Lawyers do not lose money because they bill too little. They lose money because they forget to record time. A ten-minute call here, a quick email there, and by Friday half of it has vanished from memory. Time tracking software exists to close that gap.
Smokeball reports that 40% of legal professionals lose more than a third of their time to non-billable work. Capturing the time that is billable, quickly and accurately, is one of the highest-return improvements a firm can make.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Features and pricing come from vendor sites and 2026 review-site reporting. Confirm details with each vendor.
Quick answer
- Best timer inside the client and matter workspace: Relaw
- Best automatic, passive time capture: Smokeball
- Best timer inside the largest platform: Clio Manage
- Best budget all-in-one: MyCase
- Best value for solos: PracticePanther
- Best dedicated time and billing tools: Bill4Time and TimeSolv
What to look for in legal time tracking software
- Capture at the moment of work - a timer you can start in one click
- Context - the timer already knows the client and matter
- Notes - short descriptions that make invoices clear
- Rounding and rates - increments and rates set by the firm
- Review before invoicing - a chance to fix entries
- Flow to invoices - unbilled time becomes an invoice
- Reporting - utilization and realization
- Optional passive capture - for firms that want a safety net
The 7 best legal time tracking tools in 2026
1. Relaw - best timer inside the client and matter workspace
Best for: Firms that want time tracking that feels like part of the work, not a separate clerical task.
Relaw's time keeping is an optional module in the legal operating system. The timer starts from the client or matter you are already looking at, so there is no need to re-select context.
What Relaw includes:
- In-context timer - start from the client or matter view; the client and matter are already set
- Always-visible running timer - a live clock in the sidebar, with hover to stop
- One running timer per person - enforced at the database level, so no accidental double timers
- Notes at start - a short description keeps entries useful for invoices
- Stop review - a confirmation step on the way out so entries are correct before they are saved
- Rounding and rates - firm-level increments and billing settings
- Unbilled time to invoice - selected entries become an invoice, delivered by portal, email, or text
- Timers survive reloads - running timers are stored durably, not only in the browser
Pricing: Relaw Standard from $269 per month on annual billing and Pro from $349 per month on annual billing. Time keeping is an optional module. 14-day trial after onboarding.
Honest limits: Relaw uses a timer-and-entry model, not passive desktop capture. LEDES e-billing is not a core feature.
Why it ranks first here: The main cause of lost time is friction. Removing the step of choosing the client and matter every time you start a timer makes people actually use it.
2. Smokeball - best automatic, passive time capture
Best for: Firms that spend their day in Word, Outlook, and matter files and want time recorded automatically.
Smokeball's automatic time tracking is its signature capability. Smokeball does not publish a per-user price; its site shows only a "from $149 per month" starting figure. Some sources say firms report paying roughly $170 to $270 or more per user per month depending on plan and contract term, so get a written quote.
Strengths: Passive capture, document automation. Limits: Desktop-first heritage and opaque pricing.
3. Clio Manage - best timer inside the largest platform
Best for: Firms already on Clio that want time entries, billing, and AI-assisted suggestions.
Clio Manage includes timers, activities, billing, and reports. Reported 2026 annual pricing runs from about $49 to $149 per user per month depending on plan. Recent releases added AI to help with tasks, calendar entries, and time tracking.
4. MyCase - best budget all-in-one
Best for: Small firms that want time tracking bundled with billing and payments.
Reported annual pricing ranges from roughly $39 to $130 per user per month.
5. PracticePanther - best value for solos
Best for: Solo attorneys who want a clean timer and built-in billing.
Reported annual pricing runs from about $49 to $114 per user per month.
6. Bill4Time - best focused time and billing tool
Best for: Firms that want a dedicated time and billing tool and already have practice management elsewhere.
Bill4Time is reported at entry pricing in the tens of dollars per user per month.
7. TimeSolv - best for e-billing needs
Best for: Firms that need LEDES e-billing for insurers or corporate clients.
TimeSolv focuses on time, billing, and e-billing workflows with reported entry pricing in the tens of dollars per user per month.
Comparison table
| Capability | Relaw | Smokeball | Clio Manage | MyCase | PracticePanther | TimeSolv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timer in client and matter context | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Passive automatic capture | No | Yes | Limited | No | No | No |
| Always-visible running timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stop review step | Yes | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Unbilled time to invoice | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice by portal, email, text | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Same record as intake and documents | Yes | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | No |
| LEDES e-billing | Not core | Limited | Add-on | Limited | Limited | Yes |
What it really costs
Time tracking is usually bundled into per-user practice management fees, but the features you want can sit in higher tiers. Smokeball's AutoTime is included in Prosper+ and sold as an add-on on Grow. Dedicated tools like Bill4Time and TimeSolv are another subscription on top of your practice management system, per user.
Relaw's timer, billing settings, and invoicing are part of one platform, so you pay for one system and your time flows straight into invoices. Add up per-user fees, add-ons, and any separate time tool for your headcount before you decide.
How to choose
- If you want a friction-free timer inside a full workspace, shortlist Relaw
- If passive capture will recover hours, look at Smokeball
- If you need e-billing, look at TimeSolv
Ask each vendor: Can I start a timer without selecting the client again? What happens if I forget to stop it? How do unbilled entries reach an invoice?
FAQ
What is the best time tracking software for lawyers in 2026?
Relaw is best for firms that want a timer inside every client and matter view that feeds invoices directly. Smokeball leads on automatic capture, and TimeSolv and Bill4Time are dedicated time and billing tools.
How do lawyers avoid losing billable time?
Capture time at the moment of work, use a timer that starts from the matter you are viewing, require a short note, and review unbilled time before invoicing.
Does Relaw automatically track time in the background?
No. Relaw uses a timer-and-entry model rather than passive desktop capture. Firms that want passive capture may prefer Smokeball.
Can time entries become invoices in Relaw?
Yes. Unbilled time becomes an invoice in a few clicks, delivered by portal, email, or text.
Related Relaw guides
- Best Legal Billing Software with Trust Accounting
- Best Legal Practice Management Software
- AI Notetaker Comparison
Conclusion
The best time tracking software is the one your team actually uses. Relaw puts the timer inside the client and matter you are already working on and connects it straight to the invoice.