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Phorest vs Pabau

Why is Pabau the right Phorest alternative for you?

This page will unpick some of the key differences between Phorest and Pabau so that you can decide which is the best fit for your business.

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Feature comparison

Why Choose Pabau Over Phorest Phorest Pabau
No online booking fees
Phorest charges for every online booking made using its system. Pabau does not charge for online bookings.
Online booking built for a medical patient journey
In Pabau you can set your online booking system so that new clients can only book a consultation, not a service. Meanwhile, existing clients can click through to book an appointment using their login details. Phorest doesn’t provide the same flexibility.
Intuitive automated pre and aftercare emails
In Pabau, you can schedule pre and aftercare emails at the time of booking so you can simply set it… and forget it. The emails are service-specific, so you can send a timely reminder about any particular treatment. Phorest offers a less intuitive workaround for these emails, and clients only receive them if they've opted into general marketing messages.
System integration: Two platforms vs. one
Phorest relies on an Aesthetic Nurse Software (ANS) integration to accommodate medi-aesthetic clients, meaning businesses must juggle two separate systems. Forms and appointments are stored individually in ANS instead of being fully centralized. In contrast, Pabau offers a seamless, all-in-one platform where scheduling, patient records, and documentation are fully integrated.
Prebuilt forms in every plan
In Phorest you have to upgrade your pricing plan to get forms. In Pabau you get 100s of prebuilt forms that you can link to a specific service and customize to your own needs.
No contract commitment
With Phorest, you're locked into a one-year contract that automatically renews unless you provide at least two months' written notice to cancel. Most systems offer more flexibility, and Pabau stands out with its monthly subscriptions — giving businesses the freedom to adapt without long-term commitments or hidden renewal clauses.
Seamless lead capture and client management
Pabau helps manage the entire client journey. Capture data with lead forms, then manage and convert leads — all in one place. Once you win a client, the Pabau Client Portal provides a secure, convenient space for clients to review their activity, share information, and stay engaged with your business. Phorest lacks both a client portal and dedicated lead capture tools.
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Main differences between Phorest and Pabau

Phorest

  • Originally built for salons and beauty businesses: Phorest is now attempting to add clinical features, but it is not designed for medical-grade patient care.
  • Lacks built-in medical features like patient records, treatment tracking, and compliance tools. An integration with ANS is necessary for these features, so you’d be using two separate systems. 
  • Tiered pricing: Essential features are locked behind higher-priced plans.
  • Extra online booking fees: You’ll be charged a price per booking for services exceeding certain amounts.
  • No monthly payment option: You’re locked into an annual contract, whether it suits your business or not.
  • Marketing tools but primarily focused on salons, not medical practices.

Pabau

  • Purpose-built for medical and medi-aesthetic businesses.
  • Trusted by GP clinics, cosmetic surgeries, and healthcare practices worldwide.
  • Flat monthly pricing: No hidden fees or costly tiered upgrades for feature use.
  • No online booking fees: Unlike Phorest, you keep 100% of your revenue.
  • Flexible monthly subscriptions: No long-term lock-ins, giving you full control over your costs.
  • Comes with built-in consent forms, medical records, and secure patient management tools — no need for integrations.
  • Saves time on admin: Automates scheduling, patient records, and billing so you can focus on your clients.
  • All-in-one system: Everything your clinic needs in one place.

Customers choose Pabau over Phorest

The best thing for me with Pabau is that all of these separate functionalities are integrated into one system. Having all of that integrated into a chronological system takes away so much of the brain power from the clinician.

Dr Jordan Faulkner, Founder / Lead injector
Allo Aesthetics
Read the case study
  • 4.6 / 5
  • 4.6 / 5
  • 4.6 / 5
  • 4.8 / 5

Top 5 reasons to choose Pabau over Phorest

1. Pabau is built for the medical / clinic patient journey

The best software understands you, your business, and your challenges. Pabau has been built to meet the needs of medical-based businesses - not hair or beauty salons.

That’s why it has features created specifically for this sector, such as automated pre-care and aftercare emails, electronic medical records (EMR), allergy/contraindication warnings, before-and-after photos, injection plotting, customizable forms, and so on. At Pabau, we get you.

2. Flexible Scheduling with multiple staff members

Phorest limits you to assigning only one staff member per treatment, which can be frustrating for businesses that offer procedures requiring multiple practitioners. With Pabau, you have full flexibility — easily assign two or more staff members to a single treatment, ensuring seamless coordination and the best patient experience.

3. Has the integrations you need

Phorest offers great integrations for salons, but when it comes to medi-aesthetic and healthcare needs, it falls short. Its reliance on ANS for medical features means businesses must manage two separate systems instead of one seamless solution.

With Pabau, you get direct integrations tailored to the medical industry — whether it’s prescription software, call agent tools for lead management, or third-party insurance providers. Plus, you’ll still have access to essentials like Xero, MailChimp, and Stripe, all within a single, fully integrated platform.

4. Sharing 5-star reviews is simple

When you get a five-star review, you want to add it to your website as soon as possible, right? At Pabau, we make that process as easy as possible.

Whereas other platforms like Phorest require you to publish reviews manually, in Pabau, you can do it automatically.

The result is that your latest and greatest reviews are always on show on your site, so you can build your social proof and win more customers from the competition.

5. A documented client journey

With Pabau, you don’t have to break a sweat trying to remember everything. You can simply use our app to ensure you have up-to-date health records, signed medical consents, and photos.

Not every provider has this functionality, but we know how important it is that you get this right every single time to stay compliant. Not only does it protect the client, it also protects your business.

Customer reviews

“After 16 years of using about 20 different client management software systems, this is the only one I can honestly say does it all, and does it all very well.”

Roxanne Merchant,

Head of Operations, Juvea Medical

“Pabau is feature-rich, allowing us functionality to grow as our business needs grow, and at the same time quite intuitive to use. Competing software offerings can’t compete!”

Daniel, Doctor,

G2 review

“I’ve been in business for almost nine years. I’ve tried a lot of different software, but I was always missing some features. This software has everything that saves my time, keeps my records and medical forms in one place, and is easy to use.”

Angelina, Owner

G2 review

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Phorest is a registered trademark of Phorest. Last updated on 25.03.2025