A 2024 HRSA report highlights how behavioral health providers in the U.S. are struggling to meet rising demand. Six in ten psychologists do not accept new patients, and the national average wait time for mental health services is 48 days. These gaps in access, combined with growing administrative responsibilities, put immense pressure on providers.
To ease this burden, behavioral health professionals need electronic medical records (EMR) systems that streamline their workflows, simplify documentation, and minimize time spent on repetitive tasks. SimplePractice and TherapyNotes are two widely used platforms designed specifically for mental health practices. But which one is the better fit?
In this comparison, we will walk you through their core features, pros and cons, and pricing to help you choose the right solution for your practice.
SimplePractice: An Overview
SimplePractice is a comprehensive practice management software solution designed to assist health and wellness professionals in optimizing their daily operations. The platform facilitates the management of patient records, scheduling of appointments, processing of payments, and multiple administrative tasks.
The software features a sleek interface and user-friendly design, which ensures efficiency in practice management. It is suitable for both solo practitioners and larger groups.
Trusted by over 225,000 practitioners, the software is used by mental health professionals, chiropractors, social workers, and speech-language pathologists, among others.
The software is utilized by mental health professionals, chiropractors, social workers, speech-language pathologists, among others.
TherapyNotes: An Overview
TherapyNotes is a cloud-based software solution designed specifically for mental and behavioral health practices of all sizes. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools that enables therapists to securely store records, book appointments, create notes, and bill clients, all from a centralized dashboard.
It supports a wide range of professionals, including psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, and social workers. The platform also includes telehealth capabilities, AI-powered features, and a secure client portal to streamline scheduling and communication.
Key Differences Between SimplePractice And TherapyNotes
SimplePractice and TherapyNotes are prominent EMR platforms that aim to enhance client care. Below, we will have a simple practice vs therapy notes comparison and examine various aspects of their functionalities.
Comparison Of Core Features
Scheduling
SimplePractice features an intuitive scheduling system designed for ease of use. Users can efficiently manage appointments, set recurring sessions, and utilize automated client reminders. The software also features a client portal where clients can request appointments, which makes the scheduling process even more efficient.
TherapyNotes includes a secure medical scheduling system with features like appointment reminders, calendar synchronization, and clinic schedule management. It also offers mobile calendar sync and custom calendar views, allowing therapists to manage appointments across devices and locations with ease.
Winner: While both platforms excel in scheduling capabilities, SimplePractice distinguishes itself with additional features like a client portal for appointment requests, which contributes to its overall user-friendly design.
Billing
SimplePractice offers advanced billing features designed to streamline practice finances. It supports electronic claims submission, insurance tracking, and facilitates the creation and sending of invoices directly to clients.
TherapyNotes provides specialized billing features tailored for mental health practices, including electronic claims submission, ERA processing, and automatic payment posting. The platform also offers detailed financial reports to provide insights into practice performance.
Winner: Both software solutions offer essential billing capabilities, but TherapyNotes stands out with its mental health-specific tools and comprehensive financial reporting features.
Documentation
SimplePractice offers customizable templates for mental health documentation and secure document storage with the ability to upload files directly to client records. It also allows users to add a psychotherapy note or progress note for every client appointment from the ‘Appointment’ page.
TherapyNotes excels in documentation with specialty-specific templates tailored for behavioral health practices. The software features intuitive note-taking and electronic signature capabilities, and secure document storage to ensure comprehensive record-keeping.
Winner: TherapyNotes stands out in the documentation category due to its specialty-specific templates and user-friendly note-taking features.
Telehealth
SimplePractice offers a fully integrated telehealth/telemedicine solution within its platform, allowing practitioners to schedule and conduct secure video sessions. The user-friendly interface enhances the telehealth experience that positions SimplePractice as a leading choice in this category.
TherapyNotes also provides an integrated telehealth solution, known as ‘TherapyNotes Telehealth’, which features simple scheduling and an easy-to-use video platform for virtual sessions. It also offers features like a virtual waiting room and screen sharing to support more interactive and flexible sessions.
Winner: SimplePractice stands out in the telehealth category for its integration and enhanced user experience in the SimplePractice vs TherapyNotes comparison.
User Experience And Interface Design
SimplePractice is highly regarded for its intuitive design, which offers therapists a user-friendly interface that facilitates easy navigation. The software features a customizable dashboard, intuitive menus, and a drag-and-drop option for streamlined appointment scheduling and management.
TherapyNotes provides a comprehensive interface designed to meet the specific needs of mental health professionals. It offers personalized home screens, customizable templates, and extensive navigation options tailored for complex workflows. Some users find its visual appeal slightly subdued compared to SimplePractice but appreciate its focus on functionality.
Winner: SimplePractice edges ahead with its cleaner, more intuitive interface that gives a smoother overall user experience compared to TherapyNotes.
Customization Options
SimplePractice offers an extensive library of ready-made templates for notes, forms, and assessments. All templates are fully customizable, which allows users to tailor them precisely to their practice requirements. It also allows users to build and personalize their own professional website, helping them manage both clinical and branding needs in one place.
