No software subscription
Use the open-source core with no per-user license fee. Budget separately for any hosting, support, and business systems your workflow still requires.
FILLVISA OS VS CLIO
An open-source Clio alternative. 100% free.
Beautiful forms. Your own hosting. Open code.
For immigration professionals who want focused form preparation without a software subscription. Fillvisa OS is free to use, open to inspect, and ready to self-host—while you choose the other tools your practice needs.
100% free software Self-hostable AGPL-3.0
IS FILLVISA OS A CLIO ALTERNATIVE?
For immigration form preparation, yes.
For your entire practice, compare the scope.
Fillvisa OS is a 100% free, self-hostable, AGPL-3.0 alternative for the supported immigration form-preparation part of a Clio workflow. It gives you browser-based tools and public source code. It does not replace Clio’s full practice management platform.
Clio brings matters, finances, and client communication together. Fillvisa OS can be useful when you want a standalone form tool and already handle those responsibilities elsewhere. Fillvisa OS documentation · Clio Manage overview
CHOOSE THE SCOPE YOU NEED
Sometimes the right tool
has a smaller job to do.
If your immediate need is to prepare supported immigration forms, you may prefer a focused tool over adopting a broader platform. Fillvisa OS keeps that choice open.
A focused form experience
Readable questions and clear sections keep attention on the preparation task. Try the same sample form in your current workflow and the Fillvisa demo.
Control over your copy
Inspect the public code, choose your deployment, and adapt the project under its license. Self-hosting lets you operate the form tool yourself.
Fit matters more than feature count. A smaller scope can be useful if you do not need the surrounding platform. It creates gaps if you do. Our design perspective is not a measured claim that Clio is harder to use.
SOFTWARE COST, WITH CONTEXT
Fillvisa OS vs. Clio pricing
Fillvisa OS has no software fee. Clio sells a hosted platform with broader capabilities. Its U.S. pricing page currently names Starter, Core, Signature, and Elite; compare your actual quote with the workflow you plan to keep.
| Product | Published price | Scope | Before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fillvisa OS | $0 software fee | Open-source form preparation | Budget for your own deployment and other tools |
| Clio practice management | Starts at $49 USD/user/month | Hosted practice management | Confirm billing term and package in your quote |
| Clio higher tiers | Request current pricing | Core, Signature, Elite | Verify inclusions and total cost |
| Additional Clio products | Confirm with Clio | Products such as Clio Grow | Ask what is bundled and what costs extra |
Source: Clio’s U.S. pricing page. The starting amount is not presented here as a month-to-month quote. We do not infer unpublished tier prices or use older plan names as current offers.
Free software has real value.
Fillvisa OS removes the software license charge from supported form preparation. The source is public, and you can keep your own copy.
Total cost is a wider calculation.
Include hosting, maintenance, backups, staff time, and any replacement systems. A $0 form tool does not reproduce the services and operations in a paid practice suite.
A SIMPLER PREPARATION WORKFLOW
Open a form. Work through it. Review the result.
Try a supported form before changing your process. Check the exact release and output you plan to use.
- 01 / CHOOSE
Find your supported form
Check the form directory and repository. Confirm that your chosen release includes the workflow and form edition you need.
Browse forms → - 02 / PREPARE
Work in your browser
Complete the questions and review the guidance. Local browser progress does not automatically sync across devices; plan how you will preserve your work.
Try the demo → - 03 / REVIEW
Check the final output
Review supported PDF outputs or online autofill results. Form preparation and autofill do not replace your final review or the official submission process.
Check supported capabilities →
WHAT YOU KEEP. WHAT YOU REPLACE.
Compare the whole workflow before switching.
Both products can play a role in immigration work. Their responsibilities are different. Confirm form coverage and package details for your own practice.
| Need | Fillvisa OS | Clio |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Supported immigration form preparation. | Practice management across matters and firm operations. |
| Immigration forms | Supported USCIS PDF workflows and DS-160 tools; verify your release. | Advertises supported USCIS form automation from approved client and matter data. |
| Source & deployment | Public AGPL-3.0 code; self-hostable static frontend. | Hosted commercial software; no self-hostable open-source edition identified in reviewed sources. |
| Matter records | Not a shared matter-management database. | Organizes matters, contacts, and documents. |
| Time, billing & accounting | Not included in the open-source core. | Time, billing, payments, and accounting workflows. |
| Calendars & tasks | Manage these responsibilities separately. | Practice calendars and task management. |
| Client acquisition & CRM | Not included in the open-source core. | Clio Grow addresses leads, intake, and client relationships. |
| Client portal & staff access | No hosted client accounts or shared cloud workspace. | Client communication and staff permissions; check your package. |
| Saved form progress | Local browser workflow; no automatic device sync. | Hosted records accessed through the service. |
| Connecting the products | No native Clio integration or automatic sync promised here. | Check supported integrations and export options with Clio. |
Sources: Fillvisa OS, Clio Manage, Clio Grow, and Clio for immigration practices.
FILLVISA OS MAY FIT WHEN
You want a standalone preparation tool.
- You need supported forms rather than a new practice platform.
- You value source access and self-hosting.
- You can work with local browser progress.
- Your other systems already cover practice operations.
- You can maintain your deployment or arrange help.
CLIO MAY FIT BETTER WHEN
Your firm depends on a connected system.
If your records, finances, deadlines, and team access are organized around Clio, replacing it with a form tool would leave important work uncovered.
