Top 7 Power Diary Alternatives: Features & Pricing

Power Diary, a widely used practice management software in the UK and beyond, faces competition from several noteworthy alternatives. Selecting the right software is essential for the smooth operation of healthcare practices, and while Power Diary has been a popular choice, other platforms offer unique features and pricing structures that may better suit your allied health practice management needs.

In this guide, we will examine some of the top Power Diary alternatives: Medesk, Cliniko, CareCloud, Carepatron, PracticePal, Jane app, and WriteUpp. We will compare their key features and pricing to help you choose the best option for your practice and streamline your workflow.

Why Consider Switching from Power Diary?

Power Diary remains a capable platform, but a growing number of practices are exploring alternatives for several practical reasons.

Pricing model changes. How much does Power Diary cost? Power Diary operates on a unique weekly billing model, with prices starting at approximately £16 per month (billed weekly). This per-practitioner pricing can scale quickly for growing clinics. When a practice adds staff, the monthly bill rises considerably, prompting many to look for flat-rate or more flexible monthly options.

The Zanda rebrand. Power Diary, which now operates as Zanda in some markets, has prompted many practices to reassess their options. This transition, along with associated pricing and UX changes, has led users who searched for Power Diary Zanda information to discover that the platform they knew has shifted in ways that affect day-to-day workflows.

Data privacy and compliance concerns. UK-based practices operating under GDPR, and those working within CQC-regulated services or seeking NHS integrations, need a platform with transparent, auditable data handling. If your current software does not clearly document its compliance posture, that is a meaningful risk.

Feature gaps for specific specialties. Allied health practitioners, including physiotherapists, psychologists, and speech pathologists, often require specialty-specific templates, outcome measures, and multi-disciplinary team tools that a general-purpose PMS may not provide out of the box.

If any of these pain points sound familiar, the alternatives below are worth a close look.

Power Diary Pros and Cons

Before exploring alternatives, it helps to understand the specific strengths and weaknesses of Power Diary based on user feedback and feature analysis.

Pros:

• Comprehensive calendar management with excellent multi-practitioner and multi-location views.
• Reliable automated SMS and email appointment reminders to reduce no-shows.
• Secure storage for health records and customisable clinical note templates.
• Strong all-in-one foundation for general practice administration.

Cons:

• The user interface can feel dated and less intuitive, making navigation and onboarding challenging for new staff.
• A weekly subscription billing model complicates cost comparisons and budgeting compared to standard monthly invoicing.
• The free trial period is relatively short, providing limited time to fully evaluate the platform before committing.
• Lacks modern communication channels like WhatsApp messaging and integrated social media messaging.
• Limited AI tooling for clinical documentation or workflow automation.

Power Diary Alternatives at a Glance

Before diving into individual reviews, here is a summary of how all seven alternatives compare to Power Diary across the most important decision factors.

This table gives you a fast overview. The detailed sections below cover each platform in depth.

1. Medesk

Top Features: Online booking, EHR, telemedicine, reports and analytics, medical CRM, treatment note templates, scheduling, task management.

Medesk is a strong Power Diary alternative for small practice owners and growing clinics alike. It offers a permanent Free plan (up to 2 users, 1,000 patient records, and 50 appointments per month, with no credit card required). The Pro plan removes those limits entirely, with no cap on users or patient records, and comes with a 7-day free trial. For full details, see the Medesk Pricing page.

Medesk stands out with its Acquisition Channel Statistics feature, which enhances your marketing strategy without additional costs. Its analytics module outshines Power Diary with visual graphs and charts that simplify complex medical data for both clinicians and administrative staff. Graphical comparisons make it easier to identify deviations from sales plans, appointment numbers, and no-shows.

Security is a priority for every practice. Medesk offers a country-based restriction option that limits appointment bookings from certain countries, protecting your practice from bots that book appointments but do not show up. This feature saves on confirmation SMS fees and strengthens the security of your patient portal.

