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(Updated February 2026)
Assembly vs. TaxDome
While both Assembly and TaxDome help accounting firms manage their clients, Assembly delivers a superior client portal experience, dramatically faster setup, transparent month-to-month pricing, and a flexible platform that connects the tools you already use. If you're looking for a modern, client-experience-first alternative to TaxDome, Assembly is the better choice.
- Assembly delivers a more polished, customizable client portal experience
- Assembly gets you up and running in hours, not weeks
- Assembly offers transparent, flexible month-to-month pricing
- Assembly connects seamlessly with the tools your firm already uses
Assembly
4.8
Recommended
TaxDome
4.7
Recommended
What do customers say?
Accounting firms choose Assembly over TaxDome for its modern client portal, fast setup, platform flexibility, and transparent pricing. (Scores based on aggregate reviews.)
How quickly firms can deploy and start using the platform
How intuitive the platform is for daily operations
Assembly delivers a modern, branded client portal built for seamless two-way communication
Assembly's portal was built portal-first — it's the core product, not an add-on feature. Clients get a fully white-labeled experience with magic-link passwordless access, reply-via-email messaging, embedded third-party tools like Calendly and Airtable, and app visibility rules that let you show different tools to different clients. TaxDome's client portal handles document requests and invoices but relies on a template-based design with limited customization beyond logo and colors, and clients must create accounts and log in each time — adding friction to every interaction.
Feature | Assembly | Competitor | Assembly Value | Competitor Value |
Secure client portal |  | |||
Document sharing & uploads | | |||
eSignature capabilities | | |||
Custom domain (yourfirm.com) | | |||
Payment processing | | |||
Invoice & billing tools | | |||
White-labeled email sender | | |||
Client-facing help center | | |||
Productized services storefront | | |||
Embeddable third-party apps | | |||
Google SSO for clients | | |||
Magic-link access | | Low-friction access via secure links — clients complete actions without needing to log in | Clients must create accounts and log in with credentials each time | |
Reply-via-email messaging | | Clients reply from their inbox and messages sync back to the portal automatically | Email notifications sent, but replies require logging into the portal | |
App visibility rules | | Show different tools and apps to different clients based on custom fields and client tiers | No ability to customize which features each client sees | |
Portal customization depth | | Full white-labeling with custom domains, colors, logos, typography, and embedded tools | Template-based design limited to logo and color changes |
Assembly gets you up and running in hours — not the 6–8 weeks TaxDome requires
Assembly is designed for quick deployment with a clean, modular interface, guided onboarding, and prebuilt templates that let you create client portals, payment workflows, and contracts within hours. TaxDome's own documentation states that average onboarding takes 6–8 weeks, and the steep learning curve is the single most cited complaint across 7,500+ reviews — the platform even maintains a consultant marketplace because firms regularly need paid implementation help.
Feature | Assembly | Competitor | Assembly Value | Competitor Value |
Pre-built templates | | |||
Contract templates | | |||
Invoice templates | | |||
Help center & documentation | | |||
Onboarding support | | |||
One-click service provisioning | | |||
Setup time | | Hours — intuitive modular interface with guided onboarding | 6–8 weeks average — steep learning curve with complex nested menus | |
Interface design | | Clean, modern, modular UI with logical navigation | Feature-dense interface with many nested menus and settings | |
Implementation consultants needed | | Rarely — most firms self-onboard successfully | Often — TaxDome maintains a dedicated consultant marketplace for implementation | |
Team onboarding | | New team members can start working immediately with minimal training | Requires significant training through TaxDome Academy, Bootcamp, and help documentation | |
Client onboarding complexity | | Simple magic-link invitations — no required account creation | Clients must create accounts and navigate multiple steps |
Assembly offers transparent, month-to-month pricing — no annual lock-in required
Assembly starts at $39/month with all core features included — client portal, messaging, contracts, eSignatures, billing, file sharing, and automations — with no hidden add-ons or module fees. Monthly billing is available on all plans with a 14-day free trial and 30-day satisfaction guarantee. TaxDome requires upfront annual payment starting at $800/user/year, incentivizes 3-year lock-in commitments for the best rates, and charges separately for add-ons like SMS, KBA signatures, and white-labeled mobile apps. A 3-person firm pays $149/month for Assembly vs. $249/month for TaxDome Pro — and Assembly includes more integrations and API access at that tier.
Feature | Assembly | Competitor | Assembly Value | Competitor Value |
Client portal included | | |||
Contracts & eSignatures | | |||
Payment processing | | |||
Billing & invoicing | | |||
File sharing | | |||
Workflow automation | | |||
Free trial available | | |||
HIPAA compliance | | |||
AI Assistant | | |||
Storefront for productized services | | |||
Monthly billing option | | Monthly billing available on all plans | Annual upfront payment required — best price requires 3-year lock-in | |
Starting price point | | $39/month all-inclusive (billed monthly or annually) | $800/user/year ($67/month) — billed annually upfront | |
3-person firm cost | | $149/month (Professional plan) | $249/month ($83/user × 3, annual commitment) | |
Add-on fees | | All features included — no hidden add-ons | SMS, KBA signatures, white-labeled mobile app all cost extra — budget 10–20% above base | |
Contract commitment | | No long-term commitment — 14-day free trial + 30-day satisfaction guarantee | Annual minimum — TaxDome explicitly states "we do not negotiate on pricing" |
Assembly connects with the tools your firm already uses — and lets you bring them into one place
Assembly is built to work with your existing tech stack, not replace it. You can connect QuickBooks, Calendly, Airtable, and hundreds of other tools your firm relies on — and even embed them directly inside your client portal so clients access everything in one branded hub. Assembly also supports Zapier, Make, and custom automations so you can streamline repetitive workflows like client onboarding, document collection, and invoice reminders without manual effort. TaxDome operates as a closed system with limited connections to outside tools — there's no way to embed your favorite apps in the client portal, and automation triggers through Zapier are restricted to basic contact updates only.
