Cliniko Alternative for UK Therapists
Therasee is built specifically for therapists and counsellors, with built-in video, 50+ validated assessments, and a branded portal.
Cliniko is a highly-regarded practice management platform used by over 65,000 practitioners across 95+ countries. It’s especially popular in physiotherapy, chiropractic, and massage therapy clinics. The platform is well-built and competitively priced.
But Cliniko was designed to serve a very broad range of allied health professionals. If you’re a mental health practitioner in the UK, you may find yourself adapting a general-purpose tool, complete with body charts and physical examination templates, to fit therapy-specific workflows, rather than using something that was built for them.
How they compare
A side-by-side look at what Therasee and Cliniko offer.
| Feature | Therasee | Cliniko |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Mental health practitioners only | All allied health (physio, chiro, massage, therapy, etc.) |
| UK based | Yes, based in the UK with UK data centres | Australia (Melbourne) |
| Free plan | £0 forever: 3 clients with built-in video, portal, payments, reminders, unlimited appointments | No, 30-day trial, then from £29/month |
| Video sessions | Built-in, unlimited, E2E encrypted. Or use Zoom, Meet, or Teams | Built-in telehealth included |
| Post-session note prompts | Yes, prompted after every video call | No |
| Secure messaging | Full messaging: templates, forms in chat, file sharing, speech-to-text, push notifications | Not available natively |
| Client portal | Branded portal + mobile app with booking, forms, payments, messaging, documents | Online booking; no unified portal |
| Clinical notes | Session-linked, speech-to-text, therapy-specific templates | Customisable templates + body charts (designed for physical health) |
| Forms | Drag-and-drop form builder with AI assistant, e-signatures, auto-reminders | Customisable forms |
| Automated reminders | SMS and email reminders for appointments and payments | Email reminders included; SMS reminders charged per message |
| Integrations | Stripe, Google Calendar, growing ecosystem | Xero, Mailchimp, Physitrack, Stripe, and more |
| Security & compliance | GDPR + HIPAA compliant, ICO registered | GDPR compliant |
Where Therasee stands out
Made for mental health, not adapted for it
Cliniko’s note templates include body charts and physical examination tools that are fantastic for physiotherapists, but irrelevant for a counsellor running CBT sessions. Therasee’s notes system was designed around how therapists actually document: session-linked notes with speech-to-text, and an automatic prompt after every video call so nothing falls through the cracks.
Rich, secure messaging
Therasee includes a full messaging system where you can send forms in conversation, use reusable templates, share files, dictate messages with speech-to-text, and route unread messages across team members. Clients get push notifications from the branded portal. Cliniko doesn’t offer native messaging, so therapists typically rely on email or WhatsApp.
AI-assisted forms with validated assessments
Therasee’s form builder includes an AI assistant that builds forms from plain English, 50+ validated assessments built in (PHQ-9, GAD-7, CORE-OM, PCL-5), and PDF-to-form conversion that digitises existing paper documents. Cliniko offers customisable forms but builds them manually, with no AI assistant, no validated assessment library, and no PDF conversion.
A client portal that feels like yours
Therasee’s portal carries your branding, installs as a mobile app, and gives clients self-service access to booking, forms, payments, messaging, and documents. Cliniko offers online booking but not a unified client-facing experience.
Support from people who know your practice
When you contact Therasee, you speak to someone who understands your specific workflow as a mental health practitioner, not a generalist support agent covering dozens of disciplines. No ticket queues, no chatbots, just direct, personal help.
Where Cliniko stands out
Mature integration ecosystem
Cliniko integrates with Xero, Mailchimp, Physitrack, and many more tools. If your practice relies on specific third-party software, Cliniko’s integration network is more established.
Multi-discipline versatility
If your practice includes both mental health and physical health services, Cliniko’s generalist approach with body charts, physical examination templates, and multi-specialty scheduling may better serve a mixed clinic.
Mature, well-built platform
Cliniko has been refining its platform since 2011 and serves over 65,000 practitioners across 95+ countries. It’s a stable, well-documented system that’s been battle-tested at scale.
Pricing stability and ethics
Cliniko has kept the same pricing since 2011 and offers free accounts for charities and educational institutions, reflecting a strong ethical stance.
Pricing at a glance
Transparent pricing so you can make an informed decision.
Therasee
£0
forever, 3 clients, full features
£19/user/month
everything included
Cliniko
30 days free
no free plan
From £29/month
per practitioner
Who is each tool best for?
Choose Therasee if…
You’re a therapist or counsellor who wants a platform designed specifically for your clinical workflows, with secure messaging, therapy-specific notes, post-session prompts, an AI form builder, and a UK-native experience with GBP pricing and GDPR-first design.
Choose Cliniko if…
You run a multi-discipline health practice that includes physical therapy services, or you need specific integrations like Physitrack or Healthcode.
Frequently asked questions about Cliniko and Therasee
Is Cliniko built for mental health practitioners?
Cliniko is built for the broader allied health sector, including physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, podiatrists, and others. Its note templates include body charts and physical examination tools designed for physical health practice. Therapists can use it, but Therasee was designed specifically for mental health, with therapy-focused note templates, session-linked documentation, and post-session prompts.
Where is Cliniko based?
Cliniko is based in Melbourne, Australia, and has operated since 2011. It serves over 65,000 practitioners across 95+ countries. Therasee is UK-based, hosts data in UK/EU data centres, is ICO registered, and is built around GDPR rather than adapted for it from a non-UK starting point.
Does Cliniko have a free plan?
No. Cliniko offers a 30-day free trial, then plans start from £29 per month. Therasee has a permanent free plan (£0 forever) with 3 clients and full features including built-in video, the branded client portal, online payments, and unlimited appointments.
Does Cliniko have secure messaging?
Cliniko does not offer native in-app messaging between practitioner and client. Many therapists using Cliniko rely on email or WhatsApp for client communication. Therasee includes full secure messaging with templates, forms in chat, file sharing, speech-to-text dictation, and push notifications via the branded client portal.
Is Cliniko GDPR compliant?
Yes, Cliniko is GDPR compliant. Therasee is GDPR compliant, ICO registered (reference ZB610705), and stores data in UK/EU data centres on Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, with end-to-end encrypted video sessions.
Should I choose Cliniko or Therasee?
Choose Cliniko if you run a multi-discipline practice that includes physical therapy services, or you need specific integrations like Physitrack or Healthcode for insurance billing. Choose Therasee if you’re a therapist or counsellor who wants a platform designed specifically for your clinical workflows, with secure messaging, therapy-specific notes, and a UK-native experience.
Compare other UK therapy software
Still weighing up your options? See how Therasee stacks up against the other platforms UK therapists most often shortlist.
- WriteUpp AlternativeTwo UK platforms, one key difference: built for therapists vs built for all allied health.
- Zanda Health AlternativePurpose-built for therapists vs broad allied health. A UK-native alternative.
- Kiku AlternativeTwo UK therapist platforms: all-in-one vs focused essentials.
- Konfidens AlternativeTwo therapy-first platforms: complete all-in-one vs growing toolkit.
- bacpac AlternativeThe next generation of practice management for UK counsellors.
- SimplePractice AlternativeA US-centric platform meets a UK-native one. GDPR, GBP, and workflows built for UK counselling.
- Jane App AlternativeA North American multi-vertical platform meets a UK-native, therapy-only one. Free plan, flat pricing, UK-built.
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