Medesk Features

• Online booking feature helps patients choose your service.
• Electronic health records that you will never lose.
• Telemedicine for real-time online treatment.
• Reports & analytics module to track your best performance.
• Medical CRM to improve your patient's loyalty.
• Consultation notes templates for easier workflow.
• Scheduling options to make bookings and boost your marketing with acquisition channels.
• Task management to build a dream team.
• Outbound WhatsApp and SMS messaging to keep patient communication centralised.

Medesk Pricing

Medesk has a permanently free plan for up to 2 users, 1,000 patient records, and 50 appointments per month. No credit card required. The Pro plan adds unlimited users and unlimited patient records, with a 7-day free trial. For full details, see the Pricing page.

Medesk compared with Power Diary

2. Cliniko

Pricing: Starts at £29/month per practitioner. Has a free trial with no credit card required.

Top Features: Booking and scheduling, EMR, finance management, reporting and tracking, business management.

Cliniko is a robust alternative to the Power Diary app, especially favoured by allied health professionals. Its strong support for allied health practice management makes it a go-to choice for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists who need specialty-specific tools. The platform boasts a user-friendly interface featuring a customisable calendar on the main page for tracking and creating appointments, including group sessions across multiple locations.

Compared to Power Diary, Cliniko offers a URL builder for the patient portal. The ability to schedule appointments directly through a unique link streamlines clinic interactions, and integration with Google Tag Manager facilitates data collection for analysis.

Moreover, Cliniko allows you to add medical alerts to patient profiles, ensuring vital information remains visible throughout the entire patient interaction. For solo practitioners or small teams looking for a Power Diary alternative for small practice use, Cliniko's per-practitioner pricing is straightforward, though it scales up more steeply than flat-rate alternatives as you grow.

Cliniko Features

The screenshot below shows Cliniko's calendar interface, which reflects its scheduling-first design approach.

• Purpose-built body charts and customisable clinical notes tailored for physiotherapy and occupational therapy workflows.
• GDPR and HIPAA compliance built in, making it one of the stronger options for practices with international patient populations.
• URL builder for the patient portal enables appointment scheduling via a unique direct link, reducing friction for new patients.
• Medical alerts on patient profiles ensure critical information remains visible across all interactions.
• Integration with Google Calendar, iCal, and Google Tag Manager supports both operational and marketing workflows.

Cliniko Pricing

Prices at Cliniko depend on the number of practitioners in your clinic, starting at £29 per month per practitioner.

The platform offers a 30-day free trial. SMS reminders cost an additional 5p each, regardless of the subscription plan.

Cliniko compared with Power Diary

3. CareCloud

Pricing: See vendor pricing page.

Top Features: Calendar management, patient experience management, electronic medical records, medical billing and revenue cycle management, reporting and analytics, telehealth.

CareCloud is an American alternative to Power Diary, offering a comprehensive patient care management platform for practices of all sizes. Formerly known as MTBC, the platform optimises care delivery, reduces service costs, enhances patient experience, and supports clinic growth. However, users note challenges in onboarding and platform learning.

CareCloud's advantages include automated SMS and email reminders, an interactive patient portal, and a variety of available integrations. The platform utilises Generative AI to streamline EHR operations, and customisable reports enable the monitoring of performance metrics.

CareCloud Features

CareCloud offers over 10 modules and functions. Depending on the plan, you have access to:

• Appointment scheduling
• Patient management
• Billing and revenue cycle management
• Reporting and analytics
• Telehealth
• EHR

The scheduling feature has a standard interface: a filterable calendar where you can mark appointments of different types and for different specialists using colour codes.

CareCloud's patient portal provides custom workflows, check-in and checkout kiosks, and various payment options. A notable strength lies in its EHRs, including CareCloud Charts, talkEHR, and VertexDR. By tagging bills and invoices, you can prioritise unfulfilled encounters efficiently.

CareCloud's telehealth platform is HIPAA-compliant and available on both mobile devices and desktop browsers.

CareCloud Pricing

CareCloud offers Central $349 and Complete $629 pricing plans. Using the platform also requires a three-year contract commitment, a condition that may not suit all clinics. For current pricing, visit the CareCloud vendor website directly.

