Timely is a good calendar with a Dunedin backstory and a Denver owner. Mahi Time is the New Zealand built platform where the AI phone receptionist, webchat and agent API are part of the product, not a partner directory. Flat price in NZD, with an approximate AUD figure beside it.
Timely suits salons that already live inside its calendar, want TimelyPay and a polished consultation-form workflow, and are happy to pay per staff member on a feature-gated tier.
AI first, because it is the gap none of the incumbents have closed. Then price, then the local details.
Timely does not offer an AI phone receptionist. Mahi Time's receptionist answers in your business name, checks live availability, books into the right staff member and texts the confirmation. Same scheduling engine as the admin calendar, so it cannot double book.
How the AI receptionist worksTimely charges per bookable staff member and gates features by tier. Mahi Time is one plan: NZ$109 (approx A$100) for two people, NZ$21 (approx A$19) for each extra, every feature included.
Staff hours, timesheets and revenue per person are part of the plan, and Xero sync is included rather than a paid connector.
Every admin screen runs on the public REST API, and the MCP server lets Claude, ChatGPT or your own agents run reports, move bookings and issue vouchers under the same role rules as staff.
Timely prices from its public pricing page, checked 31 October 2026. Mahi Time prices exclude GST.
Timely prices checked 31 October 2026 on the vendor's public pricing page. Mahi Time prices exclude GST; AUD figures are an approximate guide, billing is in NZD.
| Feature | Mahi Time | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Published. NZ$109 (approx A$100) flat | Per staff member, 3 tiers |
| Commission on bookings | None, ever | None |
| AI phone receptionist that books | Built in, NZ$129 (approx A$119) | No |
| AI webchat that books | Built in, NZ$49 (approx A$45) | No |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes, platform MCP server | No |
| Public REST API | Yes, public REST + webhooks | Partner programme only |
| Built and supported in NZ and AU | Built in NZ, NZ and AU hours | Founded in NZ, owned by EverCommerce (US) |
| Xero | Included | Yes |
| Payroll and timesheets | Included | No |
| EFTPOS and payments | Windcave EFTPOS (NZ), Stripe (NZ + AU) | TimelyPay (Stripe) |
| Feature | Mahi Time | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat, published, NZD with AUD guide | Per bookable staff member, three tiers |
| AI phone receptionist | Built in, books live | Not offered |
| AI webchat that books | Built in | Not offered |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes | No |
| Public REST API | Yes | Partner programme only |
| Payroll and timesheets | Included | Not included |
| Xero | Included | Yes |
| Consultation forms | Yes | Elevate tier and up |
| SMS included | 100 per month, then NZ$10 per 100 | 100 to 150 per month by tier |
| Payments | Windcave EFTPOS, Stripe, or your own terminal | TimelyPay |
| Support hours | NZ and AU business hours, humans | Mixed in recent reviews |
| Import from this platform | CSV importer with Timely column mapping | n/a |
See the full table against every platform on the Why Mahi Time page.
Export your customers and appointments from Timely's Reports as CSV. Our importer recognises Timely's column names, splits the combined date and time column, and warns you about any staff names it cannot match before it writes anything.
Importer source to pick: Timely (GetTimely). Settings > Import data, mapping preview, unmatched staff warning, run. Re-runs update rows instead of duplicating them.
No. Export your customer list and appointment schedule from Timely as CSV, then upload them at Settings > Import data in Mahi Time. Clients, services and upcoming bookings come across. The step-by-step guide is at /migrate/timely.
For most teams, yes. Timely bills per bookable staff member on three tiers. Mahi Time is NZ$109 (approx A$100) for two people and NZ$21 (approx A$19) per extra, with payroll, Xero and the API included. A three-person salon pays NZ$130 a month.
Yes. Xero is included in the plan. Sales, payments and GST post to your accounts without a month-end CSV upload.
It answers, checks availability and books or reschedules without staff involvement, 24 hours a day. For a one or two chair salon it replaces missed calls entirely. For a larger salon it covers lunch, busy periods and after hours, and hands off to a human the moment it is asked.
Yes. Australian businesses sign up the same way, take payments through Stripe, and see prices in NZD with an approximate AUD figure. GST handling and public holidays follow your location.
No card. Import your data, forward your phone to the AI receptionist, and see which one your clients prefer.
