SimplePractice: An Overview

SimplePractice is a cloud-first electronic health record and practice management platform aimed at therapists, counselors, psychologists, and other health and wellness professionals. The product bundles scheduling, secure telehealth, clinical documentation, billing, insurance claims, and a client portal into a single interface that is HIPAA-compliant and designed for solo practitioners and small to midsize practices.

Compared with TherapyNotes and TheraNest, SimplePractice places stronger emphasis on integrated telehealth and client-facing workflows, including online intake forms and a mobile-friendly client portal. Against broader medical EHRs such as Kareo or Athenahealth, SimplePractice is more focused on behavioral health and private practice workflows rather than full-service medical billing for large clinics.

All of this makes SimplePractice especially well suited to independent clinicians and small group practices that need an end-to-end, easy-to-learn system for scheduling, documentation, and getting paid quickly. It is particularly useful for providers who want built-in telehealth and client self-service without stitching multiple tools together.

How SimplePractice Works

The platform runs in the browser and through mobile apps so clinicians can manage appointments, notes, and billing from desktop or on the go. Practices create client records, customize intake forms and templates, and use the scheduling calendar to manage sessions and recurring appointments.

Telehealth sessions are launched from the client record or appointment entry, with secure video links shared through the client portal. Billing flows from session to invoice to claims submission, with integrated eligibility checks and a clear view of outstanding balances and payments.

Workflow example: a clinician books a new intake, sends a secure intake packet for the client to complete, conducts the first telehealth session, documents the visit using a template, then files an insurance claim or posts a payment through the billing dashboard.

What does SimplePractice do?

SimplePractice combines core practice management functions with behavioral-health-specific documentation. Core capabilities include client intake and charting, appointment scheduling, secure telehealth, billing and claims submission, and a client portal for intake forms and online payments.

Let’s talk SimplePractice’s Features

Secure Telehealth

Built-in video appointments work inside the platform so clinicians do not need a separate teleconferencing tool, and sessions are encrypted to meet HIPAA requirements. This reduces setup friction for clients and keeps scheduling, notes, and session records together.

Scheduling and Calendar

The calendar supports recurring appointments, appointment confirmations, automated reminders, and calendar views by clinician or location to reduce no-shows and simplify day-to-day practice management. It also integrates with external calendars for visibility across tools.

Clinical Notes and Templates

The system includes a library of customizable note templates for intake, progress notes, treatment plans, and assessments, which speeds documentation while keeping records consistent for audits and audits for billing. Templates can be adapted to different specialties and documentation standards.

Billing, Claims, and Insurance Tools

Providers can create invoices, submit electronic claims to payers, check eligibility, and track denials and re-submissions from a unified billing dashboard. These tools aim to shorten the revenue cycle for private-pay and insurance-based services.

Client Portal and Online Intake

Clients can complete intake forms, view invoices, make payments, and join telehealth sessions through a secure portal that reduces administrative overhead. The portal supports online credit card payments and card-on-file options for recurring charges.

Practice Growth and Credentialing Support

SimplePractice offers assistance with payer credentialing and paneling for new users, plus built-in tools for automated appointment reminders and client communication that help reduce administrative growth barriers. Practices can track referral sources and run simple reports to measure growth activities.

With these capabilities, the biggest benefit of SimplePractice is that it centralizes clinical workflows and administrative tasks into a single, HIPAA-compliant system, which reduces time spent switching tools and managing administrative handoffs.

SimplePractice pricing

SimplePractice uses a subscription SaaS pricing model with a focus on individual clinicians and small practices, and it publicly advertises a free trial and onboarding benefits for new sign-ups.

For the most accurate and up-to-date plan options and any promotional offers, review SimplePractice’s current pricing options on their official site or contact their sales team for details tailored to your practice size and requirements.

What is SimplePractice Used For?

Clinicians primarily use SimplePractice to manage client-facing workflows, from intake and scheduling to telehealth and billing. It is commonly adopted by private-practice therapists, social workers, and allied health professionals who need a single system to run an independent practice.

Beyond individual solo practices, small group practices use SimplePractice to standardize templates, coordinate calendars across clinicians, and centralize billing and claims management. It is also used by practices that rely on telehealth to reach remote or hybrid client bases.

