If your firm runs Thomson Reuters Practice CS, you're probably not shopping for practice management software because Practice CS stopped working. It's a deep, capable product. Firms start looking because of everything around it: servers or hosting, separate products for the portal and documents, pricing that's hard to pin down, and now a hard date for FileCabinet CS.
This guide is written by TPS Software, maker of Axis by TPS Software (formerly TPS Cloud Axis). We're not a neutral observer, and we're not going to pretend to be. So we'll say plainly where Practice CS is still the better fit, and where Axis is worth a look.
Why accounting firms are looking at Practice CS alternatives
FileCabinet CS support ends December 31, 2027
Thomson Reuters has confirmed that FileCabinet CS, the CS Professional Suite's document manager, gets no updates or support after December 31, 2027. With an expired license, firms can't add new documents or send them to NetClient CS.
If your documents live in FileCabinet CS, your firm has to decide where they go next. Once you're replacing part of the stack, it's natural to ask whether the rest should move too.
Installed software means servers or hosting
Practice CS is installed Windows software. Firms either run it on their own server or pay for a hosted environment from Thomson Reuters or a third-party host. Either way, someone has to look after updates, workstations, remote access and backups.
A browser-based system removes that layer. Your team logs in from the office or from home, and there's nothing to install or patch.
Pricing isn't published
Thomson Reuters doesn't publish Practice CS pricing. Project, staff and client management are add-on modules, and hosting and support are separate costs. That doesn't make it expensive for every firm, but it does make it hard to compare. Ask for a full quote that includes every module, hosting and support for your real number of users.
The portal, documents and payments are separate products
In the CS Suite, the client portal is NetClient CS, and documents live in FileCabinet CS. Online card payments run through NetClient CS. That works, but it's several products to license, connect and maintain.
Where Practice CS is still the better fit
Practice CS isn't a weak product, and switching isn't right for every firm. It's hard to beat if:
If all four describe your firm, you may be better off staying, and dealing with FileCabinet CS on its own.
What to check in a Practice CS alternative
Before you compare feature lists, check the things that decide whether a switch works:
The main types of Practice CS alternatives
There isn't one right replacement for every Practice CS firm. The options fall into four groups:
The right group depends on why you're leaving. If it's mainly about documents, a document tool may be enough. If it's servers, cost and too many separate products, look at a full practice management system.
Practice CS vs Axis by TPS Software
| Practice CS | Axis by TPS Software | |
|---|---|---|
| How it runs | Installed Windows software, on your own server or hosted | In the browser; nothing to install |
| Pricing | Not published; modules, hosting and support quoted separately | $18 USD / $24 CAD to $34 USD / $48 CAD per user per month, billed monthly, no annual commitment |
| Tax software | Shares a client database with UltraTax CS and Accounting CS | No tax software integration; Axis doesn't prepare returns |
| Billing methods | Hourly, fixed fee, progress, retainer | Hourly, progress billing and retainers |
| Offline time entry | Yes | Browser-based |
| Reporting | 150+ report formats; 4 customizable dashboards | 400+ reports; Power BI dashboards on Ultimate |
| Client portal and e-signature | Separate product (NetClient CS) | Built in on Ultimate |
| Document management | Separate product (FileCabinet CS); support ends December 31, 2027 | Built in on Ultimate: folder templates, permission levels, unlimited storage, no-login upload links |
| Online payments | Through NetClient CS | Stripe, CPACharge, PayPal, Clover or PayClix on Ultimate |
| Workflow and due dates | Project Management add-on module | Included from Pro: templates, calendars, automatic hand-offs |
Practice CS details are from Thomson Reuters' product and help pages, checked November 2026.
Why firms consider Axis as a Practice CS alternative
1. No servers, no hosting bill
Axis runs in the browser. Your team works from the same client records in the office or at home, without a server to maintain, a host to pay or workstations to update.
2. Clear monthly pricing
| Plan | Price per user per month | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | $18 USD / $24 CAD | Time and billing |
| Pro | $25 USD / $36 CAD | Adds workflow templates, client workflow management and calendars |
| Ultimate | $34 USD / $48 CAD | Adds client portal, e-signature, document management, online payments, QuickBooks Online sync and Power BI dashboards |
Every plan is billed monthly with no annual commitment, and there's no onboarding fee. Data conversion is quoted separately. See plans and pricing.
3. Your Practice CS data comes with you
TPS converts Practice CS data, including clients, open WIP and accounts receivable, so you start in Axis with the work and money already in flight.
4. Time, WIP and billing built for accounting firms
Axis supports progress billing and retainers. WIP nets progress bills against unbilled work, and partners review draft invoices before they go out. Read more about time and billing in Axis.
5. Portal, documents and payments in the same system
On Ultimate, the client portal, e-signature, documents and online payments are part of the same product as time and billing, not separate licenses. That also gives FileCabinet CS documents somewhere to go.
6. Built for firms of every size, including multi-office
Axis serves firms from a single practitioner to multi-office firms with 50+ staff. TPS Software has built software only for accounting firms since 1999.
What to know before switching to Axis
We'd rather you hear this from us than find it out after you switch:
Which Practice CS alternative is right for your firm?
It depends on why you're looking.
If your firm lives inside UltraTax CS and the CS Suite, and you have an administrator to run it, Practice CS or Thomson Reuters' Onvio may still be the right home.
If you mainly need somewhere for FileCabinet CS documents to go, a document-focused tool may be enough.
And if you want to stop paying for servers or hosting, bring time, WIP, billing, workflow, portal and documents into one browser-based system, and pay month to month, Axis by TPS Software belongs on your shortlist.
FAQ
What is a good alternative to Practice CS?
It depends on your firm. Firms that want to stay with Thomson Reuters look at Onvio. Firms that want a client-portal-first platform look at tools like TaxDome. Firms that want time, WIP, billing and workflow in one browser-based system, billed monthly, look at Axis by TPS Software.
How much does Practice CS cost?
Thomson Reuters doesn't publish Practice CS pricing. Ask for a quote that includes every module you need, hosting and support, for your real number of users.
What happens to FileCabinet CS after 2027?
Thomson Reuters has said FileCabinet CS gets no updates or support after December 31, 2027. With an expired license, firms can't add new documents or send them to NetClient CS.
Does Axis integrate with UltraTax CS?
No. Axis doesn't prepare tax returns, and UltraTax CS has no cloud API to sync with. Firms that switch keep UltraTax CS for returns and run the practice in Axis.
Can TPS move my data from Practice CS?
Yes. TPS converts Practice CS data, including clients, open WIP and accounts receivable.
Does Axis support progress billing and retainers?
Yes, Axis supports both.
How much does Axis by TPS Software cost?
Axis costs $18 USD / $24 CAD, $25 USD / $36 CAD or $34 USD / $48 CAD per user per month, depending on the plan. It's billed monthly with no annual commitment.
See Axis with your own data
In a demo, we'll show how your clients, WIP and billing would look in Axis, and walk through what moving from Practice CS involves.
