How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- TherapyNotes calls itself the highest rated behavioral health EHR at 4.9 out of 5, reflecting how competitive therapist software has become.
- Zanda (formerly Power Diary) starts at $9.50 a month for the first six months, while WriteUpp starts at $24.95 a month in the US.
- SimplePractice offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card, and CounSol offers a free trial with no credit card required.
- AI note assistance is now standard: TherapyNotes, TheraNest, Zanda, and WriteUpp all offer AI-powered documentation or ambient listening.
- HIPAA compliance is table stakes; the real differentiators are billing automation, telehealth, and how notes are structured for your specialty.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 SimplePractice | All-in-one EHR for health and wellness | See website | Free trial (30 days) |
 TherapyNotes | Behavioral health documentation | See website | No |
 TheraNest | Solo and small mental health practices | See website | No |
 CounSol | Counselor practice management | See website | Free trial |
 Zanda | AI-powered notes for health practices | $9.50/month (Starter, first 6 months) | Free trial |
 WriteUpp | Multi-disciplinary clinics | $24.95/month (Flex, US) | No |
 Cliniko | Allied health record-keeping | See website | No |
 Jane | Health and wellness clinic workflows | See website | No |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best note taking app for therapists
TherapyNotes calls itself the highest rated behavioral health EHR at 4.9 out of 5. Therapists have more good software choices than ever, and note taking sits at the center of all of them: the tool you document in is usually the tool that also schedules, bills, and runs telehealth.
Most of these are full practice management platforms, not standalone note apps, because notes, billing, and scheduling are too intertwined to separate. In 2026, AI assistance is the new battleground: several tools now draft progress notes or listen ambiently and format the note for you. HIPAA compliance is assumed everywhere here.
Here are eight tools worth comparing.
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial (30 days)
SimplePractice is the EHR most therapists have heard of, covering notes, scheduling, billing, telehealth, and a client portal in one system. Its template library speeds up documentation, integrated telehealth keeps sessions in-house, and insurance tools handle eligibility and claims. New sign-ups get free credentialing with up to two payers.
A 30-day free trial needs no credit card, which makes evaluation easy. Pricing is not published on the homepage. It suits therapists and health and wellness practices that want a proven, all-in-one platform with a gentle learning curve.
What we like- The best-known therapist EHR with a polished experience
- Integrated telehealth, template library, and insurance tools
- 30-day trial with no credit card
Watch out for- Pricing not published on the page reviewed
- Can be more than a solo therapist needs
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
TherapyNotes describes itself as the most trusted EHR for behavioral health, and its feature set is built around documentation: AI-powered documentation, easy note templates, an outcome measure library, and smart client forms, alongside scheduling, billing, telehealth, and a free mobile companion app.
Support is available 24/7 by phone and email, which is unusual in this category. Pricing is not published and there is no free tier. For US behavioral health practices that live and die by their documentation, TherapyNotes is the category specialist.
What we like- Purpose-built for behavioral health with AI-powered documentation
- 4.9/5 highest rated EHR claim
- 24/7 phone and email support
Watch out for- No free tier
- US behavioral health focus limits international fit
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
TheraNest, by Ensora Health, targets solo and small group mental health practices with billing, scheduling, and notes in one system. Its Ensai session assistant drafts progress notes for your review and generates AI case summaries before each session. Automated billing handles invoices, claims, and ERA posting, with optional flat-fee revenue cycle management.
It is HITRUST certified and HIPAA compliant, with multi-location management for growing organizations. Pricing is not published on the homepage and the AI features cost extra. It fits small mental health practices that want documentation help without enterprise complexity.
What we like- Now part of Ensora Health with HITRUST certification
- Ensai AI drafts progress notes for review
- Flat-fee revenue cycle management option
Watch out for- AI note features are a paid add-on
- No free tier visible
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
CounSol.com is online practice management built exactly the way counselors want it, with highly customizable notes, forms, and workflows. User testimonials consistently praise the personal account managers: real people who answer by phone or email, which solo practitioners value.
A free trial requires no credit card. Pricing is not published on the homepage. It suits counselors who want their EHR shaped around their practice rather than adapting to a generic system, and who value human support over slick marketing.
What we like- Built specifically for counselors with deep customization
- Personal account managers praised by users
- Free trial with no credit card required
Watch out for- Smaller company and ecosystem than the leaders
- Interface less modern than rivals
Starting price$9.50/month (Starter, first 6 months)
Free planFree trial
Zanda, formerly known as Power Diary, includes more free AI than anywhere else by its own claim: every plan gets AI that drafts referral letters, writes client communications, and records sessions with ambient listening that turns into your preferred note format. The Starter plan begins at $9.50 a month for the first six months.
Built by a psychologist and shaped by two decades of feedback from 44,000-plus users, it carries ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR certifications. A free trial is available. For therapists who want AI documentation at the lowest entry price, Zanda is the value pick.
What we like- AI included free on every plan with ambient listening
- Starter at $9.50 a month is the cheapest entry here
- 44,000-plus users and ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR certified
Watch out for- Rebranded from Power Diary, so older reviews use the old name
- Growth pricing scales with practitioners
Starting price$24.95/month (Flex, US)
Free planNo
WriteUpp is practice management software used by more than 50,000 clinicians, from psychotherapists and counselors to physiotherapists and GPs. Pricing is transparent: Flex starts at $24.95 a month per user in the US, Solo at $43.95, with an AI Medical Scribe add-on for $30 a user a month.
