LodgeHQ vs Migration Manager

The Migration Manager alternative built for modern Australian migration practices

Built by Awais Nisar, a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2318017), LodgeHQ does what Migration Manager does — with AI document review, ImmiAccount auto-fill, a built-in client portal, and workflow automation included in one subscription. Starting at $99/mo less than half the priceof Migration Manager's cheapest advertised licence. A practising agent's tool, not a generic corporate suite.

No credit card. No setup fees. No per-seat charge for your support team.

The pricing gap, at a glance

Both include the core case-management basics. LodgeHQ also bundles AI tools, a client portal, and your whole support team into one flat price.

Migration Manager

$239/licence/mo*
  • Per-licence pricing (licences are shareable)
  • A$900 one-off setup & training fee
  • AI document review and a built-in client portal not advertised on their public site (as at June 2026)

LodgeHQ

$99/mo
  • Support staff included (no per-seat)
  • Client portal included
  • AI document review & drafting included
  • ImmiAccount auto-fill Chrome extension

Total savings

Save $1,680/year

*LodgeHQ $99/mo vs Migration Manager's cheapest advertised licence — A$239/licence/mo on a 36-month term (A$259 on 24 months, A$339 on 12 months), all ex GST, plus a one-off A$900 setup & training fee. A$239 − $99 = A$140/mo. Pricing verified at migrationmanager.com.au/pricing on 13 June 2026.

Full feature comparison

An honest, line-by-line look at what each platform includes in its base subscription.

FeatureLodgeHQMigration Mgr
Starting monthly price$99$239+/licence
Support staff included (no per-seat)Per licence
Unlimited clients included
Custom pipeline stages
AI compliance tools
Conflict-of-interest detection
AI document extraction (PDF/images)
AI eligibility checker
AI document review
Passport scan auto-populate
Passport photo crop (35x45mm)
Document converter (PDF, Word, Excel, Images)
PDF tools (merge, compress, split, watermark)
ImmiAccount auto-fill
Client self-serve portal
Built-in e-signatures
CRM & lead pipeline
Email campaigns
Trust accounting
Time tracking & billing
Points test calculator
Occupation search & visa pathways
Scenario modeller
Xero / MYOB sync
Stripe online payments
Webhooks & Zapier
NAATI translation orders
Workflow automation builder
Calendar sync & booking page
WhatsApp messaging
CPD tracking
AI submission & email drafter
AI refusal risk analysis
DHA form auto-fill (7 forms)
Service agreement generator
Client surveys & NPS
Referral partner management
Knowledge base
Mobile-friendly (PWA)
Modern UI

Compiled from Migration Manager's public website as at 13 June 2026. A ✗ means we could not find the feature advertised as included in Migration Manager's base subscription — it is not confirmation that the feature is unavailable. Migration Manager pricing (from A$239/licence/mo, ex GST, on a 36-month term, plus a one-off A$900 setup & training fee) was verified at migrationmanager.com.au/pricing on 13 June 2026. If anything is out of date, please let us know and we'll correct it.

Why agents are switching to LodgeHQ

The reasons we hear most often from migration agents who make the move.

AI that actually helps

Not chatbot gimmicks — real tools that cut hours off every file.

  • AI compliance checks on every matter
  • AI document review and field extraction
  • AI-drafted file notes and submissions
  • AI refusal-risk analysis before lodgement

ImmiAccount auto-fill

Our Chrome extension — live on the Chrome Web Store — pulls client data straight from LodgeHQ and types it into every ImmiAccount field, across every page, every subclass.

  • One-click install, auto-updates forever
  • Saves 30–60 minutes per lodgement
  • ~90% of fields populated — including Form 80 and 482 sponsor module
  • Included in the base subscription

One subscription, everything included

No surprises on your next invoice. $99/mo buys the whole platform.

  • No per-seat charge for your support team — admin and support staff included free
  • No setup fees or onboarding charges
  • No training fees — docs and tutorials included
  • Cancel any time, keep your data export

Built by a practising agent

LodgeHQ was built by a MARA-registered migration agent for his own practice — and it's still used there every day.

  • Built by a MARA-registered agent, not a corporate software company
  • Still used daily in a live migration practice
  • Every feature is a real workflow need, not a checkbox
  • You're the user, not the product

How to migrate from Migration Manager

A practical, honest migration path. It's not one-click, but it's straightforward.

  1. 1

    Export your data from Migration Manager

    Use Migration Manager's built-in export to pull clients, matters, and contacts to CSV / Excel. Bulk-download any documents you want to bring across.

  2. 2

    Import into LodgeHQ

    LodgeHQ accepts CSV imports for clients, contacts, and matters. Map the fields once, preview, and import. Documents are uploaded per matter — you can bulk-drag folders in.

  3. 3

    Run both in parallel for a week

    Start lodging new matters in LodgeHQ. Keep Migration Manager read-only for your in-flight files until you're ready to switch fully. Most practices are operating entirely on LodgeHQ within 5–10 days.

  4. 4

    Cancel Migration Manager

    Once every active matter is live in LodgeHQ, cancel your old subscription and bank the savings. We're happy to help with the transition — email support@lodgehq.com.au.

We won't pretend this is a one-click migration. It does involve some structured data entry, but most practices complete it in under a week.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to switch from Migration Manager?

Most practices are fully operational on LodgeHQ within a week. You can sign up, explore every feature during the 14-day free trial, and start lodging new matters immediately. Historical data migration typically takes a few days of structured data entry, depending on how many active clients you have.

Can I export my data from Migration Manager?

Yes. Migration Manager lets you export client and matter data to CSV / Excel. LodgeHQ accepts CSV imports for clients, matters, and contacts. For documents, you can bulk-download from Migration Manager and upload to the relevant matters in LodgeHQ. Our support team can assist you with the import.

Is LodgeHQ MARA compliant?

LodgeHQ is purpose-built for MARA-registered agents. It includes conflict-of-interest detection, consumer guide tracking, file note generation, CPD logging, trust accounting, and a full audit trail. It is designed to help you stay organised and audit-ready under the Code of Conduct.

Do you support ENS, partner, student and other visa types?

All of them. LodgeHQ is not locked to specific subclasses — 186 ENS, 820/801 partner, 500 student, 482, 189, 190, 491, 600, 407, 485 and every other visa type. Smart questionnaires adapt to the visa type automatically, and the ImmiAccount extension works across every subclass form.

Does LodgeHQ have trust accounting?

Yes. LodgeHQ includes a full trust account ledger with receipts, disbursements, transfers, and reconciliation. Invoices can draw from trust, and you get audit-ready trust statements out of the box.

Are there hidden fees, per-user charges, or setup costs?

No. LodgeHQ is $99/mo (AUD + GST) per agent, with unlimited admin & support staff included free. Additional registered agents are $99/mo each. Unlimited clients. No setup fees, no training fees, no onboarding charges. The Chrome extension and every feature is included. SMS is an optional add-on (A$40/month for 150 outbound Australian texts a month); document conversions have a fair-use cap of 100/mo, then $0.15/conversion.

Ready to switch?

Start your 14-day free trial of LodgeHQ. Full access to every feature. No credit card. Import your Migration Manager data when you're ready.

Start your 14-day free trial

No credit card. No setup fees. Set up in 30 seconds.