Running the firm’s work
Karbon describes itself as practice management software for accounting firms, with solutions for small, mid-sized and large firms and for bookkeeping and tax. Briefi is not a job or workflow manager for your team.1
Advisor, head to head
Briefi vs Karbon
These two do different jobs, and many firms could use both. Karbon is practice management software for accounting firms: it runs the work. Briefi runs the client conversation around it: the meeting, the engagement letter and approvals signed online, document requests and the register of each client’s entities. If you need one system to manage jobs across your team, that is Karbon. If your gap is what happens with the client before and after, look at Briefi.
ReviewedLast reviewed 15 October 2026. Karbon facts checked 15 October 2026
Choose Karbon if
Choose Briefi if
- You want client meetings prepared, written up and followed up on one record
- You want engagement letters, with fee schedules, and approvals signed online
- You track every company, trust and fund a family group controls, and the lodgements each owes
At a glance
Briefi Advisor and Karbon, side by side
What each does today. Every line about Karbon links to the page it came from.
| Briefi AdvisorPlans from A$89 a month | Karbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Clients | ||
| Client portal | Briefi AdvisorAdvisor plansOff by default for each workspace; switch it on where you want it | KarbonYesA client portal on all plans, with client requests2 |
| Online signing | Briefi AdvisorYesDrawn or typed signature, templates, Word or PDF import, a certificate page on the signed PDF | KarbonYeseSignatures are sold separately, as prepaid credit bundles listed on their pricing page2 |
| Data | ||
| Where your data is held | Briefi AdvisorStored in SydneySome processing uses providers overseas. The Security page lists them. | KarbonNot stated on the pages we readIt links to a Trust Center, which we did not read1 |
Yes, todayPartly, or on another planNoNot stated
Karbon runs the practice. Briefi runs the client conversation. Karbon’s pages we read describe no meeting tools, but they may exist, so meetings are not scored. A row appears only where Karbon’s own pages say something we could check.
Where Karbon wins
When Karbon is the better choice
If any of these decides it for you, Karbon is likely the better fit today.
A client portal on every plan
Karbon includes a client portal and client requests on all its plans. Briefi’s portal is on the Advisor plans and starts switched off.2
A mature, accountant-first product
Karbon is an established product aimed squarely at accounting firms, with an API and email connections. Briefi’s accounting pack is newer.12
A plan for a large firm
Karbon lists a custom Enterprise plan alongside Team and Business.2
Where Briefi is different
The meeting, the letter and the register on one record.
Briefi was built for practices that meet the same families for years. It does not replace your practice management system. It covers what happens with the client around it.
- Meetings prepared and written upMeetings
A brief before you meet, a recap after with decisions and actions that have an owner, and a follow-up drafted for you to check and send from your own mailbox.
- Engagement letters with the fee schedule insideSign
The fee schedule is part of what is signed, and the signed PDF carries a certificate page with names, times and a SHA-256 digest. Initials carry forward on an amendment.
- Document requestsAdvisor
Ask a client for the year’s records, see what has come back and chase the rest.
- Every entity a family group controlsAdvisor
A register of the companies, trusts and super funds a family group controls, with the lodgements each owes. It never holds a tax file number.
Briefi’s identity checks are not available yet, and it does not take payments from your clients. It has no direct connection to Karbon; a client list can come across from an export, or through the API.
Pricing
Pricing compared
Both charge by the user. Karbon’s figures are as shown on its pricing page, which names no currency for them; check the page before you decide.
Advisor Solo
From A$89 a month
- 100 form requests per user each month
- 10 capture hours each month
- Monthly or annual billing
Figures from Briefi’s live price list
Karbon
From Team from $59 per user a month, billed annually, as shown on their pricing page
- Team: $59 per user a month billed annually, $79 billed monthly
- Business: $89 per user a month billed annually, $99 billed monthly, and monthly billing only for teams of four or more
- Enterprise: custom
- eSignatures are extra, sold as credit bundles
- Their page has a currency selector, and we have not confirmed whether the figures change with it
Checked on 15 October 2026. Source 2
Briefi prices are in AUD and are read from the same price list as the pricing page, so they change when it does.
Questions
Briefi and Karbon, asked often
Can Briefi replace Karbon?
No, and it is not meant to. Karbon manages your firm’s work. Briefi handles the client meeting, signing, document requests and the entity register around it.
Can we use both?
Yes. Many firms could run Karbon for the work and Briefi for the client conversation. There is no direct connection between them, so a client list comes across from an export or through the API.
Does Briefi have a client portal?
Yes, on the Advisor plans. It is off by default for each workspace until you switch it on.
Where is my clients’ data stored?
In Briefi, stored in Sydney. Some processing uses providers overseas. Sensitive content is encrypted with a key held for your workspace. The Security page lists the providers and where they are.
Does Briefi charge for each signature?
Briefi’s pricing page shows what each plan includes for signing. Karbon sells eSignatures as credit bundles.
Try it
Take one family group through a meeting, a letter and a signed copy.
Start free trial Advisor Solo from A$89 a month
Sources and review
Last reviewed 15 October 2026. Facts about Karbon come from its own published pages on the dates shown. Each product named here is a trademark of its owner, and Briefi is not affiliated with them.
Seen something out of date? Write to support@briefi.sh and we will check it.
- 1Karbon, home page. https://karbonhq.com Checked 15 October 2026.
- 2Karbon, pricing. https://karbonhq.com/pricing/ Checked 15 October 2026.
Briefi’s own pages
- B1briefi.sh/for/accountants. https://briefi.sh/for/accountants
- B2briefi.sh/advisor. https://briefi.sh/advisor
- B3briefi.sh/sign. https://briefi.sh/sign
- B4briefi.sh/security. https://briefi.sh/security