It offers online booking, video consultations, invoicing with Stripe, and a dedicated mobile app, with ISO 27001 certification and GDPR compliance. There is no free tier. It suits multi-disciplinary clinics that need one system for many professions, with honest per-user pricing.
What we like- Used by 50,000-plus clinicians across dozens of professions
- Transparent per-user pricing
- Optional AI Medical Scribe add-on
Watch out for- UK-based with GDPR focus that US therapists should verify against HIPAA needs
- AI scribe costs extra
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Cliniko is allied health practice management software built around secure record-keeping, with scheduling, billing, and notes plus integrations like MailChimp and Xero through connected apps. The company emphasizes security as a central feature and donates 2 percent of revenue to charity.
All customers get unlimited free chat and email support from a round-the-clock team. It suits allied health practices, including counselors and psychologists working alongside other disciplines, that want dependable software with human support.
What we like- Transparent pricing philosophy
- Trusted with millions of confidential records
- Unlimited free support from a round-the-clock team
Watch out for- Pricing page was not reachable in our check
- Less behavioral-health-specific than TherapyNotes or TheraNest
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Jane brings scheduling, charting, billing, payments, and patient communication into one connected system for health and wellness clinics. Its community of more than 22,000 practitioners, free Front Desk magazine, and award-winning support team make it as much a professional home as a software product.
Pricing is not published and there is no free tier. It fits wellness-oriented practices, from therapists to multidisciplinary clinics, that want software that understands the work behind the care and a vendor that invests in its users.
What we like- Polished all-in-one system for health and wellness clinics
- 22,000-plus practitioner community
- Award-winning human support
Watch out for- Pricing not published on the page reviewed
- No free tier
How we chose
We compared therapist note taking and practice management software using official vendor pages, pricing pages, and documentation, focusing on note templates and AI documentation, HIPAA compliance, billing and insurance workflows, telehealth, scheduling, client portals, and pricing transparency. We checked reviews on G2, Capterra, and therapist communities. We did not claim hands-on testing; assessments reflect documented features and reported user experience.
What to consider before choosing note taking software for therapists
Start with your note workflow, because that is where you will spend your hours. Do you want structured templates, free-text notes, or AI-drafted notes you review? TherapyNotes and TheraNest lead on AI documentation, Zanda includes AI free on every plan, and CounSol offers the deepest customization. Trial the note editor with a realistic session before anything else.
Confirm HIPAA compliance in writing
Every tool here claims HIPAA compliance, but verify the business associate agreement and data practices yourself, especially with international vendors like WriteUpp and Cliniko where GDPR is the home framework. AI features deserve extra scrutiny: understand where session audio or transcripts go before enabling ambient listening.
Count billing features, not just notes
Notes are only half the job. Insurance billing, superbills, ERA posting, and payment processing determine whether the software pays for itself. SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, and TheraNest have the deepest US insurance workflows. Cash-pay practices can prioritize notes and scheduling over billing depth.
Plan for your growth path
Solo today does not mean solo forever. Check how pricing changes as you add clinicians: WriteUpp's per-user Flex plan and Zanda's Growth tier scale predictably, while some platforms jump sharply at the second user. Also confirm supervisor, biller, and scheduler roles if you plan to hire them.
Why AI notes are changing therapy documentation
AI that drafts progress notes or listens ambiently can cut documentation time dramatically, which is why TherapyNotes, TheraNest, Zanda, and WriteUpp all now offer it. The clinical responsibility stays with you: review every AI draft before signing, and document your review process. Used well, AI notes give therapists their evenings back; used carelessly, they create liability. Choose a vendor whose AI workflow keeps you in control.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best software for therapy notes?
SimplePractice is the best-known all-in-one choice, TherapyNotes is the behavioral health specialist, and Zanda offers the best AI value at $9.50 a month to start. For counselors who want customization, CounSol stands out. The best pick depends on your specialty, billing needs, and whether you want AI assistance.
Is SimplePractice HIPAA compliant?
Yes, SimplePractice is HIPAA compliant and signs business associate agreements. All the tools on this list claim HIPAA compliance, but you should verify the BAA and review data practices for any AI features before use.
Can AI write my therapy notes?
AI can draft progress notes from session content, and several tools offer this: TherapyNotes, TheraNest (as a paid add-on), Zanda (included free), and WriteUpp (as an add-on). You must review and approve every note before signing. Never let AI document a session unsupervised.
How much does therapy practice management software cost?
Entry prices range from Zanda's $9.50 a month (first six months) and WriteUpp's $24.95 a month to quote-based enterprise plans. Most US-focused tools do not publish pricing and charge per clinician per month. Budget $30 to $100-plus per clinician monthly for a full-featured platform.
Do I need separate billing software?
Usually not. SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, TheraNest, and Jane include insurance billing, claims, and payment processing. Solo cash-pay practices may only need invoicing, which every tool here handles. Separate billing services make sense only for high-volume insurance practices with complex needs.
What is the difference between an EHR and practice management software?
An EHR (electronic health record) centers on clinical documentation: notes, treatment plans, and client records. Practice management software centers on operations: scheduling, billing, and communication. Most therapist tools, including all eight here, combine both into one platform.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.simplepractice.com/
- https://therapynotes.com/
- https://theranest.com/
- https://counsol.com/
- https://www.powerdiary.com/
- https://www.writeupp.com/
- https://cliniko.com/
- https://jane.app/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.