Kiku Alternative for UK Therapists
Therasee is an all-in-one UK platform for therapists and counsellors, with built-in video, clinical notes with speech-to-text, and a branded client portal.
Kiku and Therasee share a lot in common. Both are UK-based, both are designed specifically for therapists and counsellors, and both understand that mental health practitioners need something different from generic healthcare software. We respect what Kiku has built, they’re doing good work in this space.
The key difference is scope. Kiku focuses on the essentials, scheduling, client management, payments, and messaging. Therasee brings all of those together with built-in video sessions, a full branded client portal with mobile app, clinical notes with speech-to-text, and a visual form builder with e-signatures, everything a modern therapy practice needs in a single platform, at a single price.
How they compare
A side-by-side look at what Therasee and Kiku offer.
| Feature | Therasee | Kiku |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Mental health practitioners | Therapists and counsellors |
| UK based | Yes, based in the UK with UK data centres | Yes |
| Video sessions | Built-in secure HD video, unlimited, E2E encrypted. Or use Zoom, Meet, or Teams | No native video, external tools required (Zoom, etc.) |
| Client portal | Full branded portal + mobile app (PWA): booking, forms, payments, messaging, documents, secure login with 2FA | Client accounts for booking and payment |
| Clinical notes | Session-linked, speech-to-text, rich text editor, organised per client | Basic session notes |
| Forms & e-signatures | Drag-and-drop form builder with AI assistant, e-signatures, auto-reminders | Terms of business and consent form templates |
| Messaging | In-app: templates, forms in chat, file sharing, speech-to-text, push notifications, team routing | Not available |
| Scheduling | Calendar + guided online booking flow + recurring sessions + buffer time | Calendar + online booking + Google Calendar sync |
| Billing | One-click invoices from sessions, Stripe, automated reminders, customisable branding | Card payments + manual income/expense recording; payment links |
| Automated reminders | SMS and email reminders for appointments and payments | Email and SMS appointment reminders |
| Contacts & relationships | Full contacts management: GPs, family, emergency contacts; include in appointments and document sharing | Client records |
| Free plan | Yes,£0 forever with 3 clients and full features | No, 14-day free trial, then paid only |
Where Therasee stands out
Built-in video, or bring your own
This is the most significant difference. Therasee includes secure, E2E encrypted HD video with a branded waiting room, unlimited sessions, and one-click join, no downloads needed. If you prefer Zoom or Meet, paste your link instead. Kiku doesn’t offer native video, which means managing a separate platform alongside your practice management tool.
A complete branded client experience
Therasee’s client portal carries your branding, installs as a mobile app on any phone (no app store needed), and gives clients access to booking, forms with e-signatures, payments, messaging, and shared documents, all from one professional, private space.
Advanced clinical notes and forms
Speech-to-text dictation, a rich text editor with headings, lists, and attachments, and a drag-and-drop form builder with AI assistant, e-signatures, and 50+ validated assessments (PHQ-9, GAD-7). Kiku provides essential note and form functionality but without this depth.
Contacts and relationships
Therasee lets you manage relationships between clients and their contacts,GPs, family members, emergency contacts, and include contacts in appointments, notifications, and document sharing. Particularly valuable for couples therapy, work with minors, or coordinating with GPs.
Support from people who know your practice
Kiku is praised for personal support, and rightly so. Therasee matches that with direct, human support from a team that understands therapy-specific workflows. No ticket queues, no chatbots. When you write in, you get a real person who knows how your practice works.
Where Kiku stands out
Simplicity
Kiku is intentionally focused. If you want a straightforward scheduling and payment tool without the complexity of a full-featured platform, Kiku’s approach may feel less overwhelming. Some practitioners genuinely prefer fewer features done well over a larger system.
Made by therapists, for therapists
Kiku is built by people who understand the profession firsthand. Their users frequently praise the personal, responsive support and the feeling that the team “gets it.” The system is intuitive and designed around how counsellors think.
Flexible pricing tiers
Kiku offers multiple plan levels that let you start with basic scheduling and add payment processing later as your practice grows, which can be appealing for newly qualified therapists just getting established.
Pricing at a glance
Transparent pricing so you can make an informed decision.
Therasee
£0
forever, 3 clients, full features
£19/user/month
Kiku
14-day free trial
Multiple plan levels
Who is each tool best for?
Choose Therasee if…
You want everything in one platform, video, messaging, notes with speech-to-text, AI form builder with e-signatures, billing, and a branded client portal, without juggling separate tools. You want practice management software that grows with you as your practice scales.
Choose Kiku if…
You want low-cost, basic functionality, and you’re happy using separate third-party tools for video, messaging, and client-facing features.
Frequently asked questions about Kiku and Therasee
Is Kiku a UK platform?
Yes, Kiku is a UK-based platform built by therapists for therapists. It’s a focused tool covering scheduling, client management, payments, and basic notes. Therasee is also UK-based but offers a broader feature set including built-in video, AI form builder, advanced messaging, and a branded client portal with mobile app.
Does Kiku include video sessions?
No. Kiku does not offer native video. Practitioners using Kiku rely on external tools like Zoom for video sessions, which means managing a separate platform and meeting links alongside client records. Therasee includes secure, unlimited, end-to-end encrypted HD video, with one-click client join from the branded portal.
What’s the difference between Kiku and Therasee?
Both are UK-based and both serve therapists exclusively. Kiku focuses on the essentials: scheduling, client management, and payments. Therasee brings those together with built-in video, a full branded client portal with mobile app, clinical notes with speech-to-text, secure messaging, and an AI form builder with e-signatures, in a single platform at a single price.
Does Kiku have a free plan?
No. Kiku offers a 14-day free trial, then requires a paid subscription. 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 Kiku have secure messaging?
No. Kiku does not include in-app messaging between practitioner and client. Therasee includes full secure messaging with reusable templates, forms in chat, file sharing, speech-to-text dictation, and push notifications to clients via the branded portal.
Should I choose Kiku or Therasee?
Choose Kiku if you want low-cost, basic functionality and you’re happy using separate third-party platforms for video, messaging, and client-facing features. Choose Therasee if you want everything in one place: built-in video, secure messaging, notes with speech-to-text, AI form builder, billing, and a branded client portal, in a single platform at a single price.
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.
- Cliniko AlternativeSpecialist vs generalist. Built for mental health, not adapted for it.
- Zanda Health AlternativePurpose-built for therapists vs broad allied health. A UK-native alternative.
- 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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