Usual
Built for US bookkeeping and CPA firms with 1 to 15 people. Use it for monthly close, tax organizers, year-end 1099 requests, or all three.
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Usual vs SmartVault
Usual collects documents and answers from clients and files what the firm accepts. SmartVault is a document management system with a branded client portal, e-signature and tax software integrations. Usual is narrower and prices by firm and active client count; SmartVault is a broader document platform priced per user.
Who each is for
SmartVault
A document management and secure file-sharing platform for accounting and tax firms, with separate pages for financial services, legal practices and healthcare.
Side by side
| Feature | Usual | SmartVault |
|---|---|---|
| Clients' experience | ||
| Opening a request | Yes.Personal link from email, on any phone. No password, no app. | Yes.Branded portal for document sharing, requests, and client collaboration. |
| Branding | Yes.The firm's branding is included on every plan. | Yes.Custom branded client portal. |
| E-signature | Yes.Clients sign an engagement letter in the checklist; the firm keeps a signature record. Not for Form 8879. | Yes.Collect signatures on tax documents, engagement letters, and approvals. |
| Requests and reminders | ||
| Document requests | Yes.A checklist of items, each with a file upload or an answer. | Yes.Request, track, and collect client documents. |
| Folder templates | Yes.Accepted files are filed into each client's folders, by year. | Yes.Customized accounting and tax specific folder templates. |
| AI document requests | No.No AI request generation. | Works with SmartRequestAI, an add-on at $15 per return or $750 for 50 requests. |
| Review and filing | ||
| Tax software integrations | No.No tax software integration. | Yes.Syncs with Lacerte, ProSeries, ProConnect, UltraTax, Drake, and more. |
| Document management | Files live in Usual's client folders, with versions and a recycle bin. | Yes.Cloud-based storage with organized workflows built for accounting firms. |
| Client limit | Plans cover 20, 100 or 300 active clients. | Yes.Unlimited clients and external collaborators. |
| WISP templates | No.No WISP template package. | Yes.Compliance Vault with WISP templates is included in Accounting Unlimited. |
| KBA and ID verification | No.No KBA or identity verification. Signatures are not for Form 8879. | Yes.Unlimited KBAs and ID verification on Accounting Unlimited. |
| Security | ||
| Certification | No.No ISO 27001 or SOC 2 report yet. The controls are published at usual.so/security. | Yes.SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, FTC-ready, and built to meet IRS regulations. |
| Other security badges | No badges yet. Every file is encrypted under its own key, uploads are virus-scanned, and staff use two-step sign-in. | Yes.Its footer shows HIPAA, ISO 22301, ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2 badges. |
| Activity log | Yes.Every view and download is logged, and the log can't be edited. | Yes.Reporting and activity logs. |
| Advanced security package | Per-file encryption, virus scanning, two-step sign-in and database-level firm separation are standard on every plan. | Yes.Advanced security and compliance is included in the accounting plans. |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting plan | Starter: $17 per month, or $170 per year, for 20 active clients and 1 person. | Business Pro: $65 per user per month billed annually, with a 3 user minimum. |
| Billing unit | Per firm, by active client tier. | Per user, per month. |
| Minimum seats | 1 person on Starter, 5 on Practice. | 3 users on Business Pro, 2 users on the accounting plans. |
| Client limit | 20, 100 or 300 active clients. | Yes.Unlimited clients and external collaborators. |
| AI add-on price | No.No AI add-on. | $15 per return, or $750 for a bundle of 50 SmartRequests. |
Where SmartVault fits better
- You need the return to flow into Lacerte, ProSeries, ProConnect, UltraTax or Drake. Its homepage lists those integrations.
- You want a full document management system with industry folder templates, file versioning and a bulk print queue for organizers and returns.
- You need SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, ISO 22301 or HIPAA reporting from the vendor. Its homepage shows all four.
- You want unlimited KBA and ID verification or unlimited e-signatures. Both are listed on Accounting Unlimited.
- You want per-user pricing with unlimited clients and external collaborators.
- You want AI-generated document requests and are willing to pay per return for them.
Switching to Usual
- Start with one service and one client. Use a Usual template for monthly close or a tax organizer and send it to a client you know well.
- Run the two tools side by side for one period. Keep SmartVault for archival and tax software handoff while Usual handles the client requests.
- Set the reminder schedule before the first real send, and agree which folder in Usual matches the folder the firm already uses.
Questions about this comparison
Which costs less, Usual or SmartVault?
They price differently. Usual Starter is $17 per month, or $170 per year, for 20 active clients and 1 person, and Practice is $57 per month for 100 active clients and 5 people. SmartVault Business Pro is $65 per user per month billed annually, with a 3 user minimum, so a 3-person firm starts at $195 per month. Compare the plan limits and the number of people who need access.
Does Usual integrate with Lacerte, ProSeries, UltraTax or Drake?
No. Usual files accepted documents into its own client folders. SmartVault lists integrations with Lacerte, ProSeries, ProConnect, UltraTax, Drake and more on its homepage, so a firm that needs that handoff should keep SmartVault for it.
Does Usual have SOC 2 or a WISP package?
Usual has no SOC 2 report and no WISP template package. It encrypts SSNs and EINs, virus-scans uploads, requires two-step staff sign-in and logs every view and download. SmartVault states that it is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and offers a Compliance Vault with WISP templates.
Do clients need an account to use Usual?
No. Usual clients open a personal link from email and finish the checklist on their phone, with no password and no app. SmartVault describes a branded client portal for document sharing and requests.
Can a firm use both Usual and SmartVault?
Yes. A firm can use Usual for the client request and reminder loop, and keep SmartVault for document management, tax software handoff and KBA. Start with one service so the team is not changing two workflows at once.
Try Usual on your next client
Start free trialSources, checked November 3, 2026
The competitor's public pages can change after the date above. Usual facts come from Usual's own product and pricing.