# Looking for a Kiku alternative?

> Bloom is a modern Kiku alternative with encrypted session notes, automated client onboarding, and a full practice management suite for £29/month.

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

Kiku is a lovely tool built by therapists for therapists, and we respect what they've built. If you're considering your options though, Bloom stays just as focused on therapists, with deeper practice management underneath. Encrypted notes, automated client onboarding with e-signatures, and a richer scheduling experience.

## Why therapists are switching from Kiku

- No session note encryption - Kiku is GDPR compliant and password protected, but session notes aren't encrypted with a dedicated encryption standard like AES-256.
- No built-in counselling agreement signing with e-signatures - you can upload documents and share terms, but there's no integrated signature flow.
- Limited scheduling features - no drag-and-drop rescheduling, no recurring appointments, no visual week view calendar.
- No auto-save on notes - if your browser crashes mid-session note, you may lose your work.
- No automated client onboarding flow - booking, contract signing, and payment setup are separate steps rather than one flow.
- No Zoom or video integration - you need to manage video session links separately.

## Kiku vs Bloom

| Feature | Kiku | Bloom |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly price | From ~£16-17/mo | £29/mo |
| Session notes encryption | Password protected | AES-256 on every note |
| Auto-save on notes | No | Saves as you type |
| Rich text note editor | Basic | Full rich text editor |
| Counselling agreement signing | Document sharing | Built-in e-signatures |
| Automated client onboarding | Partial | Book, sign, pay - one flow |
| Drag-and-drop calendar | No | Yes |
| Recurring appointments | No | Yes - weekly, biweekly, monthly |
| Client booking page | Yes | Yes |
| Payment tracking | Yes | Yes + automated reminders |
| Video integration | No | Built-in video, plus Zoom |
| Calendar sync | Google Calendar | ICS feed (any calendar) |
| UK GDPR compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Built for | Therapists and counsellors | Therapists and counsellors |

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

## Why therapists choose Bloom over Kiku

- **Notes encrypted as standard**: Kiku is password protected and GDPR compliant. Bloom goes further with AES-256 encryption on every session note.
- **Proper e-signatures built in**: Clients sign your counselling agreement online with a full audit trail - signed time, IP address, and stored securely. Not just a document upload.
- **A calendar that works like you'd expect**: Drag-and-drop rescheduling, visual week view, recurring appointments, colour-coded session types, and calendar sync. The full experience.
- **One-flow client onboarding**: Client books, signs your agreement, sets up payment - all in one flow. No separate steps, no manual chasing.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why would I choose Bloom over Kiku when Kiku is cheaper?

Kiku is great value for basic practice management. Bloom costs more but includes encrypted notes, e-signatures, automated client onboarding, recurring appointments, and a full drag-and-drop calendar. If you need those features, the extra cost pays for itself in time saved.

### Is Bloom also built for therapists specifically?

Yes. Like Kiku, Bloom is built exclusively for therapists and counsellors. Every feature is designed around therapy practice workflows.

### Can I switch from Kiku to Bloom easily?

Yes. You can export your client data from Kiku and add clients to Bloom. The setup takes about five minutes.

### Does Bloom have in-app messaging like Kiku?

Not currently. Bloom handles client communication via email (booking confirmations, reminders, payment requests). Secure in-app messaging is something we're considering for the future.