A Kitomba alternative without the enterprise price tag
Kitomba has been the trusted-by-everyone option for big NZ salons since 2002. Mahi Time is the modern, lower-priced, API-first alternative for owner-operators and small-to-mid salons that want most of the same capability without an enterprise sales cycle.
Pricing verified 2026-05-15. Kitomba pricing is custom-quoted and not published; the bands shown are from public NZ salon-owner forum reports.
Side by side
| Feature | Mahi Time | Kitomba |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing published upfront | Yes | Custom quote only |
| Self-service signup | 21-day trial, no demo call | Sales call required |
| Built in NZ | New Zealand | Wellington |
| Public REST API | Yes | Partner program only |
| AI voice receptionist | Native add-on | Not offered |
| Modern mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-location | Yes | Yes |
| Xero integration | On roadmap (2026) | Yes |
| Industry partnerships | Building | Hair & Barber NZ, BeautyNZ Association |
| REACH.ai review automation | On roadmap | Yes |
You should not need a sales call to learn the price
Kitomba is excellent enterprise salon software with a real Wellington office and 20+ years of muscle memory. The trade-off is pricing opacity, a sales-led onboarding cycle, and feature depth aimed at multi-location chains. Mahi Time is built for the 1-5 chair salon that needs all the same basics, bookings, payments, SMS, reporting, without the enterprise overhead.
Frequently asked
When does it make sense to stay with Kitomba?
If you run 3+ locations, have over 15 staff, or you depend on a Kitomba-specific integration (REACH.ai review automation, specific wholesaler links), Kitomba's feature depth is hard to beat. Mahi Time targets the simpler-and-cheaper end of the same market.
How much will I save switching from Kitomba?
Reported Kitomba pricing for a 3-chair salon sits around NZ$300/month. Mahi Time is NZ$130/month for the same team size. Most owner-operator salons save NZ$1,500-2,500 a year before counting the add-on tiers they no longer need.
Can I import my Kitomba data?
Yes, but the path is less standardised than Fresha or Timely because Kitomba's export tools vary by plan. Get in touch via our contact form before you start and the team will help you map the data manually.
Is the AI voice agent the same as REACH.ai?
No, different problem. REACH.ai automates review requests after appointments. Mahi Time's AI voice agent answers your inbound phone calls and books appointments live during the conversation. Both can coexist in a salon's stack.