Cliniko vs Zanda vs Nookal: Best Practice Management Software for Australian Allied Health (Updated June 2026)

Note: Power Diary rebranded to Zanda in November 2024. If you’re searching for Power Diary, this is the same product under a new name.

Allied health practices in Australia have specific needs that general booking software can’t always meet. Medicare billing, NDIS claim management, clinical notes, and practitioner scheduling across multiple locations. Three platforms have built their entire product around these needs: Cliniko, Zanda (formerly Power Diary), and Nookal.

Quick Verdict

• Cliniko. Best all-round for physiotherapy, chiropractic, and multi-discipline practices; clean interface, strong integrations
• Zanda (formerly Power Diary). Best for psychology, counselling, and mental health: excellent telehealth and NDIS features
• Nookal. Best for larger allied health businesses needing advanced reporting and multi-location management

Cliniko: The Gold Standard for Allied Health

Cliniko is an Australian-built practice management platform used by over 65,000 practitioners in 95+ countries. It covers online bookings, clinical notes, invoicing, Medicare and private health fund billing, and a patient portal where clients can complete intake forms before their first appointment.

Cliniko’s AI has are growing: it can auto-populate treatment notes from templates and flag incomplete records. It integrates with Xero for accounting, Stripe for payments, and Mailchimp for client communications. Pricing starts at AU$45/month for solo practitioners and scales with practitioner count. If you’re a physio, chiro, osteopath, or run a multi-discipline clinic, Cliniko is the benchmark to beat.

Zanda (formerly Power Diary): Best for Mental Health and Telehealth

Zanda rebranded from Power Diary in November 2024, but the product is the same. It was built specifically with psychology and counselling practices in mind, and it shows. Its built-in telehealth video platform (no third-party tool needed), NDIS invoice management, and Medicare Online claiming are standout has for mental health practitioners.

Zanda’s tools include automated session note reminders, smart appointment scheduling based on practitioner availability, and automated client communications. Pricing starts at AU$9.50/month for the Starter Plan (1 practitioner, up to 1,000 appointments/month) and AU$24.50/month for the Growth Plan (unlimited appointments, per practitioner). A 14-day free trial is available. For psychologists, counsellors, social workers, and speech pathologists, Zanda is often the first recommendation.

Nookal: Built for Scale

Nookal targets practices with multiple locations and larger practitioner teams. Its reporting suite is the most thorough of the three: detailed revenue analysis, practitioner utilisation rates, referral tracking, and waitlist management. It also handles Medicare, DVA, and private health fund billing.

For smaller practices, Nookal can feel more complex than necessary. The feature depth is genuinely impressive but comes with a steeper learning curve. Pricing is location-based rather than per-practitioner, which can be an advantage for practices with many clinicians. If you’re running a group practice across multiple sites, Nookal deserves a close look.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Our Recommendation

For most Australian allied health practices, Cliniko is the safest starting point: widely used, well-supported, and covers 90% of use cases cleanly. Choose Zanda if you’re in psychology, counselling, or rely heavily on telehealth and NDIS. Consider Nookal when you’re managing multiple locations and need serious reporting.

Sources and Further Reading

• Cliniko. Official site
• Zanda (formerly Power Diary). Official site
• Nookal. Official site
• NDIS. National Disability Insurance Scheme

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cliniko or Zanda better for Australian allied health?

Both are strong Australian options. Cliniko is more widely used across physiotherapy, psychology, and allied health broadly, with a simpler interface. Zanda (formerly Power Diary) includes built-in telehealth, has stronger bulk billing Medicare features, and is popular with psychology and counselling practices. Nookal suits fitness and massage businesses better.

Does Cliniko work with Medicare in Australia?

Cliniko integrates with Tyro for HICAPS (private health insurance) claiming and supports Medicare bulk billing workflows, but does not directly connect to Medicare online claims, you need to use your government online claiming service separately or via Tyro’s Medicare claiming functionality.

How much does Zanda (formerly Power Diary) cost in Australia?

Zanda pricing starts at AU$9.50/month for the Starter Plan (1 practitioner, up to 1,000 appointments) and AU$24.50/month for the Growth Plan (unlimited appointments, per practitioner). A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card required.

Related: The AI Tools Built Specifically for Australian Businesses: A Local-First List | How a Geelong Physio Clinic Cut Admin by 8 Hours a Week Using AI

📊 Compare AI tools side by side | 💼 Free resources & AI prompt packs

More on AI for allied health: Allied Health AI Hub →

📊 Compare AI tools side by side | 💼 Free resources & AI prompt packs