Filevine vs Smokeball:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Filevine had more branded searches than Smokeball among legal practice software worldwide. Filevine had about 33,100 branded searches, while Smokeball had 12,100. Filevine made up 34.7% of all legal practice software searches we track, and Smokeball accounted for 12.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about legal practice software, Smokeball appeared in all five answers and Filevine in four. Smokeball was mentioned before Filevine in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Filevine, about 3 searches for every 1 for Smokeball
Who does AI mention more?
Smokeball, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Smokeball, named ahead of Filevine in 3 of 5 answers
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Top legal practice software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Smokeball appeared in all five answers. Filevine was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Smokeball was listed before Filevine in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Clio1st
MyCase2nd- Smokeball3rd
- Filevine4th
PracticePanther5th
CosmoLex6th
LEAP7th
CASEpeer8th
Actionstep–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Smokeball5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- 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
- Filevine4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- CosmoLex4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PracticePanther3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- CASEpeer3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- LEAP1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Actionstep0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about legal practice software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which legal practice software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best legal practice software tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best legal practice software for a small law firm?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“law firm software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“legal case management 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 Filevine or Smokeball more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Filevine and Smokeball by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine legal practice software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Filevine, Smokeball. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Filevine | Actionstep | PracticePanther | Smokeball | CosmoLex | CASEpeer | Clio | LEAP | MyCase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 33.6% | 22.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 2.8% | 1.1% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 30.7% | 25.1% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 9.2% | 6.1% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.16% |
| Dec 2025 | 33.2% | 22.2% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 2.9% | 1.1% | 0.13% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.1% | 19.2% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 8.6% | 7% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 0.12% |
| Feb 2026 | 33.5% | 22.5% | 10% | 15% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 3% | 1% | 0.14% |
| Mar 2026 | 30.9% | 25.3% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 3.5% | 1.4% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.3% | 23% | 10.2% | 12.5% | 8.4% | 6.8% | 2.9% | 1.7% | 0.14% |
| May 2026 | 36.4% | 19.9% | 10.9% | 13.3% | 8.9% | 5.9% | 3% | 1.5% | 0.12% |
| Jun 2026 | 35.6% | 19.5% | 13% | 13% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 2.9% | 1.4% | 0.15% |
| Jul 2026 | 35.4% | 19.3% | 12.9% | 15.8% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 0.12% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.4% | 19.9% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 7.3% | 5.9% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 0.12% |
| Sep 2026 | 34.7% | 23.3% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 6.9% | 5.7% | 2.7% | 1.1% | 0.15% |
How has the Filevine and Smokeball comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Filevine was ahead of Smokeball in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Filevine’s share of searches among legal practice software worldwide moved from 33.6% to 34.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 33.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smokeball’s share of searches among legal practice software worldwide moved from 12.3% to 12.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 12.1K.
How did search popularity change for legal practice software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Filevine lost share of searches among legal practice software worldwide, from 36.4% to 34.7%.
In September 2026, Smokeball lost share of searches among legal practice software worldwide, from 13.3% to 12.7%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Filevine’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.
Other head-to-heads among legal practice software
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