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iPlum and Klara offer tools to help healthcare providers engage with patients. However, how they do it isn’t exactly the same.
And, knowing these differences can help you decide which platform fits your workflow, compliance needs, and how you prefer to interact with patients.
So, in this iPlum vs. Klara comparison, we’ll break down these nuances so you can make an informed decision.
We’ll start by establishing what customers say about the two platforms online.
iPlum vs. Klara—What Do Users Say?
iPlum and Klara promise to help you improve customer communication. That said, user reviews reveal each platform's upsides and downsides.
Here’s what customers are saying.
Klara Reviews
While some users praise Klara’s texting features and ease of use, others raise serious concerns, ranging from poor support to privacy issues and frustrating system limitations.
Here’s a closer look.
❌ Poor customer service
"The customer service was lacking; it took ages to get a response, and when I finally did, it felt dismissive." — Shannon M., G2
❌ Outdated and limited control
"The platform itself is outdated and a hassle for patients to use, making effective communication nearly impossible. We also cannot edit our own things. We have to call a rep to do it, which is weird." " — Mary Anne B., G2
❌ Privacy concerns
"All of our staff would have access to every single client’s information... an entry-level staff right out of high school should not have this information." — Annmarie D., G2
❌ Transcription issues
"Klara picks up the voicemail... it cuts off the voicemail and only gives me bits and pieces." — Theresa G., G2
❌ Limited message routing
"No option to reassign a message to another group if a patient is linked to the wrong medical group." — Verified User, G2
❌ Can’t text non-patients
"I wish I could text patients that do not have charts." — Diana P., G2
✔ Easy to use
"Was easy to implement and is very easy to use." — Verified User, G2
✔ Real-time texting
"We can communicate back and forth in real time!" — Alisha G., G2
iPlum Reviews
Most iPlum users love its reliable second line, robust HIPAA setup, and clean interface. The platform’s stellar call quality and responsive support are also reasons the platform is popular with customers, as evidenced by the iPlum reviews below on Trustpilot.
✔ Helpful and personal support
"Had a question about texting, and they walked me through it. Very helpful and polite." — Customer, Trustpilot
✔ Excellent for a second line
"Just what I needed for business. No issues so far, and the price is right." — Arash Eskandari, Trustpilot
✔Clean, easy-to-naviage interface
"Calls and texts stay in one place. Easy to find what I need." — Jennifer Rieth, Trustpilot.
✔ Smooth switch to HIPAA compliance
"Setup was quick, support was fast, and I kept my old number." — Nicole Sisti, Trustpilot.
✔ Reliable even on the go
"Call quality is always solid. I’ve never had a dropped call." — J.A., Trustpilot.
✔ Affordable and easy to learn
"It costs less than others I tried, and I had no trouble getting used to the interface." — Brianna Boulanger, Trustpilot.
⚠️ While iPlum sports a minimalist interface, some users report issues getting started. However, iPlum is keen on helping you start using your line right away.
That’s why we provide reliable customer service to help you troubleshoot any problem as soon as possible.
iPlum vs. Klara—Feature Comparison
In the section below, we’ll dive into how the iPlum vs. Klara comparison plays out when it comes to patient engagement features. We’ll also tell you why iPlum is the best Klara alternative if you’re looking for a phone system that you can use beyond a clinic or healthcare facility setting.
The table below gives you a quick overview of what to expect.
Messaging
Text messaging is fast and highly engaging. The best phone system for doctors should, therefore, offer a convenient way to text your patients. Below, we compare how iPlum and Klara handle messaging for doctors.
Klara
Klara’s messaging centers on texting with patients who already have charts in the system. It allows patients to initiate the conversation, which can reduce the need for back-and-forth phone calls. Furthermore, staff can review message history and reply from a single chat thread.
Klara also offers broadcast messaging, which allows you to reach multiple patients simultaneously.
However, Klara doesn’t support texting contacts outside of patient records, which limits its use for tasks such as referral coordination or administrative updates.
In addition, some users report encountering restrictions when attempting to reroute messages or adjust user permissions.
iPlum
iPlum, like Klara, offers secure, two-way messaging for patients.
However, unlike Klara, it also allows you to engage with non-patients, such as family members, outside providers, or billing contacts. This makes it easier to manage all your communication from a single system.
With iPlum, healthcare providers can send appointment reminders, billing updates, or quick check-ins to patients. In return, patients can reply in real-time, keeping communication smooth and efficient.
You can also schedule messages in advance, use auto-replies for missed texts, and build templates for frequent responses. These reduce manual work while maintaining consistent and timely messaging.
iPlum supports broadcast texting for general updates and group chats with attachments when more input is needed. Plus, you can pin important threads, archive old messages, and mark conversations as unread to revisit later.
