Cliniko is one of the most popular practice management systems for Australian allied health clinics. It’s clean, reliable, and includes every feature on every plan.
But clinics outgrow it for two main reasons. First, pricing scales sharply with practitioner count, from US$45/month for one practitioner to US$395/month for larger teams, and it’s billed in US dollars. Second, Cliniko covers general allied health well, but it isn’t purpose-built for NDIS-heavy practices or multi-service operations that need more than a clinical diary.
This guide compares the 7 best Cliniko alternatives for Australian clinics in 2026, including pricing, claiming support, and the issues real users have reported.
Disclosure: Clevero is our product. We’ve included honest pros and cons for every platform, including our own.
Top 3 Cliniko Alternatives: TL;DR
- Clevero: Best for growing practices that need scheduling, intake, compliance, and billing in one configurable platform.
- Nookal: Best for multidisciplinary and multi-location clinics that need strong Medicare, DVA, and HICAPS claiming.
- Splose: Best for NDIS-focused practices that need service agreements, funding tracking, and bulk uploads.
Best Cliniko Alternatives in Australia
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price | Medicare / DVA Claiming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clevero | Growing service and allied health practices | Custom quote | Via Medicare, Medipass, and Tyro integrations |
| Nookal | Multidisciplinary clinics | A$49/practitioner/mo | Yes, plus HICAPS |
| Splose | NDIS-focused practices | ~A$30/practitioner/mo | Via integrations |
| Zanda | Psychology and general allied health | $19/mo | Yes (Medicare billing) |
| Halaxy | Flexible, usage-based pricing | Free core platform | Yes |
| coreplus | Australian claiming and healthcare integrations | A$35/user/mo | Yes (Plus plan) |
| PracSuite | Established and growing clinics | A$84/mo (first practitioner) | Yes, plus HICAPS |
| Cliniko (for reference) | General allied health | US$45/mo | Via Tyro Health |
Pricing verified September 2026 and excludes GST where stated. Confirm current plans on each vendor’s pricing page.
1. Clevero: Best for Growing Australian Service & Allied Health Practices
Clevero is an Australian-owned platform that takes a different approach from Cliniko. Instead of a fixed clinical diary, it’s a configurable operations platform with a dedicated allied health solution, so scheduling, intake, client records, compliance, and billing can be shaped around how your practice actually runs.
That flexibility matters most for NDIS-focused, multi-service, and community-based practices. Clevero covers in-clinic, mobile, and telehealth appointments, digital intake and consent forms, client and compliance records, credential tracking, and workflow automation, so a booking can trigger an intake form and a completed service can create an invoice automatically. It offers two-way Xero and MYOB integrations and an invoicing-first billing model built for NDIS plan-managed, self-managed, and private-pay clients. Its integrations also include Medicare bulk billing and patient claims (including DVA), Medipass, and Tyro.
Clevero doesn’t publish standard pricing, so you’ll request a proposal covering licences, setup, and integrations. It also has a smaller public review base than older platforms, with a 4.8 rating from 10 reviews on G2. For practices that have outgrown fixed clinical templates, it’s the most flexible option on this list.
Pros
- Configurable workflows that fit your practice instead of a rigid template
- Two-way Xero and MYOB integrations
- Invoicing-first billing built for NDIS and private-pay clients
- CRM, tasks, compliance, and credential tracking in one platform
- RESTful API and Zapier for extra connections
Cons
- Custom pricing based on your use cases
- Configuration takes more setup time than an off-the-shelf clinic system
2. Nookal: Best for Multidisciplinary Clinics
Nookal is built for multi-practitioner and multi-location allied health clinics. It combines scheduling, clinical notes, invoicing, reporting, and group class bookings, with granular permissions for admin staff, practitioners, and managers. Its integrations include Medicare, DVA, HICAPS, Tyro Health, Xero, MYOB, and Physitrack, and Medicare claims can be lodged straight from the patient record. Essentials costs A$49 per practitioner per month and Professional costs A$59, with Medicare claims from A$0.10 each and SMS charged separately.
