# Assembly vs. TaxDome

While both Assembly and TaxDome help accounting firms manage their clients, Assembly delivers a superior client portal experience, dramatically faster setup, transparent month-to-month pricing, and a flexible platform that connects the tools you already use. If you're looking for a modern, client-experience-first alternative to TaxDome, Assembly is the better choice.

- Assembly delivers a more polished, customizable client portal experience
- Assembly gets you up and running in hours, not weeks
- Assembly offers transparent, flexible month-to-month pricing
- Assembly connects seamlessly with the tools your firm already uses

## What do customers say?

Accounting firms choose Assembly over TaxDome for its modern client portal, fast setup, platform flexibility, and transparent pricing. (Scores based on aggregate reviews.)

### How quickly firms can deploy and start using the platform

| Product      | Score  |
|--------------|--------|
| Assembly     | 9.5    |
| TaxDome      | 7.5    |

### How intuitive the platform is for daily operations

| Product      | Score  |
|--------------|--------|
| Assembly     | 9.3    |
| TaxDome      | 8.0    |

## Assembly delivers a modern, branded client portal built for seamless two-way communication

Assembly's portal was built portal-first — it's the core product, not an add-on feature. Clients get a fully white-labeled experience with magic-link passwordless access, reply-via-email messaging, embedded third-party tools like Calendly and Airtable, and app visibility rules that let you show different tools to different clients.

|     |     |     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Feature | Assembly | Competitor | Assembly Value | Competitor Value |
| Secure client portal |  |  |  |  |
| Document sharing & uploads |  |  |  |  |
| eSignature capabilities |  |  |  |  |
| Custom domain (yourfirm.com) |  |  |  |  |
| Payment processing |  |  |  |  |
| Invoice & billing tools |  |  |  |  |
| White-labeled email sender |  |  |  |  |
| Client-facing help center |  |  |  |  |
| Productized services storefront |  |  |  |  |
| Embeddable third-party apps |  |  |  |  |
| Google SSO for clients |  |  |  |  |
| Magic-link access |  |  | Low-friction access via secure links — clients complete actions without needing to log in | Clients must create accounts and log in with credentials each time |
| Reply-via-email messaging |  |  | Clients reply from their inbox and messages sync back to the portal automatically | Email notifications sent, but replies require logging into the portal |
| App visibility rules |  |  | Show different tools and apps to different clients based on custom fields and client tiers | No ability to customize which features each client sees |
| Portal customization depth |  |  | Full white-labeling with custom domains, colors, logos, typography, and embedded tools | Template-based design limited to logo and color changes |

## Pricing & Value

### Assembly offers transparent, month-to-month pricing — no annual lock-in required

Assembly starts at $39/month with all core features included — client portal, messaging, contracts, eSignatures, billing, file sharing, and automations — with no hidden add-ons or module fees. Monthly billing is available on all plans with a 14-day free trial and 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

|     |     |     |     |     |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Feature | Assembly | Competitor | Assembly Value | Competitor Value |
| Client portal included |  |  |  |  |
| Contracts & eSignatures |  |  |  |  |
| Payment processing |  |  |  |  |
| Billing & invoicing |  |  |  |  |
| File sharing |  |  |  |  |
| Workflow automation |  |  |  |  |
| Free trial available |  |  |  |  |
| HIPAA compliance |  |  |  |  |
| AI Assistant |  |  |  |  |
| Storefront for productized services |  |  |  |  |
| Monthly billing option |  |  | Monthly billing available on all plans | Annual upfront payment required — best price requires 3-year lock-in |
| Starting price point |  |  | $39/month all-inclusive (billed monthly or annually) | $800/user/year ($67/month) — billed annually upfront |
| 3-person firm cost |  |  | $149/month (Professional plan) | $249/month ($83/user × 3, annual commitment) |
| Add-on fees |  |  | All features included — no hidden add-ons | SMS, KBA signatures, white-labeled mobile app all cost extra — budget 10–20% above base |
| Contract commitment |  |  | No long-term commitment — 14-day free trial + 30-day satisfaction guarantee | Annual minimum — TaxDome explicitly states "we do not negotiate on pricing" |

## Frequently asked questions

### How is Assembly different from TaxDome?

Assembly is a modern, client-experience-first platform with a fully open developer ecosystem, while TaxDome is an accounting-specific practice management suite.