PatientNow vs Klara

AestheticsPro

ZENOTI

Pabau

AestheticsPro is an all-in-one, HIPAA-compliant software for medspas and aesthetic practices, combining EMR, scheduling, CRM, marketing, POS, and more into one secure cloud-based platform designed to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and drive business growth.

ZENOTI is an all-in-one, enterprise software that helps salons, spas and medspas to manage and grow their business. The solution disappears into the background while supporting every aspect of your business, so you can focus on what you love - giving your customers a great experience.

Pabau is an all-in-one practice management software designed for healthcare businesses. The system offers digital patient records, online booking capabilities, calendar management, and integrated payment processing to streamline administrative workflows. Pabau also includes marketing tools, inventory management, and reporting features that help medical practices operate efficiently while maintaining secure patient data.

PatientNow offers practice management software for aesthetic medicine providers, integrating electronic medical records, patient engagement, payment processing, and digital marketing. Designed for medical spas, plastic surgery centers, and wellness clinics, it streamlines workflows with HIPAA-compliant features and tools like before-and-after photography, automating tasks and providing business growth insights.

Appointment Management

Patient Scheduling

Charting

HIPAA Compliant

Patient Intake

EMR/EHR

E-Prescribing

Patient Portal

Medical Billing

Physician Scheduling

Claims Management

PatientNow

Windows

Web-based

Linux

iPad

iPhone

Med Spa & Wellness Solution Essentials

 Plastics & Derm Solution Pro

Business Operations and Development

They were vague about the process and Support was unresponsive for weeks as we followed up via email and phone calls to get an update on our requests to transfer OUR business and patient data.

Practice Manager

You have to constantly back out of the screen you're working in if you need to get another task done, so trying to multi-task leads to having to do everything two or more times

Owner

We finally found a all in one solution and when I went to cancel our patient now, I was told I am locked into an automatic annual renewal and am required to pay full price for an additional 11 months.  

Business Operations Manager

Also, the inability to refer back to a patient record when you are creating a txt or document, can be frustrating because you have to copy and paste and then return back to the txt/document and paste it back.

It's 2025, there are so many other options with systems and teams that are better designed for the user.

The patient registration portal our patients don't find it user friendly and unclear many times they create a new account which creates issues for us merging etc.

Programs Administrator

The integration with other healthcare systems and tools was also impressive, as it facilitated seamless data exchange and improved coordination of care.

Operations Manager

Impact on customer care: The PAX device malfunctions interrupted our services, greatly affecting customer satisfaction and cause long wait periods.

I love being able to toggle through scheduling patients, looking at medical records, notes, photos and more all in one program!

Aesthetics Nurse

It’s clear they don’t actually care about the customer or the success of their business- it’s all about trapping people into a year contract and ignoring their heartache and pain, all while getting paid.

Slow performance: The extremely slow pace of the program hindered our ability to provide sufficient customer service, affecting both our business and patient care.

Patient Coordinator

You cannot delete appointments that were created by mistake , the appointmetn stays in the client record.

manager

i like it so far , everytime i get confuse i go back to the training videos which is a great feature without waiting or submitting a support ticket

Director of Operations

We are having issues updating our Pax machines to properly reflect updated fees.

The "EMR" in this software dos not comply with regulations and will not work for any practice that provides medical services as opposed to medspa services.

PAX device malfunctions: The PAX device to take payments malfunctioned frequently and had to be replaced THREE times.

Aesthetician

Not being able to keep patient photos in charts.

Practice Coordinator and Medical Assistant

Inability to customize certain aspects of data bases.  

Executive Assistant to the CEO

From forms to automations, everything clicked into place smoothly. If you're worried about setup stress, don’t be — PatientNow makes it easy!

The system offers an intuitive design that makes navigation smooth and efficient for both medical staff and administrative users.

Dental Intern

Great, deeply integrated system, although it has a deep learning curve, but PatientNow is a solid choice.

Ive had many conversations with the team, none of the things that I had shown an importance of for my practice were brought forward.

I also like that we can send out mass marketing emails and texts.

