Fintura vs SmartPractice
Looking for a SmartPractice alternative that goes further? SmartPractice has helped South African firms run their practices for over a decade. Fintura is the modern upgrade: direct CIPC filing, e-signatures and engagement letters as standard, automated client emails through your own Gmail or Outlook, and pricing you can see before you commit.
30-day free trial · Cancel anytime on Track and Manage · No setup fees
SmartPractice
- Deadline planned in PlanSmart
- File manually on the CIPC portal
- Chase the signature by email
- Pricing on request
Still on your plate
- Deadline scheduled automatically
- Filed in platform
- Signed with e-signature
- Priced on the website
Done in one platform
The short answer
SmartPractice has served South African firms for over a decade, with a broad module suite and bulk provisional tax through DreamTax. It tracks CIPC rather than filing it, and its pricing is quoted rather than published. Fintura files directly, includes e-signatures, and publishes every figure.
SmartPractice vs Fintura: what is the difference?
Same problems solved, significantly more capability. SmartPractice plans and tracks the work; Fintura also executes it, end to end.
✦ Fintura
The modern all-in-one
A modern, all-in-one platform for South African accounting firms. Execute compliance, manage your practice and engage clients from one login.
- YesDirect CIPC filing, 50+ compliance services including Trusts BO, COIDA, UIF and SARS
- YesLegally valid e-signatures with multiple signers as standard
- YesClient engagement letters generated and sent from the platform
- YesAutomated deadline emails through your own Gmail or Outlook
- YesTime tracking with Xero, Sage and QuickBooks billing
- YesTransparent public pricing and a 30-day free trial
SmartPractice
The established suite
A well-established, modular practice management suite built by South African accountants, respected across the industry for over a decade.
- YesTask and workflow planning (PlanSmart)
- YesTime tracking and billing (TimeSmart)
- YesDocument storage and client portal (DocShareSmart)
- YesDebtor management (DebtorSmart)
- Yes30-day free trial
- NoNo direct CIPC filing, tracking and planning only
- PartialEngagements and e-signatures limited: single signer, paid add-on, Sage users only
- NoPricing not publicly listed, request a profile to see a number
Being fair about it: SmartPractice's DebtorSmart handles doubtful-debtor collection, which Fintura does not offer, and their DreamTax product gives bulk provisional tax submissions with SARS eFiling integration, including three free submissions.
Side by side
A straightforward look at what each platform does and does not do.
Compliance
Direct CIPC filing, in platform
YesFinturaNoSmartPractice · Tracking and planning only50+ compliance services
CIPC, Trusts BO, COIDA, UIF, SARS
YesFinturaNoSmartPracticeCompany secretarial
YesFintura · Incl. full Statutory Register downloadYesSmartPractice · SecSmart moduleBeneficial Ownership
Visual organograms and submissions
YesFinturaPartialSmartPractice · Records, no in-platform filingBulk CIPC entity import
YesFinturaNoSmartPractice
Tax
SARS correspondence
AI-read, tasks and deadlines created automatically
YesFinturaNot comparedSmartPracticeVAT and PAYE submissions in platform
YesFinturaNot comparedSmartPracticeBulk provisional tax submissions
NoFintura · IRP6 coming very soonYesSmartPractice · Via DreamTax, with three free submissions
Documents and signatures
E-signatures
YesFintura · Multiple signers as standardPartialSmartPractice · Single signer, paid add-on, Sage users onlyClient engagement letters
YesFintura · Generated and sent from the platformPartialSmartPractice · Limited, paid add-on, Sage users onlyDocument storage and client portal
PartialFintura · Document storage today, client portal coming very soonYesSmartPractice · DocShareSmart
Practice management
Task and deadline management
YesFinturaYesSmartPractice · PlanSmartClient management
YesFinturaYesSmartPracticeDebtor management
NoFinturaYesSmartPractice · DebtorSmartClient onboarding forms and automation
YesFinturaNot comparedSmartPractice
Client communication
Bulk client communication
YesFintura · Automated deadline emails on your cadenceYesSmartPractice · ClientSmart bulk SMS and emailSent from your own firm's email
Gmail and Outlook integration
YesFinturaNoSmartPractice · Bulk updates go out from an admin address
Billing and time
Time tracking and invoicing
YesFinturaYesSmartPractice · TimeSmartXero and Sage integration
YesFinturaYesSmartPractice · Accredited Xero and Sage ISVQuickBooks
YesFintura · Direct integrationPartialSmartPractice · Via a batch import file
Getting started
Free trial
YesFintura · 30 daysYesSmartPractice · 30 daysTransparent public pricing
YesFinturaNoSmartPractice · Request a profile to see pricingSelf-serve onboarding
YesFinturaNoSmartPractice
What each one costs
Fintura's pricing is public, per module, and you can start without speaking to anyone. SmartPractice asks you to request a profile before you see a number.
