Is your staff overwhelmed by appointment, refill, and billing calls while patients struggle to reach care teams through slow, phone-based communication? Investing in a good patient portal software can help care teams address these issues.
Finding the right patient portal software can be cumbersome for some. It is possible to get lost in the sea of options, and we understand your frustration.
To help you make the right software selection, we have spent hundreds of hours evaluating different EMR/EHRs with patient portal availability. Our research combines hands-on product analysis with insights from clinicians and care managers.
The software added to our list are analyzed based on scheduling, messaging, record access, and security parameters – features that are vital for the smooth delivery of patient-centered care.
By comparing top options, you can quickly identify solutions that reduce administrative burdens, increase patient satisfaction, and support care coordination.
Software | Rating | Trial Info | Starting Price | Best For | Key Features |
(Editor’s Choice) | 4/5 | No free trial | Custom pricing | Practices of all sizes |
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4/5 | No free trial | Custom pricing | Practices of all sizes |
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4/5 | No free trial | Custom pricing | Smaller Practices |
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4/5 | No free trial | $449/provider/month | Practices of all sizes, including independent practices |
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4/5 | 30-day free trial | $49/month | Solo and group practices |
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3/5 | No free trial | Custom pricing | Independent practices |
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N/A | No free trial | Custom pricing | Practices of all sizes |
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4/5 | 30-day free trial | Custom pricing | Practices of all sizes |
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N/A
| 14-day free trial | $19/month | Solo or small practices |
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Epic is an enterprise Electronic Health Record (EHR) that comes with an integrated patient portal, MyChart. Its scalability and ability to support patient access across large, multi-entity healthcare organizations are second to none. The portal enables secure messaging, appointment management, and access to clinical records within a tightly integrated Epic ecosystem. This solves the long-standing problem of fragmented data and patient-provider communication lapses.
Pros | Cons |
Equips users with various shortcuts to accomplish a task easily The clean interface helps navigate the complete medical history of patients Enables easy sharing of patient data across various facilities and systems | The system may seem overwhelming in the beginning due to many features Frequent updates may disrupt the workflow |
Best For
The patient portal offered by Epic software is suitable for practices of all sizes.
Key Features
- Capacity Command Center
- Online Scheduling
- Virtual Visits
- Remote Consultations
- Real-time Data Access
Pricing
Epic follows a subscription-based model, and pricing is customized for healthcare organizations. Practices can benefit from the ‘patient portal’ features that are part of its broader EHR ecosystem.
Why We Like It
Epic made the list for its support for patient portal workflows at enterprise scale without fragmentation. Patient data is standardized across departments, and access controls are tightly managed. The portal fits health systems that require consistent patient engagement, strong governance, and reliable coordination across complex care environments.
User Ratings
Rated 4/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users value Epic for its comprehensive, centralized patient record management, though some report that routine workflows require excessive clicking and navigation.
athenahealth provides a cloud-based EHR with an integrated patient portal for ambulatory care practices. It offers patient access tools for digital intake, secure messaging, appointment management, and billing transparency, all within a fully hosted platform.
Pros | Cons |
Comprehensive reports to track practice performance Ease of accessing medical history and patients' health records Practitioners can coordinate care with other providers Integrated medical billing operations that reduce administrative burdens | The patient portal may occasionally slowdown when dealing with large workloads Customizing some advanced features can prove complex for new users |
Best For
athenahealth's patient portal is suitable for practices of all sizes.
Key Features
- Appointment Reminders
- Secure Messaging
- Virtual Consultations
- Speech-to-text Dictation
Pricing
athenahealth follows a collection-based approach. The patient portal is part of its EMR, available at a custom price.
Why We Like It
What stands out about athenahealth is how the patient portal integrates patient access to administrative and clinical workflows. This means that digital intake, messaging, and billing visibility are handled in one place. This helps outpatient practices reduce manual work while maintaining consistent patient communication across visits.
User Ratings
Rated 4/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users value athenahealth for its automation and connectivity across clinical and billing workflows, though some of the users mention inconsistent responsiveness from customer support.
NextGen Healthcare offers an EHR with a patient portal designed for ambulatory and specialty practices. It provides configurable patient access features, scheduling capabilities, and support for structured data exchange between patients and care teams.
Pros | Cons |
The system offers intuitive navigation across practice management and EHR modules Seamless onboarding and robust customization support clinical service expansion Allows patients to access health records, medications, and lab results | Interface appears outdated and lacks a user-friendly layout System updates and hosting reliability can disrupt operations |
Best For
Ideal for smaller practices, NextGen is suitable for behavioral health, orthopedics, and multi-specialty clinics.
