Find the Best Best Cloud-Based EMR Software

The primary necessity for medical professionals is mobile access to patient data, enabling them to retrieve records whether they're in medical facilities or conducting house calls. This critical requirement is why demand for cloud-based EMR software has risen dramatically in recent years. 

Cloud-based EMR systems eliminate the barriers of location-dependent technology and enable real-time collaboration between healthcare teams across multiple facilities. These solutions provide the flexibility that modern healthcare delivery demands while maintaining the security and functionality that medical practices require. 

We created this guide to help medical practices choose the best cloud-based EMR software from the current market. You'll discover what essential features to prioritize, how these systems can transform your practice operations, and what factors to consider as healthcare technology continues to advance. Plus, we'll review the 5 top-performing EMR systems that we found most competitive in this regard. Let's get started! 

Cloud-based EMR systems are electronic medical health records that are stored on remote servers, accessible via the internet from any location.  

They're the future of EMR software in the United States, which enables physicians to access patient data instantly without requiring costly on-site servers. By offering affordability, scalability, and long-term sustainability, these solutions empower clinics to modernize operations efficiently.  

Gone are the days where you'd have to outsource medical administration services, as a cloud based electronic health record can do this for you. With both free and paid options, an EMR is the modern healthcare team you need to run your practice effectively. 

Below are some of the key features of these cloud-based medical software: 

If healthcare providers are unaware of the features available in today's EMR technology, they will likely end up with outdated software that forces them to do manual tasks that could easily be automated.  

To avoid this costly mistake, here are the essential features you should know about: 

Accessibility 

Healthcare providers can access patient records from any location with internet connectivity, facilitating remote consultations and telemedicine with our web-based electronic health records. 

Clinical Decision Support (CDS) 

Smart alerts and recommendations that help doctors make better treatment decisions. For example, if a patient has diabetes, it might remind the doctor to check their A1C levels or suggest appropriate medications. 

Drug Interaction Checking 

Automatically warns doctors if prescribed medications might interact dangerously with each other or with the patient's existing medications. This real-time clinical decision support helps prevent adverse drug events and ensures safer prescribing practices 

E-Prescribing With EPCS

Some medications like pain pills and ADHD drugs are ‘controlled substances’ that previously required handwritten prescriptions. This Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) feature allows doctors to prescribe these electronically using enhanced security measures like fingerprint scanning to verify the doctor's identity. 

Multi-Device Support 

Compatible with various devices, these mobile emrs are ready to be used on all modern devices ranging from iPads, Macs, Android and much more. This cross-platform compatibility ensures healthcare providers can maintain productivity regardless of their preferred device choice. 

Integration With Other Systems 

Seamlessly connects with other healthcare applications like Practice Management Systems (PMS), Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), and Pharmacy Systems. This comprehensive integration eliminates data silos and creates a unified healthcare ecosystem for improved operational efficiency. 

Telehealth Integration 

Built-in video calling and remote consultation features that let doctors see patients virtually without needing separate software. These integrated telemedicine capabilities expand access to care while maintaining the continuity of patient records and documentation. 

Data Exchange Standards 

Supports standards such as HL7 and FHIR for efficient data sharing across different platforms and institutions. These standardized protocols ensure interoperability and facilitate secure information exchange between various healthcare organizations and systems. 

Automated Updates 

Regular software updates and feature enhancements without manual intervention. This automated maintenance ensures practices always have access to the latest security patches, regulatory compliance features, and technological improvements. 

Streamlined Workflows 

Modern cloud-based practice management tools provide support for the different medical needs of a practice. These can range from scheduling, billing, and reporting to name a few. 

Insights Generation 

Advanced analytics tools to generate insights from patient data, aiding in clinical decision-making and operational improvements. These powerful analytics capabilities help identify trends, predict outcomes, and support evidence-based treatment planning for better patient care. 

Custom Reports 

Ability to create customized reports for various needs, including compliance and performance monitoring. Flexible reporting tools enable practices to generate tailored documentation that meets specific regulatory requirements and operational analysis needs. 

Patient Portals 

Allow patients to access their health records, schedule appointments, request prescription refills, and communicate with healthcare providers. These self-service capabilities enhance patient engagement while reducing administrative workload for healthcare staff members. 

The following five cloud-based EMR platforms consistently receive the highest ratings from healthcare providers. We've analyzed 96+ verified reviews to identify the genuine strengths and weaknesses of each system. 