Nookal holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Capterra across 90 reviews. Very few reviews have been posted in the last six months, but the most recent ones point to recurring issues: a client portal that took longer than promised, limited support for group classes compared with 1:1 appointments, and slow replies from support. Older reviews also mention reporting that isn’t always accurate or flexible enough, and having to edit a series of appointments one by one.
Pros
- Strong Medicare, DVA, and HICAPS claiming
- Built for multi-location clinics with detailed staff permissions
- Published Australian pricing with no lock-in contract
- Wide range of integrations, including Xero and MYOB
Cons
- Per-practitioner fees plus per-claim charges add up for larger teams
- Group class and client portal features lag behind 1:1 scheduling
- Some users find reporting limited
3. Splose: Best for NDIS-Focused Practices
Splose is an Australian platform built around NDIS administration. It supports service agreements, funding periods, cases, NDIS bulk uploads, and utilisation reminders, alongside scheduling, progress notes, online forms, telehealth, batch invoicing, and Xero reconciliation. Optional AI tools handle voice-to-text notes, letters, and email summaries. Pricing starts at around A$30 per practitioner per month (ex GST), with non-practitioner roles free and AI, SMS, and payment processing charged separately.
Splose rates 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra, and users consistently praise its ease of use and responsive support. Reviews from 2026 raise a few issues, though. One reviewer reported that forms don’t work properly on mobile, with dropdowns and save buttons failing. Others mention that initial setup can feel complex, SMS costs add up, and two-way calendar sync needs improvement. Medicare claiming relies on integrations such as Medipass and Tyro, so claiming-heavy clinics should test that workflow first.
Pros
- Deep NDIS features, including bulk uploads and service agreements
- Modern, easy-to-use interface
- Free roles for non-practitioner staff
- Xero integration and API access
Cons
- Online forms have reported issues on mobile
- AI, SMS, and payments cost extra
- Medicare claiming depends on third-party integrations
4. Zanda: Best for Psychology and General Allied Health
Zanda, formerly Power Diary, is the closest like-for-like swap for many Cliniko users, especially psychologists and counsellors. It covers scheduling, custom note templates, a client portal, online forms, telehealth, Medicare billing, and integrations with Stripe, Xero, and Tyro. The Starter plan costs $19/month for one practitioner and up to 1,000 appointments, while Growth starts at $49/month with $19 for each extra practitioner. SMS, Telehealth Pro, and the BizzyAI scribe are paid add-ons, and legacy plans moved to new pricing in April 2026.
Zanda holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Capterra across 200+ reviews. Recent reviews flag SMS fees that weren’t clear before signing up, a mobile app that’s missing features found on desktop, and occasional slow loading. Some users also find the chatbot-first support process frustrating before a human steps in, and onboarding staff can take time.
Pros
- Low entry price for solo practitioners
- Strong client portal and online forms
- Built-in telehealth and Medicare billing
- Large, positive review base
Cons
- SMS, telehealth upgrades, and AI tools cost extra
- Mobile app is less capable than desktop
- Some users report slow support via chatbot
5. Halaxy: Best for Flexible, Usage-Based Pricing
Halaxy turns the usual pricing model around. Its core platform is free and covers scheduling, client records, clinical notes, telehealth, invoicing, and Medicare, DVA, and private health claiming. Instead of a monthly subscription, you pay for what you use, such as SMS, payment processing, and premium services like e-fax. That makes it attractive for solo practitioners, mobile clinicians, and part-time practices where a fixed per-practitioner fee feels wasteful in quieter weeks.
The trade-off is that usage fees can add up in busy months, and Halaxy’s breadth can make setup more complex than Cliniko. Recent feedback is mixed. An April 2026 reviewer on ProductReview.com.au reported invoicing errors and difficulty getting them resolved, so it’s worth testing your full billing workflow before moving your whole practice across.
