MyTCM vs Zanda for acupuncture and TCM clinics in Canada
2026 pricing and feature comparison. By Oscar Poon, founder of MyTCM.
The short answer
Zanda (formerly Power Diary) has the lowest entry price of the main options and markets a dedicated acupuncture and Chinese medicine version. Its Starter plan is cheaper than MyTCM's $56 a month for one practitioner. MyTCM has unlimited appointments and covers up to 5 users at a location for one flat price, where Zanda's Growth plan adds $25 for each extra practitioner.
What each one really costs
Zanda's Starter plan is the cheapest way in, and for a solo practitioner who does not need much it may be all you need. Two costs are easy to miss: a dedicated SMS number is required, and Starter has an appointment cap.
| MyTCM | Zanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan for one practitioner | Single License, $56 a month | Starter, $25 a month ($12.50 for the first 6 months) |
| SMS reminders | Unlimited email and SMS reminders included | Dedicated SMS number $4.99 a month is required, then 9 cents per message after 35 free credits |
| Realistic monthly cost at list price, one practitioner | $56 | About $30 |
| Appointments | Unlimited appointments | 1,000 appointments on Starter, unlimited on Growth |
| Adding practitioners | Up to 5 users at 1 location for one flat price, no per-practitioner fee | Growth, $65 base plus $25 per additional practitioner |
| Two locations | Site License, $99 a month for 2 locations and up to 10 users | Growth supports multiple locations |
| Insurance billing today | ICBC available today (email on every license, web portal on Site License). More insurers and MSP are being added | Not itemised on the pricing page |
| One-time setup fee | $100 | None published |
| Free trial | 30 days | 14 days |
Zanda prices are CAD from Zanda's Canadian pricing page. The $12.50 Starter promotion applies for six months.
Anyone can build an EMR with AI. Solving day-to-day clinic problems requires real clinic management experience.
A chart, a calendar and an invoice are the easy part of clinic software. What makes practitioners choose MyTCM is that it was designed around the specific problems of a TCM clinic, so each one takes a fraction of the time and effort.
Oscar Poon, MyTCM's founder, is in the process of becoming certified as a CIPP/C, the Canadian privacy professional designation. He has not passed the exam yet. He also spent 10 years managing 3 acupuncture clinics, and that experience shaped how every part of MyTCM works.
Problems MyTCM is built to solve
Where a Zanda cell says "not described", the pages we read did not mention it. Ask Zanda before you decide.
| Problem | How MyTCM solves it | Zanda |
|---|---|---|
| Charting in Chinese when records and insurers need English | Mandarin and English voice dictation, a Chinese to English SOAP report, and a trilingual interface (English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese) | Not described on the pages we read |
| Building presets before the software saves you time | Pairs an ICD code and a TCM pattern with suggested acupoints and herbs without presets, built from more than 10 Canadian and Chinese textbooks and 20 years of clinical documentation from three Vancouver clinics | Not described on the pages we read |
| Paying more every time you add a practitioner | One flat price covers up to 5 users at a location | Growth adds $25 a month for each extra practitioner |
| Splitting revenue and paying practitioners | One-click payment, payroll and revenue-split reports | Not described on the pages we read |
| Getting help fast when something breaks | Direct tech support on WhatsApp, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific | Not described on the pages we read |
| Owning and keeping your patient data | You own the database, set up on accounts in your name, stored in Montreal. MyTCM accesses it only as the Data Processing Agreement you sign before set up allows | Not described on the pages we read |
Where Zanda is strong
- The lowest entry price, and a promotional first six months at half price.
- A dedicated acupuncture and Chinese medicine version of the product.
- Growth plan supports multiple locations with unlimited everything.
- A 14 day trial to test the product.
Where MyTCM is strong
- Charting built around TCM: ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, TCM patterns, 361 acupuncture points and Pinyin plus Latin herb names.
- Auto diagnosis and treatment pairing that suggests acupoints and herbs from the ICD code and pattern, without presets.
- Mandarin and English voice dictation and a Chinese to English SOAP report.
- Unlimited appointments and one flat price for up to 5 users at a location, so adding practitioners costs nothing extra.
- Direct tech support on WhatsApp, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific.
- You own the database. Your data is stored in Montreal, Canada.
- ICBC billing available today, with more insurers being added.
Choose Zanda if
- You are a solo practitioner and the lowest starting price is the deciding factor.
- You want to start cheap and add features later.
Choose MyTCM if
- You have several practitioners and staff at one location and want one flat price.
- You chart in Chinese or English and want TCM pairing rather than blank notes.
- You want unlimited appointments, WhatsApp support and to own your data.
Ask any vendor before you sign
These questions apply to us too.
- Which Canadian payers can I bill directly today, and which are still planned?
- What is the total monthly price for my number of practitioners and staff?
- Where is my patient data stored, and can I export it if I leave?
Frequently asked questions
How much does Zanda cost in Canada?
Starter is $25 a month in CAD ($12.50 for the first six months), and Growth is $65 plus $25 per additional practitioner. A dedicated SMS number at $4.99 a month is required.
Is Zanda cheaper than MyTCM?
For one practitioner on list price, yes: about $30 a month against $56. With several practitioners the gap closes, because Zanda Growth adds $25 for each one and MyTCM's Single License covers up to 5 users at a location.
Does Zanda work for acupuncturists in Canada?
Zanda markets an acupuncture and Chinese medicine version and quotes Canadian dollar pricing. Ask them directly which Canadian insurers they bill before you commit.
Sources
MyTCM is not affiliated with Zanda. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm current pricing on their site.