clunky and outdated, leading to a steeper learning curve and potential frustration during daily use.
Customer Support Concerns: A portion of users have expressed dissatisfaction with the responsiveness and effectiveness of Bill4Time's customer support, which can be crucial when encountering technical issues or needing assistance.
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Billing Issues: Some users have reported problems with the billing system, such as difficulty generating invoices and tracking payments.
Customization Limitations: Users have expressed frustration with the limited customization options, making it challenging to tailor the software to their specific workflows.
Learning Curve: The software's interface and features can be complex, leading to a steep learning curve for new users.
Mobile App: The mobile app has received negative feedback for its limited functionality and user-friendliness.
Customer Support: Some users have reported challenges with customer support, including slow response times and difficulty resolving issues.
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Time is money, and when it comes to billing for your time, you need software that doesn't waste either. Bill4Time has been making waves in the legal software arena, but is it all hype or does it truly hold up in court? Let's delve into the jury's verdict on this popular time-tracking and billing solution. Bill4Time users rave about its intuitive interface and robust features, especially its time-tracking capabilities. The ability to track time across projects with ease, generate detailed reports, and seamlessly integrate with accounting software streamlines the billing process, saving valuable time and ensuring accuracy. Users also appreciate the flexibility of the platform, allowing customization to fit individual workflows and preferences. However, some users find the mobile app to be less user-friendly than the desktop version, and others desire more advanced reporting options. Compared to competitors like Clio and TimeSolv, Bill4Time stands out with its competitive pricing and user-friendly interface. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of some higher-priced options, it provides a solid foundation for time-tracking and billing needs, making it a compelling choice for solo practitioners and small to medium-sized law firms seeking an efficient and cost-effective solution.

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MerusCase is generally praised for its user-friendly design and ability to manage complex legal cases, particularly its document management, case file organization, and customizable dashboards. Users specifically appreciate the platform's scalability, making it suitable for both small and large firms. Features like batch scanning for efficient mail processing and email integration with automatic linking to cases are highlighted as major advantages. However, some users find the software's learning curve steep and desire more comprehensive features. For example, users express the need for better legal document creation tools and smoother integration with external calendars like Google Calendar. Compared to competitors like Rocket Matter Premier, MerusCase shines in its user-friendly interface and integrated accounting tools. However, Rocket Matter Premier is considered more robust in billing and time tracking, offering advanced features and customization. Ultimately, MerusCase is best suited for legal professionals who prioritize ease of use, efficient case management, and document organization. Its strengths lie in simplifying complex legal processes, making it ideal for firms transitioning to digital case files or those seeking a straightforward, scalable solution. However, firms requiring advanced billing features or extensive customization might find other platforms more suitable.

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