TherapyNotes provides customizable templates for clinical notes and treatment plans, allowing mental health practitioners to adapt documentation to their specific needs. However, it features a relatively small library of ready-made templates, and its template customization capabilities are limited, which may require more time for document management.
Winner: SimplePractice leads with more extensive customization options for templates and websites, making it more adaptable for various practice needs.
Customer Support And Training Resources
SimplePractice provides customer support via email and live chat, available during extended hours, including weekends, to accommodate the varied schedules of mental health professionals. In addition to responsive support channels, the platform offers an extensive knowledge base, FAQs, and live classes that ensure users have access to a comprehensive suite of resources for troubleshooting and learning. Their webinars also deliver in-depth training on various platform features.
TherapyNotes offers dependable customer support during business hours, with a dedicated phone number and it is also available via email. Additionally, the software provides valuable resources such as webinars and tutorials, which help practitioners understand the platform’s features and optimize their use.
Winner: SimplePractice wins with more comprehensive customer support options and a wider range of training resources.
Mobile App Functionality
SimplePractice offers two distinct mobile apps: a clinician app for managing EHR tasks and a client app for accessing the client portal. The client app supports telehealth sessions, appointment reminders via push notifications, payment processing, and allows clients to schedule or cancel appointments.
TherapyNotes provides mobile access through a responsive web interface rather than a dedicated app, which limits functionality compared to native mobile applications. This approach does not support features such as offline access or integrated mobile functionalities. The absence of a dedicated mobile app significantly impacts the user experience for both clients and clinicians.
Winner: SimplePractice stands out with its dedicated mobile apps that enhance functionality and user experience for both clinicians and clients.
Compliance
SimplePractice prioritizes compliance and security to protect sensitive patient information. The platform is HIPAA compliant, utilizing secure servers and 256-bit encryption to safeguard all data transmitted within the system. Additionally, SimplePractice ensures secure data storage and is PCI compliant, which provides protection for financial transactions and client information.
TherapyNotes also emphasizes strict compliance and security measures by adhering to HIPAA standards and obtaining HITRUST certification. The software employs FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption to ensure data protection and performs routine backups to guard against data loss.
Winner: It is a tie as both SimplePractice and TherapyNotes meet high industry standards for compliance and data security.
Scalability
SimplePractice is well-suited for both solo practitioners and larger practices, which offers scalability with customizable features and flexible pricing plans. The software supports growth by accommodating increased client loads and expanding practice needs without compromising efficiency.
TherapyNotes is designed to scale effectively with growing practices by providing comprehensive features and support for multi-provider environments. It supports increased client volumes and complex organizational structures, making it suitable for practices aiming for expansion.
Winner: Tie. Both SimplePractice and TherapyNotes offer scalable solutions that adapt well to solo providers and growing group practices.
Pros And Cons Of Simple Practice
Pros And Cons Of TherapyNotes
Pricing Models: TherapyNotes Vs SimplePractice
Pricing is a critical factor when selecting the right EHR software for your mental health practice. Below is a comparison of the pricing models for SimplePractice and TherapyNotes.
SimplePractice: Pricing Breakdown
SimplePractice offers the following pricing modules:
Starter: $49 per month
Essential: $79 per month
Plus: $99 per month
Users can also add ‘ePrescribe’ to any plan for $49/month/clinician, plus a one-time setup fee of $89/clinician.
The SimplePractice Starter Plan is a more cost-effective option for solo practitioners compared to the TherapyNotes Solo Plan. However, as your practice expands, the price difference between the two platforms becomes less significant. The final decision should be based on the specific features and functionalities that best suit the needs and priorities of your practice.
TherapyNotes users consistently praise the platform for its high-quality customer support. Many users appreciate the requirement to complete intake forms and treatment plans before continuing with progress notes. Additionally, the automated task reminders feature is well-received, helping users stay organized and manage their practice efficiently.
SimplePractice reviews commend the client app for its convenience that allows clients to join calls from any location. The robust template library is another strong point, along with customizable email and text reminders that are also highly valued, reducing the likelihood of client no-shows.
TherapyNotes receives criticism for not having a dedicated mobile app and a secure messaging platform. Similarly, SimplePractice faces criticism for its pricing structure, with users expressing frustration over additional fees for basic functionalities like telehealth in the lower tiers.
Our Verdict: Which EHR System Is The Right Fit For You?
In the Therapy Notes vs Simple Practice comparison, both EHR platforms have proven their worth in the mental health industry. SimplePractice excels with its sleek interface, user-friendly design, and smooth integration of telehealth services. Additionally, it performs well in appointment scheduling, documentation, billing, and patient portal features.
Conversely, TherapyNotes brings extensive experience and offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including an integrated telehealth solution, specialized scheduling features, customizable note-taking capabilities, and robust billing functionality. Its focus on mental health-specific needs is evident in its offerings.
While SimplePractice leads in telehealth integration, appointment scheduling, patient portal, and user interface categories, TherapyNotes stands out with its specialty-specific templates and comprehensive financial reporting.
