Why the software choice matters
Moving to a new booking system is hard. It is a big job. Client files, forms, rosters and payments all move at once. So do your team's daily habits.
So don't ask which system to switch to. Ask what your system already does to bring clients back. Then ask what is missing. The answer tells you what to do. You might turn on a feature you already pay for. You might add something on top. Or you might really need to move.
The gap is often in one of three places:
- Are there points or rewards at all?
- Is it in an app with your clinic's name? Or in the maker's app?
- Does it fit the ad rules for prescription-only treatments?
What clinic owners ask
Does my booking system have loyalty?
More do than most owners think. These have some kind of rewards built in: Phorest, Fresha, Timely, Mindbody, Pabau, Shortcuts, Kitomba, Simple Salon, Ovatu, Vagaro and Zenoti. Cliniko, Jane App, Zanda, Halaxy, HotDoc and Best Practice do not. The table below sums up what our posts found. Each row links to the full post and its sources.
Should I switch to get better rewards?
Most of the time, no. Does the booking side work for your team? Then add something on top. That is far easier than moving. Each post shows how for that system. For example:
What should I look for in clinic software?
Look past the diary. Check client files and forms, payments and reports. Check how it gets clients to book again. Check its points and member plans. These guides compare the options that way:
Member tool, points app or your own app?
These are three different things. People often compare them as if they were one.
- A member tool runs monthly billing and member perks.
- A loyalty app tracks points and rewards.
- A white-label app puts your clinic's name on the client's phone.
See these guides:
- best clinic membership software in Australia
- best loyalty program app for clinics
- best white-label apps for clinics
Thinking about a member tool? Aglow vs Clinic App shows where the two differ.
What about referrals and salon apps?
Some clinics start with a smaller need. These guides cover them:
To see the price, read what a clinic loyalty app costs.
Questions to ask before you sign
A few questions sort the options fast.
- Where do rewards live? In an app with your clinic's name? Or in the maker's own app, next to other shops?
- Are rewards included? Or do you pay extra? Some systems in the table only offer it on some plans.
- Was it built for cosmetic clinics? A hair salon program may not fit the rules for clinics.
- Does it work with the booking system you have? Or does it expect you to move everything?
- What happens to your client data if you leave? You should be able to take it with you.
The answers matter more than the feature list. Two systems can both say "rewards". They can mean very different things.
Start here
Start with the best aesthetic clinic software in Australia. It compares the main systems. It asks which ones bring clients back. It links to a longer guide for each. Then use the table below. Jump straight to the system your clinic uses.
Booking systems and loyalty at a glance
We built this only from what each linked post says. It is true as of that post's last update. Software makers change their features. So follow each post's source links for the latest.
| System | What it is | Loyalty built in? | Our post |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aglow | Member tool made in Australia. It runs next to booking systems | Members first. It runs memberships, treatment plans, monthly plans and prepaid. | Aglow vs Clinic App |
| Best Practice | GP software made in Australia | No. No loyalty, member tiers or branded patient app. | Does Best Practice have loyalty? |
| Cliniko | Clinic software built in Melbourne | No. Recalls and follow-ups, but no points, member tiers or branded app. | Add loyalty to Cliniko |
| Fresha | Booking system | Yes. A paid add-on with points, tiers and referrals. Rewards sit in Fresha's app. | Does Fresha have loyalty? |
| Halaxy | Practice software built in Melbourne | No. Recalls and follow-ups, but no points, member tiers or branded app. | Does Halaxy have loyalty? |
| HotDoc | Booking app for doctors, made in Australia | No. No loyalty, member tiers or branded client app. | Does HotDoc have loyalty? |
| Jane App | Practice software built in Canada | No. Packages and memberships, but no points or rewards. | Does Jane App have loyalty? |
| Kitomba | Salon and clinic software from New Zealand | Yes. Points on higher plans. Memberships through Salon Pay. | Does Kitomba have loyalty? |
| Mindbody | Booking system | Yes. Client Rewards points and memberships that pay on their own. A branded app is an add-on. | Does Mindbody have loyalty? |
| Ovatu | Booking and business software, Australian-owned | Yes. A points feature, but no clinic-branded app and no member tiers listed. | Does Ovatu have loyalty? |
| Pabau | Software for medical and aesthetic clinics, built in the UK | Yes. Points, plus memberships with repeat payments. | Does Pabau have loyalty? |
| Phorest | Salon and clinic software built in Ireland | Yes. TreatCard points, plus memberships and a Branded App. | Does Phorest have loyalty? |
| Shortcuts | Salon and spa software built in Australia | Yes. Points, rewards and member tiers in its guest app. | Does Shortcuts have loyalty? |
| Simple Salon | Salon and clinic software built in Australia | Yes. Points, plus memberships with repeat billing. | Does Simple Salon have loyalty? |
| Timely | Booking system for clinics and salons | Yes. Timely Rewards points on higher plans. No membership feature of its own. | Does Timely have loyalty? |
| Vagaro | Salon and spa software built in the US | Yes. Points, memberships and a paid branded app. | Does Vagaro have loyalty? |
| Zanda, once Power Diary | Practice software made in Australia | No. No loyalty or rewards app. Its member feature only keeps records, with no repeat billing. | Does Zanda have loyalty? |
| Zenoti | Software for groups with many sites, hotel spas and franchises | Yes. Loyalty and member plans come with it. | Does Zenoti have loyalty? |