Esthetician

More useful tools to help with day to day tasks and reports/inventory.

There has been a lot of promises of features but none have actually came to the forefront.  

Hairstylist

Sometimes I have gloves with colour on them while a client is waiting and I don’t really have time to re log in all over again.

Plastic Surgeon

We find that the insurance Billing component is not as user-friendly as we would like.

Hours of tech support calls: We had to contact tech support almost every day (unfortunately this is not an exaggeration), consuming valuable time and resources.

Nurse Practitioner

we are not 10 days into this mess with me not receiving a single deposit from them and multiple calls, unanswered emails has not gotten us anywhere  

I like that the patients get texts reminders for appointments.

Administrative Assistant

We can make adjustments and edits as needed.

Due to the PAX device malfunctions, we were forced to use SecurePayNow which had 3.29% hidden fee.

Clock-in/Clock-out issues: The inability to use this feature led to employee time management problems.

Guest Service Director

It would be better if other programs could be integrated for different payment options, including financing options.

Office Manager

There are too many system updates and not all the updates are good.

We refused to get another app - such as Parallels - since we thought PatientNow had to be responsible for Clock in and out feature.

We had another EMR that was not easy to use at all, I did research on this one and I am so glad I did!

Weekly program crashes: The program crashed on a weekly basis, causing further disruptions and patient care.

Company is not responsive to my phone calls or email contacts.

Such as adding spell check to txt messaging/document creation.

Horrific customer service, no ownership of accounts, response times are long and often ineffective.

administrator

VERY SLOW , if the client has 100 or more photos you will be waiting 30 sec or more to load.

The customer care representative will do a screenshare and guide me

Oener

Everything depends on everything, so if you want to change one thing you have to go into 10 different places in order to change it.

Owner operator

We used the app and system for 2.5 days and they are charging us for a 12 month contract.

I switched my bank accounts to which my transactions would be deposited into on July 1, 2024.

That seems to be for very basic support and I don't typically have the time to sit on the phone and explain something to someone who will inevitably need to transfer me to someone different anyway.

Supervisor

The customer service reps have to reach out to the Payrix department and sometimes results in a delay.

Also liked the we could access some things from phone app.

Customer Support

Payment Processing

Phone Support

Patient Management

Updates and Upgrades

User Switching

Data Reporting

Bugs and Issues

Document Management

Complicated and restrictive billing

Hidden fees: We incurred unagreed credit card charges (3.29%).

Controller

When we integrated the PN merchant credit card processing, we have a few problems with card readers not working properly.  

88% of reviewers feel negative about Payment Processing. Users report frequent issues with credit card processing, hidden fees, and difficulty managing payments. Reviewers indicate that the billing system is not user-friendly for clients and that resolving payment problems often requires significant effort. Some users express frustration with being locked into long-term contracts and facing challenges when attempting to cancel services. They say support for payment-related issues is slow or unhelpful, and that integration with payment platforms can be unreliable or limited.

Limited and cumbersome reporting

Running reports is cumbersome and not intuitive.

56% of reviewers feel negative about Reporting. Users indicate that generating reports is often complicated and unintuitive, requiring multiple steps each time. Reviewers say the available reports lack key elements needed for data analysis, inventory control, and financial tracking. They mention that the reporting features are not customizable enough and that it is difficult to drill down into data or find specific information. Some users report inaccuracies in reports and find the overall reporting functionality frustrating and inefficient for practice management.

Frequent glitches and downtime

I have been with them for about 6 months and they are still working on internal errors and software issues.

VP Operations

Functionality is Not what they promised and the worst problem yet is that it is always down or glitching.

83% of reviewers feel negative about Bugs and Issues. Reviewers report regular system crashes, persistent software bugs, and malfunctions that disrupt daily operations. Users say that resolving technical problems often takes weeks and requires repeated follow-up with support. They indicate that hardware integrations, such as payment devices, are unreliable and that essential functions like consent forms and scanning can be problematic. Some reviewers feel that these ongoing issues waste time and create frustration for staff, impacting overall workflow and productivity.

