Healthcare & Medical · head to head
Athenahealth vs BetterHelp
Athenahealth
Healthcare & Medical
Cloud-based medical practice management
- From
- $140/month
- Rated
- -
BetterHelp
Healthcare & Medical
Online therapy and counseling services
- From
- $50/week
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Athenahealth high implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments; BetterHelp pricing from $50-$90 per week billed every 4 weeks with location and therapist availability variations
- They diverge on capability: Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records, BetterHelp covers Video Sessions.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Athenahealth and BetterHelp actually diverge.
| Attribute | Athenahealth | BetterHelp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $140/month | $50/week |
| Founded | 1997 | 2013 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Healthcare & Medical).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Athenahealth
- Electronic Health Records
- Medical Billing
- Patient Engagement
- Telehealth
- Analytics
- Labs
- Pharmacies
- Clearinghouses
Only in BetterHelp
- Video Sessions
- Phone Sessions
- Messaging
- Journaling
- Worksheets
Both cover
- HIPAA
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Mobile support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Athenahealth
- Patient Carenot BetterHelp
- Medical Recordsnot BetterHelp
- Practice Managementnot BetterHelp
- Telehealthnot BetterHelp
BetterHelp
- Online therapy with licensed mental health professionalsnot Athenahealth
- Flexible scheduling with messaging, video, phone, and live chat optionsnot Athenahealth
- Access to 150+ worksheets and therapy support modulesnot Athenahealth
- Weekly free group seminars with expert therapistsnot Athenahealth
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Athenahealth
- High implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments
- Pricing tiers not transparently listed, requiring custom quotes
BetterHelp
- Pricing from $50-$90 per week billed every 4 weeks with location and therapist availability variations
- Not suitable for minors or those under legal guardianship
- Cannot provide official diagnoses, fulfill court orders, or prescribe medication
- Requires reliable internet access; not appropriate for emergency or crisis situations
Pricing, plan by plan
Athenahealth
$140/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Athenahealth review.
BetterHelp
$50/weekNo published plan breakdown. See the BetterHelp review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Athenahealth if
- You need electronic health records.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want medical billing.
Choose BetterHelp if
- You need video sessions.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want phone sessions.
Questions people ask
- Is Athenahealth or BetterHelp better?
- Neither clearly leads. Athenahealth starts at $140/month and BetterHelp at $50/week, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Athenahealth or BetterHelp?
- Athenahealth starts at $140/month and BetterHelp at $50/week.
- Does Athenahealth or BetterHelp run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Athenahealth best used for?
- Athenahealth is most often used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth. Of those, patient care and medical records are not what BetterHelp is typically brought in for.
- What can Athenahealth do that BetterHelp cannot?
- Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records, Medical Billing, Patient Engagement, Telehealth. BetterHelp covers Video Sessions, Phone Sessions, Messaging, Journaling. Both handle HIPAA, Cloud deployment, Web support, Mobile support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Athenahealth: What platforms does Athenahealth serve?
Athenahealth's athenaOne serves small to medium-sized physician practices and hospitals with integrated clinical, financial, and operational workflows.
SourceAthenahealth: What is the pricing model for athenaOne?
Athenahealth uses customized pricing with percent-based or encounter-based models. Starting price reported at $140/month with implementation costs ranging from $5,000-$20,000 for small businesses.
SourceAthenahealth: Does Athenahealth include revenue cycle management?
Yes, athenaOne includes network-driven claims scrubbing with 95%+ first-pass rates, denial management, and A/R optimization.
SourceAthenahealth: What patient engagement features does Athenahealth offer?
Athenahealth provides athenaCommunicator for patient portals, automated appointment reminders, online scheduling, telehealth integration, digital intake, and broadcast messaging.
SourceAthenahealth: How many pre-built integrations does Athenahealth have?
Athenahealth's marketplace includes over 250 pre-integrated third-party apps, allowing practices to extend functionality without custom development.
Source