Access Legal vs Smokeball:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Smokeball had more branded searches than Access Legal among legal practice software in the United Kingdom. Smokeball had about 590 branded searches, while Access Legal had 480. Smokeball made up 2.8% of all legal practice software searches we track, and Access Legal accounted for 2.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about legal practice software, Access Legal appeared in three of the five answers and Smokeball in one. Access Legal was mentioned before Smokeball in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Smokeball, about 23% more searches than Access Legal
Who does AI mention more?
Access Legal, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Smokeball in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Access Legal, named ahead of Smokeball in 3 of 4 answers
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Top legal practice software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Access Legal was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Smokeball was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Access Legal 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
LEAP2nd
Osprey Approach3rd- Access Legal4th
- Smokeball5th
MyCase6th
Actionstep7th
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
- LEAP5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Osprey Approach4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Access Legal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Actionstep2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- MyCase2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Smokeball1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about legal practice software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best practice management software for a UK law firm?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which case management software is best for small law firms in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What legal software do UK solicitors use?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“legal case management software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“legal practice management software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 23, 2026.
Is Access Legal or Smokeball more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Access Legal and Smokeball by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven legal practice software we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Smokeball, Access Legal. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Clio | Actionstep | LEAP | MyCase | Smokeball | Access Legal | Osprey Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 71.9% | 14.3% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1% |
| Nov 2025 | 70% | 17% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 69.9% | 16.7% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 71.5% | 14% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 71.9% | 14.1% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 1% |
| Mar 2026 | 73% | 14.5% | 4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.85% |
| Apr 2026 | 72.5% | 14.2% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 1.3% |
| May 2026 | 74.1% | 12% | 5% | 3.6% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.85% |
| Jun 2026 | 70.8% | 13.9% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1% |
| Jul 2026 | 68.1% | 16.3% | 5.6% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 0.96% |
| Aug 2026 | 75.3% | 12.2% | 4.5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 69.9% | 13.7% | 6.1% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 0.99% |
How has the Access Legal and Smokeball comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Smokeball took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Access Legal’s share of searches among legal practice software in the United Kingdom moved from 2.9% to 2.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 720 to 480.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smokeball’s share of searches among legal practice software in the United Kingdom moved from 2.9% to 2.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 720 to 590.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom legal practice software in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Smokeball overtook Access Legal to rank 5th among legal practice software in the United Kingdom, with 2.8% of the searches.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Access Legal in the United Kingdom fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 720 to 480 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Access Legal’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.
Access Legal
1 branded search term
- access legal
Smokeball
1 branded search term
- smokeball
Other head-to-heads among legal practice software
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