If you’re searching for Zola Suite reviews, this thing has changed. Details below.
You’re probably asking one of these questions instead:
- “Is Zola Suite still around?”
- “Did Zola turn into CARET?”
- “Why did my firm hear mixed things after the transition?”
- “What’s the closest modern replacement to what Zola used to be?”
This page exists to answer those exact questions, honestly and without marketing spin.
What Was Zola Suite Known For?
Before the transition, Zola Suite built a loyal following among small-to-mid-size law firms because it offered something rare at the time:
- Practice management
- Billing
- Trust accounting
- Document management
All inside one system.
For many firms, Zola felt like an “all-in-one legal OS” — especially attractive to firms that didn’t want to stitch together five different tools.
Zola was particularly popular with:
- Litigation firms
- Firms managing trust/IOLTA funds
- Practices that wanted tighter accounting control than lighter tools offered
So when people search for Zola today, they’re often searching for that experience, not just a logo.
What Happened to Zola Suite?
Zola Suite did not disappear — it was acquired and rebranded into CARET Legal.
From a technical standpoint:
- The platform continued
- Many core features remained
- Existing customers were migrated
From a user expectation standpoint:
- The product direction shifted
- Pricing models changed
- The target customer profile broadened
This is where most confusion — and mixed sentiment — comes from.
Is CARET Legal Just Zola Suite With a New Name?
Functionally: yes. Strategically: not quite.
CARET Legal is built on Zola’s foundation, but the roadmap expanded toward:
Stronger compliance tooling
More formalized trust accounting workflows
A heavier focus on financial controls
For some firms, this was a major upgrade.
For others, it felt like the product outgrew their needs.
That’s why Zola-era users often say things like:
“It’s powerful, but feels different than it used to.”
They’re not wrong.
Why Do Zola / CARET Reviews Feel “Mixed”?
This is important — because most negative reviews are not about bugs or instability.
They’re usually about fit.
Common themes behind mixed reviews:
Firms expecting Zola-style simplicity but encountering enterprise-leaning workflows
Pricing changing post-transition
Accounting depth becoming a requirement rather than an option
Firms that need robust accounting, compliance, and auditability often rate CARET highly.
Firms that wanted a lighter, faster experience sometimes begin comparing alternatives.
Who Is CARET Legal a Good Fit For Today?
Former Zola users tend to be happiest with CARET if they:
Manage trust/IOLTA accounts regularly
Have compliance or audit concerns
Want billing and accounting tightly integrated
Are comfortable with a more structured system
CARET is not trying to be the simplest tool on the market — it’s trying to be the most defensible.
What If You Liked Zola, But CARET Feels Like Too Much?
This is where many firms branch out.
Depending on why you liked Zola originally, different modern tools may fit better:
Firms prioritizing ease of use and flexibility often evaluate tools like Clio
Firms focused on document workflows and contract execution sometimes look at Gavel
Firms wanting modular tools instead of one monolith increasingly mix best-of-breed solutions
Zola Suite, as a standalone product, no longer exists — but its legacy absolutely does.
If you’re evaluating CARET Legal:
- Understand why Zola users felt the way they did
- Be honest about whether you need accounting depth or simplicity
- Compare based on workflow fit, not feature checklists
If you’re open to alternatives:
- Modern legal software has diversified significantly since Zola’s early days
- You’re no longer forced into a single “do-everything” platform
The best choice now depends less on brand loyalty — and more on how your firm actually operates today.