Meet SimplePractice

SimplePractice is an electronic health record and practice management platform built for independent clinicians and small to mid-size behavioral health and wellness practices. It combines scheduling, secure telehealth, clinical notes, billing, insurance claim management, and a client portal into a single web and mobile application that fits front-desk and clinician workflows.

Compared with competitors like TherapyNotes, TheraNest, and Kareo, SimplePractice places emphasis on an integrated telehealth experience, an intuitive client-facing portal, and streamlined credentialing options. TherapyNotes is known for mature note templates and a strong focus on mental-health documentation, TheraNest targets smaller group practices with simplified billing features, and Kareo focuses more broadly on independent medical practices with integrated medical billing services.

What SimplePractice does particularly well is lowering administrative overhead for solo and small-group clinicians through integrated intake, telehealth, and billing tools that work together. That combination makes it well suited for private practice therapists, dietitians, and allied health professionals who need a HIPAA-compliant, all-in-one system without stitching multiple point solutions together.

How SimplePractice Works

The platform organizes practice operations around individual client records that contain intake forms, treatment notes, appointments, billing history, and secure messages. Clinicians schedule appointments in a shared calendar, send automated reminders, and accept online booking through an embedded client portal.

Clinical documentation uses configurable note templates and flowsheets so clinicians can complete progress notes, treatment plans, and assessment forms quickly. For remote visits, built-in telehealth connects providers and clients via secure video with session documentation and billing available from the same session screen.

Insurance and payments are handled through a combined workflow: submit claims electronically, track payer responses, and collect client payments or credit card autoresponders through integrated payment processors. Administrative tasks like eligibility checks, superbills, and reconciliations sit alongside clinical tools so front-desk and clinicians share a single source of truth.

SimplePractice features

SimplePractice groups core practice management and clinical tools into a single application, with recent additions focused on client intake automation, expanded insurance tools, and deeper telehealth stability. Core capabilities include secure telehealth, configurable note templates, online booking, insurance claim support, automated reminders, and a client portal.

Telehealth

Secure, HIPAA-compliant video visits are integrated directly into the clinician interface so sessions, documentation, and billing stay in one place. The telehealth experience supports waiting rooms, session notes, and session recording controls where permitted, which reduces context switching for clinicians.

Scheduling and Online Booking

A shared calendar with time-blocking, recurring appointments, and automated reminders helps clinics reduce no-shows and manage clinician availability. Client-facing online booking can be embedded on practice websites or linked from the client portal to simplify intake.

Clinical Notes and Templates

Configurable note templates, progress notes, and treatment plan tools speed documentation while maintaining compliance with behavioral health documentation standards. Templates reduce repetitive entry and support consistent record keeping across clinicians.

Billing, Claims, and Insurance Tools

Integrated claim submission, eligibility checks, and payment posting let practices manage payer workflows without switching systems. The platform includes tools for creating superbills, tracking claim status, and reconciling payments, which supports both self-pay and insurance-billing practices.

Client Portal and Intake Forms

Clients can complete intake forms, sign documents, request appointments, and make payments through a secure portal that syncs to the clinician’s records. Digital intake reduces paper handling and speeds new-client onboarding.

Secure Messaging and Document Storage

Encrypted messaging between clinicians and clients centralizes communications while maintaining privacy requirements. Document storage organizes intake paperwork, release forms, and attachments inside each client record.

Mobile App and Offline Access

Mobile apps for clinicians and clients provide on-the-go access to scheduling, notes, and telehealth with offline support for certain workflows. The mobile experience allows clinicians to manage appointments and documentation when away from a desktop.

With these capabilities, the biggest benefit of SimplePractice is the consolidation of front-desk, clinical, and billing workflows into a single system that reduces administrative friction for small practices.

SimplePractice pricing

SimplePractice offers subscription-based pricing tailored to individual clinicians and group practices, with add-on services for billing and advanced features; exact plan details and current rates are published on their website. For the most accurate and up-to-date plan breakdowns, view the SimplePractice homepage and the platform’s pricing-related resources.

What is SimplePractice Used For?

Clinicians use SimplePractice to manage end-to-end practice operations including client intake, scheduling, clinical documentation, telehealth sessions, and billing. The platform is commonly adopted by solo therapists, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, and small group practices that need HIPAA-compliant workflows.

Beyond individual sessions, SimplePractice supports administrative tasks such as submitting insurance claims, tracking payments, running basic financial reports, and handling client communications. Practices that need a single system to reduce double entry and speed onboarding find the integrated client portal and intake features especially useful.

