When solo therapists switch from spreadsheets or paper charts, they almost always come up with the same two names: SimplePractice and TheraNest. Both are designed for mental health practices, both manage scheduling, notes and billing, both are recommended all the time on therapist forums.
SimplePractice’s Starter plan starts at $49 per month per clinician in 2026, and TheraNest’s Essentials plan starts at $29 per month per therapist. The right choice is less about price and more about whether a practice needs more robust telehealth and client engagement tools (SimplePractice) or a lower entry cost with tiered claim-based billing (TheraNest).
This comparison breaks down simplepractice vs theranest pricing, core features and billing support so a buyer can make a decision without having to tour five different pricing pages.
SimplePractice vs TheraNest: Quick Comparison Table
Both vendors publish tiered plans, but the structure differs. SimplePractice prices per clinician across three tiers, while TheraNest’s lower tiers factor in active client caps.
| Category | SimplePractice | TheraNest |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/month (Starter) | $29/month (Essentials) |
| Mid tier | $79/month (Essential) | $59/month (Advanced) |
| Top tier | $99/month (Plus) | $89/month (Premier) |
| Free trial | 30 days | 21 days |
| Insurance claims | Included from Starter, fees vary by tier | 30 free claims/month on Advanced, unlimited on Premier |
| Telehealth | Built in from Starter | Add-on on Essentials, included on Premier |
| AI notes | Note Taker add-on, $35/month per clinician | AI Session Assistant add-on, $35/month per provider |
Source: Software Finder, Coral HR, 2026.
How Much SimplePractice Charges per Provider in 2026
SimplePractice charges $49/month for its Starter plan, $79/month for Essential, and $99/month for Plus – these are the prices listed on the official SimplePractice pricing page as of mid-2026. The base subscription is extra, and so are additional clinicians.
Group practices shell out steep per-seat costs — each clinician added beyond the primary subscription costs $69-$74/month on the Plus plan. This is important for group practices where you’re comparing total monthly spend, not just the headline per user price.
Add-On Fees & AI in SimplePractice
SimplePractice now includes optional AI tools in its pricing. SimplePractice offers two AI options at standard monthly rates: Note Taker, $35 per clinician — transcribes notes from session recordings or dictation. Care Aide, $59 for the account owner, $49 per additional clinician — includes Note Taker, Session Sidekick, Treatment Planner (beta), and Client Summaries.
If you’re a solo practice on the Essential plan and add the standalone Note Taker tool, your total monthly fee is that of a solo practice on Essential—the subscription plus standalone Note Taker is $114 a month. To avoid surprises when your trial period ends, plan your add-ons ahead of time.
What TheraNest will charge per therapist in 2026
TheraNest plans cost $29 (Essentials), $59 (Advanced), or $89 (Premier) per therapist per month. TheraNest’s lower tiers, unlike SimplePractice, include active client volume as part of some legacy plan structures and not just clinician count.
TheraNest does not have a free plan but offers a 21-day free trial of the Premier plan that does not require credit card information to activate. This gives a practice full use of top tier features before signing up for a lower plan.
TheraNest Claims & Billing System
TheraNest offers tiered claim allowances. The Essentials tier includes per therapist, scheduling and client portal, hipaa aligned notes and documentation, card processing, no insurance claims included, extra admin users for $19 each. Going up a tier adds claims volume and custom forms.
The Advanced tier adds 30 insurance claims included per month and custom forms over Essentials . The Premier tier adds unlimited insurance claims , billing automation, integrated telehealth, and additional admin users at 29 USD each. The Premier removes the per-claim cap entirely for practices that regularly bill insurance.
SimplePractice vs TheraNest: Key Feature Differences
In therapist forums comparing EHR options, the complaint about SimplePractice is add-on creep: a low starting price that rises as AI notes, extra clinicians, and ePrescribe get added. TheraNest users tend to point to a steeper learning curve but like the lower entry cost for solo caseloads.
TheraNest’s pricing is unique in that it doesn’t follow the pricing model of many EHRs (which are based on clinicians and not active clients). Plans range from $41 to $98 plus monthly with a 21-day free trial. That client-based model can work for a therapist if the caseload remains small, but costs rise quickly once active client counts go past a plan’s cap.
TheraNest also features multi-clinician scheduling, supervision tracking, and integrated Wiley Treatment Planner content. It is named a G2 Leader in Mental Health Software, earning high marks for ease of use, responsive support, and clinical note quality. SimplePractice returns with a more robust telehealth feature set and a more polished client-facing app, which is often cited as the tipping point for therapists wanting clients to self-schedule and pay online without friction.
When Should Therapists Switch to a TheraNest Alternative?
Therapists searching for a Theranest alternative tend to fall into one of two groups: those who are outgrowing the client caps on lower tiers of TheraNest, and those who want more robust built-in telehealth without an add-on. SimplePractice works well for either case, but it’s more costly to start with.
If you are looking for practices that require psychiatric documentation or e-prescribing in addition to basic add-ons, it’s worth comparing both platforms to other mental health software found in the Software Finder directory before signing a contract.
FAQs
Is Theranest better than SimplePractice?
Neither is better depends on size of practice and workflow. SimplePractice is best for solo therapists and small groups who want a polished client portal and broad insurance and telehealth coverage. TheraNest is better for practices that care about cost per client or need grant and nonprofit reporting.
How does SimplePractice pricing compare to TheraNest?
TheraNest’s Essentials plan starts at around $29 per therapist per month, about $20 cheaper than SimplePractice’s $49 Starter plan. At the highest tier, TheraNest Premier costs about $89 compared to SimplePractice Plus at $99, so TheraNest is the more affordable option at comparable levels.
Does TheraNest accept insurance like SimplePractice?
Yes. TheraNest offers a certain number of free claims each month on its Advanced plan, and unlimited claims with billing automation on Premier. You can file electronic claims on SimplePractice starting at the Starter plan and the cost of claims varies by tier with unlimited claims on the Plus plan.
What’s a good TheraNest alternative for therapists?
SimplePractice is the most popular TheraNest alternative for therapists due to its more modern client portal, built-in AI progress notes, and stronger telehealth tools. Other options to explore are TherapyNotes and Valant, depending on whether a practice needs group therapy notes or psychiatric EHR features.
For a single therapist, which is less expensive, SimplePractice or TheraNest?
TheraNest is generally less expensive for a solo therapist with a small client base, with its Essentials plan starting at $29/month vs. SimplePractice’s Starter plan at $49. The gap shrinks for high-volume solo practices, because the lower tiers of TheraNest cap the number of active clients.