One standout feature that sets iPlum apart is the ability to give patients their own free iPlum account. This creates a secure messaging channel that works like a private inbox, separate from standard SMS or MMS.
The free account protects patient data while providing an easy experience for both parties.
Phone Tree with Auto-attendant and Extensions
When patients call, they expect to reach the right person quickly. A phone tree allows you to route calls efficiently and maintain a professional experience.
Klara
Klara doesn’t offer a built-in phone tree or auto-attendant feature.
Therefore, clinics using Klara may still need a separate phone setup to route incoming calls. And, for teams with multiple departments or solo providers who need to screen or redirect calls, this adds extra work.
While Klara handles messaging well, the lack of a phone tree limits its use as a full communication system for patient-facing operations.
iPlum
iPlum comes with a robust phone tree with auto-attendant and extensions at no extra cost.
Clinics can set up greetings, direct calls to departments, forward to mobile or office numbers, and even record calls with optional consent messages.
And the best part is that you can create unlimited extensions and route them to single or multiple lines, either one at a time or all at once. The phone tree helps ensure every patient reaches the right place, without relying on a live receptionist.
iPlum also supports simultaneous call paths, allowing your main line to handle multiple incoming calls at once, which is ideal for growing practices and busy front desks.
EHR Integration
A patient engagement platform works more effectively when it integrates with the systems you already use. For doctors and clinics, this means syncing communication with your EHR.
Below is an iPlum vs. Klara comparison regarding EHR integration and the access you can expect.
Klara
Klara lets you export patient messages into your EHR. That way, staff can keep charts up to date and reduce the need for manual note entry. In addition, the platform integrates the communication history into the patient record, ensuring accurate documentation.
If your facility is heavy on EHR for day-to-day tasks, the integration can save time and add convenience.
However, Klara’s EHR integration appears to revolve mainly around message export rather than deeper system-to-system communication.
Indeed, that may be enough for providers who only want to save conversations. However, it is less ideal for practices seeking to integrate communication tools into a broader operational setup.
iPlum
iPlum, in comparison, connects to EHR and EMS platforms through an API.
And, because iPlum isn’t tied to any specific EHR, it can adapt to different environments, whether you're using an off-the-shelf platform or a specialized medical records system.
Voicemail Transcriptions
A good phone system for healthcare providers must have voicemail. With one, you can be sure to access patient messages, especially when they call outside of regular business hours or during busy periods.
But listening to every message takes time. Transcriptions make it easier to scan and act on what's important.
Here’s how Klara and iPlum handle voicemail transcription and message management.
Klara
Klara transcribes voicemails so staff can read the message instead of listening to the entire recording. This makes it easier to scan for important details and decide who needs a callback. As a result, message handling becomes quicker.
That said, Klara's user reviews mention issues with accuracy. One customer on G2 says, "It cuts off the voicemail and only gives me bits and pieces."
While this may not be the general experience for every user, it can be a concern for clinics that depend on full, accurate transcriptions to triage messages efficiently, especially during high call volumes.
iPlum
iPlum, like Klara, provides voicemail transcription in its Professional and Premium plans. The platform, however, uses a slightly different approach. Instead of keeping transcriptions only in the app, it sends each one to your email.
Besides appearing in the iPlum app, you can also view your voicemail transcriptions via the web portal, giving you multiple access points throughout the day.
In addition to the written message, you also receive the original audio file for your reference. Furthermore, iPlum also supports ample voicemail storage, ideal for busy practices.
And, if you want to spice things up, here are some professional voicemail greeting examples you can use to make a strong first impression on your clients.
Team Collaboration
Running a clinic involves more than just talking to patients. It also includes ensuring your staff are on the same page. When messages, calls, and tasks pile up, your communication system should make it easier to coordinate.
Here’s how Klara and iPlum manage team collaboration.
Klara
Klara allows coworkers to collaborate on patient conversations through shared inboxes. As a result, multiple users can view and respond to patient calls, texts, and chats without losing context.
You can also tag a coworker using mentions to ask a question or assign a task. In addition, Klara offers message routing, which can be either automatic or manual. These features support coordination during patient care.
However, since most of the features live inside the patient thread, their use outside of clinical messaging may be limited.
iPlum
iPlum offers healthcare providers a simple, yet effective way to manage internal communication through a multi-user master account.
Admins can add users, adjust permissions, and keep billing in one place. The setup enables easier role management and oversight centralization.
And, because iPlum supports a shared number, different team members can answer calls, reply to texts, and check voicemails from a single business line. That way, no message falls through the cracks during shift rotation or high volume of patient requests.
