SimplePractice vs Jane App vs Cliniko: Which Practice Management Software Fits a Small Clinic?

Small practices need scheduling, clinical notes, billing and client communication in one place, without enterprise implementation costs. These three products share a cloud delivery model and a small-practice focus, but they differ in specialty orientation and pricing structure.

Compliance matters in every comparison. In the United States, the HIPAA Security Rule sets safeguards for electronic protected health information, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program describes certification of EHR technology. Always confirm a signed business associate agreement and regional compliance with the vendor, for example at SimplePractice. Browse the full Medical Practice Management Software category.

Overview of the Three Platforms

All three are cloud-based practice management systems for small and medium practices. SimplePractice presents itself as an EHR for private practice, while Jane App and Cliniko both position themselves for allied health clinics such as physiotherapy and massage.

• SimplePractice: small practices and solo clinicians; see the SimplePractice listing.
• Jane App: allied health clinics of one to many practitioners; see the Jane App listing.
• Cliniko: allied health practices that want straightforward operations; see the Cliniko listing.

Feature Comparison

Core functions overlap: online booking, client records, treatment notes, billing and reminders. The differences lie in specialty templates, payment workflows and how each product handles multi-practitioner clinics, so validate features against your own workflow in a trial.

• Scheduling and reminders: all three support appointment management and client notifications.
• Clinical documentation: SimplePractice leans toward therapy and EHR documentation, while Jane and Cliniko focus on allied health treatment notes.
• Billing: verify insurance claims and payment processing support for your country, since coverage varies by region.

Pricing Comparison

As of October 2026, the directory lists entry prices of $29 for SimplePractice, $49 for Cliniko and $79 for Jane App. These are starting points, and final cost depends on the number of practitioners, plan tier and add-ons, so confirm current rates on each vendor site.

• Lowest entry cost: SimplePractice at $29 suits solo practitioners.
• Middle option: Cliniko at $49.
• Highest listed entry: Jane App at $79, which may include broader clinic features; verify plan contents.
  Annual cost per practitioner = (Monthly plan × 12) + Add-on fees
  Multiply by headcount to compare total clinic cost.

Integrations and Architecture

All three are multi-tenant cloud applications accessed through a web browser. Integration depth is a common deciding factor, so list your accounting, payment, telehealth and email tools, then check each vendor for native connectors or API access.

• Deployment: cloud, SaaS and web for all three.
• Data export: confirm you can export client records if you leave.
• Security: ask about encryption, access controls and audit logs.

Pros and Cons

Each product has trade-offs. SimplePractice offers the lowest listed entry price and a private-practice focus, but a narrower specialty fit for physical therapy. Jane App and Cliniko suit allied health, though they may fit behavioral health less.

• SimplePractice pros: low entry price, private-practice orientation. Cons: small-company focus may limit large clinics.
• Jane App pros: allied health focus, small and medium fit. Cons: highest listed entry price.
• Cliniko pros: allied health focus, mid-range entry price. Cons: confirm local billing features for your market.

Who Should Choose Which

Choose by specialty and size first, price second. A solo therapist usually starts with SimplePractice, while a multi-practitioner physiotherapy or massage clinic should trial Jane App and Cliniko side by side with real appointment data.

• Solo therapists and counselors: SimplePractice.
• Allied health clinics wanting richer clinic features: Jane App.
• Cost-conscious allied health clinics: Cliniko.

Security and Compliance Questions to Ask

Any system holding clinical records must protect patient data. Ask each vendor for written answers instead of relying on marketing pages, and involve whoever acts as your privacy or compliance officer in the demo.

• Business associate agreement: confirm it is available and what it covers.
• Access control: role-based permissions, strong authentication and audit logs.
• Data location and retention: where records are hosted, backed up and how deletion requests are handled.
• Incident response: breach notification timelines and contact points.

Workflow Fit by Specialty

Practice type changes what you need from the software. Behavioral health relies on structured notes and client portals, while physical therapy and massage clinics focus on treatment histories, room or resource scheduling and package or membership billing.

• Behavioral health: look for progress note templates, telehealth and secure messaging.
• Physiotherapy and chiropractic: look for body charts, treatment plans and recall reminders.
• Multi-location clinics: check roles, calendar permissions and consolidated reporting across sites.

Questions to Ask in a Demo

A scripted demo reveals more than a feature page. Give each vendor the same three scenarios, such as booking a recurring appointment, writing and signing a note, and issuing a refund, then score the results with your front desk and clinicians together.

• Time to first booking: how many steps for a new client?
• Reporting: can you see revenue by practitioner and no-show rates?
• Support: what hours and channels are included in your plan?

Total Cost of Ownership Beyond the Subscription

The monthly plan is only part of the cost. Payment processing fees, SMS reminders, telehealth add-ons, data migration help and staff training time can all change which option is cheapest over a year, so build a simple model before choosing.

• Hidden costs: ask about per-message fees, extra practitioner seats and storage limits.
• Switching cost: exporting records later should be free and complete.
• Time savings: faster notes and fewer no-shows can outweigh a higher subscription.
  Three-year cost = (Monthly plan × 36) + Setup fees + Add-ons + (Training hours × Hourly wage)
  Use the same inputs for all three vendors for a fair comparison.

Implementation Checklist and Verdict

There is no single winner. SimplePractice is the value pick for private practice, Jane App suits clinics willing to pay a higher entry price, and Cliniko balances price and focus. Run a trial with real data before committing to any of them.

• Import data: test client list and appointment migration.
• Train staff: schedule a week of parallel booking.
• Sign compliance paperwork: obtain a business associate agreement where HIPAA applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SimplePractice, Jane App or Cliniko?
SimplePractice has the lowest listed entry price at $29, followed by Cliniko at $49 and Jane App at $79 as of October 2026. Final cost depends on practitioner count and plan, so request a current quote.

Is SimplePractice better than Jane App for therapists?
SimplePractice is positioned for private practice and therapy, so it is often the closer fit. Jane App targets allied health clinics. Trial both with your documentation templates before deciding.

How long does it take to switch practice management software?
A solo practice can migrate in a few days, while a multi-practitioner clinic should plan two to four weeks for data import, staff training and parallel scheduling before retiring the old system.