PracticePanther vs Smokeball:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PracticePanther and Smokeball were level in searches among legal billing software worldwide, with an estimated 12.1K branded searches each, at 19.7% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about legal billing software, PracticePanther appeared in four of the five answers and Smokeball in two. PracticePanther was mentioned before Smokeball in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
PracticePanther and Smokeball are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
PracticePanther, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Smokeball in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
PracticePanther, named ahead of Smokeball in 3 of 4 answers
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Top legal billing software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PracticePanther was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Smokeball was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. PracticePanther was listed before Smokeball in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Clio1st
MyCase2nd- PracticePanther3rd
LawPay4th
LeanLaw5th
CosmoLex6th
Smokeball7th
TimeSolv8th
Bill4Time9th
Rocket Matter–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Clio5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- MyCase5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PracticePanther4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- CosmoLex3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- LeanLaw3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- LawPay2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Smokeball2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Bill4Time2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- TimeSolv2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Rocket Matter0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about legal billing software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which legal billing system should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best legal billing systems?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best legal billing system for law firm time tracking?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“legal billing software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“law firm billing software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is PracticePanther or Smokeball more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for PracticePanther and Smokeball by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten legal billing software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for PracticePanther, Smokeball. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | LawPay | PracticePanther | Smokeball | CosmoLex | Bill4Time | TimeSolv | Clio | LeanLaw | Rocket Matter | MyCase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 25.8% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 11.6% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 3.9% | 2.3% | 4.1% | 0.56% |
| Nov 2025 | 24.4% | 16.3% | 19.9% | 13.3% | 7.2% | 8.9% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 0.23% |
| Dec 2025 | 26% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 11.6% | 7.7% | 9.5% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 0.19% |
| Jan 2026 | 22.2% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 12.2% | 8.1% | 9.9% | 4.6% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 22.3% | 14.9% | 22.3% | 12.2% | 8.2% | 10% | 4.5% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 0.21% |
| Mar 2026 | 21.3% | 17.4% | 21.3% | 11.6% | 7.8% | 9.5% | 5.4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.24% |
| Apr 2026 | 23.3% | 15.6% | 19% | 12.7% | 8.5% | 10.4% | 4.4% | 3% | 3% | 0.22% |
| May 2026 | 24.4% | 16.3% | 19.9% | 13.3% | 7.2% | 8.9% | 4.5% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.18% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.9% | 18.8% | 18.8% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 4.2% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.22% |
| Jul 2026 | 23.2% | 19% | 23.2% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 6.9% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.17% |
| Aug 2026 | 24.2% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 3.8% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.18% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.1% | 19.7% | 19.7% | 10.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 4.3% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.23% |
How has the PracticePanther and Smokeball comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- PracticePanther was ahead of Smokeball in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PracticePanther’s share of searches among legal billing software worldwide moved from 17.3% to 19.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 12.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smokeball’s share of searches among legal billing software worldwide moved from 17.3% to 19.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 12.1K.
How did search popularity change for legal billing software worldwide in September 2026?
0 changes
Neither PracticePanther nor Smokeball moved beyond provider rounding among legal billing software in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PracticePanther’s and Smokeball’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
PracticePanther
1 branded search term
- practicepanther
Smokeball
1 branded search term
- smokeball
Other head-to-heads among legal billing software
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