An EHR built for therapy and mental health practices needs to handle far more than documentation, scheduling, billing, insurance claims, and client communication all have to work together. SimplePractice built its business around that full practice management scope, and its AI Note Taker sits on top of that existing infrastructure as an optional add-on rather than being the platform's core offering.
What is SimplePractice?
SimplePractice is an all-in-one electronic health record and practice management platform built for therapists, counselors, and allied health professionals, combining scheduling, billing, insurance claims, telehealth, and client messaging in one system. Its AI Note Taker is an optional add-on, available on every plan tier for an additional monthly fee per clinician, that automatically generates session documentation to reduce manual note-writing time. Unlike a standalone AI scribing tool, SimplePractice's core value is the breadth of its practice management functionality, with the specific plan tier a practice chooses determining access to features like calendar sync, custom forms, and the ability to add additional clinicians.
Key features
All-in-One EHR and Practice Management
Combines scheduling, billing, insurance claims, telehealth, and client communication in a single platform rather than requiring separate tools for each function.
AI Note Taker
An optional add-on available on every plan for an additional monthly fee per clinician, automatically generating session documentation with a 30-day trial available.
Calendar Sync
Syncs with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook, though this specific capability requires the Essential plan or higher rather than being included on Starter.
Electronic Insurance Claims
Processes electronic insurance claims with a monthly free allowance and a per-claim fee for additional volume beyond that allowance.
Telehealth
Includes built-in video telehealth sessions directly within the platform, with group telehealth available on the higher Plus tier.
Multi-Clinician Group Practice Support
Supports adding additional clinicians to a practice, available specifically on the Plus plan, with per-clinician pricing that decreases at higher clinician counts.
Pros
- Genuinely comprehensive all-in-one practice management, reducing the need for separate scheduling, billing, and telehealth tools
- AI Note Taker has matured meaningfully as a competent in-EHR scribing option, according to recent clinician reviews
- 30-day free trial for the core platform lets practices test the system before committing
- Broad EHR compatibility awareness among competitors reflects SimplePractice's position as a widely adopted platform in the therapy practice management space
Cons
- The advertised Starter price doesn't include calendar sync, which requires upgrading to Essential, or calendar color coding, which requires Plus
- AI Note Taker is a separate add-on at roughly $35 per month per clinician, on top of whatever base plan tier a practice is on
- Additional clinicians can only be added on the Plus plan, and each one carries its own per-clinician monthly fee that stacks with the base subscription
- Real total monthly cost, once calendar sync, AI documentation, and any additional clinicians are factored in, commonly runs several times higher than the advertised entry-level price
Pricing
SimplePractice offers three core plans, commonly cited as Starter around $29 to $49 per month, Essential around $59 to $79 per month, and Plus around $99 per month, with pricing having shifted across recent reporting cycles. The AI Note Taker add-on costs approximately $35 per month per clinician on top of any base plan. Additional clinicians can only be added on the Plus plan, with per-clinician fees around $69 to $74 per month depending on total clinician count, and a practice manager seat billed separately at roughly $39 per month. Credit card processing fees around 2.7% to 3.15% plus a per-transaction fee apply to online payments. A 30-day free trial is available. Confirm current tier pricing and add-on costs on the official SimplePractice pricing page before subscribing, since pricing has been adjusted more than once in recent cycles.
Best for
SimplePractice is best suited to solo and group therapy practices wanting a genuinely comprehensive EHR that handles scheduling, billing, insurance claims, and telehealth in one platform, with AI documentation available as an add-on rather than a standalone product. It fits AI Healthcare workflows centered on full practice management rather than documentation alone. Practices whose primary need is just AI note-taking without a full EHR switch should evaluate whether a standalone documentation tool like Mentalyc, potentially paired with a lighter scheduling and payment setup, offers better value than SimplePractice's full bundled subscription plus add-on.
Use cases
- Managing client scheduling, appointment reminders, and calendar sync in one system
- Generating session documentation automatically using the AI Note Taker add-on
- Running telehealth sessions directly within the platform without a separate video tool
- Processing electronic insurance claims and managing client billing
- Adding clinicians to a growing group practice on the Plus plan
Supported platforms
- SimplePractice is a web-based platform accessible through any modern browser, with calendar sync available to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook on the Essential plan and above.
