MatterFirst vs Actionstep

The modern alternative to Actionstep.

Actionstep launched in 2004. MatterFirst was built from scratch with AI at its core, an open API, and a UI your team will actually want to use.

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Why firms switch

What Actionstep users are saying.

Dated interface, steep learning curve

Actionstep's UI was designed in a different era. MatterFirst's modern interface means less training time and fewer support tickets.

Limited API, no real webhooks

Building integrations on Actionstep is painful. MatterFirst fires webhooks on every mutation and provides a full REST API with OpenAPI docs.

No built-in AI

Actionstep has no AI assistant, no document intelligence, no AI time capture. MatterFirst has all three, built in from day one.

Automation that barely automates

Actionstep's automation is limited and inflexible. MatterFirst's engine has 11 trigger types, 12 action types, and visual rule building.

Feature comparison

MatterFirst vs Actionstep, line by line.

Feature MatterFirst Actionstep
Modern UI Included Not available
Visual Workflow Builder Included Partial
Built-in AI Assistant Included Not available
AI Document Analysis Included Not available
AI Time Capture Included Not available
Client Portal (built-in) Included Partial (Add-on)
No-code Automation Engine Included Partial
Full REST API Included Partial
Webhooks (every mutation) Included Not available
Trust Accounting Partial (Enterprise) Included
Data Residency (all plans) Included Not available
Key Term Extraction Included Not available
Pricing (approx) From $149/workspace ~$89–$149/user

Competitor data sourced from publicly available pricing and feature pages as of March 2026. Feature availability may vary by plan.

SOC 2 Type II
AES-256 encryption
Australian data residency
99.99% uptime
No lock-in contracts
Guided setup available

Questions

Switching, answered.

The questions firms ask before moving from Actionstep.

Is AI actually built in, or an add-on?
Built in from day one. MatterFirst includes an AI assistant, document intelligence and AI time capture, and every paid workspace comes with a monthly Document AI credit pool.
Can we build our own integrations?
Yes. MatterFirst provides a full REST API with OpenAPI documentation and fires webhooks on every mutation, plus Zapier and Make connectors for no-code integrations.
How is MatterFirst priced?
From $149 per workspace, rather than per user. A workspace includes users, automations, the client portal, AI assistance and a monthly Document AI credit pool.
Can we try MatterFirst before committing?
Yes. Start with a 7-day guided trial using your own matters. There are no lock-in contracts, and guided setup is available when you're ready to move.

Ready to switch from Actionstep?

Start with a 7-day guided trial and a workspace plan that includes users, automations, portal and monthly Document AI credits.

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