Software · head to head
Athenahealth vs eClinicalWorks
eClinicalWorks
Software
Comprehensive EHR and practice management platform
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Athenahealth high implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments; eClinicalWorks pricing details not disclosed on website; requires sales consultation or demo
- They diverge on capability: Athenahealth covers Medical Billing, eClinicalWorks covers Practice Management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Athenahealth and eClinicalWorks actually diverge.
| Attribute | Athenahealth | eClinicalWorks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $140/month | On request |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Cloud-based |
| Founded | 1997 | 1999 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Medical Billing
- Patient Engagement
- Analytics
- Clearinghouses
- Health Information Exchanges
Only in eClinicalWorks
- Practice Management
- Revenue Cycle
- Patient Portal
- ePrescribing
- HL7
- FHIR
Both cover
- Electronic Health Records
- Telehealth
- Labs
- Pharmacies
- HIPAA
- HITRUST
- SOC2
- 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 eClinicalWorks
- Medical Recordsnot eClinicalWorks
- Practice Managementnot eClinicalWorks
- Telehealthnot eClinicalWorks
eClinicalWorks
- EHR and practice management for multi-specialty medical practicesnot Athenahealth
- Patient engagement through telehealth (healow) and secure messagingnot Athenahealth
- Revenue cycle management with 98%+ first-pass acceptance ratenot Athenahealth
- AI-powered clinical documentation with Sunoh.ai medical scribenot 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
eClinicalWorks
- Pricing details not disclosed on website; requires sales consultation or demo
- No published technical system requirements specified
- Cloud-based solution requires reliable internet connectivity for clinics
Pricing, plan by plan
Athenahealth
$140/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Athenahealth review.
eClinicalWorks
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the eClinicalWorks review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Athenahealth if
- You need medical billing.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want patient engagement.
Choose eClinicalWorks if
- You need practice management.
- You work on Web, Cloud-based.
- You also want revenue cycle.
Questions people ask
- Is Athenahealth or eClinicalWorks better?
- Neither clearly leads. Athenahealth starts at $140/month and eClinicalWorks at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Athenahealth or eClinicalWorks?
- Athenahealth starts at $140/month and eClinicalWorks at On request.
- Does Athenahealth or eClinicalWorks run on more platforms?
- Athenahealth runs on Web, iOS, Android. eClinicalWorks runs on Web, Cloud-based.
- 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 eClinicalWorks is typically brought in for.
- What can Athenahealth do that eClinicalWorks cannot?
- Athenahealth covers Medical Billing, Patient Engagement, Analytics, Clearinghouses. eClinicalWorks covers Practice Management, Revenue Cycle, Patient Portal, ePrescribing. Both handle Electronic Health Records, Telehealth, Labs, Pharmacies.
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