You do not need to trade migration-practice capability for modern software. Matter combines the essential work of an Australian migration practice with a faster, cleaner experience for staff and clients.
Direct answer
Matter is the stronger choice for Australian migration practices that want complete capability in a modern browser product. It runs on desktop, tablet, and mobile and combines the client portal, document automation, Department forms, supported ImmiAccount fill, billing, client and trust accounting, and independently tested application security. Migration Manager uses a Windows desktop application.
Who this comparison is for
Established Australian migration practices that want to reduce administration, work from any device, and give clients a more polished experience without losing essential practice capability.
Practice comparison
| Decision point | matter | Migration Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Access for staff | Runs in a browser on desktop, tablet, and mobile without a local workstation installation. | Runs as a desktop application on Windows. Its published FAQ says Mac users need a virtual Windows environment. |
| Complete practice management | Cases, contacts, organisations, leads, notes, tasks, milestones, email, documents, billing, and accounts stay together around each matter. | Includes matter management, checklists, file notes, tasks, email capture, client accounting, and trust accounting. |
| Client experience | Clients use a clean, branded portal for questionnaires, document requests, messages, and progress updates. | MM Portal supports branded questionnaires, document exchange, messages, and progress updates. |
| Document collection and review | Structured requests, scheduled reminders, file-by-file review, rejection notes, and supported image conversion reduce repeated follow-up. | MM Portal collects documents and supports document approval or rejection inside the matter. |
| Department forms and ImmiAccount | Fills common Department PDFs and supported ImmiAccount application drafts from approved case data. The practitioner reviews and controls lodgement. | Fills Department forms and uses eLodge to automate supported online applications from matter data. |
| Billing and accounts | Includes billing, invoices, receipts, client payment records, Xero integration, and client and trust accounting. | Includes client accounting, trust accounting, financial reports, bank reconciliation, and Xero integration. |
| Published security evidence | Holds CASA Tier 3 certification after independent manual testing across all 14 OWASP ASVS categories. | Publishes ISO 27001 certification and says its software and portal receive independent penetration testing. |
| Independent copy of practice files | Supports backup to storage owned by your practice in Google Drive or OneDrive. | Stores and backs up data in MM Cloud and lists integrations with Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. |
| Evaluation and setup | Offers a one-week free trial and has no setup fee. | Its published pricing includes professional setup and training with fixed-term subscription options. |
Why Matter
A practitioner should not need a particular computer or a virtual Windows installation to check a matter. Matter opens in a browser, so the same practice system is available at the office, at home, or while travelling.
Clients judge the practice through every request, reminder, upload, and update. Matter gives them a clean portal branded to your practice. Staff can see the same document and matter status without chasing a separate trail.
Matter turns each request into a controlled workflow. It sends scheduled reminders, prepares supported image uploads, and lets staff accept or reject each file with notes before completing the request.
Matter uses approved case data to fill common Department PDFs and supported ImmiAccount drafts. The practitioner stays in control, reviews the result, and decides when to lodge.
Matter includes practice billing, invoices, receipts, client payment records, Xero integration, and client and trust accounting. A modern client experience does not require a separate accounting compromise.
Both vendors publish meaningful security evidence. Matter adds CASA Tier 3 certification based on independent manual testing of the application across all 14 OWASP ASVS categories. It also supports backup to storage owned by your practice.
Before you switch
If staff are productive, clients are satisfied, device requirements cause no friction, and administration is under control, a system change can create work without enough return.
Choose Matter when you want the complete migration workflow in a modern browser product, easier access for staff, less document chasing, a polished client experience, and security evidence you can examine.
Test the decision
A checklist cannot show how much effort a product removes. Use a representative matter and complete the work that usually creates friction:
The product decision and the data-migration decision are separate. Ask for a written scope that answers these questions:
See Matter in practice
Market guide
See which products belong on a serious RMA practice shortlist.
View detailsClient experience
See how clients receive requests, upload files, and follow progress.
View detailsSecurity
Review the independent application-security assessment and backup controls.
View detailsQuestions buyers ask
Matter includes the core work of an Australian migration practice: customer and case management, a branded client portal, document collection and review, reminders, case email, notes, tasks, milestones, Department forms, supported ImmiAccount fill, billing, client accounting, and trust accounting. Confirm the migration scope for your existing records and templates before you commit.
No. Matter runs in a browser on desktop, tablet, and mobile without a local workstation installation.
Yes. Matter fills common Department PDFs, including Form 80 and Form 956. It also copies approved case-form values into supported ImmiAccount application drafts. The practitioner reviews the result and controls lodgement.
Yes. Matter includes billing, invoicing, receipts, client payment records, Xero integration, and client and trust accounting.
Compare published evidence, the scope of each assessment, access controls, backup ownership, export options, and incident procedures. Matter holds CASA Tier 3 certification after independent manual testing across all 14 OWASP ASVS categories. Migration Manager publishes ISO 27001 certification and independent penetration testing.
Yes. Matter includes a self-service Migration Manager import. Connect the Google Drive or OneDrive folder that contains your Migration Manager documents. Matter scans it and suggests contacts, organisations, and cases for you to review. You can import active cases and keep links to historical cases. Matter Immigration Enterprise includes white-glove migration support for larger or more complex moves.
Use a representative matter to test the client portal, document requests, reminders, forms, email, tasks, accounts, mobile access, and backup. Decide from the work, not the feature count.
Start with a one-week free trial.