Feature | Assembly | Competitor | Assembly Value | Competitor Value |
Zapier integration | | |||
Stripe integration | | |||
QuickBooks integration | | |||
Automated reminders | | |||
Workflow automations | | |||
Full REST API | | |||
Native webhooks | | |||
Make (Integromat) support | | |||
JavaScript SDK | | |||
App marketplace | | |||
Embed tools in client portal | | Embed Calendly, Airtable, Looker Studio, and other tools your firm uses directly inside the client portal | Closed portal — no way to bring outside tools into the client experience | |
Zapier automation depth | | Triggers for client activity, messages, files, invoices, forms, and more — automate end-to-end workflows | Limited to basic contact triggers only — no automation for documents, invoices, or workflows | |
Connecting your tech stack | | Open platform that works alongside tools you already use — connect via Zapier, Make, or direct integrations | Closed ecosystem — limited third-party connections, primarily syncs with QuickBooks and payment processors | |
Custom workflow automation | | Visual no-code builder to automate onboarding, billing, reminders, and client communication | Pipeline-based automation available only on Pro and Business plans | |
Building custom tools | | Build or commission custom apps tailored to your firm's specific needs and embed them in the client portal | Limited to TaxDome's existing features — no way to add custom functionality |
Frequently asked questions
How is Assembly different from TaxDome?
Assembly is a modern, client-experience-first platform with a fully open developer ecosystem, while TaxDome is an accounting-specific practice management suite. Assembly offers a polished white-labeled client portal, seamless connections to tools you already use, embeddable third-party apps, and transparent month-to-month pricing. TaxDome provides deeper tax-specific workflow tools but requires 6–8 weeks to set up, operates as a closed system with limited outside integrations, and requires annual upfront payment commitments.
Is Assembly a good TaxDome alternative for accounting firms?
Yes — Assembly is an excellent TaxDome alternative for accounting firms that prioritize client experience, fast setup, and platform flexibility. Firms that want a branded client portal with real-time messaging, embeddable tools, and easy connections to their existing tech stack choose Assembly over TaxDome's closed ecosystem approach.
Which is easier to set up — Assembly or TaxDome?
Assembly is significantly easier to set up. Most firms go live within hours using guided onboarding and prebuilt templates. TaxDome's own documentation states that average onboarding takes 6–8 weeks, and the steep learning curve is the most cited complaint in reviews. TaxDome even maintains a consultant marketplace because firms often need paid implementation help.
Does TaxDome have an API?
No — TaxDome does not have a public API. Its Zapier integration is limited to contact-level triggers only, with no triggers for documents, invoices, or workflows. Assembly offers a comprehensive open platform with full API access, native automations, Zapier, Make.com, and a developer platform for building custom tools.
Is Assembly cheaper than TaxDome?
For most firm sizes, yes. Assembly starts at $39/month with all features included and monthly billing available. TaxDome starts at $800/user/year (billed annually upfront), and a 3-person firm pays $249/month vs. Assembly's $149/month. Assembly also has no hidden add-on fees, while TaxDome charges extra for SMS, KBA signatures, and white-labeled mobile apps.
What is the best alternative to TaxDome?
Assembly is the best TaxDome alternative for firms that prioritize client experience, platform flexibility, and fast setup. Assembly offers a modern white-labeled portal, easy connections to tools you already use, embeddable apps, and transparent pricing — addressing TaxDome's most common complaints around learning curve, limited integrations, and rigid pricing.
How long does it take to set up TaxDome?
TaxDome's own documentation states that average onboarding takes 6–8 weeks. The learning curve is the most cited complaint across 7,500+ reviews, and many firms hire implementation consultants. In comparison, Assembly firms typically go live within hours.
Can I migrate from TaxDome to Assembly easily?
Yes — Assembly's quick onboarding and import tools make migration straightforward. Most firms set up their new Assembly workspace within hours and can run both platforms in parallel during transition. Assembly's team provides personalized onboarding support on Professional plans and above.
Does Assembly work for accounting and tax firms?
Yes — Assembly serves accounting, bookkeeping, and tax firms with a full suite of client management tools including a branded client portal, document sharing, eSignatures, invoicing, payment processing, task management, and workflow automation. Firms can embed specialized tools like tax organizers and reporting dashboards directly into the client portal.
Your firm and clients deserve a better experience than TaxDome
Try the modern alternative for free with our 14-day full access trial