Navitas vs Bookem: practice management software compared

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Navitas and Bookem are both South African, cloud-based practice management systems for health practitioners. The main differences: Navitas has a free-forever plan, costs R199/month for a solo practitioner with invoicing and online booking, and includes a mobile app and Xero and QuickBooks integrations. Bookem has no free plan, starts at R200/month for booking-only features, and focuses on AI scribing and EMR features on its higher tiers.

Navitas vs Bookem at a glance

NavitasBookem
Based inSouth AfricaSouth Africa
Free planYes, Navitas Green, free forever for 1 practitioner (scheduling, patient records, invoicing)No
Free trial14 days of Blue or Gold, no credit card21 days of Premium or Medical, no credit card
Entry paid planBlue: R199/month, 1 practitioner, includes unlimited invoicing and online bookingCore: R200/month for up to 3 bookable members; booking, calendar and basic client records (invoicing starts on Plus)
Invoicing + online paymentsFrom R199/month (Blue)From R650/month (Plus, up to 3 bookable members)
Top planGold: R399/month for 1 practitioner; R798 for 2, R1,197 for 3, R1,999 for 4–5, R3,499 for 6–10Premium: R995/month (up to 3 members, +R315 each); Medical: R1,495/month (1 member, +R500 each)
Admin / reception usersR99/month eachIncluded
SMS150 free SMS/month on GoldR0.92 per SMS
Medical-aid billingInvoice and reconcile against SA medical schemes, ICD-10 lookupInvoices accepted by most major medical aids
Clinical notesVoice notes transcribed into a clinical summary (Gold, from R399/month)AI scribing and SOAP notes (Premium R995/month and Medical R1,495/month)
PrescriptionsDigital scripts (Gold)Electronic prescriptions, referral letters and medical certificates (Medical)
Video consultationsYes (Gold)Yes (Plus and up)
Mobile appYes (Gold)Not listed
PaymentsiKhokha, Yoco, SnapScan, ZapperCard, cash, EFT, Yoco, SnapScan, PayFast, PayPal
AccountingXero, QuickBooks, stubNot listed

Bookem details from bookem.com and bookem.com/pricing, checked 10 November 2026. Prices change; confirm with each vendor.

Which is better for your practice?

  • Solo practitioners: Navitas is the lower-cost option. You can run scheduling, records and invoicing free on Navitas Green, or get unlimited invoicing and online booking for R199/month on Blue. On Bookem, invoicing starts on the R650/month Plus plan.
  • Clinical notes from voice: both can turn a recorded consultation into written notes. Navitas includes voice notes with clinical summaries on Gold from R399/month; on Bookem, AI scribing starts on Premium at R995/month.
  • Small teams that want full EMR: Bookem's Medical plan adds electronic prescriptions via EMGuidance, referral letters and medical certificates, and Bookem includes admin users at no extra cost.
  • Practices that use Xero or QuickBooks, or want a mobile app: Navitas Gold includes both.

Navitas pricing

PlanPrice (ZAR)Best for
Navitas GreenFree forever1 practitioner: scheduling, patient records and invoicing (limited monthly invoices)
Navitas BlueR199/month1 practitioner: unlimited invoicing, online booking portal, Google Calendar, iKhokha payments, bulk email and SMS
Navitas GoldR399/month for 1 practitioner; R798 for 2, R1,197 for 3, R1,999 for 4–5, R3,499 for 6–10Everything in Blue plus mobile app, virtual consultations, voice notes with clinical summaries, digital forms and scripts, Xero and QuickBooks, reporting, live chat support and 150 free SMS/month

Extra admin profiles are R99/month. See full pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Navitas and Bookem?

Both are South African cloud practice management systems. Navitas has a free-forever plan, a R199/month solo plan with invoicing and online booking, voice notes with clinical summaries from R399/month, a mobile app and Xero and QuickBooks integrations. Bookem has no free plan; its plans run from R200/month (booking only) to R1,495/month (Medical), with AI scribing and EMR features on the higher tiers.

Is Navitas cheaper than Bookem?

For a solo practitioner, yes. Navitas Green is free and Navitas Blue, with unlimited invoicing and online booking, is R199/month. Bookem's cheapest plan with invoicing (Plus) is R650/month, although it covers up to 3 bookable team members.

Does Bookem have a free plan?

No. Bookem offers a 21-day free trial of its Premium or Medical plans. Navitas offers a free-forever plan (Navitas Green) plus a 14-day free trial of its paid plans.

What is an alternative to Bookem in South Africa?

Navitas is a South African alternative to Bookem, with a free-forever plan, rand pricing from R199/month, medical-aid invoicing, online booking, a mobile app and Xero and QuickBooks integrations.


Start free on Navitas Green

No credit card, no setup fee and nothing to install. Unlock a 14-day free trial of Blue or Gold from inside your account.