Pros
- Free core platform with no monthly subscription
- Built-in Medicare, DVA, and private health claiming
- Good fit for solo and part-time practitioners
- Multiple support channels, including 24/7 live support
Cons
- Usage fees for SMS, payments, and extras can add up
- Setup can feel complex
- Some recent reviews report billing errors
6. coreplus: Best for Australian Claiming and Healthcare Integrations
coreplus is an Australian allied health platform with a strong focus on claiming and healthcare connections. Its Plus plan includes Medicare and DVA claiming that works independently of any terminal or merchant service, and it supports secure message delivery for sending and receiving referral letters. It also integrates with Tyro Health, HotDoc, HealthEngine, Xero, and SnapForms, with data stored in Australian data centres. Core costs A$35 per user per month and Plus costs A$49 (ex GST), with free admin users and group pricing for larger teams.
Users praise coreplus for being easy to learn, even for new graduates. The main complaints centre on clinical notes. One reviewer found the body chart hard to use because it sits apart from the rest of the notes and can’t be edited once you leave the page. Medicare and DVA claiming also require the Plus plan, and SMS and telehealth usage are charged on top.
Pros
- Medicare and DVA claiming without a terminal
- Secure messaging for referral letters
- Free admin users and Australian data hosting
- Easy to learn for new practitioners
Cons
- Claiming is only on the Plus plan
- Clinical notes and body chart usability could be better
- SMS and telehealth add to the monthly cost
7. PracSuite: Best for Established and Growing Clinics
PracSuite is a cloud platform from Smartsoft, the Australian team behind the long-running Front Desk software. It’s built for established multi-practitioner clinics, with native Medicare, DVA, and HICAPS claiming, online bookings, two-way SMS, customisable financial and KPI reporting, an open API, and optional AI clinical tools. Pricing starts at A$84 per month for the first practitioner (ex GST), with tiered rates for additional practitioners and automatic discounts for part-time practitioners.
PracSuite has far fewer public reviews than the other platforms on this list, so there’s little recent user feedback to go on. The clearest drawbacks are cost-related: the entry price is higher than most per-practitioner rivals, guided setup and training costs A$395, and AI tools and SMS are extra. When researching, don’t confuse it with PracticeSuite, a US medical billing platform with a similar name.
Pros
- Native Medicare, DVA, and HICAPS claiming
- Detailed, customisable financial and KPI reporting
- Backed by a long-established Australian vendor
- Part-time practitioner discounts
Cons
- Higher entry price than most alternatives
- Paid guided setup and extra fees for AI and SMS
- Few independent reviews available
Best Cliniko Alternative by Use Case
| If you need… | |
|---|---|
| Best Alternative | |
| Configurable workflows for a multi-service practice | Clevero |
| Multi-location clinics and HICAPS claiming | Nookal or PracSuite |
| NDIS service agreements and bulk uploads | Splose or Clevero |
| A like-for-like Cliniko swap for psychology | Zanda |
| A free option for solo or part-time practitioners | Halaxy |
| Secure referrals and Medicare/DVA claiming | coreplus |
| Deep financial and KPI reporting | PracSuite |
What to Look for in a Cliniko Alternative
- Claiming support: Check whether Medicare, DVA, HICAPS, and private health claiming are native or run through an integration, and what each claim costs.
- NDIS workflows: “NDIS support” can mean anything from basic invoicing to service agreements, funding tracking, and bulk uploads. Test your actual process.
- Pricing model: Compare per-practitioner, flat-rate, and usage-based pricing over 12 months, including SMS, payments, and add-ons.
- Currency: AUD pricing avoids the exchange-rate swings that come with USD billing.
- Accounting integration: Confirm whether Xero or MYOB sync is one-way or two-way, and what actually syncs.
- Workflow automation: Look for automation that removes repeat admin, such as sending intake forms after bookings or creating invoices after appointments.
- Australian data hosting: Check where client data is stored and how the platform supports your Privacy Act obligations.
- Migration support: Ask how your client records, notes, and invoices will move across, and whether migration costs extra.
Why Clinics Look for a Cliniko Alternative
Cliniko is well-liked. It holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Capterra, includes every feature on every plan, offers a 30-day free trial, and is free for registered charities. But several limitations push growing clinics to look elsewhere.
Pricing jumps with team size. Cliniko costs US$45/month for one practitioner, US$95 for two to five, and rises to US$395/month for 26 to 200 practitioners. Because prices are in US dollars, Australian clinics also carry exchange-rate risk.
