Clockwise
Smokeball
| Feature | Clockwise | Smokeball |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $6.75/mo | From $39/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | engineering-teams, remote-teams, managers, knowledge-workers | small-law-firms, mid-size-firms, litigation-practices, billable-hour-firms |
| Founded | 2016 | 2007 |
| Focus Time | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Meeting Optimization | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Slack Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automatic Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Document Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Matter Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Billing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Microsoft Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Clockwise Pros
- Creates Focus Time automatically
- AI resolves scheduling conflicts
- Team-wide schedule optimization
- Integrates with Google/Outlook calendars
✗ Clockwise Cons
- Requires team adoption for best results
- Can over-optimize meeting moves
- Limited value for individuals alone
✓ 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
Clockwise is built for engineering teams and remote teams, with a focus on focus-time and smart-scheduling. Smokeball targets small law firms and mid size firms and leads with automatic-time-tracking and document-automation.
On pricing, Clockwise is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $6.75/mo compared to $39/mo for Smokeball. That $32.25/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Clockwise 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.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.