Dialpad SMS vs. Clio SMS: Which One Actually Fits the Way Your Firm Works?

If you’ve ever tried texting a client from Clio, you know the drill: it's functional - but not exactly flexible. That’s where Dialpad comes in.

Both platforms offer SMS, but they solve very different problems. Let’s break it down so you can decide what’s best for your workflow.

What Clio SMS Does Well

Clio SMS is built for simplicity. You can send and receive texts directly from Clio Manage, all logged in the client’s communications tab. That’s handy if:

• You only need to send the occasional appointment reminder.
• You want everything documented inside Clio.
• You’re okay with using a Clio-generated number (instead of your firm's actual phone line).

If that’s all you need, Clio SMS is solid. But if your firm handles more back-and-forth or wants more control, it can feel a little limiting.

Where Dialpad SMS Shines

Dialpad isn’t just a phone system—it’s a communication hub. That means its SMS features go way beyond what Clio offers.

With Dialpad SMS, you can:

• Text clients from your main office number or direct lines.
• Use shared inboxes so your team sees the full thread, not just the texts they sent.
• Search, filter, and organize texts - just like email.
• Automatically sync all SMS history into Clio using LegalMate (yep, no copy-pasting required).

It’s a better fit if your team texts often, wants more visibility, or needs to keep everything tracked without jumping between tools.

Real-World Example: A Missed Message vs. a Managed Thread

Let’s say your paralegal texts a client a case update from Clio. The client replies—but your attorney doesn’t see it unless they go check the exact Clio matter. That delay can cause confusion or worse, missed deadlines.

Now compare that to Dialpad SMS, where every team member can view and respond in a shared inbox, and LegalMate logs the whole exchange neatly into Clio. No toggling. No gaps.

So, Which Should You Use?

Here’s the quick version:

• Clio SMS is great for firms with simple needs who want all messaging to stay inside Clio.
• Dialpad SMS with LegalMate is ideal for teams who text regularly, want shared visibility, and don’t want to manually track conversations.

If texting is part of how your firm communicates, Dialpad gives you more power. And with LegalMate keeping everything synced to Clio, you get the best of both worlds: flexibility and documentation.

Curious to learn more?

We’ll show you how LegalMate connects Dialpad to Clio so you don’t have to log a single message manually. Just say the word.

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