Alma vs Cliniko
Cliniko scores 7.8/10 vs 7.0/10. Best for: Physiotherapy and allied health clinics that want a clean interface with all features unlocked on every plan and no per-feature upsells.
Cliniko scores higher overall at 7.8/10 vs 7.0/10. Buy Cliniko if you want the cleanest interface in allied health with zero feature gating and stable pricing. Skip if you bill US insurance directly or need a platform with a large review base to validate before buying.
Alma 
Cliniko Rank
#23 of 41
Rank
#9 of 41
Features
14/18
Features
14/18
Starting at
$125/mo
Starting at
$45/mo
User reviews
4.1/5 (92)
User reviews
4.5/5 (227)
What they cost
| Alma | Cliniko | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $125 /mo | $45 /mo |
| Free trial | No | 30 days |
| Number of plans | 2 | 4 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Cliniko looks cheaper at $45/month vs $125/month. But sticker price is only part of the story. Look at what is included on the base plan, how many users you get, and whether you need add-ons to get the features you actually need. The $99/month plan that requires $200 in add-ons is actually more expensive than the $250/month plan that includes everything.
Where Alma wins
- Flat $125/mo includes insurance credentialing that normally takes months and costs thousands
- Built-in referral network sends clients directly to your profile
- AI Note Assist for session recording and transcription
- Handles both insurance and out-of-pocket billing in one place
Where Cliniko wins
- Every plan gets the full feature set with no feature gating, so you are not paying more just to unlock telehealth or notes
- Prices have not changed since 2011, which is rare in SaaS and means no surprise annual increases
- 4.9/5 ease-of-use score on Capterra, which is the highest in allied health practice management
- 30-day free trial is enough time to actually migrate data and test with real patients before committing
- Unlimited locations included on all plans, which matters for clinics expanding to a second site
Where Alma falls short
- Must credential with Aetna, Cigna, or Optum — no flexibility to pick other panels
- No group practice support (individual memberships only)
- No mobile app, web-based only
- 3.6 Capterra rating with only 26 reviews is concerning
Where Cliniko falls short
- Only 23 reviews on Capterra means the 4.7 rating is based on a thin sample compared to competitors with 200+ reviews
- No built-in insurance billing or clearinghouse integration, so US practices billing insurance need a separate tool
- Jump from $45 Solo to $95 Team is a big leap just for adding one more practitioner
- SMS reminders are billed separately by country, and costs are not published upfront on the pricing page
Who is each product built for?
Alma
Target: 1 provider
Buy Alma if you're a solo therapist who wants insurance credentialing done for you and a steady stream of referred clients. Skip if you run a group practice, want to pick your own insurance panels, or need a mobile app.
Cliniko
Target: 1-25 clinicians
Buy Cliniko if you want the cleanest interface in allied health with zero feature gating and stable pricing. Skip if you bill US insurance directly or need a platform with a large review base to validate before buying.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Alma | Cliniko |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance & Security | ||
| HIPAA compliant | ||
| Telehealth / video sessions | ||
| Secure messaging | ||
| Scheduling & Clients | ||
| Online scheduling | ||
| Client portal | ||
| Intake forms / assessments | ||
| Automated reminders | ||
| Clinical | ||
| Progress notes / documentation | ||
| Treatment plans | ||
| E-prescribing | ||
| Outcome measures / assessments | ||
| Billing & Payments | ||
| Insurance billing / claims | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| Superbill generation | ||
| Automated billing | ||
| Platform | ||
| Group practice support | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| Integrations / API | ||
Common questions
Cliniko scores 7.8/10 vs Alma's 7.0/10 in our ranking. Cliniko is the better pick for 1-25 clinicians. Alma is better if you need solo therapists in private practice who want insurance credentialing done for them and a built-in referral network to fill their caseload.
Alma starts at $125/month. Cliniko starts at $45/month. Watch for add-on costs — the base price often does not include all features. Pricing last verified 2026-04-01.
Alma: No free trial. Cliniko: Yes, 30-day free trial. Always test with your actual workflow before committing to an annual plan.
Alma covers 14 of 18 features we track. Cliniko covers 14 of 18. Both are tied on feature coverage, but more features does not always mean better — pick the tool that covers what your business actually needs.
No, Alma does not have a mobile app. Cliniko does have one.
Yes. The main effort is migrating your data (customer lists, job history, invoices). Plan for 1-2 weeks of overlap where you run both. Most healthcare practice management tools can import CSV data. Ask both vendors about migration support before you sign.
The bottom line
Pick Alma if...
Solo therapists in private practice who want insurance credentialing done for them and a built-in referral network to fill their caseload
Pick Cliniko if...
Physiotherapy and allied health clinics that want a clean interface with all features unlocked on every plan and no per-feature upsells.