SimplePractice vs Upheal (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick SimplePractice: it is first in our ranking of therapy and clinic software, and they share a 2.8 GPA.
Checked Oct 24, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 24, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
SimplePractice grades higher on ease of use. Upheal grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
SimplePractice
Practice management and EHR for private-practice therapists
Upheal
AI therapy notes, with an optional full practice EHR
Which one is for you
Pick SimplePractice if
- Fits if you're a solo US therapist who bills insurance and wants claims in the same account as your notes
- Works for groups of up to five clinicians who want a published price: Plus is $99 plus $74 a clinician
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay on Starter: reminders, calendar sync, secure messaging and treatment plans start on Essential at $79
- Pricey if you want AI notes, as Note Taker is $35 a month and Care Aide $59 plus $49 per extra clinician
- Watch out: claims are 39¢ each, cards 3.15% + 30¢, and every clinician pays a $20 yearly fee for CPT codes
- Watch out: ePrescribe is $49 a month plus an $89 setup fee, and group sessions and extra clinicians need Plus
- Not for you if your group has six or more clinicians and you want a price up front, as those go through sales
Pick Upheal if
- Fits if you see individual clients and want free basic notes
- Works for a solo therapist who may later move to the EHR
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free: individual therapy only, with a capped AI assistant
- Watch out: EHR fees are $0.30 per claim, $0.15 per eligibility check and 2.9% + $0.30 per payment
- Pricey if you use the AI Assistant a lot, as it is capped monthly unless you add Assistant Pro
- Skip it if you run a group practice and want a price, as the page gives no figures
How we grade them
| 2.8GPASimplePracticeGood | 2.8GPAUphealGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CStarter is $49 a month after a first 3 months at half price, between this category's middle ($39) and its dearer quarter ($59). Reminders and calendar sync need Essential at $79, and on top come 39¢ a claim and a $20 yearly CPT fee per clinician. | CAI notes are $39 a month flat, the middle of the therapy-clinics range. The EHR is $1 a session or $99 flat. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 30-day trial with no card, and no free plan. The half-price first 3 months only applies if you start paying within 7 days of signing up. | BA free plan with basic notes for individual therapy and a capped AI assistant, plus a card-free trial on paid plans. |
| Features | BScheduling, paperless intake, progress notes, measurement-based care, telehealth, insurance claims and card payments all come on Starter. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job; the gaps are plan locks and add-ons. | BNotes, treatment plans, telehealth, and an EHR with billing and portal. Group practices are not priced. |
| Ease of use | ASimplePractice rates 4.7 on the US App Store from 33,999 ratings, which puts it at A on our ease ladder. | CNo store rating on record. You set up templates and connect Zoom or Google Calendar. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, plus a clinician app for iPhone, iPad and Android with the calendar, notes, messages and payments. No desktop app, and the listing names no integrations or API. | AWeb, Mac, iPhone and Android with Zoom and Google Calendar. |
| Best for | solo US therapists who bill insurance | AI therapy notes with an optional EHR |
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: SimplePractice and Upheal. How we grade
Price against what you get
SimplePractice starts at $49 a month and scores 3.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Upheal starts at $39 a month and scores 3.0.
SimplePractice scores higher, and starts $10 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other therapy and clinic software on the chart, none scores higher than SimplePractice for less, and none scores higher than Upheal for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
At a glance
| SimplePractice | Upheal | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $49 per month (Starter), after a first 3 months at $24.50 | $39 per month for AI notes |
| Free plan | None | Basic AI notes from text, dictation or uploads for individual therapy only, plus telehealth calls without AI. |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial, no credit card required | Free trial on paid plans, no credit card required |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | SimplePractice, LLC | Upheal |
| Price read from | simplepractice.com | upheal.io |
| Checked | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
SimplePractice
- Insurance claims cost $0.39 each, card payments 3.15% + $0.30, and each clinician pays an annual $20 fee for CPT code access.
- Reminders, calendar sync and client messaging start on Essential; group sessions and extra clinicians need Plus.
- AI notes are extra: Note Taker is $35 a month, Care Aide $59 a month plus $49 per extra clinician. ePrescribe is $49 a month plus an $89 setup fee.
