Moxo vs. ShareFile vs. Karbon Portals: The best tool for accounting firms
At a glance
Moxo, an all-in-one client portal for accountants, offers secure file sharing, automated workflows, and in-context messaging in a branded, mobile-first platform. With third-party integrations to eliminate silos and robust security features, Moxo streamlines collaboration and simplifies client management.
ShareFile offers strong compliance and workflow automation, though it is often adopted for general business use rather than accounting-specific needs.
Karbon emphasizes practice management, with client portal capabilities added to extend staff workflows to clients.
Discover which platform works best for your accounting firm in this article.
Finding the right tool for accountants
Choosing the right client portal for your accounting practice is not a small decision. The wrong choice can lock you into clunky workflows, put sensitive client data at risk, or frustrate clients who expect a modern digital experience.
The right choice, however, can transform how your firm communicates, collects documents, and delivers services.
This guide compares Moxo, ShareFile, and Karbon Portals, three leading solutions firms that are often evaluated side by side.
By the end, you will see how Moxo delivers the secure, intuitive, and branded client experience that decision-ready firms need to scale.
The problem: Fragmented client communication
Most accounting firms still juggle endless email threads, file attachments scattered across folders, and phone calls chasing clients for missing documents. This wastes valuable time and introduces compliance risks.
The 2025 Mango & Woodard Industry Trends Report, based on a survey of nearly 300 accounting professionals, found that document collection is the top communication challenge, causing delays for 69% of firms..
Firms that try to patch this gap with generic file-sharing tools or practice management add-ons quickly discover the limits of those systems.
Why the decision matters now
The pressure on firms is only increasing:
Compliance expectations are rising. Regulators and clients expect SOC 2, GDPR, and airtight audit trails.
Clients expect digital convenience. A mobile-first, app-like experience is no longer optional.
Competition is fierce. Firms that deliver a smoother client experience stand out. Those that do not, lose clients. The urgency is clear: choosing the right client portal is a business-critical decision, not a back-office one.
What to look for in a client portal
Security and compliance
Any portal must safeguard financial data with SOC 2 compliance and full audit logs. Without it, your firm is exposed to legal and reputational risks.
Ease of use
If your clients cannot figure it out in five minutes, adoption fails. The portal has to be intuitive for both partners and clients.
Collaboration and workflow
A true portal is not just a filing cabinet. It should centralize messages, tasks, and document requests in one secure hub.
Integration ecosystem
Your practice already runs on QuickBooks, Xero, or other tools. The portal should plug into those systems, not force workarounds.
Branding and client experience
Your client portal should reflect your brand, not someone else’s. White-labeling and mobile access elevate client trust and professionalism.
Moxo vs. ShareFile vs. Karbon: Head-to-head
Security and compliance
Moxo: Moxo offers a secure, SOC 2 and SOC 3-certified client portal that combines file sharing, messaging, workflow automation, and third-party integrations in one seamless platform. By unifying these tools, Moxo helps reduce the risks associated with using scattered, disconnected systems.
ShareFile: Built by Citrix, it offers robust compliance with encryption, audit trails, and e-signature support.
Karbon: SOC 2 compliant, with secure portals for file sharing and e-signatures. Designed for firms managing workflows across staff and clients.
Ease of use
Moxo: A seamless, mobile-first experience built for effortless client adoption. Moxo’s intuitive workflow builder empowers accountants to design custom process templates with ease. Firms report rapid client onboarding with minimal training required, leading to high satisfaction and a smoother overall experience.
ShareFile: Offers branded portals and mobile apps, but some accountants find the experience optimized more for general enterprise than accounting workflows.
Karbon: Strong task management and client collaboration in one view, but requires process setup to align with firm-specific workflows.
Collaboration and workflow
Moxo: Moxo simplifies collaboration by combining in-context messaging with powerful tools like real-time document sharing, automated file requests, reminders, e-signatures, PDF form filling, and workflow automation. It enables seamless task tracking and consolidates progress updates into a single, branded thread. By integrating messaging, document exchange, approvals, and task management in one place, Moxo ensures a streamlined and efficient client experience, making collaboration smoother and more effective.
ShareFile: Supports task assignments, automated workflows, and e-signatures, though collaboration is document-centric.
Karbon: Provides robust workflows for both staff and clients. Clients can upload documents, track tasks, and sign forms.
Integration ecosystem
Moxo: Moxo seamlessly integrates with a wide range of third-party tools to enhance functionality and streamline processes. From Stripe for secure online payments and Jumio for identity verification to DocuSign for e-signatures and QuickBooks for accounting, Moxo connects effortlessly with essential platforms. It also supports integration with other accounting and practice management systems via APIs, along with connectors like Google Sheets and Gmail, ensuring a versatile and comprehensive solution.
