Around
Smokeball
| Feature | Around | Smokeball |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10.99/mo | From $39/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | remote-teams, quick-standups, pair-programming, distributed-teams | small-law-firms, mid-size-firms, litigation-practices, billable-hour-firms |
| Founded | 2020 | 2007 |
| Floating Video | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Leveling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Noise Cancellation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Screen Sharing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reactions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Virtual Backgrounds | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automatic Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Document Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Matter Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Billing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Microsoft Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Around Pros
- Lightweight and fast
- Minimal floating interface
- Good noise cancellation
- Reduces meeting fatigue
✗ Around Cons
- Limited features vs Zoom
- Smaller user base
- No recording on free
✓ Smokeball Pros
- Automatic time recording
- Deep Microsoft Office integration
- Strong document automation
- Excellent for billing accuracy
✗ Smokeball Cons
- Windows-only desktop app
- Higher price point
- Learning curve for automation
The Verdict
Around is built for remote teams and quick standups, with a focus on floating-video and auto-leveling. Smokeball targets small law firms and mid size firms and leads with automatic-time-tracking and document-automation.
On pricing, Around is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $10.99/mo compared to $39/mo for Smokeball. That $28.009999999999998/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Around has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Smokeball requires a paid subscription from day one.
Bottom line: Smokeball has a slight overall edge — but if lightweight and fast matters most to you, Around may still be the right call.