Key Features
- Appointment Scheduling
- Bills Management
- Automated Messaging
- Patient Surveys
- Prescription Refill Requests
Pricing
Nextgen follows a subscription-based model. Pricing is customized and depends on the selected modules.
Why We Like It
NextGen stands out for its patient portal, which combines configurability with specialty-oriented workflows. The portal supports engagement across the full care cycle, from pre-visit intake to follow-ups. It fits practices that need patient access tools tailored to specialty workflows rather than a generic portal experience.
User Ratings
Rated 4/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users praise NextGen Healthcare EHR for its user-friendly interface and streamlined workflows, though some find the reporting tools confusing and challenging to navigate.
eClinicalWorks features ‘healow’ patient portal as part of its EHR ecosystem. It facilitates mobile and web-based access to health records, appointments, and secure communication - designed to support patient engagement beyond in-person visits.
Pros | Cons |
Helps physicians in managing patient accounts Providers can request prescription refills using an integrated system Review patient histories, diagnostic tests and lab results with different views | Customer support can be streamlined to offer solutions quicker Patient engagement tools might slow down due to large workloads, according to some eClinicalWorks reviews |
Best For
Ideal for practices of all sizes.
Key Features
- Medical Billing
- Real-time Access To Medical Records
- Appointment Scheduling
- Telehealth
Pricing
eClinicalWorks’s patient portal is part of its extensive EHR bundle. Following are two subscription tiers offered by the vendor:
- EHR Only Plan - $449/provider/month
- EHR with Practice Management - $599/provider/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
healow is recognized for its patient-facing accessibility and mobile-first approach. Patients can manage appointments, view records, and communicate through a single interface. This makes it a practical option for practices focused on improving portal adoption and ongoing patient participation.
User Ratings
Rated 4/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users appreciate eClinicalWorks for its all-in-one scheduling, billing, and documentation capabilities, though many find routine tasks inefficient and the interface clunky to navigate.
SimplePractice is a practice management and EHR platform with a built-in patient portal. The portal supports online scheduling, intake forms, and secure messaging, commonly used in behavioral health and wellness practices.
Pros | Cons |
Provides a user-friendly interface for ease of use Integrates seamlessly across multiple devices and locations Provides comprehensive client portal features for convenience Offers comprehensive billing and invoicing features for financial management Extensive documentation and note-taking capabilities enable thorough record-keeping | Support response time may vary during peak hours Limited customization options for certain functionalities, according to a SimplePractice review May require additional training for optimal utilization |
Best For
Well-suited for solo and group practices in the mental and wellness industry.
Key Features
- Secure Messaging
- Integrated Billing
- Appointment Management
- Documentation History Panel
- Telehealth
Pricing
SimplePractice’s patient portal is a part of all its core plans. The vendor offers the following three subscription plans:
- Starter – $49/month
- Essential – $79/month
- Plus – $99/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
SimplePractice earns its place in the list of top patient portal software by streamlining communication between staff and patients. It works well for smaller practices that want patient engagement tools without added operational complexity.
User Ratings
Rated 4/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users praise SimplePractice for its organized, intuitive interface and consolidated workflow, though some report occasional telehealth connectivity and performance issues.
Tebra offers an EHR with an integrated patient portal built for independent medical practices. It is included for its patient access capabilities that support scheduling, digital intake, and secure communication as part of daily practice operations.
Pros | Cons |
Helps acquire patients with online presence Real-time tracking helps maintain practice well-being Can be integrated with your current EHR Appointment reminders and secure messaging help reduce no-shows Process automation simplifies complex billing workflows | The software pricing is not publicly available The support staff's response time could be improved |
Best For
Tebra is well-suited for independent practices in cardiology, dermatology, and internal medicine specialties.
Key Features
- Automated Reminders
- Payment Portal
- Unified View Of Patient Health
- Digital Intake Forms
- Lab And Test Results
Pricing
Tebra offers custom pricing based on the needs of practices.
Why We Like It
Tebra is notable for positioning the patient portal as part of practice operations, not just patient communication. It connects patient activity directly to the front-office workflows. This makes it suitable for independent practices focused on efficiency and growth.
User Ratings
Rated 3/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users praise Tebra for its intuitive, user-friendly design that simplifies daily practice tasks, though some note occasional issues with ICD code lookups during documentation.
SPRY provides a practice management platform with a patient portal tailored for therapy and rehabilitation practices. It is appreciated for its structured intake processes, scheduling tools, and patient communication features that support extended care plans.