But first, you'll find an ‘At A Glance’ comparison table for quick scanning, followed by our methodology for how we collected and analyzed this data. Each EMR review includes actual user quotes highlighting both positive experiences and common complaints to help you make an informed decision. 

The pros and cons listed below for each cloud-based EMR vendor are based on analysis of verified user reviews and publicly available information from healthcare providers who use these systems daily. Our methodology follows a systematic approach to ensure accurate and reliable recommendations: 

• Data Collection: We aggregate feedback from verified users through multiple channels - direct practitioner interviews, staff surveys, and comprehensive third-party review analysis from reputable platforms. Our dataset includes users from solo practices to large multi-specialty groups to ensure broad applicability 
• Filtering And Verification: We filter out promotional content, fake reviews, and outdated feedback to focus on current, authentic user experiences. Only reviews from verified healthcare providers are included in our analysis 
• Frequency Assessment: We prioritize pros and cons that appear consistently across different review sources and user types, giving more weight to issues mentioned by multiple users 
• Compilation: Final pros and cons represent the most significant and frequent user experiences, providing you with a realistic picture of what to expect from each platform 

1. Kareo Clinical EMR  

Kareo Clinical EMR stands out as an excellent cloud-based solution specifically tailored for small and mid-sized medical facilities. What sets it apart is its comprehensive approach to practice management, patient records, appointment scheduling, and billing. The seamless integration with other healthcare systems and robust mobile app for iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch makes it particularly attractive. We're impressed by its highly customizable templates, strong billing support, intuitive interface, superior mobile access, and consistently reliable customer service.  

Pros And Cons 

Pro: 

About 10% of medical professionals said that the software is user-friendly and easy to use. 

• “Kareo's ease of use and learnability are highly commendable, making it a pleasant system to work with.” — Louis, Medical Practice (2–10 employees) 

Another stat suggests that 14% of medical professionals said that Kareo offers helpful reporting tools for tracking charges and payments. 

• “I find creating and submitting charges efficient, and the reporting tools are quite helpful.” — James, Health, Wellness, and Fitness (51–200 employees) 

Con: 

Around 6% of users reported that Kareo’s customer support was unreliable and confusing. 

• “The major drawback is the inconsistent and problematic customer service, which often provides conflicting information and lacks proper documentation.” — Julie, Mental Health Care (1 employee) 

2. AdvancedMD EMR  

AdvancedMD EMR proves to be a smart choice for independent healthcare practices seeking comprehensive cloud-based management. Its strength lies in combining practice and revenue cycle management, appointment scheduling, insurance handling, and detailed analytical reporting in one platform. The seamless integration capabilities create a truly centralized system that works. What we find most valuable is the noticeable improvement in patient care, operational efficiency, and team collaboration, backed by genuinely proactive customer support.  

Pros And Cons 

Pro:  

A small portion of users (around 6%) highlighted AdvancedMD’s ability to adapt its features to varied practice needs. 

• “I appreciate the high level of customization that Advanced MD offers, which is particularly valuable when working with multispecialty practices. It allows for tailoring the software to meet the specific needs of each provider and specialty.” — Alexandra, Financial Services (2–10 employees) 

Another analysis suggests that about 12% of medical professionals said that AdvancedMD has a strong technical support team that helped them during setup and implementation. 

• “The tech support team is fantastic, as they assisted us in quickly getting the system up and running. The hands-on, extended setup support provided by AdvancedMD has aided our practice in efficiently adjusting to their new software.” — Brianna W., Private Practice (2–9 employees) 

Con: 

About 8% of medical professionals said that AdvancedMD’s interface is confusing, clunky, or difficult to use. 

• “As more capabilities are added, the AdvancedMD interface has become more difficult to understand and utilize, which is really aggravating.” — Brianna W., Private Practice (2–9 employees) 

3. eClinicalWorks EMR  

eClinicalWorks EMR impresses with its versatility, effectively serving everyone from solo practitioners to large healthcare systems. The software excels at handling both primary and specialty care requirements seamlessly. What makes it particularly appealing is the clear improvement in patient care quality, operational efficiency, and communication capabilities. The robust security features and extensive customization options give practices the flexibility they need to optimize their unique workflows effectively.  

Pros And Cons  

Pros: 

About 6% of medical professionals said that eClinicalWorks offers helpful training videos or user support resources. 