In addition, with everyone connected to the same conversation, patients get consistent answers regardless of who responds.
Meanwhile, the web portal gives team members access to shared call logs, message history, and archived data.
And as your clinic grows, you can add more users to the system. The best part is that everyone gets their own login, so admins stay in control of what each user can see and do.
HIPAA Compliance
Protecting patient data is a legal requirement. Therefore, your communication platform must meet strict privacy standards.
Below, we compare Klara and iPlum's approach toward HIPAA compliance.
Klara
Klara lets you send messages as either standard texts or encrypted ones.
When sending an encrypted message, the patient receives a secure link that directs them to Klara’s portal, which adds an additional security layer. However, encryption only applies when using this specific method.
That can work for many clinics, but it may not offer full flexibility for practices that want secure texting to happen in a more direct, two-way format, especially when involving users outside of their EHR.
iPlum
iPlum meets HIPAA compliance standards by securing calls, texts, and voicemails within an encrypted platform.
The platform allows doctors to choose secure texting when sharing protected health information or standard SMS for non-sensitive messages. iPlum also issues a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for every HIPAA-enabled number, covering all required ePHI safeguards.
In addition, iPlum offers secure fax lines and centralized message records for clinics that need an auditable communication trail.
Most notably, the platform offers patients a free iPlum account, enabling secure, two-way texting between providers and their clients without relying on portals or external links.
Klara doesn’t offer this, making iPlum a more robust alternative if you’re looking for truly HIPAA-compliant conversations on both ends.
Note: To activate HIPAA features, you need to subscribe to a Professional or Premium plan.
Features Unique to iPlum
Besides helping you with patient engagement, iPlum packs business-grade features for doctors, therapists, and healthcare providers, including:
- Phone Tree with Auto-Attendant and Extensions—Allows you to set up custom greetings and call routing menus. The not tree not only gives your clinic a professional front door but also ensures patients reach the right person faster.
- Dual Mode Calling Reliability—Allows you to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile networks automatically. The dual calling mode ensures clear and stable calls, even in areas with weak signals.
- 800 Toll-Free Numbers— Allows you to create a toll-free line for patient calls. As a result, you can gain credibility and make it easier for patients to reach you without incurring charges.
- Second Mobile Number Optimized for Business— Allows you to keep work and personal communication separate on one device. A 2nd mobile line makes it easier to manage patient calls and texts without using a second phone.
iPlum vs. Klara—Pricing
iPlum and Klara are priced differently as broken down below.
How Much Does iPlum Cost?
iPlum costs $8.99 to $19.99 per user per month, depending on your plan, as follows
Standard Plan – $8.99/user/month
Includes mobile app calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail, auto-replies, business hours, and phone tree.
Professional – $14.99/user/month
This plan builds upon the Standard plan, offering web-based calling and texting, secure encrypted texting, voicemail transcription, group and broadcast messaging, text archiving, and HIPAA compliance with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for healthcare.
Premium – $19.99/user/month
Offers everything in the Professional plan, plus call recording and compliance features for finance, insurance, legal, sales, and support sectors.
How Much Does Klara Cost?
Klara’s pricing isn’t publicly available, so it can be hard to know what you’ll pay until after a sales call or demo. While there’s nothing wrong with this, it makes it difficult to compare or budget in advance.
iPlum vs. Klara—Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Klara Used For?
Klara is used for patient messaging and communication inside healthcare clinics. However, alternatives, such as iPlum, offer a broader set of tools. In fact, iPlum’s design and core offering make it a good alternative to Klara for clinical and business needs.
Is iPlum Worth It?
Yes. iPlum offers secure texting, calling, voicemail, and faxing with HIPAA compliance at a much lower price than many competitors. It’s a robust and cost-effective choice for healthcare providers and solo practices.
Can I Receive on iPlum?
Yes. You can receive calls through the iPlum mobile app or web portal. This makes it easy to manage your business line, whether you're in the clinic or working remotely.
Why Choose iPlum Over Klara?
While iPlum and Klara provide patient communication, there are several reasons to choose the former.
First, Klara centers on internal messaging within the clinical workflow, while iPlum offers a broader, more flexible system built for secure texting, calling, voicemail, and EHR integration.
In addition, iPlum delivers HIPAA compliance through encrypted communication, a signed BAA, and the unique option to give patients free accounts for secure two-way texting—something Klara doesn’t provide.
Moreover, iPlum’s pricing is transparent, so you know what to pay upfront.
Don’t take our word for it, though. Sign up below to experience iPlum yourself.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and may not reflect the most current features or capabilities of the products or companies mentioned. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the official sources of each company.
