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Front Desk vs. Zanda

Looking for a Front Desk alternative?

Why practices look for a Front Desk alternative

Front Desk and Zanda both handle practice management, but the differences add up quickly. Zanda gives you more features at a lower price, with no setup fees, free online bookings, free Medicare integration, and a free data import. If you're on Front Desk and your costs are climbing, switching is easier than you think.

Front Desk vs Zanda: Top highlights

1

Free data import, no fees

Free data import, no fees

Zanda provides a comprehensive data import service at no charge, including client details, appointments, notes, services, products, referrers, and financial information. It typically takes 24 to 48 hours. Front Desk charges an additional fee depending on what you want transferred.

2

No setup fees and lower ongoing costs

No setup fees and lower ongoing costs

Zanda has no mandatory setup fee, no one-off costs for Medicare, and no add-on charge for online bookings. A single practitioner on Front Desk (Subscribe + Patient Booking Gateway + Medicare) can easily pay more than double the equivalent Zanda plan.

3

Cloud-based, access from anywhere

Cloud-based, access from anywhere

Zanda runs entirely in the browser. No software to install, no manual updates, and full access from any device. Front Desk requires installation via CD, and remote access options (WebPlus, Off-Site Hosting) cost extra.

4

Medicare integration included

Medicare integration included

Effective March 2022, Front Desk can no longer process Medicare claims. Zanda has a native Medicare integration at no extra charge, with no third-party middlemen and no additional fees.

5

Online bookings and payments included

Online bookings and payments included

Zanda includes the client booking portal with every account. Front Desk charges an additional monthly fee for its Patient Booking Gateway. Zanda also integrates with Stripe so clients can pay at the time of booking, something Front Desk cannot do.

See why health practices love Zanda

Zanda is purpose-built for allied health. Whether you're running a solo clinic or a multi-location practice, Zanda gives you everything you need to manage clients, notes, billing, and communications, without the limitations of add-on pricing.

44k+

Users

1.5M+

Invoices per month

1M+

Client notes a month

Front Desk vs Zanda: Side-by-side comparison*

Here's how Zanda and Front Desk compare across the features that matter most.

Features
Zanda
Front Desk
Free trial
14-day free trial with full access to all features including SMS messaging.
No free trial. Book a demo only.
Data import service
Free. Includes client details, appointments, notes, services, products, referrers/referrals, contacts, third parties, and in some circumstances financial information. Typically 24 hours.
Available but at additional cost.
Calendar management
Multiple appointment types with color coding. Appointment flags for booking status. Supports multiple locations and flexible recurring availability.
Yes, but limited functionality compared with Zanda.
SMS & email reminders
Send up to 3 SMS and email reminders per appointment with flexible timing. Responses auto-update appointment status in the calendar.
SMS and email reminders available. Responses auto-update appointment status.
2-Way SMS chat
Yes
Yes
Telehealth
Secure and compliant with all health standards.
Front Desk provides an interface but does not supply telehealth software. Requires a third-party provider.
Online forms
Library of customizable, specialty-specific forms. Responses upload automatically to the client file. Supports digital signatures and clinic branding.
No mention of online forms on the Front Desk website.
Client management system
Yes
Yes
Treatment notes
Over 100 specialized, fully customizable templates. Supports multiple choice, tick boxes, image and body charting with annotation. Unlimited template creation and storage. Duplicate previous notes and view full edit history.
Yes, but fewer customization options. Supports image and body charting. Pre-prepared templates available. Can duplicate previous notes.
Online bookings
Included with every account. Apply branding, colors, logo, and header image. Add a booking link to your website or Facebook.
Yes, but requires the Patient Booking Gateway add-on at an additional monthly fee. Limited functionality compared with Zanda.
Waitlist
Yes
Yes
Medicare claiming
Completely free. Native integration, no third-party processing.
Front Desk cannot process Medicare claims effective March 2022.
Invoices & payments
Fully integrated invoicing. Calendar alerts for outstanding payments. Block clients from booking with outstanding balances. Integrates with Xero, Stripe, and Tyro.
Yes, but limited invoicing options. Integrates with Xero and Tyro. No Stripe integration for online payments.
Credit card processing
Accept payments at time of online booking, during home visits, or via telehealth. Clients can also pay through the client portal.
Cannot accept payments at time of booking or during in-person/home visit appointments.
Reports & analytics
Yes
Yes, but restricted compared with Zanda.
Money-back guarantee
Yes
No
Practice Operations Manual
An in-platform library of 100+ policies and procedures, ready to use and easily adapted to your practice.
No

*This comparison article reflects information available as of April 2020.

Still deciding? We're here to help.

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Read customer reviews

See why thousands of practitioners choose Zanda.

Reviews

Free data import

We'll transfer your practice data at no charge, so nothing gets left behind.

Data Import

Start a free 14-day trial

No credit card needed. Get up and running in minutes.

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What Practitioners Are Saying

I found the automated reminders were great… I've actually found I get very few cancellations.
Belinda Scott, Owner
Bel Scott Counselling Pty Ltd
It allows me to solely focus on my client, leading to better connections and client outcomes. I have a peace of mind that things we talk about are being captured perfectly allowing me to place my focus solely in my therapeutic work. BizzyAI is by far the best AI program out there. I've never had my client sessions captured so perfectly.
Hannah Gordon
I'm building the ship while it's in the water. Zanda just runs really smoothly it makes the practice easy to run from day one.
Miki Skinner, Founder / Owner
Caduceus Wellness
Has made life as a solo practitioner so much easier! Enabling clients to schedule their own appointments and having control over the time frames for booking and cancellation. Very simple platform. Can also use for my own appointments and set reminders.
Louise B.
Great features, also the resources in the practice manual made it easy for me to set up my business.
Jesse Turner J.T
This is the easiest, most user-friendly booking platform. I can't believe that it has everything I need to run my practice and is so easy to use.
Beth Fernandes

Professions we serve

Psychology

Designed for psychologists and clinical mental health professionals.

Counselling

Supporting counsellors, psychotherapists, therapists, and social workers.

Physiotherapy

Serving physiotherapists, and movement specialists.

Speech Pathology

Supporting speech therapists, pathologists, and language specialists.

Occupational Therapy

Efficient tools for occupational therapists and rehabilitation specialists.

Allied Health

Occupational therapists, homeopaths, massage therapists, naturopaths, and more.

Osteopathy

The right tools for osteopaths and musculoskeletal health professionals.

Social Work

Designed for social workers, case managers, and behavioral health professionals.

Massage Therapy

Practice management for massage therapists and bodywork practitioners.

Chiropractic

Efficient tools for chiropractors and spinal health professionals.

Mental Health

Designed for therapists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

Podiatry

Supporting podiatrists and foot health specialists.

Nutrition

Practice management for nutritionists, dietitians, and wellness practitioners.

Naturopathy

Simplified admin for naturopaths and holistic wellness practitioners.

Homeopathy

All-in-one system for homeopaths and holistic health practitioners.

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Simplified admin for acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners.

Personal Training

Supporting personal trainers, fitness coaches, and strength specialists.

Ready to Switch from Front Desk?

Switching from Front Desk is straightforward. Zanda offers certified ISO compliance, lower costs, full migration support, and functionality that works the way you do. Try it free and experience the best alternative to Front Desk for allied health professionals who want more control and less admin in their day.

Free trial with Zanda