Cliniko alternatives: where to go and how to take your patient files with you
Five tools in detail, one pick per reason for leaving, and a six-step exit plan.
The short answer: Jane if you want the closest thing to Cliniko with a documented Cliniko import. Zanda if you work solo and want to pay less than $45 a month. SimplePractice if you are a US therapist who wants an all-in-one. Practice Better if you want a low entry price and clear tiers to grow into. Halaxy if you would rather pay per use than a fixed subscription. Whatever you pick, Cliniko lets you export all your data, but your invoices will not come with you. We compared these tools on their official pricing pages in 2026.
The ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Why clinics outgrow Cliniko, and what it costs to leave
Let's be fair first. Practitioners praise Cliniko for its speed and simplicity, and several reviewers call it friendlier and cheaper than the system they had before. People rarely leave because it is bad. They leave because of one of these six gaps.
No phone support
One reviewer sums it up: "constantly logging me out and zero phone support." Another describes answers that arrive days later and miss the question. If your front desk needs someone on the line when the diary breaks on a Monday morning, that matters more than any feature list.
No recurring invoices or memberships
A recurring complaint from clinic owners: "Lack of ability to generate recurring invoices. Lack of ability to manage a membership." If you sell monthly plans, class packs or session bundles, you end up tracking them outside Cliniko, which defeats the point of an all-in-one.
No automatic patient ID
"Cliniko does not provide/assign patient ID# when a patient is registered," writes one practitioner. It sounds small. It is not when your insurer, your accountant or a referral letter asks for a file number and you have to invent one by hand.
A price jump at the second practitioner
Cliniko's pricing is flat inside each tier: $45 a month for one practitioner, $95 for two to five, $145 for six to eight. Great value at five, painful at two: hiring your first associate more than doubles the bill. SMS reminders are extra, on prepaid credits at 10 cents a message.
Data location depends on where you signed up
Cliniko's security page says accounts created in Europe are stored in Ireland, UK accounts in the UK, Australian ones in Australia, Canadian ones in Canada, and everyone else in Australia. One older GDPR help article still mentions Australian servers. If data residency matters to you or your regulator, check your own account's region.
Leaving takes real work
The good news: Cliniko exports "all (and we mean ALL)" of your data. The catch: each export expires after two weeks, only admins can see every export, and invoices do not transfer to any other system. Plan the exit before you sign up somewhere else.
You're leaving because… go to…
The right Cliniko alternative depends on what is pushing you out. Usually only one row applies. Each card jumps to the full write-up below.
Documented import of Cliniko patients, appointments, notes and files.
You work solo and want a lower billZandaStarter at $29 a month for one practitioner.
You are a US therapist who wants an all-in-oneSimplePracticeStarter at $49 a month, Plus at $99.
You want clear tiers to grow intoPractice BetterFour plans from $35 to $155 a month.
You'd rather pay per use than subscribeHalaxyFree core platform, fees on payments and usage credits.
You run a PT clinic and need insurance billingJane or a PT EMRJane adds insurance billing for $20 a month; our PT ranking covers the rest.
Cliniko alternatives, tool by tool
For each tool: why move to it, who it fits, its limit, how to migrate from Cliniko, and what it costs. We only ranked tools that publish their prices on their own site. Prices are the ones shown in 2026.
Jane: the closest match, with an import built for Cliniko
Easiest switchWhy move to Jane. Jane covers the same ground as Cliniko (scheduling, charting, payments, telehealth) and its import guide has a dedicated page for Cliniko exports. Patients, appointments, treatment notes, attachments and forms all come across.
Who it fits. Clinics that like how Cliniko works but want extras: insurance billing for $20 a month, or an AI Scribe at $15 per practitioner.
Who it doesn't fit. A solo practitioner leaving to save money. Jane's entry plan costs more than Cliniko's.
Its limit. Balance, at $59 a month, caps you at 20 appointments a month for one practitioner, so it only suits a part-time start. Full-time means Practice at $79, or Thrive at $99.
How to migrate. Export everything from Cliniko as a "Data file", then follow Jane's Cliniko import guide. Billing stays behind: Jane says outright that this data "is quite complex and does not transfer between software."
Price. Balance $59, Practice $79, Thrive $99 a month. One-on-one telehealth is included.
- Price
- $59 to $99/mo
- Import
- Cliniko exports supported
- Best for
- a like-for-like switch
- Limit
- 20 appts/mo on Balance
Zanda: the cheapest seat for a solo practitioner
Lowest priceWhy move to Zanda. Zanda (formerly Power Diary) starts at $29 a month for one practitioner, $16 less than Cliniko.
Who it fits. A solo clinician with up to 1,000 appointments a month who wants scheduling, notes and reminders without a big bill.
Who it doesn't fit. Growing group practices. Growth costs $49 a month plus $29 per extra practitioner, so five practitioners land well above Cliniko's $95 tier.
