PracticePal has been around since 2006 and has served thousands of UK practitioners. It's a solid, mature system. But if you've felt like the interface is showing its age, or you're missing modern features like encrypted notes, automated client onboarding, and a cleaner booking experience - Bloom was built to be the next step.
Dated interface - PracticePal has been running since 2006 and the design reflects that. Navigation can feel clunky compared to modern tools.
Add-on pricing - the base price is low but online bookings, clinic notes, and marketing features all cost extra. The total adds up.
No session note encryption - notes are stored securely but without dedicated end-to-end encryption.
No automated client onboarding - no integrated booking-to-contract-to-payment flow.
No counselling agreement e-signatures - therapy contracts need to be handled outside the system.
Designed for clinics broadly, not therapy specifically - PracticePal serves physios, osteopaths, chiropractors, and other allied health. Therapy-specific workflows aren't the focus.
| Feature | PracticePal | Bloom |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | From £25/mo + add-ons | £29/mo - everything included |
| Online booking | Add-on cost | Included |
| Session notes encryption | No | AES-256 encryption |
| Counselling agreement signing | No | Built-in e-signatures |
| Automated client onboarding | No | Book, sign, pay - one flow |
| Payment tracking + reminders | Basic invoicing | Full tracking with one-click reminders |
| Recurring appointments | Yes | Yes |
| Appointment reminders | Email + SMS | Email included |
| Modern interface | Dated (2006 design) | Modern, responsive |
| Built for | Allied health broadly | Therapists and counsellors |
| UK GDPR compliant | Yes | Yes |
Bloom is £29/month with everything included. No add-on fees.
PracticePal has been running since 2006 and it shows. Bloom is built with modern technology - fast, responsive, and designed for how people use software today.
AES-256 encryption on every session note. PracticePal doesn't offer this level of protection for sensitive therapy records.
PracticePal charges extra for online bookings, clinic notes, and marketing. Bloom is £29/month - everything included, no surprises.
Clients book, sign your agreement, and set up payment in one flow. No manual steps, no separate tools.