Pros and Cons of SimplePractice

Pros

• Integrated telehealth and clinical workflow: The telehealth function is built into the same interface used for notes and billing, which reduces switching between tools and keeps session documentation consistent.
• Client-facing portal and online booking: Clients can complete intake forms, book appointments, and pay invoices online, which streamlines new-client onboarding and reduces administrative calls.
• Insurance and billing support: The platform includes claim submission, eligibility checks, and superbill generation, helping practices manage payer workflows alongside self-pay collections.
• Template-driven documentation: Configurable note templates and treatment plan tools speed documentation and support compliance for behavioral health providers.

Cons

• Customization limits for large enterprises: While well suited to solo and small-group practices, very large clinics or health systems may find customization and enterprise-grade reporting limited without custom integrations or dedicated services.
• Learning curve for all-in-one workflows: Practices moving from point tools may need time to adjust to the combined scheduling, notes, and billing workflows and to configure templates to fit their clinical processes.
• Add-on fees for advanced billing services: Full-service billing or advanced integrations may be priced as add-ons, which increases total cost for practices that outsource revenue cycle management.

Does SimplePractice Offer a Free Trial?

SimplePractice offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, allowing clinicians to test scheduling, telehealth, documentation, and the client portal before committing. Trial signups and account setup, including eligibility for limited credentialing assistance during onboarding, are available on the SimplePractice homepage.

SimplePractice API and Integrations

SimplePractice supports integrations with common practice tools such as payment processors, calendar services, and documentation workflows, and provides resources for connecting third-party services. See the SimplePractice integrations information for details on supported connections and partner services.

For teams planning custom automations, SimplePractice offers developer resources and integration guidance so clinics can extend workflows or connect with external billing and analytics systems. Developers and IT teams can consult the platform’s integration documentation linked from the integrations hub for endpoint and authentication details.

10 SimplePractice alternatives

Paid alternatives to SimplePractice

• TherapyNotes — Focuses on mental-health-specific documentation and scheduling with strong note templates and practice reporting designed for behavioral health clinicians.
• TheraNest — Offers affordable plans for small group practices with client management, billing, and outcome tracking features aimed at counselors and therapists.
• Kareo — Tailored to independent medical practices with integrated medical billing, practice management, and a stronger focus on medical clinics than behavioral health.
• Athenahealth — Provides a broader ambulatory EHR and revenue cycle platform suited to larger practices seeking integrated medical records and advanced billing services.
• DrChrono — An EHR with mobile-first workflows, billing, and telehealth capabilities that appeals to practices needing iPad-based charting and custom forms.
• Practice Fusion — Cloud-based EHR focused on ambulatory care with charting and e-prescribing; suitable for general medical practices.
• Valant — Designed specifically for behavioral health organizations with outcome measurement tools and workflow customization for clinics.

Open source alternatives to SimplePractice

• OpenEMR — A widely used open source electronic medical record system with scheduling, billing modules, and a developer community for customization.
• OpenMRS — A modular open source platform originally aimed at global health deployments, adaptable for clinics that can invest in technical customization.
• GNU Health — A free, open source health information system that includes patient records and clinical workflows for organizations comfortable with self-hosting.

Frequently asked questions about SimplePractice

What is SimplePractice used for?

SimplePractice is used to manage clinical workflows for private practices. It brings together scheduling, clinical notes, telehealth, billing, and a client portal in one application for therapists and wellness professionals.

Does SimplePractice support telehealth sessions?

Yes, SimplePractice includes built-in HIPAA-compliant telehealth. Providers can run video visits from the same interface where they manage notes and billing, and clients join via the secure client portal.

Is SimplePractice HIPAA-compliant?

Yes, SimplePractice is designed to meet HIPAA requirements for electronic health records and secure communication. The platform uses encryption and access controls to protect client data and offers business associate agreement options for covered entities.

Does SimplePractice integrate with payment processors and insurance billing?

Yes, SimplePractice integrates with payment processors and supports electronic claim submission and eligibility checks. The platform includes tools for posting payments, generating superbills, and tracking claim status.

Can I try SimplePractice before buying?

Yes, SimplePractice offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. The trial lets clinicians test scheduling, telehealth, notes, and the client portal to evaluate fit for their practice.

Final verdict: SimplePractice

SimplePractice delivers a tightly integrated EHR and practice management experience for solo clinicians and small to mid-size behavioral health practices, with particular strengths in telehealth, client onboarding, and combined clinical-billing workflows. Its integrated client portal and template-driven documentation reduce administrative work and help clinicians keep records organized in one place.

Compared with competitors that focus narrowly on documentation or large-clinic billing platforms, SimplePractice balances usability and clinical features for private practices. When choosing between SimplePractice and a competitor such as TherapyNotes, practices should weigh the ease of an all-in-one platform against any niche documentation or reporting strengths offered by competitors; SimplePractice’s subscription model is aimed at practices that prefer an integrated workflow over mixing multiple specialized tools.