Software · head to head
Athenahealth vs Ro
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Athenahealth high implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments; Ro uS-only service - Ro's own help center states it cannot serve individuals residing outside the United States, including US territories
- They diverge on capability: Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records, Ro covers Video Consultations.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Athenahealth and Ro actually diverge.
| Attribute | Athenahealth | Ro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $140/month | $39/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Founded | 1997 | 2017 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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
- Electronic Health Records
- Medical Billing
- Patient Engagement
- Telehealth
- Analytics
- Labs
- Clearinghouses
- Health Information Exchanges
Only in Ro
- Video Consultations
- Prescription Services
- Medication Delivery
- Digital Health Records
- Ongoing Care
- Insurance
Both cover
- Pharmacies
- 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 Ro
- Medical Recordsnot Ro
- Practice Managementnot Ro
- Telehealthnot Ro
Ro
- GLP-1 weight-loss program (Ro Body) with prescription medication and coachingnot Athenahealth
- Erectile dysfunction treatment and medication deliverynot Athenahealth
- Hair loss treatmentnot Athenahealth
- Skincare prescriptionsnot Athenahealth
- Fertility-related consultations and productsnot 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
Ro
- US-only service - Ro's own help center states it cannot serve individuals residing outside the United States, including US territories
- Care is limited to Ro-affiliated, US-licensed providers - users cannot choose an outside doctor
- Treatment and medication availability varies by US state
- Focused on a narrow set of conditions (weight loss, ED, hair loss, skincare, fertility) rather than general primary care
Pricing, plan by plan
Athenahealth
$140/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Athenahealth review.
Ro
$39/month- Membership$39/month
- Unlimited doctor visits
- Prescription fulfillment
Which should you pick?
Choose Athenahealth if
- You need electronic health records.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want medical billing.
Choose Ro if
- You need video consultations.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want prescription services.
Questions people ask
- Is Athenahealth or Ro better?
- Neither clearly leads. Athenahealth starts at $140/month and Ro at $39/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Athenahealth or Ro?
- Athenahealth starts at $140/month and Ro at $39/month.
- Does Athenahealth or Ro 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 Ro is typically brought in for.
- What can Athenahealth do that Ro cannot?
- Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records, Medical Billing, Patient Engagement, Telehealth. Ro covers Video Consultations, Prescription Services, Medication Delivery, Digital Health Records. Both handle Pharmacies, HIPAA, Cloud deployment, Web 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