Athenahealth EHR vs SimplePractice vs NextGen Healthcare EHR Comparison
Athenahealth EHR
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Athenahealth EHR is designed to make it easy for medical professionals to stay ahead of industry changes and maintain exceptional care. This software provides accurate documentation enabling users to excel in providing q…
SimplePractice
Starting at $39 /Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
SimplePractice is your ideal practice management and EHR partner, integrating online appointment requests, telehealth and paperless intakes. A perfect choice for over 10,000 practitioners and 44M+ clients, this software…
NextGen Healthcare EHR
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
NextGen Healthcare EHR is a robust, cloud-based electronic health record platform designed to streamline clinical, operational, and revenue workflows in ambulatory care settings. Tailored for practices of all sizes, it o…
SimplePractice leads on user satisfaction with a 3.8-star rating across 987 reviews.
Athenahealth EHR vs SimplePractice vs NextGen Healthcare EHR — at a glance
| Feature | Athenahealth EHR | SimplePractice | NextGen Healthcare EHR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.3 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 | — |
| Reviews | 26 | 987 | — |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $39 /Month | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | No | Yes | No |
| Free version | No | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | EHR Software | EHR Software | EHR Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | — | — |
| Support modes | Online | Online | Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR | SOC 2, HIPAA | SOC 2, HIPAA |
| Data residency | US | US | Global |
Key differences between Athenahealth EHR and SimplePractice
- Pricing: SimplePractice starts at $39 /Month. Athenahealth EHR pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: SimplePractice offers a free trial; Athenahealth EHR does not.
- User satisfaction: SimplePractice scores higher with a 3.8-star average.
- Deployment: Athenahealth EHR supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; SimplePractice supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Compare Athenahealth EHR vs SimplePractice vs NextGen Healthcare EHR — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most EHR Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Athenahealth EHR typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. SimplePractice tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Athenahealth EHR is designed to make it easy for medical professionals to stay ahead of industry changes and maintain exceptional care. This software provides accurate documentation ... Read More about Athenahealth EHR | SimplePractice is your ideal practice management and EHR partner, integrating online appointment requests, telehealth and paperless intakes. A perfect choice for over 10,000 practitioners ... Read More about SimplePractice | NextGen Healthcare EHR is a robust, cloud-based electronic health record platform designed to streamline clinical, operational, and revenue workflows in ambulatory care settings. Tailored ... Read More about NextGen Healthcare EHR |
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Best Company Size | 5–50 Employees | 1 – 50 employees | 50 – 1,000+ Employees |
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Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Integrated billing and scheduling: Athenahealth provides seamless integration between billing, scheduling, and clinical documentation, streamlining administrative tasks and reducing errors.
- Cloud-based accessibility: Being a cloud-based platform, Athenahealth allows healthcare providers to access patient records and manage workflows remotely, enhancing flexibility and continuity of care.
- Regulatory compliance support: The system is designed to help practices comply with healthcare regulations, including HIPAA, by incorporating necessary features such as secure messaging and audit trails.
- Streamlined Practice Management in One Platform: Offers appointment scheduling, telehealth, secure communication, paperless intake, reminders, document storage, and AutoPay — all under one clean interface.
- Reliable for Virtual and In-Person Services: Built to support hybrid care delivery with consistent tools for solo or group practitioners across both virtual and physical care models.
- Secure Client Portal and Automated Workflows: Provides clients with a secure space for messaging, intake, scheduling, and payments while automating admin tasks for the provider.
- Comprehensive feature-rich platform: Includes patient portal, specialty-specific workflows, practice management, e‑prescribing, and revenue cycle management—all under one cloud-based system.
- Customizable and scalable: Highly adaptable templates, smart phrases, and specialty modules make it a solid fit for diverse healthcare settings from outpatient to hospitals.
- Integrated patient engagement & mobility: Secure messaging, appointment management, mobile access, and population health tools improve patient experience and provider efficiency.
Best fit
- 5–50 Employees
- General Medical Practices, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Multispecialty Clinics
- Physicians, Medical Assistants, Practice Managers, Billing Specialists, IT Support Staff
- 1 – 50 employees
- Mental Health, Counseling, Speech Therapy, Life Coaching, Nutrition, Wellness Services, Behavioral Health
- Therapists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Coaches, Practice Owners, Billing Coordinators, Administrative Assistants
- 50 – 1,000+ Employees
- Healthcare, Ambulatory Care, Specialty Clinics, Community Hospitals, Group Practices
- Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Managers, Medical Billers, Health IT Staff, Care Coordinators
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- While Athenahealth offers some degree of customization, many users find it insufficient for tailoring workflows and templates to specific practice needs. This limitation can hinder efficiency and adaptability.
- Users have reported instances of system lag and slow loading times, which can disrupt clinical workflows and reduce productivity.
- The platform's complexity necessitates comprehensive training for staff, which can be time-consuming and may temporarily disrupt practice operations.
- Many users find the platform’s templates and workflows too rigid, with few options for custom fields, branding, or flexible intake flows.
- Reported issues include occasional telehealth lags, syncing disruptions, and problems with ERA (Electronic Remittance Advice) payments, which can interrupt clinical and billing workflows.
- SimplePractice offers limited integrations with external billing systems, lab tools, or insurance platforms, which can be a constraint for growing practices with broader ecosystem needs.
- The interface requires significant time to master, especially for users transitioning from more intuitive platforms.
- Tasks like rescheduling appointments often involve multiple steps, increasing administrative burden.
- Users report delays and system sluggishness—sometimes exacerbated by server load or internet bandwidth issues.
Software Demo
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How do Athenahealth EHR, SimplePractice and NextGen Healthcare EHR Compare on Features?
Total Features | 7 Features | 7 Features | 9 Features |
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Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
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Compare Athenahealth EHR, SimplePractice and NextGen Healthcare EHR on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available | Pricing information not available |  |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
ISO 27001 | — | ✗ No |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
Athenahealth EHR vs SimplePractice User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | No reviews available for the product | ||
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Rating Distribution | |||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is mixed across 30 reviews, so it is worth reviewing the tradeoffs closely. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is mixed to positive across 1642 reviews, with clear strengths and a few common watchouts. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. | No Customers information available. |  Vision Care  KATZEN EYE GROUP  Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  6 Screenshots |
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Videos |  2 Videos |  3 Videos |
Alternatives
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Athenahealth EHR or SimplePractice?
- SimplePractice edges out the other on user ratings (3.8 vs 3.3). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Athenahealth EHR and SimplePractice offer a free trial?
- SimplePractice offers a free trial. Athenahealth EHR does not.
- What is the starting price of Athenahealth EHR vs SimplePractice?
- Athenahealth EHR starts at Contact for pricing. SimplePractice starts at $39 /Month.
- What are the top alternatives to Athenahealth EHR?
- Top alternatives to Athenahealth EHR include NextGen Healthcare EHR, Vaxi Buddy, 75Health EHR, Azalea Health, Intelligent Medical Software by Meditab Software.
- What are the top alternatives to SimplePractice?
- Top alternatives to SimplePractice include NextGen Healthcare EHR, Athenahealth EHR, Carepatron, TherapyAppointment, PracticeStudio.