✦ Fintura
Practice Management starts from
R299per user / month
- ·Compliance starts from R35 per company / month
- ·Tax starts from R29 per taxpayer / month
- ·Mix tiers per module, pay for what each client needs
- ·30-day free trial across the platform
- ·Free Submit Access for your own practice
Full breakdown on the pricing page.
SmartPractice
Pricing
Not published
- ·Request a profile to receive pricing
- ·Billing structured around clients rather than users
- ·30-day free trial
- ·DreamTax: three free submissions
As of July 2026, per smartpractice.co.za.
See the full Fintura breakdown, with a cost calculator, on the pricing page.
Moving from SmartPractice takes a session, not a project
Import your client base
Bulk CIPC import pulls your clients straight from the registry. No spreadsheets, no manual capturing.
Switch on services
Enable services per client and every CIPC, SARS and DoL deadline is scheduled automatically.
Run both during your trial
Keep SmartPractice running while you test Fintura on real work for 30 days, and file your own practice's returns with Free Submit Access.
The results speak for themselves
Outcomes reported by accounting firms running their practice on Fintura.
85%
Less admin
10h+
Saved per accountant, per week
0
Compliance penalties for Fintura users
R15,000+
Recovered per month
“Fintura has made our CIPC compliance process simple and repeatable. We rely on the CIPC Compliance Services for day-to-day submissions and now we're rolling out Practice Management to keep deadlines, tasks and client work running smoothly.”
Rated 5.0 on Capterra across 5 reviews
“We have implemented Fintura in our accounting practice and it has quickly become an essential part of our workflow. The platform is intuitive, easy to navigate, and has significantly improved our efficiency across clients, engagements, tasks and compliance.”
“All in one place, simple and so user friendly. Local, with the best technology to streamline your work, and the customer service has been excellent.”
Frequently asked questions.
Everything accounting firms ask before making the switch from SmartPractice.
The short version is execution versus planning. SmartPractice is a trusted South African practice management suite covering tasks, time billing, document storage and company secretarial records. Fintura does that and goes further: it files CIPC submissions directly in platform across 50+ compliance services, generates engagement letters, includes legally valid e-signatures with multiple signers and publishes its pricing openly. For firms that want execution built in, Fintura is the natural SmartPractice alternative.
No. SmartPractice's SecSmart module keeps company secretarial records and tracks what is due, but submissions are completed manually on the CIPC portal. Fintura files directly in platform, covering annual returns, beneficial ownership, director changes and the rest of its 50+ compliance services.
SmartPractice offers a limited engagement and e-signature option: a single signer, sold as a paid add-on, and available to Sage users only. Fintura includes legally valid e-signatures with multiple signers as standard and creates and sends engagement letters from the platform, with no add-on required.
SmartPractice does not publish its pricing. You request a profile and receive a number through their onboarding process, with billing structured around clients rather than users. Fintura's pricing is public: Practice Management starts from R299 per user per month, Compliance from R35 per company and Tax from R29 per taxpayer, and you can start a 30-day free trial without speaking to anyone.
Most firms are onboarded in a single session. Bulk CIPC import pulls your client base from the registry, services switch on per client and deadline reminders run automatically from day one. The 30-day trial covers the whole platform, and your own practice gets Free Submit Access on Compliance.
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SmartPractice and all other product names, logos and brands named on this page are the property of their respective owners. Fintura is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by SmartPractice. Comparisons are based on publicly available information at the date shown beside each claim.
Ready for the modern upgrade?
Try Fintura free for 30 days and see why South African firms are moving to direct CIPC filing, e-signatures and transparent pricing in one platform.