• “The training videos for eClinical software are very comprehensive and informative.” — Henry, New Horizons Healthcare (2–9 employees) 

Another major highlight from user reviews is that roughly 4% of reviewers highlighted that eClinicalWorks improves team coordination through its organized layout and color-coded schedules. 

• “Scheduling and color coding are its best aspects.” — Danielle, Summit Medical Group (1000+ employees) 

Cons: 

Around 8% of reviewers mentioned that eClinicalWorks updates sometimes disrupt existing features or break functionality. 

• “The latest updates have removed a number of functionalities, which is frustrating.” — Oliver, Turf Medical (10–49 employees) 

4. AthenaHealth EMR  

AthenaHealth EMR delivers exceptional value as a cloud-based solution that truly streamlines complex healthcare operations. Its particular strength in pediatrics, cardiology, and urgent care makes it a standout choice for these specialties. What we appreciate most is the platform's remarkable adaptability and superior mobile accessibility. The strong interoperability features and enhanced team collaboration tools make it a wise investment for practices prioritizing seamless communication and improved patient outcomes.  

Pros And Cons  

Pro: 

About 15% of medical professionals said that Athenahealth’s portal design makes it easy to find documents, orders, and patient histories. 

• “The system was user-friendly, making it easy to locate documents, order, and schedule appointments.” — Denise, Medical Practice (11–50 employees) 

Adding to this, 7% of users mentioned that athenahealth offers strong claim submission and insurance verification features that support revenue-related tasks. 

• “I love it that how easily I can resolve rejected claims and perform insurance verification.” — LaDonna, Hospital & Health Care (11–50 employees) 

Cons: 

Roughly 15% of medical professionals found Athenahealth’s billing processes and reporting tools confusing to use and overly layered. 

• “We were unable to post insurance payments ourselves… There are too many screens to navigate just to sign off a visit note or update something in the patient chart.” — Brittany, Medical Practice (11–50 employees) 

5. NextGen EMR 

NextGen EMR offers impressive value with its fully integrated "MediTouch" platform that goes beyond basic EMR functionality. The comprehensive package including patient portal, claims clearinghouse, and specialty-specific content makes it particularly compelling. We're impressed by its cross-platform compatibility and intuitive touchscreen interface. The robust MIPS reporting, automated insurance eligibility, integrated telehealth, and exceptionally clean dashboard design make it a top choice for practices valuing both functionality and user experience. 

Pros And Cons  

Pro: 

About 6% of medical professionals highlighted that NextGen offers color-coded screens or a clean, well-organized layout for quick navigation. 

• “The layout is clean, gentle on the eyes, and efficient for patient intake and backend charting.” — Anna, Hospital & Health Care (11–50 employees) 

Another analysis suggests that roughly 5% of users highlighted that NextGen supports efficient patient registration and real-time status updates with alerts. 

• “The system's key strength lies in its user-friendly design, particularly focused on patient registration and status updates. It boasts an efficient alert system and analytics suitable for various procedures.” — Omar, Hospital & Health Care (51–200 employees) 

Cons: 

Around 9% of reviewers reported that NextGen provides very limited flexibility to customize templates and workflows. 

• “While promising during sales presentations, the software's out-of-the-box version requires extensive customization by users, leading to significant efforts in modifying predefined content.” — Jay, Medical Practice (2–10 employees) 

With years of experience in providing practices with automation, we've seen cloud EMR software give its users a lot of benefits as compared to conventional server-based options. They are as follows: 

• Lower Overall Costs: Cloud-based EMRs can deliver substantial cost savings compared to traditional on-premises systems. A cost-benefit study conducted at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry found that, over a two-year period, one-time costs were 40.5% lower and ongoing costs were 20.5% lower with a cloud-based EHR than with an on-premise client-server system. The researchers concluded that the cloud-based EHR not only reduced expenses but also offered unique operational benefits unavailable in the on-premise setup 
• Reduced Patient No-Show Rates: It can significantly reduce missed appointments through automated reminders and easy online rescheduling. Market.us reports that healthcare organizations using cloud-based systems see up to a 30% drop in patient no-show rates. This usually happens because EMRs eliminate common barriers—patients receive timely notifications, access schedules from any device, and can join virtual visits when needed 
• Shorter Patient Wait Times: These systems streamline patient flow by syncing schedules in real time and digitizing intake. The same Market.us statistic report found that providers using cloud-based systems experience a 25% decrease in patient wait times. EMRs can make this possible by instantly pulling together patient information, forms, and availability, allowing faster check-ins and smoother consultations for everyone 
• Improved Clinical Decision-Making and Patient Experience: Cloud-based EMRs give care teams real-time access to complete patient records for faster, better-informed decisions. PwC's 2023 Cloud Business Survey found that 65% of health services executives reported improved decision-making through cloud adoption, while 58% noted enhanced patient experience. These gains are possible with cloud-based EMRs because they unify patient records, diagnostics, and communication tools in one platform, allowing providers to act quickly and deliver a more coordinated patient experience 

