This page will unpick some of the key differences between Zenoti and Pabau so that you can decide which is the best fit for your business.
Let’s be honest here: Zenoti is really comprehensive software designed for the wellness, beauty, and fitness industries. It offers a lot of great features, including automated appointment confirmations and reminders, a reputation manager, and real-time chat via SMS, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
But many of these features and customizations come as add-ons.
Based in Washington, D.C., Zenoti mainly focuses on medium to large salons, medspa and fitness centers.
Because of its complexity and steeper learning curve, solo practitioners or smaller businesses may find it overwhelming regarding the resources and time needed to set up and use it.
Pabau offers an all-in-one cloud software solution tailored to seamlessly manage the unique workflows in med spas, healthcare businesses and aesthetic practices of all sizes. It’s intuitive and easy-to-use enough that new businesses can get it up and running in no time, but it’s comprehensive enough to help practices scale and grow.
It supports businesses with everything from online booking, patient management, forms, automated recalls/reminders, pre- and post-care, POS, and marketing.
It’s not just there to simplify running your business, it’s designed to help you drive revenue and grow.
Zenoti is among the most expensive platforms. They don’t have set monthly plans but offer custom pricing with recommended package options, which include various add-ons.
They don’t have pricing on their site, but some reviews have noted that you can expect to pay between $300 and $500 per month for a single-location business.
Zenoti obliges clients to sign a mandatory 12-month contract first, which might be too big of a commitment for startups with limited budgets or those seeking flexibility.
Pabau charges a flat monthly fee starting at $28 per month, based on the number of users and clients. For that, you get an incredibly feature-rich system with online bookings, digital client records, robust client records, inventory, point of sale, marketing builder, and lots more.
Pabau’s core functionality is built-in, and we don’t charge extra for essential features. There are some optional fees and upgrades like SMS appointment reminders and Marketing Plus (which are super useful!), but everything you need day-to-day is built in.
Pabau offers 12, 24 and 36-month contracts, but they are optional.
Core functionality built-in
Zenoti offers an extensive range of advanced features. However, many are charged extra, such as the photo manager, reputation manager, inventory, and custom reports. Pabau comes with all core features for a flat monthly fee.
Built-in before and after photos
Pabau’s before-and-after feature comes with every plan. It allows you to store photos in client cards, share them with clients, and track progress visually.
Zenoti’s photo manager is a paid add-on feature on top of your monthly fee. Pabau works to maximize your revenue and has a simple payment structure.
Monthly fees and no annual contracts
Zenoti has mandatory 12-month contracts, which might put pressure on small businesses or solo practitioners.
In contrast, we don’t lock you into long contracts. You have the flexibility to pay monthly and choose a plan that best fits your needs.
Built-in customizable reports and analytics
With Zenoti, you can use their limited free reports or you need to pay extra for their Analytics Plus suite to get access to customizable dashboards and reports. Meanwhile, Pabau has more than 40 pre-built reports you can customize or build your own for no extra cost. There’s also pie charts and graphs so it’s more visual.
Robust client portal
Zenoti offers a paid customer app where clients can only book, buy gift vouchers, see memberships, check in, and pay, but it doesn’t store client files, and clients can’t cancel or reschedule.
With Pabau, clients get a portal, available on mobile and desktop, to manage bookings, including canceling and rescheduling, client communication, tracking client journeys, checking out lab results, etc.
E-prescriptions sent directly from the system or fax
Zenoti has a prescription feature, but it’s forms you need to print or send via email to the patients, which is neither paper-free nor efficient.
Pabau makes prescriptions quick and easy. For the UK, you can send e-prescriptions to pharmacies in Pabau, or fax if you’re in the US. No paper, no problem.
Efficient no-show management with flexible, automated deposits
Pabau offers flexible deposits that you can customize based on services or clients, and choose a deposit rate to reduce no-shows and secure revenue. In Zenoti, collecting deposits for in-store bookings is manual, and you can’t use them along with cancellation/no-show fees.
Having Pabau 2 implemented into the clinic is certainly a relief. It just reduces a whole lot of stress in the clinic.
Our new Pabau 2 is a modern and intuitive system that is a no-brainer for businesses of all sizes. Its intuitive interface and user-friendly features allow users to find everything they need with just a few clicks.
Many of our clients who are solo practitioners or small businesses have stated that they started using our intuitive and user-friendly system from the get-go.
On the other hand, many users and reviewers find Zenoti overly complex, outdated, and overwhelming to set up and use.
Pabau is great for solo practitioners, new businesses, and big businesses alike. It’s an affordable option for teams of one, and it’s also robust enough to grow with you and handle large clinics.
Zenoti is a comprehensive system, but it’s not the easiest to learn and get your practice up and running quickly. The learning curve and navigating the complicated menus and settings options may put unnecessary pressure on small teams or solo practitioners.
Pabau is a superb solution for the aesthetic industry. It has everything you need to run your business: a robust client card, detailed face mapping, e-prescriptions (for the UK) and prescriptions via iFax (for the US), automated recalls for easier client/calendar management, and smart allergy tracking with SNOMED. It also comes with a secure payment terminal for easier payments.
Zenoti offers a solid management system with advanced AI business intelligence, and robust reputation management and marketing. But it lacks essential features like e-prescribing, smart allergy flagging and lab test management; it’s only a partial solution for med spas and aesthetic businesses seeking robustness.
With Pabau, everything you need to run your business is built in, so you won’t have to pay extra for things like before-and-after photos, review management, or the app. There are some optional fees and upgrades, but everything you need day-to-day is built in.
Zenoti has a lot of advanced features, however, their reputation-builder, AI support, advanced reports, photo manager, marketing emails, and even their customer app all come as paid add-ons on top of your selected plan. This can be too pricey for businesses with a limited budget, or those seeking more flexible offerings from their chosen plan.
Pabau’s robust client portal keeps your clients engaged, reducing no-shows while improving treatment outcomes. Clients can easily book/cancel/reschedule appointments online, pay invoices, find treatment notes, see progress photos, and view and edit their medical histories with just a click.
Zenoti has a handy customer app that allows clients to book appointments, and buy products, gift cards, and packages, but it’s only available as a paid add-on in their Marketing Plus package. Clients can’t cancel and reschedule, which puts an extra task on your staff’s calendar.
Also, clients can’t access their files and photos to track their progress, which requires constant back-and-forths with their practitioners.
“A clinical CRM that meets all of my needs and makes my life a lot easier! [I love] having my patient’s journey all in one place. Being able to manage marketing and new leads, which previously required juggling various systems.
Pabau has allowed me to streamline my business and gave me more time — which is invaluable.”
Craig H.
Small-business owner
G2 review
“[We love] the ability to free up the clinic of paper once and for all. Having tried a number of different software systems there has always been some paper somewhere. Pabau completely eliminates this. It has every feature you could dream of to reduce the workload.
There’s always someone available if you need help with the system as well.”
Lee H.
Medical practice manager
GetApp review
“Our previous system was OKAY but we needed too many additional “add-ons” to continue to grow our business and service our customers. Pabau is a one-stop shop.”
Carissa P.
Health, wellness, and fitness manager
Capterra review
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