AI Healthcare
Upheal AI vs Mentalyc
Upheal and Mentalyc both use AI to speed up therapy documentation, but they've grown in different directions. Upheal has expanded into a full AI-native EHR with scheduling, billing, and telehealth built in, while Mentalyc stays focused on modality-specific AI notes that plug into whatever EHR a practice already uses. This comparison weighs both approaches.
Reviewed by Ahsan Javaid Last reviewed
AI Healthcare
Mentalyc
Quick Verdict
Upheal fits practices wanting one AI-native EHR for notes, scheduling, billing, and telehealth together, while Mentalyc fits clinicians who want to keep their existing EHR and add deep, modality-specific AI documentation on top of it.
The two tools solve genuinely different problems, so there's no universal winner. Upheal has grown into a full AI-native EHR, bundling AI notes, Golden Thread treatment plans, a Compliance Checker, scheduling, telehealth, a client portal, and billing into usage-based pricing capped at $69 a month, with a real free plan for lighter caseloads. Mentalyc stays deliberately narrower, built specifically around modality-specific therapy documentation for approaches like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and ABA, transferring finished notes into whatever EHR a practice already runs through a one-click Chrome extension rather than replacing it. Therapists happy with their current EHR generally lean toward Mentalyc; those wanting to consolidate onto one platform generally lean toward Upheal. Readers can also browse AIToolister's AI Healthcare category for related tools.
Upheal AI
Best for an all-in-one AI-native EHR
Choose Upheal if you want notes, scheduling, billing, and telehealth consolidated into one platform rather than a separate documentation add-on.
Mentalyc
Best for deep, modality-specific therapy notes
Choose Mentalyc if you want to keep your existing EHR and add specialized CBT, DBT, EMDR, or ABA documentation templates on top of it.
At a Glance
| Feature | Upheal AI | Mentalyc |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Upheal AI Freemium | Mentalyc Paid |
| Starting Price | Upheal AI $1 per session, capped at $69 per month | Mentalyc $29.99 per month |
| Free Trial | Upheal AI Yes | Mentalyc Yes |
| API Available | Upheal AI Yes | Mentalyc Not listed |
| Best For | Upheal AI Individual therapists and group mental health practices that want AI-generated therapy notes combined with scheduling, telehealth, and billing in one platform | Mentalyc Therapists and mental health clinicians wanting AI progress notes with specialized modality templates like CBT, DBT, and EMDR |
| Use Cases | Upheal AI Generate AI therapy notes from live or recorded sessions, Draft AI treatment plans with progress tracking, Hold HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions, Capture in-person session audio for documentation, Manage scheduling, intake forms, and client billing | Mentalyc Generating therapy progress notes from a session recording or dictation, Documenting sessions using specialized modality templates like CBT, DBT, or EMDR, Transferring notes directly into an existing EHR via a Chrome extension, Generating group therapy session notes for multiple clients at once, Managing team-wide documentation for a group practice with admin visibility |
| Category | Upheal AI AI Healthcare | Mentalyc AI Healthcare |
Key Features Comparison
| Feature | Upheal AI | Mentalyc |
|---|---|---|
| Core Platform Scope |
Tool A
Upheal AI Upheal positions itself as an AI-native EHR, bundling notes, scheduling, telehealth, billing, and a client portal into one platform rather than a documentation-only add-on. |
Tool B
Mentalyc Mentalyc is built specifically as a documentation companion, focusing on AI therapy notes and modality-specific templates rather than replacing a practice's existing EHR. |
| AI Therapy Notes and Modality Templates |
Tool A
Upheal AI Upheal's Premium plan supports SOAP, DAP, GIRP, BIRP, EMDR, PIRP, SIRP, PIE, Upheal notes, psychiatry, and Headway-compliant formats, with full session transcripts included. |
Tool B
Mentalyc Mentalyc's Pro plan adds specialized templates for CBT, DBT, EMDR, ABA, play therapy, couples, and family therapy, positioning itself around therapy-specific modality depth. |
| Treatment Planning and Clinical Workflow Tools |
Tool A
Upheal AI Upheal's AI Treatment Plans use a Golden Thread feature to track client progress session-to-session, paired with an AI Assistant and a Compliance Checker for payer-based note audits. |
Tool B
Mentalyc Mentalyc offers treatment planning with SMART goals alongside insights related to therapeutic alliance and client progress tracking as part of its note-generation workflow. |
| Practice Management |
Tool A
Upheal AI Upheal includes scheduling, client self-scheduling, a HIPAA-compliant client portal, digital intake forms, and built-in telehealth as core parts of the same platform. |
Tool B
Mentalyc Mentalyc doesn't include scheduling, telehealth, or a client portal, focusing instead on note generation and transferring finished notes into whatever practice management system a clinician already uses. |
| Pricing Structure |
Tool A
Upheal AI Upheal offers a genuine free plan with unlimited notes, with Premium priced usage-based at $1 per session and capped at $69 per month per provider. |
Tool B
Mentalyc Mentalyc has no permanent free plan, only a free trial, with specialized modality templates requiring the $69.99 Pro plan and group notes requiring the $119.99 Super plan. |
| EHR Integration vs Replacement |
Tool A
Upheal AI Upheal can run as a practice's primary EHR or alongside an existing one, with AI-powered migration importing clients, notes, and data directly from SimplePractice. |
Tool B
Mentalyc Mentalyc's Chrome extension transfers finished notes directly into existing EHR systems including SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, TheraNest, Jane, and ICANotes with one click. |
| Compliance and Security |
Tool A
Upheal AI Upheal publishes HIPAA, PHIPA and PIPEDA, GDPR and DPA, and SOC 2 compliance, alongside continuous external security testing across its full EHR platform. |
Tool B
Mentalyc Mentalyc operates as a web-based documentation tool built for therapy use, with clinicians expected to review AI-generated notes before finalizing them into their EHR of record. |
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Upheal AI
Pros
- Genuine free plan with unlimited notes, unlike Mentalyc's trial-only free access
- Golden Thread treatment plans and a Compliance Checker add real clinical workflow depth
- Scheduling, telehealth, billing, and a client portal are built into the same platform
- Usage-based pricing capped at $69 a month keeps costs predictable for solo providers
Cons
- Insurance billing is still rolling out and not yet fully live everywhere
- Full EHR scope means more surface area to learn than a documentation-only tool
- Multiple providers cannot share a single Upheal account
Mentalyc
Pros
- Specialized modality templates for CBT, DBT, EMDR, and ABA address a genuine therapy-specific gap
- One-click Chrome extension keeps a clinician's existing EHR while upgrading documentation
- Strong 4.4 Trustpilot rating reflects positive real-world clinician experience
- Group Practice plan supports team-wide deployment with admin visibility
Cons
- No permanent free plan, only a time-limited free trial
- Specialized templates and group notes require the pricier Pro or Super tiers
- Doesn't include scheduling, telehealth, billing, or a client portal
Decision Guidance
Who Should Choose Upheal AI or Mentalyc?
