eM Client
Smokeball
| Feature | eM Client | Smokeball |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $49.95/mo | From $39/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses | small-law-firms, mid-size-firms, litigation-practices, billable-hour-firms |
| Founded | 2007 | 2007 |
| ✓ | ✗ | |
| Calendar | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contacts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tasks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automatic Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Document Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Matter Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Billing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Microsoft Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ eM Client Pros
- One-time purchase
- Feature-rich
- Good Exchange support
- Modern UI
✗ eM Client Cons
- Desktop only
- Free limited to 2 accounts
- Occasional sync issues
✓ 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
eM Client is built for professionals and windows users, with a focus on email and calendar. Smokeball targets small law firms and mid size firms and leads with automatic-time-tracking and document-automation.
On pricing, Smokeball is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $39/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $10.950000000000003/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
eM Client 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.