Cliniko vs Headway
Cliniko scores 7.8/10 vs 7.2/10. 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 7.2/10. 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.
Cliniko 
Headway Rank
#9 of 41
Rank
#20 of 41
Features
14/18
Features
12/18
Starting at
$45/mo
Starting at
$0/mo
User reviews
4.5/5 (227)
User reviews
—
What they cost
| Cliniko | Headway | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $45 /mo | Free /mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | Free tier available |
| Number of plans | 4 | 1 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Headway looks cheaper at $0/month vs $45/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 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 Headway wins
- Completely free for providers — zero monthly cost
- Insurance credentialing done in weeks instead of the usual months
- 65,000+ providers across all 50 states
- AI-assisted session notes via built-in Scribe
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
Where Headway falls short
- Headway owns your credentialing — if you leave, you may need to re-credential
- Commission from insurance reimbursements means you earn less per session
- No e-prescribing
- Not built for group practices — every provider must be individually licensed and credentialed
Who is each product built for?
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.
Headway
Target: 1 provider
Buy Headway if you're a new solo therapist who wants zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing. Skip if you want full control over your insurance panels or run a group practice.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Cliniko | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Headway's 7.2/10 in our ranking. Cliniko is the better pick for 1-25 clinicians. Headway is better if you need solo therapists who want zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing.
Cliniko starts at $45/month. Headway starts at $0/month. Watch for add-on costs — the base price often does not include all features. Pricing last verified 2026-04-01.
Cliniko: Yes, 30-day free trial. Headway: Free tier available. Always test with your actual workflow before committing to an annual plan.
Cliniko covers 14 of 18 features we track. Headway covers 12 of 18. Cliniko has broader feature coverage, but more features does not always mean better — pick the tool that covers what your business actually needs.
Yes, Cliniko has a mobile app. Headway does too.
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 Cliniko if...
Physiotherapy and allied health clinics that want a clean interface with all features unlocked on every plan and no per-feature upsells.
Pick Headway if...
Solo therapists who want zero startup costs and fast insurance credentialing