PACER vs. CM/ECF: What's the Difference?
If you're new to federal court, these two acronyms will come up constantly — and they're easy to confuse. The simplest way to understand them: PACER is for reading. CM/ECF is for writing. They're separate systems that share a login.
PACER
Purpose: View and download court filings, docket sheets, case information, and court opinions.
Who can use it: Anyone. Public access. No court permission needed.
Cost: $0.10/page, $3 cap per document. Free if under $30/quarter.
Think of it as: The library. You go there to read what's been filed.
CM/ECF
Purpose: File documents with the court electronically — motions, briefs, exhibits, responses.
Who can use it: Attorneys (generally required). Pro se litigants (varies by court — see our e-filing guide).
Cost: Free to file. PACER fees apply when viewing documents through the system.
Think of it as: The filing window. You go there to submit documents to the court.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | PACER | CM/ECF |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | View/download filings | File documents with the court |
| Registration | Open to anyone at pacer.uscourts.gov | Requires court permission for pro se |
| Cost | $0.10/page, $3 cap/doc, free under $30/quarter | No filing fees through CM/ECF itself (case filing fees are separate) |
| What you can do | Search cases, view dockets, download documents, read court opinions | Upload PDFs, file motions/briefs/exhibits, receive electronic notifications |
| Login | Shared login under NextGen (separate in older systems) | |
| Document format | View any filed PDF | Upload PDFs only — must meet CM/ECF requirements |
| Available courts | All federal courts | All federal courts (pro se access varies) |
| Mobile access | Yes (web-based) | Yes, but filing on mobile is cumbersome |
How They Work Together
In practice, you use both systems as part of the same workflow. When opposing counsel files a motion to dismiss, CM/ECF sends you an email notification with a link. You click the link, which takes you to PACER, where you view and download the motion (PACER charges apply). You draft your response, save it as a PDF, and upload it through CM/ECF. CM/ECF then sends a notification to opposing counsel letting them know you've filed your response. They view it through PACER. And the cycle continues.
If you only have PACER access (no CM/ECF), you can still monitor your case — view everything that's filed, track deadlines from the docket, and download documents. You just can't file electronically. You'd file on paper at the clerk's office and opposing counsel's filings would arrive by mail instead of email notification.
NextGen vs. the Old System
The federal judiciary has been migrating courts to a new version of CM/ECF called NextGen. The biggest change for users is the login system.
Under NextGen: You have one account that works for both PACER and CM/ECF. Log in once at pacer.uscourts.gov and you can both view documents and file them (if you have filing privileges). Your PACER username and password are your CM/ECF credentials.
Under the old system: PACER and CM/ECF had separate accounts with separate credentials. You'd have a PACER login for viewing and a different CM/ECF login for filing, each tied to a specific court. This was confusing and is being phased out, but some courts haven't migrated yet.
To check whether your court uses NextGen, look at the login page when you go to file. If it redirects you to pacer.uscourts.gov for login, it's NextGen. If it has its own login page with the court's name, it's the old system.
PACER Costs: What You'll Actually Pay
PACER's fee structure trips people up. Here's how it actually works.
Per-page fee: $0.10 per page for any document you access. A 30-page motion costs $3.00 to view.
Per-document cap: No single document will cost more than $3.00 regardless of length. A 200-page filing still costs $3.00.
Quarterly waiver: If your total PACER charges for the quarter are under $30, the fees are waived automatically. You're not charged. This means if you're only accessing documents in your own case a few times a month, you'll likely pay nothing.
Free look: When a new document is filed in your case and you receive the email notification through CM/ECF, you get one free look at that document within 15 days of the filing date. After 15 days, or if you access it a second time, PACER fees apply.
IFP does not equal free PACER. This is a common misconception. Being granted in forma pauperis status in your case does not automatically give you free PACER access. IFP waives the filing fee — not PACER viewing fees. You can separately petition the court for a PACER fee exemption, but it's not automatic and not every court grants it.
Do I Need Both?
You need PACER if you want to monitor your case electronically — see what the other side files, download court orders, track the docket. Registration is free and open to anyone. Even if you're filing on paper, having PACER access is valuable.
You want CM/ECF access if your court allows pro se e-filing and you want the convenience of filing anytime, receiving instant email notifications, and automatic service on opposing counsel. Whether you can get it depends on your district — see our guide on pro se e-filing eligibility.
At minimum, every pro se federal litigant should have a PACER account. It costs nothing to register and may cost nothing to use if your quarterly access stays under $30.
Getting Started
Register for PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov. The registration process takes about 10 minutes and requires your name, address, email, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Once registered, you can search any federal court's case records immediately.
For CM/ECF filing access, see our step-by-step guide: How to Register for CM/ECF as Pro Se.
Related guides: Can pro se litigants e-file? · CM/ECF registration for pro se · PACER for beginners · CM/ECF PDF requirements