Inefficient practice operations

Aesthetic Director 

we are a busy practice we don't have time to take 10 minutes to check people out while 5-6 people are waiting.

owner/manager

Creating custom packages involving multiple different services and products is a HUGE pain and very inefficient.  

48% of reviewers feel negative about Practice Management. Reviewers indicate that managing packages, invoicing, and daily workflows is cumbersome and time-consuming. Users say the system is not efficient for busy practices, especially at the front desk, and that implementing changes or getting support for operational issues is challenging. Some reviewers mention that the software can be expensive for smaller practices and that training and setup do not always meet expectations. They feel that inefficiencies and lack of tailored support hinder smooth practice operations.

Challenging patient portal experience

38% of reviewers feel negative about Patient Management. Users report that the patient portal is not user-friendly, leading to confusion and duplicate accounts. Reviewers say accessing and managing patient records can be cumbersome, especially when multitasking or using tablets. They indicate that the portal often has glitches, syncing issues, and slow load times, which disrupt patient registration and communication. Some users mention that essential features like consent forms and medication databases are incomplete or difficult to use, impacting patient care and administrative efficiency.

Flexible template customization

77% of reviewers feel positive about Customization. Users appreciate the ability to tailor documents and templates to fit their specific practice needs. Reviewers indicate that customizing workflows, documentation, and templates is straightforward, allowing them to streamline operations. They value the preloaded templates and the ease of modifying or creating new ones. Some users report that support staff assist with customization, making it easier to adapt the software to unique requirements. They say this flexibility helps practices operate more efficiently and meet their documentation standards.

Streamlined appointment management

Manager

I love how easy the scheduling aspect is, and how you can color-code appointments and see the providers quickly.

The ease of scheduling for a multi provider clinic is extremely important and this program offers that and more!

77% of reviewers feel positive about Patient Scheduling. Reviewers appreciate features like automated appointment reminders, color-coded scheduling, and the ability to manage multi-provider clinics efficiently. Users say the process of booking, rescheduling, and tracking appointments is quick and user-friendly. They indicate that integrated reminders help reduce no-shows and improve patient engagement. Some reviewers value the all-in-one scheduling, communication, and reporting capabilities, which simplify workflow and enhance the patient experience. They find that these scheduling tools support both administrative and clinical needs.

Supportive onboarding experience

It was overwhelming to begin the process of learning the software, but the availability of help videos and staff is impressive.

Office manager

Overall very satisfied, easy to work with or train new staff.

78% of reviewers feel positive about Training and Learning Curve. Reviewers appreciate the availability of tutorials, webinars, and helpful support staff, which make learning PatientNow manageable. Users say that the software is accessible for all staff levels, from reception to clinical personnel, and that onboarding new employees is straightforward. They indicate that responsive trainers and customer support ease the transition and help staff quickly become proficient. Some reviewers mention that ongoing educational resources and accessible help contribute to a smoother adoption process for their teams.

Intuitive and simple navigation

Easy to use and everything is all on one app.

78% of reviewers feel positive about Ease of Use. Users indicate that PatientNow is straightforward to navigate once they become familiar with its layout. Reviewers appreciate that the interface is intuitive, making daily tasks and onboarding new staff less challenging. They say the system consolidates essential functions in one place, reducing the need to switch between applications. Some reviewers find that learning the basics allows them to operate efficiently, and they value the clear organization of steps within the software. They report that the platform’s simplicity supports productivity and smooth day-to-day operations.

Mid-size Business

Small Business

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Carepatron

All your healthcare work in one place: Notes, Clients records, Appointments, Billing, Payments, Transcription, Communication & more.

DocVilla

DocVilla: transform your independent medical practice with a comprehensive suite of Cloud-Based EMR and EHR software, telemedicine, e-prescribing, lab integration, Fullscript, analytics, POS, Patient portal, and inventory management. Secure, efficient, and hosted on Google Cloud and AWS.

Tebra

Tebra helps medical providers optimize clinical processes by handling administrative tasks so that doctors can focus on patient care

Tebra is popular with physician practices with 1-10 providers and medical billing companies with 1-100 providers.