It may make more sense to evaluate Fillvisa OS alongside an existing system. That is a workflow choice, not a claim of a native integration.
SELF-HOSTABLE. AGPL-3.0 LICENSED.
Your copy. Your deployment. Public source.
Fillvisa OS is a static frontend. The open-source core does not require a backend. Start with the repository instructions and verify your deployment before using it for real work.
01 / GET THE CODE
Start with the project.
Choose a repository release, review its included forms and documentation, and keep a record of the version you deploy.
View the repository →02 / HOST YOUR COPY
Serve the static files.
Use a static web server and test the form workflow, asset loading, downloads, and saved progress. Your deployment remains your responsibility.
Read setup documentation →03 / UNDERSTAND THE LICENSE
Built on AGPL-3.0.
Review the license before adapting, distributing, or operating a modified version for others. The repository’s license text is the authoritative reference.
Read the license →Control comes with responsibility. Plan updates, access controls, device security, and backups. Self-hosting a static frontend does not create a shared client database or cloud sync. Source availability alone is not a security certification.
SWITCH WITH A CLEAR PLAN
Test the fit before moving active work.
Start with one complete preparation workflow. Keep your existing process available until you know what the open-source edition covers.
Inventory your actual requirements
List forms, outputs, client communication, deadlines, billing records, accounting, and staff access. Identify which tasks can move to a form tool and which must remain in a practice management system.
Run a representative sample
Use fictional information to test a typical form and an edge case. Review the exported output and saved-progress behavior, including what happens when you close and reopen the browser.
Check exports and records
Confirm Clio’s export options and preserve your source records. Test only supported imports. Matter relationships, documents, notes, calendars, and financial records require separate handling; form answers do not recreate a practice database.
Prepare your deployment
Assign responsibility for hosting, updates, access, and backups. Document how users preserve local work and where completed files are stored.
Decide what stays and what moves
Compare the full operational cost and effort. Keep any tools you still need, and verify records and workflows before cancelling an existing service.
DIRECT ANSWERS
Fillvisa OS vs. Clio: frequently asked questions
Is Fillvisa OS an open-source Clio alternative?
Yes, for supported immigration form preparation. Fillvisa OS is 100% free, self-hostable software under AGPL-3.0. It is not a complete replacement for Clio’s practice management, billing, accounting, or CRM capabilities.
Is Fillvisa OS really 100% free?
Yes. The open-source core has no subscription or per-user software license fee. Hosting, maintenance, professional services, government fees, and other tools you use are separate costs.
How much does Clio cost?
Clio’s U.S. pricing page states that plans start at $49 USD per user per month and names Starter, Core, Signature, and Elite. Request current higher-tier pricing and confirm the billing term and package. This information was reviewed on October 29, 2026.
Does Clio support immigration forms?
Yes. Clio’s immigration page advertises supported USCIS form automation using approved client and matter information. Check the exact forms, current editions, and package requirements. This comparison does not assume Clio lacks immigration forms.
Can Fillvisa OS replace Clio Manage?
Only for the supported form-preparation tasks you choose to move. Fillvisa OS does not provide a full shared matter database, time billing, legal accounting, or practice-wide task system. Inventory those requirements before switching.
Can Fillvisa OS replace Clio Grow?
No direct replacement is claimed. Clio Grow focuses on client acquisition, intake, and CRM. Fillvisa OS focuses on preparing supported immigration forms, not managing a lead pipeline.
Can I use Fillvisa OS alongside Clio?
You can evaluate a workflow that uses separate tools for separate tasks, but this page does not promise a native integration, automatic record sync, or one-click transfer. Test how completed files and records will be handled.
Can I import my Clio records into Fillvisa OS?
No direct Clio migration is promised. Confirm export options, preserve your records, and test any supported imports with a sample. Documents, matter relationships, calendars, and financial records need separate treatment.
Can I self-host Fillvisa OS?
Yes. The open-source core is a static frontend that can be served with a static web server. Follow the repository documentation and plan updates, access configuration, and backups for your deployment.
Does self-hosting include cloud collaboration?
No. Hosting the static frontend does not add a shared database, hosted client accounts, or automatic cross-device sync. The open-source edition uses a local browser workflow.
What license does Fillvisa OS use?
Fillvisa OS uses AGPL-3.0. Read the repository LICENSE for the exact permissions and obligations before modifying, distributing, or operating a modified version for other people.
Is this a Fillvisa Plus comparison?
No. This page covers Fillvisa OS, the free, self-hostable open-source edition. Paid hosted offerings are separate and are not included in this comparison.
Sources & comparison methodology
Published by Fillvisa, not an independent review site. We reviewed first-party documentation on October 29, 2026. This page compares Fillvisa OS’s supported preparation workflows with the relevant parts of Clio’s broader offering.
- Fillvisa OS repository and AGPL-3.0 license — code, deployment, and open-source scope.
- Clio U.S. pricing — starting price, current plan names, and quote requests.
- Clio Manage — practice operations.
- Clio Grow — intake and CRM.
- Clio immigration software — supported immigration workflows.
We do not assume equivalent features, total-cost savings, automatic migration, or integration. Design recommendations reflect our perspective rather than a controlled usability study. Verify current pricing, billing commitments, form coverage, and features before changing your workflow.
Clio is a trademark of its respective owner. Fillvisa is not affiliated with or endorsed by Clio.
FREE TO USE. OPEN TO EXPLORE.
Make the workflow your own.
Get Fillvisa OS. Inspect the code. Host your copy.
100% free software, licensed under AGPL-3.0.