CareCloud compared with Power Diary

4. Carepatron

Pricing: $12/month. Has a free plan.

Top Features: Build notes and forms, online scheduling, client management, telehealth services, client portal, automated workflows, invoicing and payments, customise client record.

Best for: Mental health and speech pathology practitioners, particularly solo practitioners who need an accessible free starting point with a broad template library.

The platform aids healthcare professionals in accepting online bookings, managing schedules, streamlining documentation, and facilitating work through templates, digital payments, and a client portal.

The Carepatron team prioritises data security by offering the ability to set permissions and assign clients individually for each specialist and staff member, ensuring that client data is accessible only to those who need it.

A commendable feature of the platform is that telemedicine is available even on the free plan, with the option to integrate with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

Carepatron Features

Carepatron has all the essential features for clinic automation. The screenshot below illustrates the platform's colour-coded scheduling calendar.

• Extensive library of clinical note templates, including DAP, GIRP, and SOAP formats, with a live audio transcription feature to reduce documentation time.
• HIPAA-compliant telehealth available on all plans, including the free tier, with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams integration.
• Granular permission controls allow per-client data access assignment for each staff member.
• Integrated with Stripe for online payments and client portal booking.
• Free Starter plan makes it accessible for solo practitioners building a caseload from scratch.

Carepatron Pricing

Carepatron offers users three pricing plans: Starter (Free), Professional, and Organisation.

There are no additional upfront costs or minimum contract commitments. Payment processing incurs a charge of 2.9% plus 30¢ per transaction. For current plan pricing, visit the Carepatron website directly.

Carepatron compared with Power Diary

5. PracticePal

Pricing: Starts at £25 per month. Has a 30-day free trial.

Top Features: Scheduling system, online booking portal, clinic notes, mail marketing campaign, reports, practice income, intake forms.

PracticePal is designed for healthcare practitioners seeking a versatile practice management system. Its focus on simplicity and flexibility suits various healthcare specialties.

The browser-based platform was created in 2006 and handles all major clinical management tasks. With PracticePal, you can book class appointments, send automatic appointment reminders, assign tasks, and accept payments with a single click.

Filters and PCA Predict integrations make this PMS convenient software for client records management, along with tasks associated with specific patients.

PracticePal Features

The screenshot below shows PracticePal's calendar-based homepage, which is the central hub for scheduling across multiple locations.

• Multi-practitioner and multi-location scheduling views allow simultaneous monitoring of schedules across several clinics.
• Patient portal integrated with Stripe enables booking, immediate payment, or deposit, with balance visibility in the user dashboard.
• A free internal messaging system is a meaningful differentiator from Power Diary, which lacks this feature.
• Modular pricing structure: the base plan covers core features, with optional add-ons for online booking, notes, recall, and additional accounts.
• Ten report types covering financial, patient, stock, and workflow data, though without graphical representations.

PracticePal Pricing

The standard price is £25 per month. Here's what it includes.

Each additional module costs £3 per month, including:

• online booking
• notes
• recall, etc.

An extra account will cost an additional £1 to £5, depending on its type.

PracticePal compared with Power Diary

6. Jane

Pricing: CAD $79/month.

Top Features: Online booking, charting, scheduling, billing, online appointments, integrations.

Best for: Mental health professionals and allied health practitioners who need intuitive charting and seamless intake workflows.

Jane is a user-friendly practice management platform known for its intuitive interface and patient-focused tools, making it a popular choice for small to medium-sized practices.

Jane is a Canadian web-based platform designed to streamline administration and "does the work of a full-time staff person." It offers extensive customisation, colour-coding, voice commands, and a user-friendly interface.

To enhance brand recognition, Jane provides portal and online booking branding options.

Jane Features

The screenshot below shows Jane's online booking interface, which underpins the platform's patient-first approach.

• Intuitive charting with easy note duplication, reducing documentation time across high-volume appointment schedules.
• Online booking module with customisable appointment reminders and pre-filled intake form collection, streamlining reception work.
• Group online sessions with up to 12 participants, available as an add-on, serving group therapy and class-based practice models.
• Scheduling calendar with shift and waitlist management for improved visibility across practitioners.
• Report and Analytics feature with export capabilities for essential business insights.