Klara helps keep patients engaged and enhances key interactions such as scheduling, reminders, post-visit follow-ups and ongoing care.

Mobile Access

Confirmations/Reminders

Appointment Scheduling

By industry, Klara reviewers are most commonly professionals in medical practice (59%). The most frequent use case for Klara cited by reviewers is patient engagement (60% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Klara is a patient engagement solution with key features that include HIPAA compliance, appointment management, confirmations and reminders, and more.

Klara

We use EMA/Modernizing Medicine as our EMR which directly integrates with Klara so we sent statements, payments links, and bill reminders through Klara.

Medical Assistant

The ability to communicate with our patients which resulted to shorter queueing times in phone calls as patients have the option now to leave a message, book online, submit their records, etc.

Agent

It helps us to be in contact with the patient in a certain way, and also provides the option of providing valuable information to the patient such as; appointment reminders, information request, etc.

It is really convenient to be able to advertise a texting system rather than a nurse taking triage calls, we encourage patients to use Klara to send over questions and concerns and I believe this significantly reduces our office's phone calls throughout the day.

Front Office Supervisor

The only thing that I have found that I don't like about Klara is when a patient has been "checked in" in the office, they sit down in the waiting room and then "confirm" their appointment, Klara then puts the appointment back to "pending".   If the front desk is not closely monitoring the patients, they will not notice that the patient is no longer "checked in".   When you have a patient count of over 200 - this becomes a daunting task

Billing Manager

There are glitches, an inability to delete certain messages, and an inability to add certain numbers to the patients' lists even though they are cell phone numbers rather than landlines.

The ease in which we are able to triage messages across multiply departments, regardless of if our team is on site or at a satellite location, has improved our overall response time to patients.

Healthcare Coordinator

I also like the option to create templates to save even further time as well as the ability to send broadcasted messages and transcribe voicemails!

Patient Advocate

Reminder texts have decreased our "no show" rates, being able to have patient e sign documents and upload updated insurance.

The ease and accessibility of the messaging options. Since patients receive a text notification, the chances of reaching a patient quickly while still saving time on  phone calls is invaluable.

We have garnered more online reviews through simple prompts sent to patients at their 2-week post-op mark as well as streamlining our intake process.

Patient coordinator

How easily duplicate charts are made, and how we cannot add certain things to the initial appointment scheduling (like requiring address for patient etc)

I love that it has the option to do E-forms so all paperwork can be completed in the comfort of the patient's homes before their appointments.

Klara shows the appointment details as if they have scheduled, but there is no clear indicator that you will get a text reminder when your appointment has been successfully scheduled.

Site Manager

There are also a lot of occurrences of pts who will reply 1, 2 or 3 to their confirmation texts and Klara doesn't register it so we have to handle it manually.

Air Traffic Manager

Proximity and Personal: Klara really keeps in touch the relationship between the clinic and the patient and also works as a practical solution for patient to connects without the need to go strictly to the clinic

I love that you are able to easily export, attach and manage documents; as well as exporting insurance cards.

I just hate that Klara locks you out for 1 hour after 3 incorrect attempts to login with no way to get back in hence forcing you to wait an hour to log back in.

We struggle with appointment scheduling, as the wording can be confusing for patients and they don't realize that they have not sucessfully booked their appointment.

Registered Nurse

It seems that I should be able to label whose patient this is in their contact info so it automatically goes to the correct or “default” inbox.

I like the sleek design, the efficiency of patient communication, and how I can see when patients read the message.

Admin Manager

I think it is very tech savvy and adds to how efficiently we can communicate with our patients and sync documents with our EHR.

I like that it predicts the patient based on their name before I hit enter, also good video/audio quality generally.

Physician Assistant

I wish there was more collaboration with the EMR software so that all the communication would directly move to the EMR instead of having to copy and paste.

Patient Representative

The only way to do this is to unlink it, add the phone # in, then link the chart back up.

PatientNow vs Klara Comparison (2026)

PatientNow

Klara

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives