A Lightweight Karbon Alternative for Collecting Client Documents
Karbon is practice management for accounting teams. If your main need is getting documents from clients, DocTick offers a checklist, magic-link uploads, and files saved to your own Google Drive from $0.
Which one is right for your firm?
We believe in honest software recommendations. Here is how to choose between Karbon and DocTick.
Choose Karbon if:
- 1You want practice management in one place: workflows, to-do lists, client management, and team collaboration.
- 2You need time tracking, budget reporting, billing, and payments alongside client requests.
- 3You want shared email triage and task automation for a team.
- 4You want a client portal with a free mobile app for iOS and Android.
Choose DocTick if:
- You mainly need to request and receive client documents against a checklist.
- You want clients to upload with a magic link rather than set up a password.
- You want files saved in your own Google Drive, organized in folders.
- You want a free plan or flat $14.99/month with no per-user pricing.
Feature Comparison: DocTick vs Karbon
See exactly how features, client workflows, and architectures compare.
| Feature / Capability | DocTick Our Pick | Karbon |
|---|---|---|
Starting Price Karbon's price includes practice management; DocTick covers document collection only. | Free Starter or $14.99 / month Pro | $59 / user / month (Team), billed annually |
Client Login | Magic link; no account or password | Email invitation; client creates a password on first login; MFA optional |
Document Requests & Checklists | Itemized checklist; approve or reject-with-note per item | Client requests and checklists with uploads in the client portal |
Automated Client Reminders | Pro plan | Business and Enterprise plans |
Where Files Are Stored Choose based on whether you want files in Drive or inside your practice system. | Your own Google Drive, in folders | Karbon document management, organized against clients and jobs |
Practice Workflow & Task Management | •No | Yes, workflow, to-do lists, and task automation |
Billing & Payments | •No | Yes, billing, payments, and engagements |
Time Tracking & Reporting | •No | Yes, time tracking and budget reporting |
Email Integration | •No | Yes, integrated email and email triage |
Mobile App | •No (mobile web upload) | Yes, free client app for iOS and Android |
Transparent Pricing with No Forced Upfront Contracts
See the real financial difference between committing to Karbon vs flexible month-to-month DocTick.
Per user; annual rates shown, higher monthly rates available (per Karbon's pricing page, Oct 2026)
Commitment: Annual billing is the lower rate; monthly billing is listed for teams of 4 or more
Limits: Automatic client reminders are listed for Business and Enterprise, not Team. The page does not name a currency on its own, so check current pricing in your region on Karbon's site.
Flexible month-to-month; cancel anytime
Solo Savings: About $528 – $888 / year
3-Person Firm Savings: About $1,944 – $3,024 / year
Why Professionals Are Moving to DocTick
Practice Management vs Document Collection
How Clients Get In
Cost Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about switching from Karbon to DocTick.
Compare DocTick Against Other Tools
See how DocTick stacks up against other portals, collection tools, and cloud storage.
DocTick vs TaxDome
No client passwords and no annual contract
DocTick vs FileInvite
$14.99/month, month-to-month, no implementation project
DocTick vs Content Snare
Save 65%+ on document intake without form builder complexity
DocTick vs Dropbox File Requests
Turn basic file drops into structured client checklists with automated reminders
DocTick vs Google Drive Shared Folders
The missing client portal layer for your Google Drive
DocTick vs SmartVault
No client portal login and no 2-user minimum
DocTick vs Canopy
Just need document collection? Skip the full-suite price
DocTick vs Liscio
A focused checklist tool for firms that don't need a full client platform
DocTick vs ShareFile
Checklist-based document requests for $14.99/mo, no seat minimum
DocTick vs TaxCaddy
Collect tax documents with a link: no client account, no app download
DocTick vs Suralink
Itemized document requests without an enterprise platform
DocTick vs Financial Cents
Document requests only, at $14.99/mo, with files in your own Drive