AI Receptionists for Australian Practices: How Do the Local Options Compare in 2026?
Updated 6 October 2026
Summary
The Australian AI receptionist market now has several local options, each targeting different practice types. Healthengine Helen serves GPs, Lyngo and Aeva focus on Cliniko-based allied health clinics, and Salutant offers transparent pricing, a free demo call and free test calls, and books into Halaxy, Cliniko and Nookal.
Until recently, Australian practices that wanted phone coverage without a full-time receptionist had two choices: outsource to a human answering bureau or let calls go to voicemail. In the past twelve months, a wave of Australian-built AI receptionists has changed that. These services answer calls with a natural-sounding voice, book appointments in real time, and run 24 hours a day for a fraction of the cost of a human operator.
But they are not all built for the same type of practice. Some target GPs. Some only work with Cliniko. Some serve dentists exclusively.
Here is how every Australian-made AI receptionist stacks up in 2026.
The Australian AI Receptionist Landscape
| Provider | Target Audience | PMS Integration | Transparent Pricing | Free Trial | Multi-Practitioner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthengine "Helen" | GP clinics | Best Practice, Pracsoft | No (contact for quote) | Unknown | Yes |
| Lyngo AI | Allied health, MSK | Cliniko | No | 7 days | Unknown |
| Aeva AI | Allied health (Cliniko) | Cliniko | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| Solium AI | Healthcare clinics | Cliniko + others | No | Unknown | Yes |
| MYRA Health | Medical practices | PMS integration | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| Salutant (our AI receptionist) | Health practices | Halaxy, Cliniko, Nookal | Yes (from $49 + GST a month, see pricing) | No free trial: a free demo call and free test calls | Yes (Halaxy) |
Less directly competitive but worth noting: DentalReception (dental-only, $169-$599/mo), Sophiie AI (generalist, not healthcare-focused), AiDial (generalist with healthcare page), and Johnni AI (trades-focused with Cliniko integration).
Provider-by-Provider Breakdown
Healthengine "Helen" — The GP Giant
Healthengine is one of Australia's largest health tech platforms, and Helen is their AI phone receptionist purpose-built for GP clinics. It integrates with Best Practice and Pracsoft — the two practice management systems that dominate Australian general practice.
Strengths: Massive existing market presence among GPs. Answers within three rings. Handles bookings and cancellations. Transfers complex calls to staff.
Limitations: GP-only. Does not serve psychologists, counsellors, allied health, or any non-GP profession. Pricing is not public — you must contact sales. No clinical documentation features.
Best for: GP clinics already on the Healthengine platform.
Lyngo AI — The Allied Health Contender
Lyngo AI is backed by Antler (a global venture capital firm) and targets allied health and MSK clinics — physio, podiatry, osteopathy, chiropractic, psychology, speech pathology, and dentistry. It was the first AI tool officially recognised by Cliniko as a connected app.
Strengths: Purpose-built for allied health. Strong Cliniko integration for booking, rescheduling, and cancellation. Expanding into UK, Canada, and NZ. Active development backed by venture capital.
Limitations: Requires Cliniko. Pricing not public. No clinical scribe or note generation features.
Best for: Allied health practices already using Cliniko who want a tightly integrated AI receptionist.
Aeva AI — The Cliniko Specialist
Aeva AI is another Cliniko-connected AI receptionist focused on private allied health clinics. Its standout feature is caller identification — it recognises returning patients by their phone number and can personalise the greeting.
Strengths: Returning patient recognition. Up to 50 custom FAQ answers. Deep Cliniko booking integration. Message taking with priority routing.
Limitations: Only works with Cliniko. Pricing not public. Narrow PMS support limits who can use it.
Best for: Cliniko-based practices that want AI answering with smart caller recognition.
Solium AI — The Multi-Location Option
Solium AI serves healthcare clinics with a focus on multi-practitioner and multi-location setups. It connects to Cliniko and claims compatibility with other PMS systems. Setup takes approximately four weeks.
Strengths: Multi-practitioner and multi-location support. Privacy Act compliant. Healthcare-focused.
Limitations: Long setup time (four weeks vs same-day for most competitors). Pricing not public. Limited public information about the product.
Best for: Larger clinics or multi-site practices willing to invest in a longer onboarding process.
MYRA Health — The Volume Play
MYRA Health targets medical practices with high call volumes. Their key claim is unlimited simultaneous call handling — no busy signals, no hold queues.
Strengths: Handles unlimited concurrent calls. 24/7 coverage. Claims to be 40 percent faster than human receptionists and up to 33 times cheaper.
Limitations: Pricing not public. Primarily targets medical practices rather than allied health. Less information available about specific features.
Best for: High-volume medical clinics with significant phone traffic.
Salutant — Our AI Receptionist
Salutant is an AI receptionist built for Australian health practices. It books into Halaxy, Cliniko and Nookal, and follows your notice period, transfer hours, cancellation policy and new-client settings on every call.
Strengths: Transparent pricing, from $49 + GST a month. Multi-practitioner booking for Halaxy group practices. Review mode on by default, so nothing touches your diary without your tap. Never says "booked" until it has the caller's name and number and has checked the time is still free. A free demo call and free test calls before you pay.
Limitations: No Best Practice or Pracsoft integration. Younger product compared to Healthengine's established GP network.
Best for: Solo practitioners or group practices of any profession who run Halaxy, Cliniko or Nookal and want their booking rules kept on every call.
What Actually Matters When Choosing
Beyond the feature comparison, three questions should drive your decision:
1. Does it work with your practice management system?
If you run Cliniko, you now have multiple options: Lyngo, Aeva, and Salutant all offer Cliniko integration. If you use Halaxy or Nookal, Salutant books into both. If you use Best Practice or Pracsoft, Healthengine Helen is the obvious choice.
2. Can you test it before committing?
Most providers hide pricing behind sales calls and require onboarding before you hear the AI. Ask every provider whether you can hear the AI handle a conversation before spending a dollar. Salutant's free demo call needs no sign-up.
3. Do you need more than just a phone answering service?
If your main pain point is unanswered calls, any of these providers will help. Salutant also answers your website chat with the same practice information and rules, and lets you call, text and fax from your practice number.
The Bottom Line
The Australian AI receptionist market for healthcare is still young, but it is no longer empty. GP practices have Healthengine Helen. Cliniko-based allied health clinics have Lyngo and Aeva. High-volume medical practices have MYRA Health.
Salutant occupies a different space: transparent pricing, Halaxy, Cliniko and Nookal booking, and your rules kept on every call.
The best way to decide is to hear it for yourself. Try a free demo call.
Disclaimer
*This comparison is based on publicly available information as of February 2026. Pricing, features, and availability may have changed since publication. Where pricing was not publicly listed, we have noted this rather than speculating. Salutant is our product — we have aimed to present competitors fairly, but readers should conduct their own research before making a purchasing decision. Provider descriptions are based on their public websites, press coverage, and app store listings.*