SimplePractice vs TherapyNotes — Which EHR Should Therapists Use in 2026?
Both SimplePractice and TherapyNotes are HIPAA-compliant EHRs built specifically for mental health therapists. This comparison covers pricing, compliance, telehealth, documentation, and which platform wins for different practice types.
Best overall
SimplePractice
Better UI, lower starting price, 30-day free trial
Best for notes
TherapyNotes
Built-in Wiley Treatment Planners, phone support
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | SimplePractice | TherapyNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/mo (Starter) | $49/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days free | 30 days free |
| BAA included | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Built-in telehealth | ✓ Yes (included) | ✓ Yes (included) |
| Telehealth BAA | ✓ Covered under main BAA | ✓ Covered under main BAA |
| HIPAA-compliant messaging | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Psychotherapy notes (separate) | ✓ Private notes field | ✓ Private notes field |
| Insurance billing | ✓ Full clearinghouse | ✓ Full clearinghouse |
| Client portal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Online scheduling | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Wiley Treatment Planners | ✗ Not included | ✓ Built-in |
| Appointment reminders | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Mobile app | ✓ iOS + Android | ✓ iOS + Android |
| Group practice support | ✓ Multi-clinician | ✓ Multi-clinician |
| Ease of use | Very easy — beginner friendly | Moderate learning curve |
| UI / design | Modern, polished | Functional, older look |
| Customer support | Chat + email | Phone + email |
Pricing in 2026
SimplePractice starts at $29/month for the Starter plan (1 clinician, limited features), $69/month for Essential, and $99/month for Plus. The Essential plan covers most solo practice needs including telehealth, billing, and messaging.
TherapyNotes starts at $49/month for solo practitioners and increases with additional clinicians. There is no free tier, but the 30-day trial is full-featured. TherapyNotes includes phone support in all plans, which SimplePractice does not.
HIPAA Compliance — Both Pass
Both platforms sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with all paid subscribers — this is the core HIPAA requirement for any EHR vendor. Both store data with encryption at rest and in transit, and both provide audit logs of who accessed records.
Both platforms separate psychotherapy (process) notes from the general health record — a critical HIPAA requirement that many general-purpose tools miss. In SimplePractice, this is the "Private Note" field. In TherapyNotes, it is the "Private" section within a session note.
Telehealth
Both platforms include HIPAA-compliant telehealth built into the subscription — no need for a separate Zoom for Healthcare account or Doxy.me subscription. Both cover telehealth under the main BAA.
SimplePractice's telehealth interface is more polished and includes a client waiting room and automated session reminders. TherapyNotes telehealth is functional but less modern in its design.
Clinical Documentation
This is where TherapyNotes has a clear advantage: built-in Wiley Practice Planners provide structured treatment plans, goals, and interventions aligned with DSM diagnoses. For therapists who do insurance billing and need thorough clinical documentation, this is a significant time-saver.
SimplePractice offers customizable note templates but does not include Wiley content. Therapists who value structured, evidence-based documentation may find TherapyNotes superior for clinical work.
Who Should Choose Which
Choose SimplePractice if:
- • You are starting a new practice
- • You want the easiest onboarding
- • Design and UX matter to you
- • You do telehealth-only or hybrid
- • You want the best mobile experience
Choose TherapyNotes if:
- • You need Wiley Treatment Planners
- • You prefer phone support
- • You do heavy insurance billing
- • Your group practice is large
- • You prioritize clinical structure
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FAQ — SimplePractice vs TherapyNotes
Is SimplePractice or TherapyNotes better for solo therapists?
For most solo therapists, SimplePractice is the better starting point — lower entry price, easier to set up, and a more modern interface. TherapyNotes becomes more competitive when Wiley Treatment Planners or phone support are priorities.
Do both SimplePractice and TherapyNotes sign a HIPAA BAA?
Yes. Both platforms include a signed Business Associate Agreement with all paid subscriptions. This is the core HIPAA requirement for any EHR vendor handling your clients' protected health information.
Can I switch from TherapyNotes to SimplePractice (or vice versa)?
Yes, but it requires exporting your data and manually re-entering or importing client records. Both platforms allow data export. Most therapists report the switch takes 2-4 hours of administrative work. The 30-day free trial on both platforms lets you test before committing.
Which is better for telehealth therapy?
Both include HIPAA-compliant telehealth under their BAA. SimplePractice's telehealth interface is generally considered more polished — it has a client waiting room, automated session links, and a cleaner video experience. TherapyNotes telehealth is functional but less refined in design.
Does SimplePractice include billing?
Yes. SimplePractice Essential and Plus plans include a full insurance billing clearinghouse, ERA/EOB processing, and self-pay invoicing. The Starter plan has limited billing features. TherapyNotes also includes full billing in all plans.