Headway
Cost: Free
Headway’s EHR is part of an all-in-one platform designed to help you run your practice, your way. With functionalities including AI-assisted note-taking, documentation templates that facilitate compliance, HIPAA-adherent client messaging, a syncable calendar, billing and claims support, and integrated telehealth, Headway’s EHR features offer the full package at an unbeatable price: free. The Headway experience is designed to save you time, money, and energy, so you can focus on providing excellent client care.
Headway’s highlights
- All-in-one platform that includes documentation, a syncable calendar, integrated Headway Telehealth (powered by Zoom), and more — at zero cost
- Time-saving features including AI note-taking assistance, session prep assistance, and documentation templates
- Headache-free insurance billing, complete with claim support and clawback protection
Who Headway’s best suited for
- Solo therapists looking for a complete private practice partner
- Group practices aiming to scale without excess overhead
- Prescribers who want to focus on client care by offloading administrative tasks
“Headway streamlined my psychiatric practice completely. The platform handles insurance billing and appointment scheduling seamlessly, letting me focus on medication management and patient care.” —Dr. James Chen, psychiatrist
Carepatron
Cost: Free, with upgraded plans starting at $31 per month
Carepatron is a comprehensive EHR system designed specifically for mental health practitioners. It offers features like client management, appointment scheduling, secure documentation, billing integration, telehealth capabilities, and client portals. Carepatron emphasizes security, compliance with healthcare regulations, and an intuitive user interface to streamline administrative tasks so mental health professionals can focus more on patient care.
Pros
- Designed specifically for mental health and allied clinicians, so users can be confident in security and compliance
- Robust list of features, including scheduling, documentation, billing, and telehealth
- Free plan available
Cons
- Some features are available only through paid plans
- Managed insurance billing costs extra, so it may not be a great option for practices with high insurance volume
SimplePractice
Cost: $49+ per month
SimplePractice is a popular EHR designed to simplify mental health practices. The features are comprehensive, ranging from scheduling and billing to documentation and treatment planning, plus extras like telehealth, marketing support, and a website builder. Given its many features, SimplePractice is a bit more expensive compared to other, simpler platforms. Learn more about the similarities and differences between Headway and SimplePractice.
Pros
- Built specifically with mental health professionals in mind
- Comprehensive platform that includes scheduling, billing, documentation, telehealth, and more
- Bonus features including marketing support and a website builder
Cons
- More expensive than some competitors
- Additional fees for certain features, like AI note-taking
TheraNest
Cost: $29+ per month
Another popular EHR software for mental health providers, TheraNest offers all the standard features you can expect in an EHR, such as scheduling, billing, documentation, and a Wiley Treatment Planner integration. It may not be ideal for large enterprise practices, because it lacks some of the advanced features of other platforms.
Pros
- Includes handy features such as scheduling, documentation, and client management
- Emphasizes HIPAA-compliance and platform security
Cons
- May not be ideal for larger practices
- Insurance billing automation available only through upgraded plans
- Extra fees for features such as an AI scribe
TherapyNotes
Cost: $69+ per month
TherapyNotes boasts important features including billing, scheduling, documentation, and a built-in telehealth platform, but it is more expensive than many alternatives on the market. Users share positive reviews of TherapyNotes’ customer support.
Pros
- Comprehensive list of features, including billing, scheduling, documentation, and telehealth
- 24/7 customer support by phone and email
- Free profiles for non-clinical staff in group practices
Cons
- More expensive than other options on the market
- Additional fees for some features, such as telehealth, payment processing, and appointment reminders
- Some features, like scheduling capabilities, aren’t as advanced as competitors’
My Best Practice
Cost: $39+ per month
A budget-friendly option ideal for smaller practices, My Best Practice is a straightforward EHR offering billing, scheduling, documentation, and a client portal. Pre-set note templates may not be customizable enough for some therapists, and the platform lacks the advanced features (like in-depth reporting or integrations) of larger platforms.
Pros
- Affordable option that includes key features including billing, scheduling, documentation, and a client portal
- Low fees for adding additional clinicians and free profiles for non-clinical staff
- Handy extras, like a mobile app
Cons
- Lacks some advanced features, like in-depth reporting and integrations
- Templates may not be customizable enough for some therapists
- Extra fees for telehealth
Sessions Health
Cost: Free, with upgraded plans starting at $39 per month
Sessions Health is an easy-to-use EHR that offers benefits like billing, scheduling, treatment planning, and documentation. It’s a bit simpler than other EHRs, without many advanced feature options. It’s also a newer platform compared to other popular options, so available features may evolve over time.
Pros
- Straightforward platform that includes billing, scheduling, treatment planning, and documentation
- Built specifically for mental health professionals
- Free option for new providers
Cons
- Newer and simpler than many competitors, which may limit features
- Free option capped at only three clients
- Extra fees for features such as telehealth and electronic claims
Valant
Cost: Customized depending on practice needs
Valant is known for its excellent customer support. Along with basic features like scheduling, billing, and documentation, Valant has a library of rating scales and measures to make measurement-based care easier. Some users may find it expensive, especially small practices, and given the extra features, it may be more difficult to learn.
Pros
- Comprehensive feature list, including scheduling, billing, documentation and extras such as rating scales, performance reporting, and prospective client management
- Strong customer support
- Customized offerings depending on your practice’s needs
Cons
- Pricing structure is opaque, making advanced budgeting a challenge
- Extra features can be confusing to learn
Tebra
Cost: Customized depending on practice needs
Tebra, formerly Kareo, is a user-friendly EHR that’s priced competitively compared to larger EHR solutions. It includes all the basic features of popular EHRs, like scheduling, billing, and documentation. Telehealth is included in the platform. The software may not be ideal for larger practices because it doesn’t include advanced features. Users report mixed experiences with customer service response times.
Pros
- Scheduling, billing, documentation, and telehealth, all in one place
- Emphasis on efficiency, with features such as AI note-taking
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Designed for solo and small-group practices, so may not be the best fit for larger practices
- Mixed experiences with customer support
- Not specifically designed for mental health practices