Mostly healthcare providers focus on features and pricing during EMR selection, but overlooking these deeper factors leads to expensive, disruptive problems that can affect your practice: 

• Customization Limitations: Dig into how much you can actually customize workflows, templates, and interfaces. Many ‘customizable’ systems only allow surface-level changes, while deep customizations may require expensive professional services that create vendor dependency 
• Performance Under Real-World Conditions: Test the system during peak usage hours, with your actual patient volume, and under poor internet conditions. Many EMRs perform well in demos but struggle with real-world loads 
• Integration Capabilities: Evaluate how well the EMR integrates with your existing systems including practice management software, billing systems, laboratory interfaces, imaging systems, and other healthcare applications your practice currently uses or plans to implement 
• Security And Compliance: Verify the vendor's HIPAA compliance, data encryption standards, backup procedures, disaster recovery plans, and security certifications. Ensure the system meets all regulatory requirements for your specialty and location 
• Hidden Workflow Disruptions: Evaluate how the EMR handles your specific edge cases - complex patients with multiple conditions, insurance authorization workflows, referral processes, or specialty-specific documentation requirements. Generic demos rarely reveal these pain points 

Cost is one of the biggest deciding factors when choosing an EMR system. Cloud-based platforms offer lower upfront investment and more predictable expenses compared to on-premises systems. Because infrastructure is hosted by the vendor, cloud-based EMRs eliminate the need to buy and maintain local servers, reducing overall IT expenses and making them a more predictable investment. 

Now, based on our detailed EMR pricing analysis, here's what practices can expect: 

Monthly Subscription Fees 

Most cloud-based EMR vendors follow a per-provider subscription model. On average, monthly fees range from $200 to $700 per provider for small to mid-sized practices. Some low-cost entry options start around $80 to $100 per provider per month, though these usually lack advanced customization and training. At the enterprise level, systems used in large hospitals can reach $1,500 to $2,000+ per provider per month, and in some cases, depending on bundled modules and scale, costs may go as high as $35,000 per month for large organizations. 

Implementation Costs 

Most vendors charge one-time setup fees covering system configuration, data migration, and staff training. Our research shows these costs typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 for small to mid-sized practices, varying by system complexity. 

Hidden Costs To Watch Out For 

Our analysis reveals several indirect costs often overlooked during initial evaluation. These include third-party integration fees (labs, imaging, billing systems), additional user licenses for non-providers, advanced analytics modules, premium support packages, and potential data migration fees when switching vendors. 

Healthcare data is growing at an unprecedented rate. A 2024 study published in Heliyon found that healthcare data is growing rapidly, creating storage and processing challenges that traditional on-premise EMR systems can't handle efficiently. 

This data explosion is driving a fundamental shift in the industry. John Houston, Vice President of Privacy & Information Security at UPMC, observes:  

• "Many vendors who provide critical applications – such as EMRs – are aggressively moving to the cloud. In many cases there will not be an option." 

Cloud-based EMRs directly solve the data growth problem by offering scalable storage, faster deployment, and real-time data sharing across providers. The Heliyon study notes these systems also cut IT maintenance costs and support AI-driven analytics that can make sense of the massive data volumes. 

But Houston raises an important concern about this shift:  

• "When I can host an application within my data center, I control the servers, and I can manage the security. As soon as I move to the cloud, I am now dependent upon a third party to ensure that application is secure. It becomes a black box for me." 

This security challenge is real because, as Houston explains, "not every vendor is committed to security and understands what is involved in delivering an application that is truly secure."  

For healthcare practices, the takeaway is straightforward: cloud migration is becoming unavoidable due to data growth demands, but choosing a vendor with proven security expertise and compliance track record is essential for protecting patient data while gaining the operational benefits.