Jane Pricing

The platform offers two pre-made plans: Base and Insurance. For current pricing in your currency, visit the Jane website directly.

Note that online group appointments are available as an add-on, and Jane provides starting options for new practices and nonprofit organisations.

Jane compared with Power Diary

7. WriteUpp

Pricing: Starts at £14.95 per user per month. Has a free trial

Top Features: Video consultation, note-taking, patient records, scheduling, custom forms, and templates.

Best for: Mental health specialists, physiotherapists, and practitioners in small collaborative private practices who prioritise GDPR compliance and simplicity.

WriteUpp is a user-friendly, cloud-based practice management solution designed for mental health specialists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, psychologists, and practitioners in private practices or small clinics.

It stands out for its simplicity, collaborative features, and easy-to-use drag-and-drop functionality for managing appointments and workflows.

WriteUpp Features

The screenshot below shows WriteUpp's diary view, which anchors its straightforward scheduling experience.

• Drag-and-drop diary scheduling with appointment recurrence management and integrated invoicing.
• Three customisable note templates (Blank, SOAP notes, Treatment plan) covering the most common clinical documentation formats.
• Internal messaging system for easy colleague communication, a feature Power Diary does not include natively.
• Client records with a Summary page containing key health details, contact info, and third-party involvement, with filtering available across all modules.
• GDPR-compliant data handling, making it well suited to UK private practices managing sensitive patient information.

WriteUpp Pricing

Pricing depends on the number of users. For one user, it will cost £14.95/month. If you need the online booking module, its inclusion will cost an additional £4.95/month per practice.

Additionally, you can purchase SMS credits in bundles (5p/credit) and video consultation minutes (1p/min).

WriteUpp compared with Power Diary

Compliance and Data Security: What to Check Before You Switch

For UK-based practices, data security is not optional. Any platform you consider should be able to clearly answer questions about where patient data is stored, who can access it, and which regulatory frameworks it complies with.

GDPR. All platforms processing data for UK or EU patients must comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Look for platforms that offer data processing agreements (DPAs), store data within the UK or EEA, and have documented breach notification procedures. Among the alternatives reviewed here, Cliniko and WriteUpp are explicitly GDPR-compliant. Medesk is GDPR-compliant and provides country-based access restrictions as an added layer of protection.

HIPAA. If your practice serves US-based patients or operates across jurisdictions, HIPAA compliance is relevant. Carepatron and CareCloud both offer HIPAA-compliant telehealth and data handling. Cliniko is also HIPAA-compliant.

CQC and NHS context. Practices regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England need a platform that supports audit trails, access controls, and information governance standards aligned with NHS Digital frameworks. When evaluating any Power Diary alternative, ask vendors directly whether their platform has been used in CQC-registered settings and whether they can provide an NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) alignment statement. Ask specifically: does the platform maintain an access log that records which staff member viewed or edited each patient record, and can that log be produced during a CQC inspection? Can the vendor supply a written information governance policy or security summary document?

GDPR data-processor agreements. Before signing up with any platform, request a formal Data Processing Agreement (DPA) that identifies the vendor as a data processor acting on your instructions. Review their sub-processor list to understand which third parties may handle patient data, and confirm that any sub-processors are based in the UK or EEA, or that appropriate transfer safeguards are in place.

Healthcode and PPR. For UK private practices that bill insurers directly, Healthcode and PPR integration is a practical requirement rather than a nice-to-have. Healthcode is the standard electronic billing network used by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, and other UK private medical insurers. Confirm whether your chosen platform supports Healthcode membership checks and electronic invoice submission before committing. Medesk supports Healthcode and PPR integration for direct electronic billing to UK private medical insurers.

Practical steps. Before migrating, request a data export from your current platform to verify portability. Confirm that your new provider signs a DPA, and review their sub-processor list to understand which third parties may handle patient data.