- The 50% discount applies only if a paid account starts within 7 days of the trial; groups of 6 or more clinicians are priced by sales.
Upheal
- The free plan covers individual therapy only and has a limited AI note feature set.
- The EHR plans charge $0.30 per insurance claim, $0.15 per eligibility check and 2.9% + $0.30 per online payment.
- Group practices are priced per seat for notes or per session for the EHR; the page gives no figures for them.
- The AI Assistant is capped each month unless you pay for Assistant Pro.
Key features
SimplePractice
- Client portal and online booking
- Clients request appointments online and complete paperless intake documents through a client portal website. Essential adds email, text and voice reminders and calendar sync.
- Notes and treatment plans
- Progress notes, a template library and measurement-based care come on every plan; customizable treatment plans and Wiley Treatment Planners start on Essential.
- Built-in telehealth
- Video sessions are included on every plan. Plus adds group appointments and group telehealth.
- Insurance claims and payments
- Claims are filed from the account at $0.39 each and clients pay online by card. Insurance Navigator, listed as coming soon, adds claim checks and benefits verification at $1.79 a claim.
- Care Aide and Note Taker
- Paid AI add-ons. Note Taker drafts progress notes from a recorded session or dictation; Care Aide adds live telehealth support, treatment plans in beta and client-ready summaries.
- Clinician mobile app
- An iPhone, iPad and Android app to manage the calendar, write and review session notes, share documents, send secure messages and take payments.
Upheal
- AI notes from many inputs
- Notes come from live video, audio, dictation, typed summaries or uploads, in SOAP, DAP, BIRP, EMDR and other templates.
- Treatment plans with Golden Thread
- Generates treatment plans and tracks client progress from one session to the next. Included on the paid AI notes plan and the EHR plans.
- Built-in telehealth
- Its own video platform, with automated notes afterward. Zoom sessions and other calling tools can also be captured.
- EHR with billing
- Invoices, superbills, online payments, insurance claims and eligibility checks, plus a client portal with scheduling, messaging and forms.
- AI Assistant
- A chat assistant with a monthly usage limit on every plan. AI Assistant Pro is a $39 a month add-on that removes the limit and adds session prep.
- Migration help
- Upheal says it can move clients and files over from another EHR, and runs a weekly live webinar on migrating.
Plans
SimplePractice
Starter$49
per month
Unlimited clients, telehealth, progress notes, insurance claims, online payments, intake forms and a client portal. $24.50 a month for the first 3 months.
Essential$79
per month
Adds free email, text and voice reminders, calendar sync, treatment plans, Wiley Treatment Planners and secure messaging. $39.50 for the first 3 months.
Plus$99
per month, plus $74 per additional clinician
Adds group appointments, group telehealth, a premium support line and advanced analytics. $49.50 for the first 3 months; groups of 6+ can get custom pricing.
Upheal
Free$0
Basic notes via text, dictation and uploads, individual therapy only, with a monthly cap on the AI Assistant.
AI notes$39
per month, flat fee
Unlimited AI notes from video, audio, dictation and uploads, treatment plans and built-in telehealth.
EHR$1
per session, pay as you go
Full EHR with AI notes, invoicing, superbills, insurance billing, client portal and scheduling.
EHR Pro$99
per month, flat fee
The EHR with an unlimited AI Assistant included; the page says it saves money past 14 sessions a week.
Ways to pay less
SimplePractice
- Other savings
50% off the first 3 months
Starting a paid account within 7 days of signing up halves the first 3 months: $24.50 for Starter, $39.50 for Essential and $49.50 for Plus, then the regular price.
Upheal
- Education
Student and non-profit discount
The pricing page lists a student and non-profit discount alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee; it does not state the amount.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, SimplePractice or Upheal?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Upheal is cheaper to start with: $39 a month, against $49 a month for SimplePractice. SimplePractice starts at $49 per month (Starter), after a first 3 months at $24.50, and Upheal starts at $39 per month for AI notes.
Which has a free plan, SimplePractice or Upheal?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Upheal has a free plan. SimplePractice does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do SimplePractice and Upheal run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Upheal lists a macOS app. Both list a web app and iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.