No free plan. Beyond the 30-day trial, there’s no free tier, and SMS reminders cost an extra 10 cents each.
Claiming runs through integrations. Medicare and DVA claims are processed through Cliniko’s Tyro Health integration rather than natively, and Cliniko’s own guidance says NDIS claims are processed outside the platform.
Limited operational flexibility. Cliniko is built as a clinical diary and patient record system. Practices with complex intake, compliance, or multi-service workflows often need extra tools to fill the gaps.
Cliniko vs Clevero: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Cliniko | Clevero |
|---|---|---|
| Core approach | Off-the-shelf clinical practice management | Configurable operations platform with an allied health solution |
| Pricing | Published, per-practitioner bands in USD | Custom quote |
| Setup | Sign up and start booking quickly | Configured to your workflows |
| Scheduling and client records | Yes | Yes, including mobile and telehealth |
| NDIS | Invoicing and funding tracking; claims processed externally | Invoicing-first billing for plan-managed, self-managed, and private-pay clients |
| Medicare / DVA | Via Tyro Health | Via Medicare, Medipass, and Tyro integrations |
| Accounting | Xero | Two-way Xero and MYOB |
| Workflow automation | Limited | Core capability |
| Compliance and credential tracking | Limited | Built in |
| Best for | Clinics that want a simple, focused clinical system | Practices that need to run the whole operation in one place |
The simplest way to think about it: Cliniko manages the clinical appointment, while Clevero manages the operation around the client.
If your practice mainly needs a fast diary, clinical notes, and straightforward claiming, Cliniko or a clinical-first alternative like Nookal will serve you well. If you’re coordinating intake, consent, NDIS agreements, compliance records, staff tasks, and invoicing across several services or locations, Clevero brings that work into one connected system instead of spreading it across several tools.
Should You Actually Switch from Cliniko?
Not every clinic needs to switch. If you’re a solo practitioner or small team happy with Cliniko’s simplicity, it remains a solid, reliable choice.
Switching makes sense when you hit a specific limit. Multi-location clinics that need detailed claiming and reporting often do better with Nookal or PracSuite. NDIS-heavy practices get more from Splose. Budget-conscious solo practitioners can save with Halaxy or Zanda, and clinics that rely on secure referrals should look at coreplus.
If your practice has outgrown a fixed clinical template altogether, and you need scheduling, intake, compliance, and billing working together, Clevero is built for that. The best next step is a demo using your real workflows, such as an NDIS participant with a service agreement or a recurring invoice synced to Xero or MYOB.
Book a Clevero demo to see how it fits your practice.
Cliniko Alternatives: FAQs
1. Is Cliniko a booking system?
Cliniko includes online booking, but it’s a full practice management system. It also covers clinical notes, treatment records, invoicing, payments, telehealth, and reporting.
2. Is Cliniko free?
No. Cliniko offers a 30-day free trial, then paid plans start at US$45/month for one practitioner. Registered charities can use Cliniko for free.
3. Who uses Cliniko?
Cliniko is used by allied health practitioners such as physiotherapists, psychologists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and nurses. It serves clinics in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and other countries, from solo practitioners to teams of 200+.
4. What is the cheapest Cliniko alternative in Australia?
Halaxy’s core platform is free, with fees only for services like SMS and payment processing. Zanda’s Starter plan costs $19/month for solo practitioners with up to 1,000 appointments.
5. Does Cliniko support Medicare and NDIS?
Cliniko supports Medicare and DVA claims through its Tyro Health integration. It can track NDIS funding and create invoices, but NDIS claims are processed outside the platform.
6. What is the best Cliniko alternative for NDIS providers?
Splose is a strong choice for NDIS bulk uploads and service agreements. Clevero suits NDIS practices that also need configurable workflows, compliance tracking, and invoicing-first billing.
7. Is Nookal better than Cliniko?
For multi-location clinics that rely on HICAPS and DVA claiming, Nookal offers deeper billing support. For small clinics that value simplicity, Cliniko is often easier to set up.
8. Can I migrate my data from Cliniko?
Yes. Most alternatives offer data migration, sometimes for a fee. Ask each vendor how client records, clinical notes, and invoices will be transferred before you switch.
