# Looking for a Cliniko alternative in the UK?

> Bloom is the UK-built Cliniko alternative designed for therapists. Encrypted notes, automated onboarding, and simple pricing at £29/month.

- Comparison: Bloom vs Cliniko
- Updated: 2026-06-09
- Canonical: https://www.trybloom.co.uk/alternative/cliniko

Cliniko is a well-regarded practice management tool, especially in Australia where it was built. But if you're a UK therapist, you've probably noticed some things don't quite fit: the pricing is in AUD, support hours don't align with your timezone, and features are designed for physios rather than talking therapies.

## Why therapists are switching from Cliniko

- Built in Australia, for Australian practitioners. Support hours, terminology, and default settings reflect the Australian market.
- Pricing is in AUD - you're at the mercy of exchange rates, and what looks like $45/month can fluctuate unpredictably on your bank statement.
- No counselling agreement signing - there's no built-in way to send and sign therapy contracts.
- Designed for physios and allied health - the templates, workflows, and terminology assume hands-on treatment rather than talking therapy.
- Overpowered for solo therapists - lots of features designed for multi-location clinics that you'll never use but still pay for.
- No note encryption - session notes are stored without dedicated encryption, which matters when you're recording sensitive therapeutic content.

## Cliniko vs Bloom

| Feature | Cliniko | Bloom |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly price | From ~£35/mo (AUD pricing) | £29/mo - GBP, fixed |
| Currency | AUD (exchange rate risk) | GBP |
| Session notes encryption | Not beyond standard hosting | AES-256 on every note |
| Counselling agreement signing | No | Built-in e-signatures |
| Automated client onboarding | No | Book, sign, pay - one flow |
| Client booking page | Yes | Yes |
| Appointment reminders | Email + SMS | Email included |
| Recurring appointments | Yes | Yes |
| Built for | Allied health (physio, chiro, podiatry) | Therapists and counsellors |
| Based in | Melbourne, Australia | London, UK |
| UK GDPR compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Support timezone | AEST | GMT/BST |

Bloom is £29/month, or £290/year with 2 months free - everything included. No add-on fees.

## Why therapists choose Bloom over Cliniko

- **Built in the UK, for UK therapists**: Bloom is based in London, priced in pounds, and designed around UK therapy practices. No timezone mismatches or Australian defaults.
- **Encrypted session notes as standard**: Every note is encrypted with AES-256. Your clients' most sensitive disclosures deserve dedicated encryption, not just secure hosting.
- **Counselling agreements built in**: Send your therapy contract, have clients sign it online, and store the signed copy - all within Bloom.
- **Simple pricing in GBP**: £29/month. No exchange rate surprises, no per-practitioner tiers, no add-on fees.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I move my data from Cliniko to Bloom?

Yes. Cliniko allows you to export client data as CSV. You can then import your clients into Bloom. Get in touch if you need help with migration.

### Does Bloom have all the features Cliniko has?

Bloom covers the core features therapists need: scheduling, notes, payments, client management, and onboarding. Cliniko has features designed for allied health (treatment templates, stock management) that Bloom intentionally doesn't include - because therapists don't need them.

### Is Bloom cheaper than Cliniko?

At £29/month fixed in GBP, Bloom is typically cheaper once you account for the AUD exchange rate. And there are no per-practitioner pricing tiers.

### What about Cliniko's SMS reminders?

Bloom currently includes email reminders. SMS reminders are on the roadmap. If SMS is critical for your practice right now, that's worth knowing before you switch.