Its limit. Add-ons stack up: Telehealth Pro is $9 per practitioner, and SMS run 9 cents each.
How to migrate. Export patients and appointments from Cliniko as data files, then ask Zanda's support what they import, clinical notes included, before you cancel anything.
Price. Starter $29 a month (1 practitioner, 1,000 appointments), Growth $49 plus $29 per extra practitioner.
- Price
- from $29/mo
- Growth
- $49 + $29/practitioner
- Best for
- solo practitioners
- Limit
- pricey past 3 practitioners
SimplePractice: the all-in-one for US therapists
US therapistsWhy move to SimplePractice. It is a practice management suite built for therapists, with a Starter plan at $49 a month.
Who it fits. Therapists and counselors in the US, which is the market its plans are built around.
Who it doesn't fit. Physio and chiro clinics outside the US, and group practices: each extra clinician on Plus costs $74 a month.
Its limit. The useful features sit higher up: Essential is $79 and Plus $99 a month. A solo therapist on Starter pays more than on Cliniko for fewer seats of headroom.
How to migrate. SimplePractice does not publish a Cliniko-specific import. Send them your patient and appointment data files during the trial and check a sample before you cancel Cliniko.
Price. Starter $49, Essential $79, Plus $99 a month; +$74 per extra clinician.
- Price
- $49 to $99/mo
- Extra clinician
- +$74/mo on Plus
- Best for
- US therapists
- Limit
- +$74 per extra clinician
Practice Better: four clear tiers to grow into
Room to growWhy move to Practice Better. Starter costs $35 a month, $10 under Cliniko's solo price, and the plans climb in clear steps up to Team. You can start small and change plans without changing tools.
Who it fits. A solo practitioner who wants a low start and expects to add colleagues later.
Who it doesn't fit. A mid-size clinic on a tight budget: Team costs $155 a month, well above Cliniko's $95 for up to five practitioners.
Its limit. The jumps between tiers are steep: $35, then $69 for Professional, $99 for Plus. Annual billing lowers each price but locks you in longer.
How to migrate. Use the 14-day trial to import a sample of your Cliniko exports and confirm treatment notes arrive readable and linked to the right patient.
Price. Starter $35, Professional $69, Plus $99, Team $155 a month, less on annual billing.
- Price
- $35 to $155/mo
- Trial
- 14 days
- Best for
- start small, grow later
- Limit
- steep jumps between tiers
Halaxy: a free core, paid by usage
Free coreWhy move to Halaxy. Halaxy flips the model: the core platform is free, with unlimited practitioners, locations and appointments. You pay on payments processed and on usage credits.
Who it fits. New or part-time practitioners, and clinics that want no fixed subscription.
Who it doesn't fit. Clinics that send lots of SMS or run a lot of telehealth: every use burns credits.
Its limit. Free has a price. Payment fees start at 1.5%, and credits cost between AUD 0.15 and 0.22 for SMS, telehealth and AI. Prices are shown in Australian dollars, so budget for the exchange rate if you bill in USD.
How to migrate. Keep complete Cliniko exports and ask Halaxy support what they bring across. Test with about ten patient files first.
Price. Free core platform; payment fees from 1.5%; credits from AUD 0.15 to 0.22.
- Price
- free core
- Usage
- fees from 1.5%, credits
- Best for
- low or irregular volume
- Limit
- priced in AUD
Cliniko and its alternatives side by side
Our default pick: Jane for a like-for-like switch, Zanda for a solo practitioner watching costs. If you run a PT clinic and need insurance billing and home exercise programs, our ranking of physical therapy software goes deeper, with WebPT and SPRY.
| Entry price | What to know | |
|---|---|---|
| ClinikoWhere you start | $45/mo (1 practitioner), $95 for 2 to 5 | SMS 10 cents each; one month free on annual billing; 30-day trial |
| JaneClosest match | $59/mo (20 appointments) | Documented Cliniko import; billing not transferred |
| ZandaCheapest solo | $29/mo (1 practitioner) | Growth at $49, +$29 per extra practitioner |
| SimplePracticeUS therapists | $49/mo | Essential $79, Plus $99; +$74 per extra clinician |
| Practice BetterRoom to grow | $35/mo | Four tiers up to $155; 14-day trial |
| HalaxyPay per use | Free core | Payment fees from 1.5%; credits in AUD |
Prices as listed by each vendor in 2026, before tax, subject to change. Always price it on your own number of practitioners.
Leaving Cliniko in six steps
Order matters. Your new tool can wait a week; your patient records should never be in limbo. Each step protects something: clinical history, money patients owe you, and the appointments already booked.
List what Cliniko does for you and check your data region
Day 1Write down everything running in Cliniko: online booking, SMS reminders, intake forms, note templates, telehealth, Stripe payments and any connected apps. If you wired Cliniko into a Make scenario, list it too: it will break on day one.
Also note which region your account was created in. It decides where your data sits today, and what you will compare the new vendor against.
