A Timely alternative for salon owners who want a flat fee and a real API
Timely was founded in Dunedin and acquired by EverCommerce (Denver). Mahi Time is New Zealand built and owned, with a flat NZD fee, public REST API, and a native AI voice receptionist. If you are reading this you probably already have the migration form open.
Pricing verified 2026-05-15 against gettimely.com and Trustpilot reviews aggregating recent NZ support feedback (3.6/5, 214 reviews).
Side by side
| Feature | Mahi Time | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| NZD pricing | Yes | USD, with NZD conversion in checkout |
| Locally owned and operated | New Zealand | EverCommerce (Denver, CO) |
| Public REST API | Yes | Limited (partner program only) |
| AI voice receptionist | Native add-on, NZ$129/mo | Not offered |
| Marketing/Loyalty in the base price | Yes (loyalty + email campaigns included) | Paid add-on tier |
| Flat per-seat pricing | Yes | Tiered plans gated by feature |
| Stripe / Windcave | Yes | TimelyPay (Stripe under the hood) |
| NZ-hours support | Yes | Mixed (recent Trustpilot complaints) |
| One-click import from this platform | CSV import wizard for Timely export | , |
You stopped being a Kiwi product the day EverCommerce bought you
Timely was a great NZ story until the 2021 sale to EverCommerce. The Wellington office is still there, but pricing, roadmap and support tickets now route through Denver, Colorado. Mahi Time is locally owned, locally operated, and built with the same product instincts Timely had in 2012, plus a decade of compounding shifts in payments, mobile and AI.
Frequently asked
Will I lose my Timely data when I switch?
No. Mahi Time accepts the CSV export Timely provides. Clients, services and historical appointments come across in one import. The step-by-step guide is at /help/export/timely.
Is Mahi Time cheaper than Timely overall?
For a 3-person team using Timely's Build plan with the Marketing and Loyalty add-ons, you are paying around US$130-160/month plus FX, which is roughly NZ$220-270/month. Mahi Time is NZ$130/month for a 3-person team, with both included. Bigger teams save more.
Does Mahi Time integrate with Xero like Timely does?
Xero is on the roadmap and we will publish API-level integration before the end of 2026. Right now you can export GST-ready CSV from Mahi Time on demand.
Can the AI voice agent replace my receptionist?
It answers, checks availability and books or reschedules without staff involvement. For a one-person salon taking 30+ calls a week, yes. For a 10-chair salon with a full reception desk, it is a quality cover for after-hours and lunch breaks rather than a replacement.