Kipu vs Sunwave (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Kipu and Sunwave share a 1.6 GPA, neither has a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on which features you need.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Kipu if
- Fits if you run a substance abuse or eating disorder treatment center
- Works for multi-site behavioral health groups that want admissions, notes and billing together
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you are a solo therapist in private practice, as it targets facilities
- Skip it if you want a price, because none is published
- Too light for a trial: none is listed
- Watch out: figures like 60% less documentation time are vendor-reported customer results
Pick Sunwave if
- Fits if you run a substance use or eating disorder treatment center
- Works for multi-site operators that combine admissions, clinical and billing work
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you are a solo therapist, as it is built for treatment organizations
- Skip it if you want a price list, since the site only offers a contact form
- Watch out: Lightning Step and Sunwave Health combined in 2025, so product names may shift
- Watch out: figures like 40% less administrative time are vendor-reported customer results
How we grade them
| 1.6GPAKipuWeak | 1.6GPASunwaveWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published; the site offers a consultation booking and a sales phone number, so it can't be set against the category. | CNo price is published; the site points to a Let's Connect form, so it can't be set against the category. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial on record, only a demo through the sales team. | FNo free plan and no trial on record, only a demo through the sales team. |
| Features | CAdmissions CRM, behavioral health EMR, revenue cycle, compliance, an AI layer and an API. The reported outcome figures are the vendor's own results. | CAdmissions and referral CRM, behavioral health EMR, AI documentation, revenue cycle, telehealth and alumni management. Customer figures are the vendor's own. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and a treatment center needs a rollout with the vendor. | CNo store rating on record, and a clinic needs a rollout with the vendor. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only on the listing, with no desktop or phone app named. | CWeb only on the listing, with no desktop or phone app named. |
| Best for | an EMR and admissions system for treatment centers | an EMR and CRM for behavioral health programs |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Kipu and Sunwave. How we grade
Where they differ
In commonWebAI featuresClinical notesInsurance billingTelehealthCase management
At a glance
| Kipu | Sunwave | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Kipu Health | Sunwave Health |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Kipu
- No prices are published; the site offers a consultation booking and a sales phone number.
- Aimed at treatment centers and facilities, not solo therapists in private practice.
- The vendor lists no free plan or trial.
- Outcome figures on the site, such as 60% less documentation time, are vendor-reported customer results.
Sunwave
- No prices are published; the site directs visitors to a Let's Connect contact form.
- Built for treatment organizations and clinics, not solo therapists.
- The site says Lightning Step and Sunwave Health combined in 2025, so product names and packaging may shift.
- Figures such as 40% less administrative time are vendor-reported customer results.
Key features
Kipu
- Admissions CRM
- Tracks leads, referrals, outreach, admissions workflows and alumni relationships, with segmented marketing campaigns.
- Behavioral health EMR
- Quick templates, medication management, labs, telehealth, a patient portal and secure messaging, with AI help for drafting notes.
- Revenue cycle management
- Real-time benefits verification, claim creation aimed at cleaner first submissions, and revenue visibility from intake to collections.
- Compliance management
- A hub for survey readiness covering state, TJC and CARF requirements, plus staff training, certifications and competencies.
- Kipu Intelligence
- AI documentation for individual and group notes and AI agents for workflows; the first agent named on the site handles utilization review.
- Integrations and API
- The site lists certified partners, integrations, an API and HL7 connections.
Sunwave
- Admissions and referral CRM
- Inquiry and referral source tracking, field visit logging, an available bed board, marketing analytics and a Salesforce integration.
- Behavioral health EMR
- Records follow a patient across programs, levels of care and sites, with medication management, scheduling and telehealth.
- SIA AI documentation
- SIA generates progress notes and session summaries; the vendor says it is certified to the ISO 42001 standard for AI management.
- Revenue cycle management
- Eligibility checks and verification of benefits, insurance claims, ACH payments and bulk actions, with error checks before submission.
- Telehealth and patient engagement
- Telehealth and patient engagement tools are listed as a separate product beside the EMR.
- Alumni management
- A product line for staying in touch with former patients after treatment.
Plans
Kipu
Pricing could not be confirmed. See kipuhealth.com.
Sunwave
Pricing could not be confirmed. See sunwavehealth.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Kipu or Sunwave?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Kipu has no price we could confirm, and Sunwave has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Kipu or Sunwave?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Kipu nor Sunwave has a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.