ShareFile: Strong integrations with Microsoft 365 and Teams, plus third-party connectors. Less focused on accounting software.
Karbon: Designed to connect with practice management and productivity tools. Accounting integrations are secondary.
Branding and client experience
Moxo: Moxo offers fully branded portals and apps, delivering a seamless client experience that feels like your firm’s very own digital product. With Moxo’s white-label client portal capabilities, you can customize every aspect of the platform to reflect your brand, from logos and colors to domain and interface design.
Take it a step further by integrating third-party systems and embedding automation directly into your apps. Moxo allows you to connect AI, existing tools, and your team to streamline complex workflows, ensuring your operations are both efficient and personalized. The result? A fully integrated, branded solution that powers your business from the inside out.
ShareFile: Supports branding for portals, but the experience may still feel like a file repository to clients.
Karbon: Offers branded client portals with document sharing and real-time status updates, extending the firm’s identity.
Quick Comparison Table: Moxo vs ShareFile vs Karbon
How Moxo delivers where others fall short
Moxo is designed to be the digital front door for your accounting firm. While ShareFile and Karbon have evolved into strong client-facing portals, Moxo differentiates itself by putting the client experience first. Firms that switch to Moxo consistently report:
- 40% faster client turnaround on document requests (customer-reported outcome)
- 50% fewer email threads clogging inboxes (firm survey)
- Higher client satisfaction scores due to a mobile-ready, branded experience
One mid-sized firm adopted Moxo to replace a general file-sharing solution. Within three months, they reported: "We used to wait a week for clients to upload tax documents. Now it happens in a day. Moxo makes us look like a modern firm, not one stuck in the past."
See more results in our customer case studies.
Social proof: What customers say
On G2, Moxo consistently earns high marks for usability and client experience:
- "The mobile experience is seamless. My clients actually use it without hand-holding."
- "Secure, branded, and keeps everything in one place. It is a game changer compared to juggling ShareFile and email." Industry analysts also highlight Moxo’s ability to consolidate fragmented workflows into a single client-facing portal, a critical differentiator for professional service firms.
The ROI case for Moxo
Time saved = Billable hours gained
If each staff member saves 5 hours a week by reducing client chasing, that is 20+ hours a month per employee. Multiplied across a team, the ROI is undeniable. Try our ROI calculator to estimate your potential savings.
Read: How Peninsula Visa slashed document processing time by 93% with Moxo
Better client retention
Firms that offer digital-first experiences are more likely to keep high-value clients who expect convenience.
Read: How Bank of Queensland enhanced lending workflows with Moxo
Reduced compliance risk
Fewer scattered emails and attachments mean fewer opportunities for sensitive data leaks, protecting both revenue and reputation.
Read: How Veon Szu Law increased their process efficiency by 80%
Scale your accounting firm with an all-in-one client portal
When comparing Moxo, ShareFile, and Karbon, the distinctions are not about whether they can act as client portals; all three can.
The difference lies in focus. ShareFile is powerful for secure document management and compliance-driven firms. Karbon provides strong practice management workflows extended to clients.
Moxo uniquely combines those essentials with a branded, mobile-first, client-first experience designed to scale accounting practices.
If your firm is serious about scaling without sacrificing client experience, Moxo is the partner to choose.
Book a Demo Today to see how Moxo can deliver measurable ROI for your practice.
FAQs
How does Moxo pricing compare to ShareFile and Karbon?
Moxo offers flexible pricing tiers designed for accounting firms of all sizes. Unlike ShareFile and Karbon, pricing is tied to delivering a client-first experience, not just storage or internal tasks. Learn more on our pricing page.
How long does implementation take?
Most firms are up and running in under 30 days, with onboarding support included.
Is Moxo secure enough for confidential financial data?
Yes. Moxo is SOC 2 and SOC 3 certified and built for handling sensitive client information. See our security overview.
Does Moxo integrate with QuickBooks, Xero, or other accounting tools?
Yes. Moxo integrates seamlessly with leading accounting platforms and can connect to your existing workflows via API.
What ROI can I expect in the first year?
Firms typically see 30–50% reductions in turnaround times, higher client adoption, and measurable time savings that translate into billable hours. Try our ROI calculator.
What’s the difference between Moxo, ShareFile, and Karbon for accounting firms?
ShareFile is strongest in secure file management, Karbon in practice management, while Moxo combines secure workflows, collaboration, and branding in a client-first portal.”
Is Moxo only for large firms?
No. Moxo scales for firms of all sizes (from small CPA practices to global enterprises) without adding IT overhead.”
