Overview

Founded in Melbourne in 2011, Cliniko combines scheduling and clinical records with invoicing, payments, expenses, tax and reporting tools. That breadth makes it a practical fit for practices looking to coordinate day-to-day administration and patient care in one platform, rather than assemble those functions separately.

Online bookings, repeat appointments and flexible calendar views support routine scheduling. Customizable, searchable treatment notes are stored in the cloud, and files can be attached to patient records. Patient reminders, digital intake forms, telehealth, online payments, waitlist management and recurring appointments extend the workflow beyond the calendar.

Key features

Records and integrations

Cliniko's REST API returns JSON over HTTPS, giving teams a defined route to connect the platform with their own systems. The company lists 99 connected apps, including Xero and Mailchimp; most were developed by third parties, so the range is useful but may bring separate app fees.

Security and support

Cliniko says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, backed up daily and monitored around the clock. It states that it meets or exceeds the Australian Privacy Principles, GDPR, PIPEDA and HIPAA requirements. New accounts are stored in Australia, the UK, Canada or Ireland depending on account location; accounts elsewhere are stored in Australia. Customers receive free online chat and email support from a round-the-clock team.

Pricing

Cliniko is paid, with a 30-day trial and no free plan. Monthly prices scale by practitioner count, while every listed tier includes unlimited admin and reception users, locations, file storage and patients. That structure avoids per-seat charges for support staff and avoids stated caps on locations, storage or patient records, but the practitioner bands determine the monthly cost.

1 practitioner: $45 /mo. The entry tier fits a solo practitioner who wants the full platform without a free-plan cap on patients or storage.
2 to 5 practitioners: $95 /mo. A small team can share the same unlimited admin, locations, storage and patient allowances.
6 to 8 practitioners: $145 /mo; 9 to 12 practitioners: $195 /mo. These bands give growing practices a predictable practitioner-based step-up.
13 to 25 practitioners: $295 /mo; 26 to 200 practitioners: $395 /mo. Larger groups retain the same listed unlimited allowances, though the monthly fee rises with practitioner capacity.

SMS credits cost 10¢ per message, and connected apps may charge separately. Practices that rely heavily on reminders or paid integrations should include those costs in their budget.

Platforms

Cliniko is available on the web and through Android and iOS mobile browsers. It has no native app, so teams can use phones and tablets but should not expect a dedicated mobile application. Its API is also a platform option for teams building integrations.

Who it's for

Cliniko is strongest for clinics and allied health practices that need scheduling, records and administrative tools together, especially when unlimited admin users, locations, storage and patients matter. It is less compelling for a solo practitioner seeking a free starting tier, or a team that requires a native mobile app.

Pros and cons

Pro: Unlimited admin and reception users, locations, file storage and patients are included across the listed practitioner tiers, reducing pressure from common usage caps.
Pro: A REST API and 99 connected apps offer options for connecting clinic workflows to other software.
Pro: Scheduling, treatment notes, payments, intake forms and telehealth cover a broad set of practice needs in one system.
Con: There is no free plan, and the monthly price starts at $45 /mo.
Con: SMS credits and some third-party apps can add costs beyond the subscription.
Con: Mobile access is browser-based rather than through a native app.

Alternatives

Medical Appointment Scheduling Software is the broader category for comparing scheduling tools. Consider Carepatron if a free plan is the priority: its free tier includes unlimited clients, 1GB storage, 1M AI tokens, 1K tasks and 100 appointments. Healthie is another paid option, with a Core plan at $18.00 per month billed annually that includes 10 active clients, scheduling, payment processing, charting, telehealth and a client portal.

Kyruus Connect is a paid, web-and-API option with custom pricing by demo request. Pabau is a paid alternative with no free plan or free trial, and pricing depends on location and user count. PatientNow offers tailored practice pricing and an enterprise-capacity plan, making it an alternative for practices considering that approach.

Halaxy is worth considering when a free plan matters: its core platform is free and includes unlimited appointments, practitioners and locations. Practice Better also has a free tier, though its Sprout plan is capped at 3 active clients, 100 MB storage and 1 practitioner license. Latrexa offers a free Starter tier for 1 doctor, with paid plans priced in INR.

Verdict

Choose Cliniko if your clinic needs joined-up practice operations and patient records, with broad integration options and no stated caps on patients, storage or locations. Look elsewhere if a free plan or native mobile app is essential, and budget for SMS and any paid connected apps before committing.

	Cliniko	NexHealth
Free plan	No
Free trial	Yes
Paid from	$45/mo
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Web	Web
Free plan	No
Patient reminders	Yes	Yes
Digital intake forms	Yes	Yes
Telehealth	Yes
Online payments	Yes	Yes
Waitlist management	Yes	Yes
Recurring appointments	Yes
Included providers	1 providers

Cliniko vs NexHealth

Cliniko

NexHealth