Best SimplePractice alternatives for therapists in 2026
If you’re looking for SimplePractice alternatives, you have probably already made up your mind. The price increases, the add-on billing, the sense that you are paying more and getting less: these are the reasons therapists are leaving in growing numbers.
This guide covers the best SimplePractice alternatives for private practice therapists in 2026. Each option is compared on what actually matters: AI notes, pricing, telehealth, billing, and how easy it is to switch without losing your client data.
TL;DR
- The best SimplePractice alternative for most private practice therapists is Upheal, which includes AI session notes, scheduling, telehealth, and billing at CA$1 per session.
- TherapyNotes is the main alternative if you prioritize insurance billing depth over AI notes.
- Practice Better works well for wellness and coaching practices that do not bill insurance.
- Upheal's self-serve migration tool imports your SimplePractice records in a day or two.
- All platforms listed are HIPAA compliant.
Why therapists are leaving SimplePractice right now
SimplePractice has the largest market share among private practice therapists in the US. That position has come with consequences: price increases, feature fragmentation, and a billing structure that charges separately for things most therapists expect to be included.
Three things are driving the current wave of exits:
Price increases. SimplePractice has raised subscription prices multiple times in recent years, including an approximately 69% increase in early 2025. Therapists who locked in earlier pricing are being moved to higher tiers.
Add-on pricing for core features. AI note-taking, telehealth, and calendar booking are either additional cost or limited on the base plan. As one therapist on a sales call put it: "Everything is a la carte and pieced together. You end up paying out the wazoo."
No built-in AI notes. SimplePractice has added AI features through partnerships, but they are not integrated into the core workflow the way newer platforms have built them from the start.
If any of these sound familiar, the platforms below are worth a serious look.
What to look for in a SimplePractice alternative
Before comparing options, it helps to know what you actually need. The most important factors for most private practice therapists are:
- AI session notes included by default. The biggest time savings comes from AI that writes your progress notes during or after a session. Look for platforms where this is built in, not an add-on.
- Scheduling, billing, and telehealth in one place. Every tool you add is another login, another subscription, and another data silo. The best platforms handle all of this under one roof.
- Transparent, flat pricing. A per-session or flat monthly fee is easier to plan for than tiered plans with feature gates.
- HIPAA-compliant by default. Every platform on this list meets this requirement. Verify before using any tool not on this list.
- Client data migration. You should be able to export your SimplePractice records and import them into a new platform without starting from scratch.
The best SimplePractice alternatives for therapists in 2026
The best SimplePractice alternative for most private practice therapists is Upheal. It includes AI session notes, scheduling, telehealth, and billing at CA$1 per session, with everything in one place and no add-ons required.
Here is how the main options compare:
Upheal: best overall SimplePractice alternative for private practice therapists
Upheal is an AI-native mental health EHR built specifically for private practice therapists. Unlike SimplePractice, which added AI features through partnerships, Upheal built AI into the core of the platform from day one.
What you get at CA$1 per session (capped at CA$69/month):
- AI session notes in multiple formats (SOAP, DAP, GIRP, BIRP, and others)
- Treatment plan generation
- A compliance checker that flags documentation issues before they become billing problems
- Scheduling and client portal
- HIPAA-compliant telehealth
- Practice forms
- Payments and billing
Upheal reduces documentation time from 16 minutes to under 5 minutes per session for most therapists. There are no add-ons. The same plan includes everything.
Upheal is best for private practice therapists who want AI built into their EHR from the start, not a $35/month add-on that only works with SimplePractice's own telehealth.
See how Upheal works for individual providers
TherapyNotes: strong choice for documentation-heavy practices
TherapyNotes has a long track record in insurance billing and clinical documentation. It is a reliable platform for practices where billing workflows are complex and insurance panel management is a priority.
AI notes are available through TherapyFuel, a paid add-on. If AI documentation is central to your practice, this means an additional cost on top of the base subscription.
- Starting price: $49/month
- Telehealth: available as an add-on
- AI notes: paid add-on, not built in
Practice Better: best for wellness and coaching practices
Practice Better is popular with health coaches, nutritionists, and wellness practitioners. If you are a licensed therapist who bills insurance, it is not the right platform. If you run a cash-pay coaching practice, it is worth considering.
- Starting price: $25/month
- Telehealth: included
- AI notes: limited
- Insurance billing: not designed for it
Ensora (formerly TheraNest): lowest entry cost
Ensora, formerly known as TheraNest, is one of the lower-cost options for solo practitioners who do not need AI features. The interface is dated compared to newer platforms, and AI notes are only available on the Premier plan at $89/month. It works for practices that are price-sensitive and do not prioritize documentation speed.
- Starting price: $29/month (Essentials); AI notes on Premier at $89/month
- Telehealth: add-on on Essentials and Advanced, included on Premier
- AI notes: Premier plan only ($89/month)
How to switch from SimplePractice without losing your data
The most common concern therapists have about switching platforms is losing client records. Upheal has a built-in self-serve migration tool that walks you through the transfer directly inside the app. No onboarding call required.
Here is how it works:
- Start the migration from Upheal. Click Home in the left menu, then click Switch from SimplePractice. This opens the guided migration wizard.
- Export three files from SimplePractice. The wizard walks you through downloading your client demographics, client details, and full practice data export from SimplePractice, with exact instructions for where to find each one.
- Upload and match your records. Upload each file into Upheal. The tool walks you through matching your SimplePractice clients and providers to their correct profiles in Upheal, flagging anything that needs your attention.
For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see Moving your records from SimplePractice to Upheal in the Upheal support center.
Ready to make the move? Try Upheal free, no credit card required
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free SimplePractice alternative?
The best free SimplePractice alternative is Upheal's free plan, which includes unlimited AI session notes and HIPAA-compliant telehealth with no credit card required. It is the only free option on this list that includes built-in AI documentation.
Is Upheal a good SimplePractice alternative?
Yes, particularly for therapists who want AI session notes built into their EHR. Upheal includes AI notes, scheduling, telehealth, billing, and treatment plans at CA$1 per session, capped at CA$69 per month. That is typically less than SimplePractice's base plan before add-ons. For a detailed comparison, see Upheal vs SimplePractice.
Can I import my SimplePractice data into Upheal?
Yes. Upheal has a built-in self-serve migration tool. In Upheal, click Home then Switch from SimplePractice to launch the guided wizard. It walks you through exporting your records from SimplePractice and uploading them directly into Upheal, including a client matching step to make sure every record lands in the right place. For the full guide, see Moving your records from SimplePractice to Upheal.
Why are therapists leaving SimplePractice?
The most common reasons are recurring price increases, add-on pricing for features like AI notes and telehealth, and the sense that the platform has become more complex without becoming more useful. Many therapists report paying more each year for a platform that has not meaningfully improved their day-to-day workflow.
Does SimplePractice have a good AI note feature?
SimplePractice offers AI note features through a partnership, but they are not built natively into the platform the way Upheal's are. The AI note experience in SimplePractice requires additional setup and, on most plans, an additional cost. Upheal's AI notes are included at every plan level.
The bottom line
The right SimplePractice alternative depends on what is driving you to switch. If documentation time is the issue and you want AI built into your workflow from day one, Upheal is the clear choice. If you are primarily driven by insurance billing complexity, TherapyNotes is worth evaluating. If you run a cash-pay wellness practice, Practice Better fits.
For most private practice therapists, the combination of built-in AI notes, flat pricing, and all-in-one functionality makes Upheal the most direct upgrade from SimplePractice.