Upheal AI
Upheal fits best if you want a single AI-native EHR handling notes, scheduling, billing, and telehealth together, especially as a solo or lower-volume provider.
Choose Upheal AI if...
- You want to replace or consolidate your EHR rather than add a separate tool
- You want a genuine free plan before committing to paid usage
- Scheduling, client portal, and telehealth matter alongside note generation
- You want AI Treatment Plans with Golden Thread progress tracking
Mentalyc
Mentalyc fits best if you want to keep your current EHR and add deep, modality-specific AI documentation on top of it.
Choose Mentalyc if...
- You already use an EHR like SimplePractice or TherapyNotes and don't want to switch
- You need specialized templates for CBT, DBT, EMDR, or ABA specifically
- You're running group therapy sessions across multiple clients
- You manage a group practice needing admin visibility into clinician notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Upheal and Mentalyc?
Upheal has grown into a full AI-native EHR, combining AI therapy notes with scheduling, telehealth, billing, and a client portal in one platform. Mentalyc stays focused specifically on AI-generated therapy notes and modality-specific templates, transferring finished notes into whatever EHR a practice already uses rather than replacing it.
Which is better for AI therapy notes, Upheal or Mentalyc?
Both generate strong AI-drafted progress notes, but they emphasize different things. Upheal's Premium plan supports a broader range of formats, including SOAP, DAP, GIRP, BIRP, EMDR, PIRP, SIRP, and Headway-compliant notes, plus full session transcripts. Mentalyc leans into specialized modality templates for CBT, DBT, EMDR, and ABA specifically, which suits clinicians wanting therapy-specific depth over broad format coverage.
Which has stronger treatment plan and clinical workflow features?
Upheal has the more explicitly built-out clinical workflow toolset, with AI Treatment Plans using a Golden Thread feature to track progress session-to-session, an AI Assistant for session prep, and a Compliance Checker that audits notes against payer criteria. Mentalyc offers treatment planning with SMART goals and progress insights, though without equivalently named, dedicated tools for compliance auditing.
Which is better for practice management and EHR functions?
Upheal is clearly stronger here. It includes scheduling, client self-scheduling, a HIPAA-compliant client portal, digital intake forms, telehealth, and billing as core parts of the same platform. Mentalyc doesn't include scheduling, telehealth, or a client portal at all, since it's built specifically as a documentation tool that feeds into a separate EHR.
How do Upheal and Mentalyc pricing compare?
Upheal offers a genuine free plan with unlimited notes, and its Premium plan is usage-based at $1 per session, capped at $69 a month per provider. Mentalyc has no permanent free plan, only a free trial, and its specialized modality templates require the $69.99 Pro plan, with group therapy notes requiring the $119.99 Super plan.
Which is better for a solo therapist, a larger practice, or someone who already has an EHR?
Solo therapists with lighter caseloads may find Upheal's free plan and $69 pricing cap more accessible, since Mentalyc has no permanent free tier. Larger practices can use either platform's group-level plan with admin visibility. Clinicians who already use an EHR like SimplePractice or TherapyNotes generally lean toward Mentalyc, since its Chrome extension transfers notes into that existing system rather than asking the practice to switch platforms.
Who should choose Upheal, and who should choose Mentalyc?
Upheal suits therapists who want to consolidate notes, scheduling, billing, and telehealth onto one AI-native EHR, particularly solo or lower-volume providers drawn to its free plan and capped pricing. Mentalyc suits clinicians who want to keep their current EHR and add deep, modality-specific AI documentation for approaches like CBT, DBT, EMDR, or ABA on top of it. AIToolister's Freed AI review covers a similar documentation-first alternative built for general medical practice rather than therapy specifically.
Is there a broader EHR alternative to both?
Yes. AIToolister's SimplePractice review covers an established, broader practice-management EHR that Mentalyc's own AIToolister listing already cites as one of the systems its Chrome extension integrates with directly.
Methodology
How AIToolister Compares AI Tools
Hands-on Evaluation
We review tools through practical use, focusing on how their core workflows perform in realistic scenarios.
Comparison Criteria
We compare the same defined dimensions for both tools, including capabilities, usability, pricing context, and intended use cases.
Editorial Independence
Our comparisons are written independently. Placement and conclusions are not determined by commercial relationships.
Review Updates
We revisit comparisons as products, pricing, and availability change, and record the latest editorial review date.
Reader Guidance
We separate verified listing facts from editorial analysis so readers can weigh trade-offs against their own needs.