Pros and Cons of SimplePractice

Pros

• Comprehensive practice management: The platform combines scheduling, telehealth, notes, billing, and client portal functionality so practices can operate from one system. This reduces the need to manage multiple subscriptions.
• Behavioral-health focus: Built-in templates, assessments, and workflows are tailored to mental health and wellness providers, making documentation and compliance easier for those specialties.
• Client-facing features: Online intake, payments, and the client portal streamline administrative work and improve the client experience, lowering barriers to starting care.
• Credentialing support: The company offers assistance with payer credentialing and paneling during onboarding, which helps newer practices get set up with in-network insurance panels.

Cons

• Cost for growing practices: Larger practices with many clinicians may find total subscription costs rise as they add users; enterprise-level billing features or advanced reporting may require higher-tier plans or add-ons. This can lead to higher per-month spend compared with some competitors.
• Platform learning curve: While designed for small practices, the breadth of features means some administrative staff need time to learn billing workflows and claims management to avoid rejections.
• Limited hospital-grade features: SimplePractice is optimized for private practice and behavioral health rather than hospital systems or specialties requiring advanced medical EHR functionality.

Does SimplePractice Offer a Free Trial?

SimplePractice offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. The trial lets new users explore scheduling, documentation, telehealth, and the client portal; the company also promotes free credentialing assistance when you sign up for the platform.

SimplePractice API and Integrations

SimplePractice supports integrations with common practice tools and payment processors, and it provides partner integration options for syncing calendar, payment, and telehealth workflows. Common connections include calendar apps, credit card processors, and bookkeeping tools to reduce double entry.

For developers and partners, consult SimplePractice’s integration and partner resources for details on available connectors, webhook support, and any developer APIs they provide.

10 SimplePractice alternatives

Paid alternatives to SimplePractice

• TherapyNotes — A practice management and EHR platform built for behavioral health with strong clinical note templates and billing tools aimed at medium and large practices.
• TheraNest — Designed for small to medium mental health practices, offering billing, scheduling, telehealth, and progress tracking with client engagement features.
• Kareo — A cloud EHR and medical billing solution more focused on medical practices and independent clinics with robust billing services and payer support.
• Athenahealth — A broader medical practice management suite with more advanced billing, revenue cycle management, and interoperability features for larger organizations.
• Jane — A clinic management system popular with allied health and therapy practices that combines online booking, charting, billing, and telehealth in a clean interface.
• Counsol — A counseling practice platform with client portals, secure messaging, and scheduling, suitable for solo practitioners and small groups.
• SimplePractice Plus — If available as an enhanced tier, it provides additional administrative or billing features beyond the core offering.

Open source alternatives to SimplePractice

• OpenEMR — A full-featured open-source electronic medical record system that supports charting, scheduling, and billing modules for clinics that can self-host and customize.
• OpenMRS — An open-source platform focused on global health and customizable patient record management for organizations with development capacity.
• GNU Health — A health and hospital information system that can be adapted for clinical record-keeping and public health settings, suited for teams that want full control over hosting and customization.

Frequently asked questions about SimplePractice

What is SimplePractice used for?

SimplePractice is used for practice management, EHR, and telehealth for behavioral health and wellness professionals. It combines scheduling, documentation, billing, and a client portal to run a private practice.

Does SimplePractice offer credentialing assistance?

Yes, SimplePractice promotes free credentialing support for new users during onboarding. They help practices get paneled with payers which can reduce setup friction for insurance-based services.

Is SimplePractice HIPAA-compliant?

Yes, SimplePractice is built to meet HIPAA requirements for handling protected health information. The platform includes encryption, secure telehealth, and access controls designed for regulated clinical workflows.

Can SimplePractice handle insurance claims and billing?

Yes, SimplePractice includes tools for invoice creation, electronic claim submission, and eligibility checks. The billing dashboard helps track claims, denials, and patient balances.

Does SimplePractice integrate with calendar and payment tools?

Yes, SimplePractice integrates with common calendars and payment processors to streamline scheduling and billing. Integration details and available connectors are documented by SimplePractice for administrators.

Final verdict: SimplePractice

SimplePractice does a strong job of consolidating the core needs of private-practice clinicians into a single platform, with particular strengths in telehealth, client-facing intake, and behavioral-health documentation. The centralized client portal and built-in credentialing support make it a pragmatic choice for therapists and wellness professionals who want minimal tool fragmentation.

Compared with TherapyNotes, SimplePractice offers a slightly broader client-facing feature set and more integrated telehealth options, while TherapyNotes focuses intensely on clinical documentation and billing for larger behavioral-health groups. For practices prioritizing client experience and an all-in-one setup, SimplePractice provides a balanced mix of scheduling, documentation, and payment workflows that reduce administrative overhead and support practice growth.