Which Power Diary Alternative Is Right for You?

Every practice has different priorities. Use this breakdown to narrow down your shortlist quickly.

Best for allied health practice management: Cliniko is purpose-built for allied health practitioners and has the deepest feature set for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology workflows. Jane is a strong second choice, particularly for allied health teams that prioritise intuitive charting and intake management.

Best for budget-conscious or solo practitioners: Medesk offers a permanently free plan for up to 2 users and a Pro plan with no user cap. WriteUpp at £14.95 per user per month is also competitive for single-practitioner setups.

Best Power Diary alternative for small practice operations: Both Medesk and Carepatron scale well from solo use upward. Carepatron's free Starter plan is particularly useful for practitioners who are just setting up and need to keep costs low while they build a patient base.

Best for AI features: CareCloud leads on AI-assisted EHR operations. Carepatron's live audio transcription feature is practical for reducing documentation time during or after consultations.

Best for UK regulatory compliance (GDPR, CQC context): WriteUpp and Medesk are the strongest choices for UK-based practices that need clear GDPR documentation and UK-focused support. PracticePal was also built specifically for the UK market.

Best for larger or enterprise practices: CareCloud offers the most comprehensive feature set for large multi-provider organisations, though its pricing and three-year contract commitment are significant considerations.

Best for simplicity: PracticePal keeps things straightforward with a clean interface and modular pricing, making it a reasonable choice for practices that want core functionality without a steep learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Power Diary now called Zanda?

Yes. Power Diary has rebranded as Zanda in several markets, including Australia where it originated. The two names refer to the same product. If you have been searching for Power Diary alternatives and encountering the Zanda name, you are looking at the same platform. The rebrand has been accompanied by pricing and interface changes that have prompted a number of existing users to evaluate alternatives.

2. Is there a free Power Diary alternative?

Carepatron offers a genuinely free Starter plan that includes telehealth, scheduling, and clinical note templates. Medesk provides a permanently free plan for up to 2 users, 1,000 patient records, and 50 appointments per month, with no credit card required. The Pro plan includes a 7-day free trial. Cliniko offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. For practices with very limited budgets, Carepatron's free tier is the most functional starting point among the options reviewed.

3. Which Power Diary alternative is best for physiotherapists in the UK?

Cliniko is the most widely used platform among UK physiotherapists, offering GDPR and HIPAA compliance, customisable clinical notes with body charts, and robust scheduling for multi-location practices. WriteUpp is also popular with physiotherapists and other allied health practitioners in private practice due to its simplicity and competitive UK pricing.

4. Can I migrate my patient data from Power Diary to another platform?

Most platforms reviewed here support data import in CSV format, and several offer dedicated onboarding support to help with migration. Before switching, request a full data export from Power Diary and confirm with your chosen alternative that they can accept and map your existing patient records. Medesk and Cliniko both offer onboarding support to assist with this process.

5. Do any of these alternatives offer WhatsApp messaging?

Medesk provides built-in outbound WhatsApp and SMS messaging to centralise patient communication. Most other practice management systems on this list require third-party integrations to enable WhatsApp functionality. If omnichannel communication is a priority for your clinic, Medesk is the strongest native option.

6. How do these platforms handle NHS or CQC compliance requirements?

No single platform reviewed here offers direct NHS system integration as a standard feature. However, platforms like Medesk, WriteUpp, and PracticePal are designed for UK private practice and support the information governance standards expected in CQC-regulated settings, including audit trails and role-based access controls. Always ask a vendor directly about DSPT alignment before committing.

Read also: Power Diary Review: Practice Management System 2026

When choosing between these Power Diary alternatives, think carefully about what your practice actually needs. Medesk and Cliniko are strong for analytics, CRM, and allied health workflows. CareCloud suits larger organisations that need enterprise-level EHR capability. Carepatron works well for smaller practices and solo practitioners. PracticePal keeps things simple for UK-based clinics. Jane is polished and easy to use. WriteUpp is a solid choice for collaborative small teams. Use the comparison table and use-case guide above to match the right platform to your specific situation.