Software · head to head
SimplePractice vs Athenahealth
SimplePractice
Software
Practice management and EHR for mental health and therapy
- From
- $49/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: SimplePractice no API or webhook support for integrations, preventing connections to Zapier or custom automation tools; Athenahealth high implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments
- They diverge on capability: SimplePractice covers Scheduling, Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SimplePractice and Athenahealth actually diverge.
| Attribute | SimplePractice | Athenahealth |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/month | $140/month |
| Founded | 2011 | 1997 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 SimplePractice
- Scheduling
- Client Portal
- Notes
- Billing
- Documents
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Electronic clearinghouses
Only in Athenahealth
- Electronic Health Records
- Medical Billing
- Patient Engagement
- Analytics
- Labs
- Pharmacies
- Clearinghouses
- Health Information Exchanges
Both cover
- Telehealth
- HIPAA
- SOC2
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Mobile support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
SimplePractice
- Patient Care
- Medical Records
- Practice Management
- Telehealth
Athenahealth
- Patient Care
- Medical Records
- Practice Management
- Telehealth
Both are used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
SimplePractice
- No API or webhook support for integrations, preventing connections to Zapier or custom automation tools
- Lacks AI clinical documentation in base plan, requiring manual note typing which takes 15-30 minutes per session
- Reporting and customization features are limited compared to competitors, with weak insurance workflow support
- Hidden costs beyond base pricing, with real cost often 3x higher after add-ons and annual increases
- Telehealth component reported as unstable and frequently unreliable by some users
Athenahealth
- High implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments
- Pricing tiers not transparently listed, requiring custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
SimplePractice
$49/month- Starter$49/month
- Scheduling
- Documentation
- Client portal
- Essential$79/month
- Billing and payments
- Insurance claim filing
- Telehealth
- Plus$99/month
- Website builder
- Advanced reporting
- ePrescribe integration
Athenahealth
$140/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Athenahealth review.
Which should you pick?
Choose SimplePractice if
- You need scheduling.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want client portal.
Choose Athenahealth if
- You need electronic health records.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want medical billing.
Questions people ask
- Is SimplePractice or Athenahealth better?
- Neither clearly leads. SimplePractice starts at $49/month and Athenahealth at $140/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, SimplePractice or Athenahealth?
- SimplePractice starts at $49/month and Athenahealth at $140/month.
- Does SimplePractice or Athenahealth run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is SimplePractice best used for?
- SimplePractice is most often used for patient care, medical records, practice management, telehealth.
- What can SimplePractice do that Athenahealth cannot?
- SimplePractice covers Scheduling, Client Portal, Notes, Billing. Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records, Medical Billing, Patient Engagement, Analytics. Both handle Telehealth, HIPAA, SOC2, Cloud deployment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SimplePractice: What does SimplePractice pricing include?
SimplePractice tiers start at $49 (Starter), $79 (Essential), and $99 (Plus) per clinician per month. Add-ons cost extra, including AI Note Taker at $35/month and ePrescribe at $49/month plus $89 setup.
SourceAthenahealth: What platforms does Athenahealth serve?
Athenahealth's athenaOne serves small to medium-sized physician practices and hospitals with integrated clinical, financial, and operational workflows.
SourceSimplePractice: Does SimplePractice include telehealth?
Yes, all SimplePractice tiers include HIPAA-compliant integrated telehealth, allowing therapists to conduct secure video sessions directly from the platform.
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.
SourceSimplePractice: Is AI documentation included in SimplePractice?
No, AI clinical notes are not included in base pricing. SimplePractice offers an optional AI Note Taker add-on for $35/month that provides basic transcription, though it lacks advanced note generation features of competitors.
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.
SourceSimplePractice: Does SimplePractice support international or non-US workflows?
No, SimplePractice is designed for US practices only and does not support non-US workflows, insurance structures, or currencies, limiting its use for international practitioners.
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