hoito

Overview

hoito is a web-based practice management service for therapists, trainee counsellors and therapy room operators. It is best suited to UK private practitioners who want clinical administration and client-facing tools together, rather than a standalone booking calendar. Its strongest case is the breadth of the Therapist plan at £18 a month; the main caveat is that the free options are listings or training-bound access, not ongoing free access to the full therapist feature set.

Key features

Scheduling accommodates online and in-person sessions, recurring appointments, configurable cancellation windows and drag-and-drop rescheduling. Clients can view session details in a portal, receive automated email reminders, and cancel or reschedule within the practice’s policy. Google and Outlook calendar sync adds value for therapists who already organize their work in either calendar.

Client records, session notes, SOAP or summary workflows and custom intake forms cover core practice administration. The therapist workflow is mobile-friendly, though the platform is web-based rather than listed as a native mobile app. Payments go through the therapist’s own Stripe account, with direct payouts and no commission on clinical revenue. That arrangement keeps clinical revenue from being reduced by a hoito commission, while requiring practitioners to use Stripe.

Paid therapist plans include unlimited 1:1 video sessions, with no app download required for sessions. The clinical will feature supports executor nomination, client notifications and a secure executor portal with records and downloadable summaries. Security measures include encryption at rest and in transit and UK-hosted infrastructure; the platform is 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 their data before leaving. After cancellation, hoito retains data for 30 days before permanent deletion, so practices should plan their export before that period ends. Technical support is available by email, with a stated aim to respond within 24 hours on weekdays.

Pricing

The free options serve distinct needs rather than providing a no-cost version of the full product:

• Room Owner Directory Listing — free, billed forever: A public room listing with photos, descriptions and an enquiry form, with no card required. This suits an operator seeking visibility, but does not include room-management tools.
• Therapist Directory Listing — free, billed forever: A public, SEO-optimised profile and contact form, with no card required. It is useful for promotion, not for managing a caseload.
• Trainee Therapist Account — free, billed while training: Includes full practice management, but requires valid student ID or proof of enrollment on a BACP-accredited course or equivalent. It automatically converts to the full therapist plan upon qualification, so it is not a permanent free plan.

Therapist — £18 a month: Includes client records, notes, scheduling, Stripe, intake forms, a client portal, unlimited 1:1 video, clinical will and Google and Outlook calendar sync. This is the clearest fit for an independent therapist who wants these functions in one service; the directory-only option is not a substitute for it.

Room Owner — £18 a month: Includes unlimited rooms across unlimited sites, a booking board, invoicing, analytics and multi-site management. It is aimed at operators managing room inventory across locations, rather than clinicians seeking a clinical records workflow.

Platforms

hoito is available on the web. Its mobile-friendly therapist workflow helps with use away from a desk, but readers looking specifically for a native iOS or Android app should consider that distinction.

Who it's for

Private-practice therapists who want appointments, records, payments and video in one web service are the strongest match. Trainees on eligible courses can use the full practice-management feature set while training, provided they are prepared for automatic conversion to the paid plan after qualifying. Room operators get a separate paid plan focused on multi-site rooms, bookings and invoicing. People who only need a public profile can use a free directory listing without adopting the management platform.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The Therapist plan combines records, notes, scheduling, client portal, payments, video and calendar sync for £18 a month, making it a broad single-service option for private practice.
• Pros: Stripe payouts go directly to the therapist and hoito takes no commission on clinical revenue.
• Pros: The trainee account includes full practice management at no cost while training, subject to course eligibility.
• Cons: The trainee account automatically becomes the full paid plan upon qualification, so users need to account for that transition.
• Cons: The free forever plans are promotional listings only; ongoing practice-management access is paid outside the trainee eligibility period.
• Cons: The platform is web-only, which may not suit users who require a dedicated mobile app.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of appointment-focused products, see Therapy Scheduling Software.

• Carepatron is worth considering if Android, iOS, macOS or API availability matters alongside web access; its free plan includes unlimited clients, 1GB of storage, 1M AI tokens, 1K tasks and 100 appointments.
• PracticeRunner may suit a single clinician who wants a time-limited start: its Starter plan is free for 30 days for up to 10 active clients, while hoito’s free therapist access is tied to training eligibility.
• EdgeCase Equalizer is a free desktop option for one practitioner on one Mac or Linux computer, rather than a web-based practice-management service.
• Halaxy is another web-based freemium option; its free core platform includes unlimited appointments, practitioners and locations.
• ICANotes is a web alternative to compare if its separate telehealth add-on is relevant; it offers a free first non-clinical user, with additional users at $25/mo.
• CliniForm is a UK-based web and API alternative with a free plan for up to 5 active clients.
• Sessions Health is a web option whose free plan is capped at 3 clients and 1 practitioner, making it a possible fit for a very small caseload.
• Colib offers web, Android and iOS access; its Starter plan is priced per appointment at C$3 a month, with a minimum monthly charge of $9/month.

Verdict

hoito is a strong fit for UK private-practice therapists who want scheduling, records, client communication, payments and video under one roof at £18 a month. Its no-commission Stripe setup and inclusive core feature set are compelling; look elsewhere if you need a native mobile app, or if a permanent free therapist-management plan is essential.