- Time
- about an hour
- If skipped
- a forgotten integration
Run the full export as an admin
Day 1Go to Settings, then Data exports. Only admins see every export, so log in with the owner account. Set the range to "Any time" to "Any time", or you will only get a slice. For patients, the date filter applies to when the patient record was created, not the last visit.
Export each type: Patients, Attendees (past and future appointments; the old "appointments" export is deprecated), Treatment Notes and Patient Forms.
- Who
- an admin
- Range
- Any time → Any time
Pick both formats and download immediately
UrgentCliniko offers two CSV formats. "Spreadsheet" opens cleanly in Excel, for you. "Data file" keeps the numeric IDs that link each appointment to its patient, which is what an importer needs. Take both.
Patient attachments come separately, one ZIP per patient. And the big trap: exports expire after two weeks. Download every file the day you create it.
- Expiry
- 2 weeks
- Attachments
- one ZIP per patient
Settle billing before you leave
Invoices don't move. Even Jane, which imports almost everything from Cliniko, says billing data does not transfer between systems. Pull a list of outstanding balances and patient credits, and keep issued invoices as PDF or CSV.
Collect what you can before the switch. A balance that only exists in a cancelled account is money you won't see.
- Pull out
- balances and credits
Import a sample, then the rest
Send your new vendor about ten complete records first: patient, appointments, notes, attachments. Check on screen that treatment notes are readable and attached to the right person, and that future appointments land at the right time.
Only then import everything, and compare patient counts between the old export and the new system.
- Sample
- about ten records
- Check
- notes, appointment times
Switch booking, cancel last, archive the exports
LastReplace the booking link on your website and Google profile, tell patients with upcoming appointments, and only then cancel Cliniko. If you are still on a trial with no card on file, the account closes by itself at the end: export first.
Store the CSV and ZIP files on encrypted storage afterwards. They are health records, not something to leave in a Downloads folder.
- At the end
- encrypted archive
- Order
- cancel last
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes a Cliniko switch go wrong
None of these are technical problems. They are things people forget, and each one costs records, money or hours of retyping.
Letting exports expire
A Cliniko export disappears after two weeks. Start it on a Friday, forget it over a holiday, and you are starting over, sometimes after the account is gone.
Assuming invoices come along
No destination imports Cliniko billing. Without a balance report pulled beforehand, you lose track of who owes what.
Exporting from a non-admin login
A practitioner without admin rights doesn't see every export. The file looks complete, but patients are missing. Run the exit from the owner account.
Leaving your booking link live
Old booking links on your site or Google profile keep sending patients into Cliniko. Swap every entry point the day you switch, then book a test appointment.
Comparing list prices, not your setup
Cliniko prices by practitioner tier, Zanda per extra practitioner, Halaxy per use. Price each option on your real headcount and SMS volume, not on the headline number.
Forgetting the welcome sequence
If the new tool sends intake forms or welcome emails when a patient is created, a bulk import can trigger hundreds of them. Switch those off before importing.
Cliniko alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Cliniko?
For most clinics, Jane: it covers the same ground and documents a Cliniko import. For a solo practitioner on a budget, Zanda starts at $29 a month. Our physical therapy software ranking compares more options for PT clinics.
Is Jane better than Cliniko?
Jane does more: insurance billing as a $20 add-on, an AI Scribe, a smooth Cliniko import. Cliniko is cheaper: $45 a month solo versus $59 for Jane's Balance plan, which caps you at 20 appointments a month. Pick Jane for features, Cliniko for price.
How much does Cliniko cost?
$45 a month for one practitioner, $95 for two to five, $145 for six to eight, $195 for nine to twelve, $295 for 13 to 25 and $395 for 26 to 200. Paying yearly gets you one month free. SMS cost 10 cents each on prepaid credits.
How do I export all my data from Cliniko?
As an admin, go to Settings, then Data exports, set the range to "Any time" to "Any time" and export each type: patients, attendees, treatment notes, forms and attachments. Download everything within two weeks, after which exports expire.
Can I move my invoices out of Cliniko?
Not into another system. Billing data doesn't transfer between practice software, so export your invoices as files and pull a balance report before you leave. Collect outstanding payments while you still have access.
Where is Cliniko data stored?
According to its security page, in Ireland for accounts created in Europe, in the UK, Australia or Canada for accounts from those countries, and in Australia for everyone else. An older GDPR help article still mentions Australia, so check your own account.
Is there a free alternative to Cliniko?
Halaxy's core platform is free, with unlimited practitioners and appointments. You pay payment fees from 1.5% and credits for SMS, telehealth and AI, priced in Australian dollars. For low or irregular volume, it can cost less than any subscription.
Does Cliniko have a free trial?
Yes, 30 days with no card. Some features, like telehealth, need a card on file. Without one, the account closes by itself when the trial ends; with one, you get an email five days before the first charge.
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