Pros | Cons |
User-friendly interface for easy navigation Tailored workflows for physical therapy clinics AI-powered features help automate daily practice tasks Offers comprehensive analytics for data-driven decisions Integrated digital intake enhances patient satisfaction and experience | Customization complexity for a few advanced features The initial implementation process may require additional training for staff |
Best For
SPRY EMR is geared towards physical therapy practices. Practices of all sizes can benefit from the features of its patient portal.
Key Features
- Appointment Scheduling
- Automated Reminders
- Benefits Integration
- Analytics And Reporting
Pricing
SPRY EMR follows a subscription-based model and offers the following standard pricing options:
EHR and Practice Management
- Essentials – Custom pricing
- Plus – Custom pricing
- RCM and Billing
- Billing – 4-6% of collections
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
SPRY offers support for extended care journeys, which makes it different from generic patient portals. It enables structured intake and ongoing communication throughout treatment plans. It is well-suited for therapy and rehabilitation practices where patient engagement continues well beyond the first visit.
User Ratings
Users praise SPRY for its intuitive documentation and efficient workflow that saves time, though some mention occasional glitches.
DrChrono is a cloud-based EHR with a patient portal designed to support patient engagement features like scheduling, intake, and secure communication. It offers mobile accessibility and flexibility in managing patient interactions across clinical settings.
Pros | Cons |
Offers the ability to create and modify clinical templates The mobile-friendly design allows healthcare professionals to access patient records quite easily Efficient EHR capabilities, including e-prescribing, lab integration, etc. The patient portal and online check-in features help increase patient engagement | The performance can be hindered by unstable internet connectivity The initial setup can be time-consuming, as per some DrChrono reviews |
Best For
DrChrono features workflows that are suitable for practices of all sizes.
Key Features
- Lab Integration
- Speech-To-Text
- Integrated Telehealth
- Virtual Appointments
- E-prescriptions
- Claims Management
Pricing
DrChrono offers flexible pricing plans. They offer customized pricing plans as per the practice’s needs. The following are some of the pricing plans offered by DrChrono:
- Essentials - EHR & Practice Management
- Essentials Plus - EHR, ePrescribe & Practice Management
- Advanced - EHR, Practice Management & Billing
- Advanced Plus - EHR, ePrescribe, Practice Management & Billing
- Elite - EHR, ePrescribe, Practice Management & Billing Services
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
DrChrono’s patient portal is valued for its flexibility and mobile access. Intake forms, messaging, and scheduling can be managed without slowing clinical workflows. This makes it a strong option for practices that operate in fast-paced or mobile environments.
User Ratings
Rated 4/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users value DrChrono for its integrated clinical workflow and mobile support, though some find the interface and documentation workflows inefficient and clunky.
Healthie is a care management platform with a patient portal built to support ongoing engagement. It is included for its tools that enable messaging, document sharing, and appointment coordination in longitudinal care models.
Pros | Cons |
User-friendly system simplifies patient communication Streamlines practice management with easy scheduling and billing User-friendly platform backed by excellent customer support | Could benefit from more feature customization options Reporting flexibility might be enhanced for diverse practices |
Best For
Ideal for solo and small practices seeking a reliable patient portal.
Key Features
- Appointment Management
- Integrated Telehealth
- Medical Billing
Pricing
Patient Portal is a part of Healthie’s EMR ecosystem. The vendor follows a subscription-based model, and the following are the subscription tiers offered by Healthie:
- Core – $19/month
- Essentials – $49/month
- Plus – $129/month
- Group – $149/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
Healthie is designed around continuous patient interaction rather than episodic visits. The portal supports regular messaging, document sharing, and appointment coordination. It fits practices that manage longitudinal care and require consistent patient touchpoints.
User Ratings
Users praise Healthie for its all‑in‑one practice management features and intuitive workflow, though some find that form customization and integrations could be more flexible.
Choosing the right patient portal software directly impacts patient engagement, operational efficiency, and care coordination. Focus on solutions that match your practice size, specialty, and workflows. Prioritize security, interoperability, and usability for both patients and staff. Involving clinicians, IT, and administrative teams early ensures smooth adoption and long-term value from the portal.
How To Choose The Best Patient Portal Software
When evaluating patient portal software, consider features that support both clinical and administrative needs. Look for secure messaging, appointment management, online forms, telehealth capabilities, and access to clinical records. Integration with your existing EHR and practice management system is essential.
Assess usability for patients and staff, scalability for future growth, reporting and analytics capabilities, and vendor support. Engage key stakeholders to ensure the platform aligns with workflows, patient engagement goals, and compliance requirements.
What Not To Overlook
- HIPAA and data security compliance
- EHR and practice management integration
- Mobile access and patient usability
- Telehealth and digital care features
- Workflow alignment for clinicians and staff
- Scalability for future growth
- Vendor support and training quality