Whoopa vs Timely
Which booking software is the better fit for your Australian business?
Timely is a well-established booking platform popular with salons, spas, and service businesses across Australia and New Zealand. It offers a solid feature set and a polished interface. Whoopa is a newer, Australian-built platform focused on giving service businesses everything they need at a straightforward flat price — with features like roster management and QR check-in that Timely does not offer.
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The core difference
The core difference — NZ platform vs Australian-built
Whoopa
Whoopa is built specifically for Australian service businesses — AUD pricing, ABN collection, Australian support, and a feature set designed around the needs of salons, clinics, fitness studios, and allied health practitioners in the local market.
Timely
Timely is a New Zealand-based platform that has built a strong reputation in the ANZ market. It is a mature product with a wide feature set. However, it is not built specifically for Australia, and pricing and feature structures reflect a broader international focus.
Side by side
Feature comparison
Feature
Whoopa
Timely
Monthly pricing (AUD)
From $29/month
From ~$39/month AUD
AUD native pricing
Yes
Converted from NZD
Built for Australian businesses
Yes — ABN at signup
NZ-based platform
Branded booking forms
Yes — all plans
Yes
No watermarks
Yes — all plans
Timely branding on lower plans
SMS reminders
Built-in — credits apply
Available — credits may apply
Email appointment reminders
Included
Yes
Group bookings & class capacity
Yes
Limited
Built-in waitlist
Yes
Limited
Roster with QR check-in
Yes
No
PIN-protected attendance kiosk
Yes
No
Google Calendar two-way sync
Yes — Pro plan
Yes
Recurring bookings
Yes
Yes
30-day free trial
Yes — no credit card
Trial available
Pricing
What it actually costs
Whoopa
Basic
2 staff, 3 services
$29 AUD/month
Business
5 staff, 10 services
$49 AUD/month
Pro
10 staff, unlimited bookings
$99 AUD/month
Enterprise
Unlimited everything
Custom
No commission. No per-booking fees. Ever.
Timely
Timely pricing starts from approximately $39 AUD/month. Higher tiers unlock more features and staff members. SMS credits may be charged separately depending on plan. Pricing is based in NZD and subject to exchange rate movement.
Reminders — what is included
Whoopa includes automated email reminders on every plan at no extra cost — sent 24 hours and 1 hour before each appointment. SMS reminders are built in too: turn them on and they send automatically, paid through simple pay-as-you-go SMS credits in AUD, so you only pay for what you actually send. Timely also offers reminders, with SMS billing depending on your plan.
Roster & attendance — Whoopa only
Whoopa includes a built-in attendance system with QR code check-in, name-list kiosk, and PIN-protected kiosk mode — all features Timely does not offer. For salons running group sessions or any scenario where tracking attendance matters, Whoopa removes the paper checklist entirely.
Australian vs New Zealand built
Timely was founded in New Zealand and was not built with Australian business practices — like ABN registration — as a native consideration. Whoopa was built from the ground up for Australian service businesses. ABN collection is built into signup. Pricing is native AUD. Support operates in Australian time zones.
An honest answer
Which is right for you?
Choose Whoopa if…
- You want a platform built specifically for Australian businesses
- You need roster and QR check-in attendance tracking
- You want automated email reminders included, with SMS on simple pay-as-you-go credits
- You want flat AUD pricing without NZD conversion
- You are setting up a new business and want to be operational in under an hour
Choose Timely if…
- You are already using Timely with a well-established setup you do not want to migrate
- You value a mature, long-established platform with extensive documentation
- You primarily need salon-style individual appointment booking without group class features
- You have specific integrations already built around Timely's ecosystem
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are SMS reminders included in Whoopa's pricing?
Email reminders are included on every plan at no extra cost. SMS reminder functionality is built in — SMS messages are paid via pay-as-you-go SMS credits in AUD, so you only pay for what you send.
Is Whoopa cheaper than Timely?
At entry level, pricing is similar. The key difference is what is included — Whoopa includes roster, attendance and group booking features that Timely does not offer.
Can I switch from Timely to Whoopa?
Yes. Whoopa supports CSV import of client data so your existing client list can be migrated.
Does Whoopa offer a free trial?
Yes. 30 days free on any plan, no credit card required.
Try it yourself
See exactly what your clients will see.
This is a live Whoopa booking form — a real, working demo you can try right now. Pick a service, choose a time, and experience the whole booking flow yourself.
No signup · No account · Just a real form you can try
Built for Australia. Ready in under an hour.
No credit card · No lock-in · Automated reminders · AUD pricing
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