hoito

Overview

hoito is a web-based practice management service for UK therapists, trainees and therapy room operators. It is best suited to private practitioners who want clinical administration and client-facing tools in one service. Its ££18 a month Therapist plan is the central offer; free listings and a trainee account serve narrower needs.

Key features

Scheduling supports online and in-person sessions, recurring appointments, configurable cancellation windows and drag-and-drop rescheduling. The client portal shows session details, sends automated email reminders and applies the practice’s cancellation and rescheduling policy. Google and Outlook calendar sync helps keep appointments aligned across the therapist’s calendar, while the client portal gives clients a direct place to manage upcoming sessions.

Client records, session notes, SOAP or summary workflows and custom intake forms cover core caseload administration. The mobile-friendly therapist workflow is useful between sessions, although hoito is a web platform rather than a separately listed mobile app.

Payments use the therapist’s own Stripe account, with direct payouts and no commission on clinical revenue. The paid Therapist plan also includes unlimited 1:1 video sessions that require no app download. Its clinical will feature supports executor nomination, client notifications and a secure portal for records and downloadable summaries—a distinctive provision for practitioners planning for continuity of access.

hoito says its data is encrypted at rest and in transit, hosted in the UK, and designed for GDPR and Article 9 clinical data requirements. Optional AI note generation uses Anthropic only with the therapist’s consent for each note, and can be disabled in account settings. Users can export data before leaving; after cancellation, data is retained for 30 days before permanent deletion. Technical support is offered by email, with a stated aim to respond within 24 hours on weekdays.

Pricing

The Therapist plan costs £18 a month and includes client records, notes, scheduling, Stripe, intake forms, the client portal, unlimited 1:1 video, clinical will, and Google and Outlook calendar sync. For a private practitioner seeking an integrated set of clinical and business tools, that is a more complete starting point than a directory-only listing. The trade-off is that the paid plan is required for this full practice-management package.

The Room Owner plan also costs £18 a month. It covers unlimited rooms across unlimited sites, a booking board, invoicing, analytics and multi-site management, making it the relevant paid choice for room operators rather than individual therapists.

Three free options address specific needs. The Room Owner Directory Listing is billed forever at no cost and provides a public room listing, photos, descriptions and an enquiry form. The Therapist Directory Listing is also billed forever at no cost, with a public SEO-optimised profile and contact form. Neither listing is a substitute for the paid practice-management tools. The Trainee Therapist Account is free while training and includes full practice management, but requires valid student ID or proof of enrolment on a BACP-accredited course or equivalent; it automatically converts to the full Therapist plan upon qualification.

A free trial is offered. The paid Therapist and Room Owner plans are priced monthly; hoito says it aims to answer technical support enquiries within 24 hours on weekdays.

Platforms

hoito is available on the web. Its therapist workflow is mobile-friendly, but the listed platform is web rather than a separate Android or iOS app. Integrated telehealth, Stripe payment collection and calendar sync are part of the service.

Who it's for

Private-practice therapists who want records, notes, intake forms, scheduling, payments and video in one web service are the clearest fit for the Therapist plan. Students and trainee counsellors can use the full practice-management account free while training if they meet its course and proof requirements, but should plan for the automatic move to the paid plan upon qualification. Therapy room operators can choose between a free public listing and the paid multi-site management plan. Those looking primarily for a mobile app should consider that hoito is listed as web-only.

Pros and cons

• Broad therapist toolkit at a clear monthly price: records, scheduling, Stripe, intake forms, portal, unlimited 1:1 video and calendar sync are bundled in the £18 a month plan.
• Payments stay tied to the therapist’s account: direct Stripe payouts and no commission on clinical revenue avoid a platform cut of clinical income.
• Free entry points are purpose-specific: listings cost nothing indefinitely, and eligible trainees receive full practice management while training.
• The trainee plan has a future cost: it automatically converts to the full Therapist plan upon qualification, so it is not a permanent free practice-management tier.
• Web-only listing limits device choice: a mobile-friendly workflow is useful, but there is no separately listed mobile app.

Alternatives

Therapy Scheduling Software is the category directory for comparing scheduling options.

Carepatron is worth considering if broad device support and a free tier matter more: it runs on Android, iOS, macOS and web, and its Free plan includes unlimited clients, 1GB storage, 1M AI tokens, 1K tasks and 100 appointments. hoito instead has a UK-focused therapy offering with listed practice tools and a Therapist plan at £18 a month.

PracticeRunner may suit a single clinician who wants to start with a 30-day free Starter plan capped at 10 active clients; hoito’s free therapist account is aimed at qualifying trainees rather than a general free tier.

ICANotes is another web option with a free first Non-Clinical User and additional users at $25/mo; choose it if that user-based arrangement better fits your practice, while hoito’s listed ££18 a month Therapist plan bundles clinical tools and video.

EdgeCase Equalizer is a free desktop option for one practitioner on one Mac or Linux computer; it is the better fit for someone seeking that limited desktop setup rather than a web-based practice service.

Halaxy offers a free core platform with unlimited appointments, practitioners and locations, making it an alternative for readers prioritising those stated capacity allowances.

CliniForm is another freemium option for readers comparing web-based clinical software.

TherapyAppointment is a paid alternative with a free trial and support for Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows; it may suit readers who need those listed platform choices.

Colib is a freemium alternative with Android, iOS and web support for readers who want those listed platforms.

Verdict

Choose hoito if you are a UK private-practice therapist who wants records, scheduling, Stripe payments, client communication and video together, with no commission on clinical revenue. Its main reason to look elsewhere is the web-only platform listing, or the need for a permanent free practice-management plan: free therapist use is reserved for qualifying trainees and converts to paid upon qualification.