Cliniko vs Nookal (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 Nookal if

• Fits if you run a physio or allied health clinic in Australia, New Zealand or the UK
• Makes sense if you have many admin staff, since their logins are free

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you work alone, as one practitioner is $87 a month
• Skip it if you need US insurance claiming, because the listed claim links are mostly elsewhere
• Tight if you want the patient portal or secure messaging, since they are add-ons on Professional
• Watch out: texts start at $0.05 each, JAN AI is $25 per practitioner a month, and the page shows Australian dollars first

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.

Nookal

• The pricing page shows Australian dollars by default; the US figures here come from price data the page loads for US and Canadian visitors.
• Reminders, claims and add-ons are charged on top: texts from $0.05 each in US dollars, JAN AI $25 per practitioner a month on Professional.
• The patient portal, secure messaging and single sign-on are paid add-ons on Professional and above.
• Claiming integrations the pages list are mostly for Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

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.

Nookal

Scheduling and online booking

Multi-practitioner calendar and online appointment booking. Professional adds automated recalls and waitlist management.

Patient records and notes

Patient records, clinical notes and intake forms on every plan, with customizable intake and consent forms on Professional.

Invoicing and claiming

Invoicing and payment processing, plus claiming for Medicare Australia, DVA, New Zealand's ACC and UK insurers through Healthcode. Per-claim fees apply.

Reporting

Basic reporting on Essentials; advanced reports and KPI dashboards on Professional.

JAN AI assistant

An optional AI assistant for notes, letters and practice numbers, sold per practitioner who uses it.

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.

Nookal

• Essentials$87

  per month for 1 practitioner, billed monthly

  For 1 to 12 practitioners: $248 a month at 6. Booking, notes, invoicing, intake forms, basic reports. Read from the page's US price data.

• Professional$98

  per month for 1 practitioner, billed monthly

  Any team size: $265 a month at 6 practitioners. Adds KPI dashboards, recalls, waitlist, two-way SMS and invoice automation.

• EnterpriseCustom

  For multi-site groups and larger organizations. Adds API access, a dedicated account manager and priority support.

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.

Nookal

No public discounts listed.