The best EHR for therapists handles notes, scheduling, billing and client communication in one place, so you spend less time on admin between sessions. Solo practitioners often start on a free plan or trial, while group practices need more roles and reporting. This page lists ten systems in no particular order, then explains what to check before you choose.
Nobody trains as a therapist to wrestle with paperwork. Yet notes, bookings, invoices and reminders can swallow an evening a week, and a system that's awkward to use makes it worse. The right EHR quietly takes that load off you, so your energy goes into sessions.
These are ten EHR and practice management systems in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from free-to-start tools for new practices to platforms built only for mental health. Each description comes from the vendor's own website, re-checked today, and I've described each one only as its own site does. If you mainly need clients to book online, my guide to booking software for solo practitioners covers lighter tools too.
Therapy EHR systems side by side
The free plan column follows each vendor's own site: Yes means a free plan or free core software, Trial only means a time-limited free trial, and No means the site offers a demo but no trial.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carepatron | Practice management and EHR | Free-tier EHR for solo practitioners | Yes |
| Halaxy | Practice management | Free core software for practitioners | Yes |
| ICANotes | Behavioural health EHR | Built only for mental health | Trial only |
| Jane | Clinic management software | Booking, charting and billing in one place | No |
| Practice Better | EHR and practice management | EHR for mental health and wellness | Yes |
| Sessions Health | Mental health EHR | Freemium EHR for new practices | Yes |
| SimplePractice | EHR and practice management | Widely used EHR for therapists | Trial only |
| TheraPlatform | Practice management, EHR and teletherapy | EHR with teletherapy for counsellors | Trial only |
| TherapyAppointment | Mental health EMR | Mental health EMR with AI notes | Trial only |
| Therasoft | Practice management for therapists | Scheduling, notes, billing and claims | Trial only |
Ten EHR systems for therapists
Carepatron
Best for: Solo practitioners and teams across behavioural and allied health that want scheduling, notes, billing and telehealth, starting on its Free plan.
Halaxy
Best for: Counsellors, psychologists, social workers and other practitioners who want practice management whose core software is free, with optional add-ons.
ICANotes
Best for: Mental health clinicians who want a behavioural health EHR built exclusively for mental health rather than adapted from a general medical platform.
Jane
Best for: Health and wellness practitioners, including counselling practices, that want booking, charting, scheduling, billing and payments in one online platform.
Practice Better
Best for: Mental health professionals and wellness practitioners who want telehealth, form and note templates and a client portal, starting from a free plan.
Sessions Health
Best for: New or growing therapy practices that want notes, scheduling, billing, telehealth and a client portal, starting on a Freemium plan for three clients.
SimplePractice
Best for: Therapists and other health and wellness professionals who want an established EHR and practice management system, starting with a free trial.
TheraPlatform
Best for: Therapists, counsellors and psychologists wanting practice management, EHR, teletherapy, billing and scheduling in one platform, with a 30-day free trial.
TherapyAppointment
Best for: Mental health practitioners who want an all-in-one EMR with scheduling, billing, telehealth and AI progress notes, and a 30-day free trial.
Therasoft
Best for: Therapists who want scheduling, clinical documentation, billing, claims and payments in one app, with a 30-day trial offered.
How HHS treats psychotherapy notes
This is the detail I'd check before any feature list. HHS guidance on uses and disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations says psychotherapy notes are handled differently from the rest of a client's record. Apart from limited exceptions, such as the therapist who wrote them using them to carry out treatment, using or disclosing psychotherapy notes for treatment, payment or health care operations needs the individual's authorisation.
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In practice, you'll want an EHR that keeps psychotherapy notes separate from ordinary progress notes and controls who can see them. Ask each vendor to show you how their system handles that, rather than relying on a feature page, and talk your setup through with your professional body or a privacy adviser. Nothing on this page is a compliance claim for any product.
Solo practice or group practice
A solo therapist mostly needs quick notes, online booking, reminders and simple invoicing. A group practice adds roles and permissions, shared calendars, supervision and reporting across clinicians. Free plans and freemium tiers usually suit the first group, but they're often capped; check the client or user limits carefully before you grow into them.
Switching to a new EHR in six steps
- List the note templates and assessment forms you use every week.
- Decide how psychotherapy notes and progress notes will be kept apart.
- Ask each shortlisted vendor about data storage, access controls and the agreements they sign with practices.
- Run your own week of bookings and notes on a trial with dummy clients.
- Plan how existing records will be exported from your old system and kept.
- Tell clients about any change to booking links, portals or video sessions.
Features therapists use every day
- Note templates. Quick, consistent notes save the most time.
- Online booking and reminders. Fewer missed sessions and less phone tag.
- Client portal. Intake forms and documents signed before the first session.
- Telehealth. Built-in video saves juggling a separate app.
- Billing and claims. Invoices or insurance claims straight from the session record.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask how you'd get all your records out if you left, what happens to client data if you close your practice, and who at the vendor can access your account. Ask too whether the trial or free plan includes every feature you'd rely on, because some tools keep telehealth or claims for higher tiers.
A smooth start matters as much as the software. My simple client onboarding template can help you plan what new clients receive before their first session.
Do you make EHR or practice management software for therapists? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a therapy EHR
If you're starting out on your own, begin with a free plan or a 30-day trial and run a real week of dummy bookings and notes before you commit. If you run a group practice, put roles, permissions and reporting first, and book demos with the systems built only for mental health.
Before you move a single client record, ask the vendor how psychotherapy notes are kept separate and what agreements they sign with practices, and check the answers with your adviser. That conversation matters more than any feature, and it's one you'll be glad you had.
Frequently asked questions
What is an EHR for therapists?
An electronic health record system built for therapy work, usually combining notes, scheduling, billing and client communication.
Is there a free EHR for therapists?
A few systems here describe a free plan or free core software, often with limits on clients or features. Others offer a free trial.
Do psychotherapy notes need to be kept separately?
HHS guidance treats psychotherapy notes differently from the rest of the record, so check how any EHR separates them and talk to your adviser.
Can I run telehealth sessions from an EHR?
Several systems here describe built-in telehealth or teletherapy on their own sites, which saves running a separate video app.
What should a solo therapist look for first?
Quick note templates, online booking, reminders and simple invoicing, plus an easy way to export your records.
How do I move records to a new EHR?
Ask both vendors about export and import before you switch, and keep a complete copy of your old records.
