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Healthcare · head to head

OpenMRS vs TherapyNotes

OpenMRS logo

OpenMRS

Healthcare

Open source electronic medical record platform for low-resource settings, with no vendor and paid implementers instead

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TherapyNotes logo

TherapyNotes

Healthcare

EHR and practice management for therapists

From
$39/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenMRS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenMRS there is no vendor and no support contract from OpenMRS itself, so a procurement that requires a named supplier with a service level must instead contract an implementer, and the quality of that implementer determines the outcome more than the software does; TherapyNotes no API access, preventing integration with external systems
  • They diverge on capability: OpenMRS covers Concept dictionary, TherapyNotes covers Electronic Health Records.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenMRS and TherapyNotes actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenMRS and TherapyNotes differ
AttributeOpenMRSTherapyNotes
Starting priceFree$39/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Web, WindowsWeb
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Healthcare).

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 OpenMRS

  • Concept dictionary
  • Modular architecture
  • Modern front end
  • FHIR support
  • Offline tolerance
  • Patient matching and registration
  • Distributions

Only in TherapyNotes

  • Electronic Health Records
  • Scheduling
  • Billing
  • Patient Portal
  • Telehealth
  • Outcome Tracking
  • Clearinghouses
  • Insurance

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

OpenMRS

  • A ministry of health standardising HIV treatment records across hundreds of facilities where per-patient licensing would be unaffordablenot TherapyNotes
  • A hospital network in a country where no commercial vendor supports the local language, clinical forms or reporting requirementsnot TherapyNotes
  • An NGO running a tuberculosis programme that must report into DHIS2 and needs the clinical record beneath it to be modifiablenot TherapyNotes
  • A health system that wants to own its clinical data model outright rather than depend on a vendor to extend itnot TherapyNotes

TherapyNotes

  • Patient Carenot OpenMRS
  • Medical Recordsnot OpenMRS
  • Practice Managementnot OpenMRS
  • Telehealthnot OpenMRS

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

OpenMRS

  • There is no vendor and no support contract from OpenMRS itself, so a procurement that requires a named supplier with a service level must instead contract an implementer, and the quality of that implementer determines the outcome more than the software does
  • It is a framework rather than a ready product, so a deployment requires clinical content, form design, concept dictionary work and integration before a single patient is registered, and that work is months of skilled effort
  • Funding comes largely from donor programmes, which makes the pace of core development dependent on grant cycles rather than on a commercial roadmap, and priorities can shift when a funder does
  • Distribution choice, core OpenMRS against Bahmni against Ozone, locks in a different set of components and a different implementer pool, and migrating between distributions later is close to a fresh implementation
  • The people cost never goes away: a national deployment needs permanent internal informatics capacity or a permanent support contract, and organisations that budget only the zero licence fee run out of money at the point the system becomes clinically critical

TherapyNotes

  • No API access, preventing integration with external systems
  • Outdated interface compared to AI-driven competitors
  • No native mobile app for iOS or Android
  • No bulk actions to update multiple sessions at once

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenMRS

Free
  • OpenMRSFree
    • Openly licensed, no licence fee and no seat limits
    • Community support through forums and the OpenMRS Talk platform
    • No support contract available from OpenMRS itself

TherapyNotes

$39/month
  • Solo$39/month
    • Full EHR
    • Scheduling
    • Patient portal

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenMRS if

  • You need concept dictionary.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Web, Windows.
  • You also want modular architecture.
OpenMRS review

Choose TherapyNotes if

  • You need electronic health records.
  • You also want scheduling.
TherapyNotes review

Questions people ask

Is OpenMRS or TherapyNotes better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenMRS starts at Free and TherapyNotes at $39/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenMRS or TherapyNotes?
OpenMRS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenMRS and $39/month for TherapyNotes.
Does OpenMRS or TherapyNotes run on more platforms?
OpenMRS runs on Linux, Web, Windows. TherapyNotes runs on Web.
Can I use OpenMRS for free?
Yes. OpenMRS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. TherapyNotes starts at $39/month.
What is OpenMRS best used for?
OpenMRS is most often used for a ministry of health standardising hiv treatment records across hundreds of facilities where per-patient licensing would be unaffordable, a hospital network in a country where no commercial vendor supports the local language, clinical forms or reporting requirements, an ngo running a tuberculosis programme that must report into dhis2 and needs the clinical record beneath it to be modifiable, a health system that wants to own its clinical data model outright rather than depend on a vendor to extend it. Of those, a ministry of health standardising hiv treatment records across hundreds of facilities where per-patient licensing would be unaffordable and a hospital network in a country where no commercial vendor supports the local language, clinical forms or reporting requirements are not what TherapyNotes is typically brought in for.
What can OpenMRS do that TherapyNotes cannot?
OpenMRS covers Concept dictionary, Modular architecture, Modern front end, FHIR support. TherapyNotes covers Electronic Health Records, Scheduling, Billing, Patient Portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenMRS: Who supports OpenMRS if it breaks?

Not OpenMRS itself. Support is bought from implementers such as Mekom Solutions, which offers long-term production service level agreements for OpenMRS, Bahmni and Ozone deployments, or from regional partners.

TherapyNotes: Does TherapyNotes integrate with other applications?

TherapyNotes has zero API availability and cannot connect to external systems including marketing platforms, CRMs, or data dashboards. Unlike competitors, it lacks integration capabilities.

Source
OpenMRS: Is it really free?

The software has no licence fee. Hosting, configuration, clinical content, integration and support are the real cost, and they are ongoing.

TherapyNotes: What are TherapyNotes pricing plans?

TherapyNotes charges $69/month for a solo practitioner plan and $79/month for the first clinician in a group with $50/month per additional clinician. A 30-day free trial is included with every plan.

Source
OpenMRS: What is the difference between OpenMRS, Bahmni and Ozone?

OpenMRS is the core platform. Bahmni and Ozone are distributions that package it with billing, laboratory and inventory components. Choosing a distribution constrains your implementer options.

TherapyNotes: Does TherapyNotes include telehealth?

Yes. TherapyNotes includes Basic Telehealth at no extra cost on every plan, with standard-definition video for up to 2 participants. Premium Telehealth with full HD, screen sharing, and closed captions costs $15 per clinician per month.

Source
OpenMRS: Does it support FHIR?

Yes. FHIR support is the standard route for integrating laboratory, pharmacy and national reporting systems.

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