PatientNow vs Symplast 

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.

Marketing Ex. and Back Office Manager

I know how to solve more problems on PatientNow than support does, and when I go to them with a big issue, no one know what to do so they say they'll call back with a solution and never do.

Operations Manager

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

Overall, PatientNow is relatively easy to work with and when issues or complications arise the support is very effective and quick.

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

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.

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Appointment Management

Appointment Scheduling

Audit Trail

Automated Scheduling

Availability Indicator

Batch Processing

Before & After Pictures

Billing & Invoicing

Booking Management

Calendar Management

Calendar Sync

Cancellation Tracking

Care Plan Management

Cash Flow Management

Charting

Claims Management

Client Management

Client Portal

Clinical Notes

Code & Charge Entry

Coding Assistance

Communication Management

Compliance Tracking

Confirmations/Reminders

Consent Forms

Credit Card Processing

Customer Database

Customer Mobile App

Customer Surveys

Customizable Branding

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Discount Management

Documentation Management

Document Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Drug Reference Database

EHR/EMR Integration

Electronic Faxes

Electronic Payments

Electronic Signature

Email Marketing

Email Reminders

EMR/EHR

E-Prescribing

Faculty/Staff Management

File Sharing

Financial Management

For Dermatologists

For Healthcare

For Medical Spas

Forms Management

For Plastic Surgery Practices

Gift Card Management

HIPAA Compliant

Historical Reporting

ICD-10 Compliance

Image Management

Immunization & Allergy Tracking

Insurance Management

Inventory Management

Invoice Management

Lab Integration

Lab Order Management

Loyalty Program

Marketing Automation

Marketing Management

Meaningful Use Certified

Medical Billing

Medical Coding

Medical History Records

Medication History

Medication Management

Messaging

Mobile Access

Mobile Alerts

Monitoring

Multi-Channel Communication

Multi-Location

Multi-Physician

No-Show Tracking

Onboarding

Online Booking

Patient Communications

Patient Education

Patient Engagement

Patient Flow Management

Patient Intake

Patient Portal

Patient Questionnaires

Patient Records Management

Patient Scheduling

Payment Collection

PatientNow

Windows

Web-based

Linux

iPad

iPhone

Nextech EHR & PM

Aesthetic Record

Symplast 

Boulevard

Vagaro

Practice Fusion

Mindbody

ModMed

Tebra

DrChrono

PracticeQ

Jane

Med Spa & Wellness Solution Essentials

 Plastics & Derm Solution Pro

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

Practice Manager

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

Owner

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

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.

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.

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

Hairstylist

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.

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.

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

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.  

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

Programs Administrator

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

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.

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.

PatientNow vs Symplast Comparison (2026)

PatientNow

Symplast

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives