Conecta vs Karbon: The Bilingual Tax CRM Comparison

Conecta is the only bilingual tax CRM built from day one, while Karbon supports Spanish in the client portal only. For firms serving Hispanic clients, Conecta includes full bilingual features across the entire platform, SMS, and marketing automation that Karbon doesn't offer. A 3-person office saves $1,425-2,865 per year compared to Karbon.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature Karbon Conecta
Base Price (3 users) $2,124–$3,564/year (3 users, depending on plan + billing) $699/year (unlimited users)
Bilingual Support (English/Spanish) Karbon supports Spanish in the client portal; Conecta is bilingual across the entire platform (internal UI + templates + workflows) Built-in across entire platform
SMS/Texting Not included - need separate tool Included with credits
Marketing Automation No built-in marketing campaigns; workflow automation + reminders are built-in, and marketing campaigns typically run through integrations (e.g., Mailchimp) Included (campaigns, workflows)
Client Portal Included client portal (brandable). Conecta includes a fully branded portal focused on tax-season intake + ongoing client workflows Fully branded, included
E-Signatures Built-in eSignatures & approvals Included (Pro plan)
AI Features Karbon AI included (focuses on practice-management workflows); Conecta includes AI across CRM + messaging + marketing workflows Included everywhere
Tax-Specific Workflows Generic practice management Tax-specific stages, templates included
Setup & Onboarding Self-service or paid consulting White-glove setup included
Multiple Offices May charge per location Unlimited locations included

Real Cost Example: 3-Person Office

Karbon for a 3-person office:

  • Base: $2,124–$3,564/year (3 users, depending on plan + billing)
  • SMS tool (separate): $360-600/year
  • Marketing tool (separate): $300-500/year
  • Total: $1,608-3,248/year

Conecta for same 3-person office:

  • Pro plan: $699/year (unlimited users)
  • Everything included (SMS, marketing, bilingual)
  • Total: $699/year
  • You save: $1,425-2,865/year

Why Karbon Falls Short for Bilingual Tax Firms

I'm Alberto Contreras, founder of Conecta. After 10+ years in the tax industry—serving 30,000+ tax professionals at Latino Tax Pro and 100+ offices at ATAX—I've seen the same gap: practice management tools like Karbon are built for English-first firms.

The Reality: Karbon is excellent for practice management, but it supports Spanish only in the client portal. The internal UI, templates, and workflows are English-only, and it lacks the built-in marketing automation and full bilingual features that tax firms serving Hispanic clients need.

The Missing Bilingual Foundation

Karbon focuses on practice management—tasks, workflows, client communication. But when you serve Hispanic clients, you hit three critical gaps:

When Karbon Makes Sense

Karbon is a solid choice if:

The Conecta Advantage: Built for Bilingual Firms

I built Conecta in August 2025 because I watched tax pros serving Hispanic clients struggle with English-only tools. Conecta is the only tax CRM built bilingual from day one—not as an add-on, but as the foundation.

Since launching Conecta: Our beta firms have seen improved communication and reduced software costs compared to Karbon plus separate SMS and marketing tools.

The Bottom Line

Karbon is a great practice management tool, but it supports Spanish only in the client portal. If you serve Hispanic clients, need true bilingual support across the entire platform, want built-in marketing automation, and want to save $1,425-2,865 per year, Conecta is the only choice built for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Conecta better than Karbon for bilingual tax firms?

Yes. Conecta is the only tax CRM built bilingual from day one across the entire platform, while Karbon supports Spanish in the client portal only. Conecta includes SMS, marketing automation, and full bilingual features that Karbon doesn't offer, saving firms $1,425-2,865 per year.

Does Karbon support Spanish-speaking clients?

Karbon supports Spanish in the client portal, but Conecta is the only tax CRM with built-in bilingual functionality across the entire platform (internal UI, templates, workflows, SMS, email).

How much does Conecta cost compared to Karbon?

Conecta costs $699/year for unlimited users with everything included. Karbon costs $2,124-3,564/year for a 3-person office (depending on plan and billing), plus you need separate tools for SMS and marketing. Conecta saves firms $1,425-2,865 per year while including features Karbon lacks.

Does Karbon have marketing automation like Conecta?

Karbon includes workflow automation and reminders, but marketing campaigns typically run through integrations (e.g., Mailchimp). Conecta includes built-in marketing automation, SMS campaigns, email campaigns, and workflows in one platform.