Cliniko vs Medesk (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Cliniko if

• Fits if you run an allied health clinic with classes such as pilates as well as one-on-one visits
• Works for clinics with lots of reception and admin staff, since only practitioners are charged

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you bill US insurance from inside the app, as claims come only through third-party apps
• Skip it if you want AI notes built in or a native phone app; neither is on Cliniko's own feature pages
• Watch out: prices step up in bands, so a clinic of 6 pays $145 a month, the same as one of 8
• Watch out: SMS reminders use prepaid credits at 10¢ a message, and connected apps may charge their own fees
• Watch out: telehealth stays locked during the trial until you add a card

Pick Medesk if

• Fits if you're a solo or two-person clinic with under 50 visits a month
• Works for private clinicians outside the US who want online booking

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you grow past 50 appointments a month, as you must move to Pro
• Pricey if you add modules, which cost 20% more on the base, and SMS is charged per message
• Watch out: the pricing page shows different prices by country, and $28 is the US figure
• Skip it if you bill insurers, since claim submission isn't listed

Cliniko

• Prices step up in bands: a clinic with 6 practitioners pays $145 a month, the same as one with 8.
• SMS reminders use prepaid credits at 10¢ per message; connected third-party apps may charge their own fees.
• Cliniko's feature pages list no insurance claim filing or AI scribe of its own; those come from third-party connected apps.
• There are no native mobile apps; the calendar and notes are mobile-friendly pages in the browser.

Medesk

• The Pro price is quoted per 50 appointments a month, so it grows with volume; the free plan stops at 50.
• The pricing page shows different prices by country; $28 is the figure listed for the US.
• Extra modules cost 20% more on top of the base appointment price, and SMS is paid per message.
• Insurance claim submission is not listed on the pricing page.

Cliniko

Calendar and online bookings

Clients book and cancel online around the clock. The calendar handles repeat appointments, wait lists, multiple locations, time zones, and groups or classes such as pilates.

Telehealth

Video consultations are built in. During the free trial they unlock only once a credit card is on file.

Treatment notes and forms

Fully configurable note templates, body charts, draft notes, letters and medical alerts, plus online intake forms and questionnaires that save to the patient record.

Invoicing, payments and stock

Invoices from the calendar, online payments, prepayments, concessions, statements, product sales with stock levels, expenses, and automatic sync to Xero.

Reminders and SMS

Automated SMS and email reminders and follow-ups, bulk SMS and two-way replies logged on the client record, using prepaid credits at 10¢ a message.

API and connected apps

A public API, and a directory of 94 connected apps, mostly third-party, for AI notes and receptionists, booking sites, exercise programs and reporting.

Medesk

Scheduling and online booking

A shared calendar plus booking links and a patient portal. The schedule syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook and iCal.

Electronic health records

Medical history, consultation notes, lab results and documents in one record, with templates, ICD-10 coding and prescriptions.

Video consultations

Appointments can be turned into video calls, and group sessions of up to 20 people are listed on the Pro plan.

Billing and finance

Invoices, payments, price lists, stock control and payroll calculations sit in the same account as the schedule.

Reports and analytics

The vendor lists more than 80 ready-made reports, a report builder and tracking of where new patients come from.

Patient messaging

Email reminders are included. SMS needs a separate module, with messages paid per use through a local provider.

Cliniko

• 1 practitioner$45

  per month for 1 practitioner

  Every feature, with unlimited patients, admin and reception users, locations and file storage.

• 2 to 5 practitioners$95

  per month for up to 5 practitioners

  Same features as every plan; the price covers any number of practitioners from 2 to 5.

• 6 to 8 practitioners$145

  per month for up to 8 practitioners

  Same features as every plan, for clinics of 6 to 8 practitioners.

• 9 to 12 practitioners$195

  per month for up to 12 practitioners

  Same features as every plan, for clinics of 9 to 12 practitioners.

• 13 to 25 practitioners$295

  per month for up to 25 practitioners

  Same features as every plan, for clinics of 13 to 25 practitioners.

• 26 to 200 practitioners$395

  per month for up to 200 practitioners

  Same features as every plan, for clinics of 26 to 200 practitioners.

Medesk

• Free$0

  2 users, 1,000 patient records and 50 appointments a month, with online booking, patient portal and email reminders.

• Pro$28

  per month for up to 50 appointments, billing basis not shown

  Unlimited users and records, custom branding, video calls and advanced booking. Price rises with appointment volume.

Cliniko

• Annual discount

  One month free with annual billing

  Cliniko's pricing FAQ says paying annually gives one month free every year, on top of the initial trial.

• Nonprofit

  Free for charities and educational institutions

  Registered charities and educational institutions can use Cliniko free; they arrange the free subscription by contacting the company.

Medesk

No public discounts listed.