Languages
- SimplePractice's interface and documentation tools are primarily oriented around English-language practice management in the US healthcare context.
Integrations
- SimplePractice integrates with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook for calendar syncing, available starting on the Essential plan rather than the entry-level Starter tier.
Things to consider
- Calculate the true monthly cost by adding the AI Note Taker add-on and any additional clinician fees to your base plan price, since the real total for a practice using AI documentation and calendar sync commonly runs several times higher than the advertised Starter price alone. If AI documentation is your primary reason for considering an EHR switch, compare the combined cost of SimplePractice plus the Note Taker add-on against a standalone specialized tool like Mentalyc, which some clinicians report offers stronger treatment-plan continuity and notes that survive an EHR switch. Confirm which specific plan tier includes the calendar sync and multi-clinician support your practice actually needs before assuming the entry-level plan covers your workflow.
How the tool compares
SimplePractice's AI Note Taker is a genuinely competent in-EHR scribing option that has matured over recent development cycles, but for practices whose primary need is deep therapy-specific documentation with specialized modality templates, Mentalyc offers considerably more clinical documentation depth, and its Chrome extension can transfer notes into SimplePractice itself, letting a practice keep its EHR while upgrading documentation quality. Against a standalone scheduling and payment setup using tools like Stripe directly and a free calendar, SimplePractice's all-in-one bundling trades some cost efficiency for the convenience of a single connected system. Practices wanting a genuinely comprehensive, single-platform EHR tend to find SimplePractice's breadth worth the bundled cost; practices whose primary need is specifically stronger AI documentation may find pairing a lighter EHR setup with Mentalyc more cost-effective.
AIToolister verdict
Quick Answers
- Is it free? No permanent free plan — a 30-day free trial is available. - Is it worth it? Yes, for practices wanting a genuinely all-in-one EHR with scheduling, billing, and telehealth bundled together. - Who should use it? Solo and group therapy practices, counselors, and allied health professionals. - Best alternative: Mentalyc for practices wanting deeper, specialized AI documentation, potentially paired with a lighter EHR setup.
SimplePractice's genuine strength is the breadth of its all-in-one practice management, handling scheduling, billing, insurance claims, and telehealth in a single connected system that reduces the need for several separate tools. Its AI Note Taker is a solid, improving in-EHR scribing option, but the real total cost, once calendar sync, the AI add-on, and any additional clinicians are factored in, runs considerably higher than the advertised entry-level price suggests. For practices genuinely wanting a comprehensive EHR bundle, it remains one of the more established, widely adopted platforms in the therapy practice management space.
Decision Summary
- Practice wanting a comprehensive, all-in-one EHR: Recommended - Primary need is specifically deep AI therapy documentation: Consider Mentalyc, potentially alongside a lighter EHR setup - Growing group practice needing multiple clinicians: Budget for the Plus plan and per-clinician fees - Solo practitioner on a tight budget: Carefully calculate true cost including calendar sync and the AI add-on before choosing a tier
Frequently asked questions
- Does SimplePractice include AI note-taking in the base price?
No, the AI Note Taker is a separate, optional add-on available on every plan for an additional monthly fee, roughly $35 per month per clinician, on top of the base subscription price. A 30-day trial of the add-on is available.
- Does SimplePractice's Starter plan include calendar sync?
No, calendar sync with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook requires the Essential plan or higher, not the entry-level Starter plan.
- Can I add multiple clinicians to my SimplePractice account?
Additional clinicians can only be added on the Plus plan, with per-clinician monthly fees that decrease somewhat as total clinician count increases. A practice manager seat is billed separately.
- How much does SimplePractice really cost per month?
Base plans have been reported around $29 to $99 per month depending on tier, but the real total, once the AI Note Taker add-on, calendar sync requirements, and any additional clinicians are factored in, commonly runs several times higher than the advertised entry-level price.
- Is SimplePractice good for therapy-specific documentation compared to a specialized tool?
SimplePractice's AI Note Taker is a competent, improving in-EHR scribing option, but clinicians needing deeper, specialized modality templates or notes that survive an EHR switch may find a dedicated tool like Mentalyc offers more documentation depth, which can also transfer notes directly into SimplePractice.