ClickUp vs. Karbon, which tool to use for accounting practice management

What sets Karbon apart from ClickUp

	Karbon	ClickUp
Designed specifically for accounting firms’ unique needs
Integrated email inbox
Collaborate with @mentions and comments
Project and task lists
250+ accounting-specific workflow templates
Built-in client portal
Client tasks and auto-reminders		Limited
Document management
Time tracking and budgets
Invoicing and payments
Customizable reporting and analytics dashboards
GPT-powered AI

Why accounting firms choose Karbon over ClickUp

A tailored solution for accounting firms

ClickUp is a general project management tool, whereas Karbon is a practice management platform built specifically for the accounting industry. This means that Karbon’s features are aligned with the unique needs of accounting professionals. And because Karbon is focused on the accounting industry, each Karbon expert and advisor is specifically trained and experienced in making sure your firm’s goals are met.

Integrated client management and collaboration

Karbon brings fragmented client data and communication into one platform. With key features like an integrated email inbox, client tasks, CRM, client portal, activity timeline, and @mentions and comments, Karbon replaces multiple apps, streamlines your client management workflow, and boosts customer satisfaction.

See Karbon's client management capabilities

Composite UI image depicting tag filtering, messaging, and Karbon community members.

An engaged accounting community

Karbon customers gain access to the Karbon Community, an active user resource group with over 3,000 accounting professionals. In Karbon Community, you can follow the latest product updates, submit feature requests, learn accounting practice management tips, and connect with peers from around the world.

Explore Karbon Community

Connected accounting software ecosystem

Karbon integrates directly with leading accounting software providers such as QuickBooks Online, Ignition, and GoProposal to automate critical business processes from onboarding to client management. You can also connect Karbon to over 5,000 apps through pre-built Zapier templates.

Visit Karbon’s integration library

Experience the Karbon effect.

These findings were obtained through Karbon’s 2022 Firm Usage Survey.

On average, Karbon saves every employee 16.5 hours each week.

3.2 hours

Saved chasing clients

3.9 hours

Saved managing and completing work and tasks

3.2 hours

Saved reading, actioning and searching for email

4.1 hours

Saved with more efficient team collaboration

2.1 hours

Saved automating low-value admin tasks

18% growth

In firm-wide productivity

Excellent choice for accounting firms
The email integration within a project management solution was why we first switched from our existing app (Asana) to Karbon. Also for the fact that it was built for accounting firms meant that future features would align with our needs. We like the direction that their leadership/development team is going and we expect the product to only get better in the future.
Alex G. Client Services Director, G2

Best practice management software for accountants
Tagging items to work, transparency across teams, recurring reminders, automation, insights, budgets, integrations, community, updates, etc.

Karbon is like email, slack, and asana had a baby who got their best features. I cannot run my firm without Karbon.
Marissa J., G2

We love Karbon
Karbon is so well-thought-out and robust, but still simple to use. It would take at least three different systems to replace what Karbon gives us today, if we could even do it all.
Jason Ackerman, CPA, BNA CPAs & Advisors

Karbon has 98% positive reviews on G2.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Practice management focuses on running a professional services business, like an accounting firm. Everything practice management software offers should work towards improving efficiency, communication and profitability across the entire firm.

You can expect to see features like a CRM, client portal, embedded communication, and billing and payments in practice management software.

On the other hand, project management is all about getting a specific project over the line. It focuses on the processes and execution of workflows.

If practice management was a house, then project management is just one room.

This means that for accounting firms, project management is one part of what a practice management solution offers.

You can read more about whether a general project management tool like Asana is the right fit for your accounting firm here.

ClickUp is a good project management tool for accounting, tax, payroll, and bookkeeping firms who are just getting started and have ample time to spend on exploring custom configurations.

As your firm’s headcount and client base grow, you’ll likely outgrow ClickUp because its functionalities aren’t designed to meet end-to-end practice management needs such as client management, invoicing, and payments.

Accounting firms often start off with a generic solution such as ClickUp and then switch to a fully-fledged accounting practice management solution like Karbon because they need more features tailored to accountants and customer support experts who can advise on issues specific to accounting professionals.

Team

$59/month, per user, paid annually

Or $79/month per user, paid monthly

Business

$89/month, per user, paid annually

Or $99/month per user, paid monthly

Enterprise

Custom Pricing

Karbon has three pricing plans: Team, Business, and Enterprise. Firms under 50 users can choose either a Team or Business plan and the total cost is simply the number of users multiplied by the monthly cost of an annual contract. For example, for a 5-user firm on an annual Business plan, Karbon would cost $445 USD per month in total.

ClickUp offers five pricing plans: Free, Unlimited, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise.

	Free	Unlimited	Business	Business Plus	Enterprise
Annually	$0	$5/mo, per user	$12/mo, per user	$19/mo, per user	Custom pricing
Monthly	$0	$9/mo, per user	$19/mo, per user	$29/mo, per user	Custom pricing
Pricing shown in USD

Karbon is a premium accounting practice management tool and the pricing reflects that.

ClickUp is a general project management tool intended for the mass market. And their pricing reflects that too. Though ClickUp touts itself as the app to replace them all, it doesn’t do so in reality. Not when it comes to accounting firms.

As an end-to-end practice management solution, Karbon delivers features for tax preparers, accountants, advisors, and bookkeepers to manage critical areas of a professional service practice.

This includes team collaboration, client communication, workflow management, and billing and payments. You can find all the features of project management software in a practice management tool like Karbon, but not vice versa.

With ClickUp, you will need to purchase additional apps to make up for the same functionalities you get from Karbon. Your total cost might end up being similar or even higher. Plus, you lose the power of having a single source of truth for all your firm and client data.

Karbon’s team of advisors and experts also have a deep understanding of the accounting industry—many of them are accountants, tax preparers, and accounting firm owners themselves. They can partner with you to ensure your success every step of the way. That’s an added value a general project management platform like ClickUp does not provide.

Karbon is evolving rapidly with dozens of new features added every year and product updates released every few weeks. Karbon’s product roadmap is shaped by customers and it continues to improve based on customer suggestions and feedback.