Athenahealth vs Epic Systems
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading healthcare & medical solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Athenahealth if you need Electronic Health Records and prefer comprehensive paid features. Choose Epic Systems if you prioritize Electronic Health Records and want plans starting at Contact for pricing. Epic Systems has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.1).
Athenahealth vs Epic Systems: At a Glance
| Criteria | Athenahealth | Epic Systems |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Pricing | $140/month | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing Model | subscription | enterprise |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Web, Desktop, Mobile |
| Category | Healthcare & Medical | Healthcare & Medical |
| Founded | 1997 | 1979 |
Feature Comparison: Athenahealth vs Epic Systems
| Feature | Athenahealth | Epic Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Health Records | ||
| Medical Billing | ||
| Patient Engagement | ||
| Telehealth | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Labs | ||
| Pharmacies | ||
| Clearinghouses | ||
| Health Information Exchanges | ||
| HIPAA | ||
| HITRUST | ||
| SOC2 | ||
| Cloud deployment | ||
| Web support | ||
| Mobile support | ||
| Revenue Cycle Management | ||
| Patient Portal | ||
| Clinical Decision Support | ||
| Population Health | ||
| Lab Systems | ||
| Imaging Systems | ||
| Pharmacy Systems | ||
| On-premise deployment | ||
| Desktop support |
Athenahealth vs Epic Systems: Pricing Breakdown
Pros and Cons
Athenahealth
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.1/5)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Electronic Health Records functionality
- Strong Medical Billing functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- May require time to learn advanced features
Epic Systems
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.3/5)
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Desktop, Mobile)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Electronic Health Records functionality
- Strong Revenue Cycle Management functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Athenahealth vs Epic Systems?
Choose Athenahealth if you:
- Need Electronic Health Records
- Have a budget of $140/month+
- Work primarily on Web and Mobile
- Value Medical Billing
Choose Epic Systems if you:
- Need Electronic Health Records
- Have a budget of Contact for pricing+
- Work primarily on Web and Desktop
- Value Revenue Cycle Management
Frequently Asked Questions: Athenahealth vs Epic Systems
Is Athenahealth better than Epic Systems?
It depends on your needs. Athenahealth has a 4.1/5 user rating while Epic Systems has 4.3/5. Athenahealth excels in Electronic Health Records and Medical Billing, while Epic Systems stands out with Electronic Health Records and Revenue Cycle Management. Consider your budget ($140/month vs Contact for pricing), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Athenahealth or Epic Systems?
Athenahealth starts at $140/month. Epic Systems starts at Contact for pricing. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Athenahealth and Epic Systems together?
While both are healthcare & medical tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core healthcare & medical needs.
What are the main differences between Athenahealth and Epic Systems?
The key differences include: pricing model (subscription vs enterprise), platform support (Web, Mobile vs Web, Desktop, Mobile), and feature focus. Athenahealth emphasizes Electronic Health Records, Medical Billing, Patient Engagement while Epic Systems focuses on Electronic Health Records, Revenue Cycle Management, Patient Portal. User ratings differ slightly: 4.1 vs 4.3 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Athenahealth and Epic Systems.