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PracticeSuite vs Kareo vs NextGen Healthcare EHR vs Athenahealth EHR Comparison

Last updated:

PracticeSuite

4.2(10 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Large Enterprises

PracticeSuite is a comprehensive healthcare practice management software solution designed to help healthcare professionals get their medical practice running more efficiency. Its secure communication system allows patie…

Kareo

4.1(110 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Kareo is the perfect solution for independent medical professionals, with intuitive onboarding and training, and no cumbersome features. This comprehensive platform includes interactive tools made for medical professiona…

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…

Athenahealth EHR

3.3(26 reviews)

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…

PracticeSuite leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 10 reviews.

PracticeSuite vs Kareo vs NextGen Healthcare EHR vs Athenahealth EHR — at a glance

FeaturePracticeSuiteKareoNextGen Healthcare EHRAthenahealth EHR
Rating4.2 / 54.1 / 53.3 / 5
Reviews1011026
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricingContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No No No
Free version No No No No
Best forIndividuals, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryMedical Practice Management SoftwareEHR SoftwareEHR SoftwareEHR Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesOnlineOnlineOnlineOnline
CertificationsHIPAAHIPAASOC 2, HIPAASOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR
Data residencyUSUSGlobalUS

Key differences between PracticeSuite and Kareo

  • Free trial: PracticeSuite offers a free trial; Kareo does not.
  • Target audience: PracticeSuite is built for Individuals and Large Enterprises, while Kareo targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: PracticeSuite scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
  • Deployment: PracticeSuite supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Kareo supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare PracticeSuite vs Kareo vs NextGen Healthcare EHR vs Athenahealth EHR — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Medical Practice Management 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.

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Free PDF comparison

Download this PracticeSuite vs Kareo vs NextGen Healthcare EHR vs Athenahealth EHR comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

PracticeSuite

Best for small to medium medical practices needing streamlined management features.

Choose if
  • You want a unified platform with eRegistration, automated reminders, and mobile check-in.
  • You need a secure patient communication portal integrated into practice management.
  • Your practice is small or medium-sized seeking a simple, streamlined workflow solution.
Consider alternatives if
  • You represent a large hospital system requiring extensive enterprise-grade customization.
  • You need transparent, publicly available pricing before committing to a solution.

Kareo

Best for small independent medical practices needing simple, integrated EHR and billing.

Choose if
  • You run a small to medium independent medical practice with up to 50 employees.
  • You want an all-in-one platform combining clinical documentation, billing, telemedicine, and marketing.
  • You prioritize intuitive onboarding and a user-friendly interface tailored for medical professionals.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require enterprise-grade customization and complex third-party integrations.
  • You need transparent, fixed pricing to simplify budget planning.

NextGen Healthcare EHR

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Athenahealth EHR

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

PracticeSuite: Best for small to medium medical practices needing streamlined management features. Kareo: Best for small independent medical practices needing simple, integrated EHR and billing.

Description

PracticeSuite is a comprehensive healthcare practice management software solution designed to help healthcare professionals get their medical practice running more efficiency. Its secure ... Read More about PracticeSuite

Kareo is the perfect solution for independent medical professionals, with intuitive onboarding and training, and no cumbersome features. This comprehensive platform includes interactive ... Read More about Kareo

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

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

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • No free trial
  • No free trial
  • No free trial

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.2

(10)

3.3

(26)

Best Company Size

Small businessesMedium businesses
1-50 employeesSmall to Medium Businesses
50 – 1,000+ Employees
5–50 Employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

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.

Strengths

Key strengths

Kareo

  • Intuitive Onboarding and User-Friendly Interface: Designed to minimize the learning curve with straightforward workflows tailored for independent medical professionals.
  • Comprehensive Suite of Tools: Includes clinical documentation, e-prescribing, billing automation, telemedicine, and patient engagement features all in one platform.
  • Integrated Billing and Marketing Solutions: Kareo Billing automates claims and payments, while Kareo Engage supports practice branding and online presence management.

NextGen Healthcare EHR

  • 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.

Athenahealth EHR

  • 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.
Best fit

Best fit

Kareo

  • 1 – 50 employees
  • Independent Medical Practices, Primary Care, Specialty Clinics, Mental Health, Physical Therapy
  • Physicians, Practice Managers, Medical Billers, Clinicians, Office Administrators

NextGen Healthcare EHR

  • 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

Athenahealth EHR

  • 5–50 Employees
  • General Medical Practices, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Multispecialty Clinics
  • Physicians, Medical Assistants, Practice Managers, Billing Specialists, IT Support Staff
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Kareo

  • Some providers seek platforms with more advanced customization options for workflows and documentation beyond Kareo’s standard templates.
  • Users managing larger practices or multiple specialties may require scalable solutions with deeper reporting and analytics features.
  • Certain clinicians look for more integrated patient engagement tools, such as automated reminders and advanced communication channels.

NextGen Healthcare EHR

  • 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.

Athenahealth EHR

  • 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.

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do PracticeSuite, Kareo, NextGen Healthcare EHR and Athenahealth EHR Compare on Features?

Total Features

11 Features

4 Features

9 Features

7 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare PracticeSuite, Kareo, NextGen Healthcare EHR and Athenahealth 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.

Pricing Option

          Pricing Plans

          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available

          Pricing Page

          PracticeSuite pricing

          Pricing information not available

          NextGen Healthcare EHR pricing

          Pricing information not available

          Other Details

          Organization Types supported

          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers

          Platforms Supported

          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)

          Modes of support

          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

          Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

          SOC 2

          HIPAA

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          GDPR

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🇺🇸 US
          🇺🇸 US

          PracticeSuite vs Kareo vs NextGen Healthcare EHR User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          No reviews available for the product

          Rating Distribution

          5

          4

          1

          0

          0

          16

          0

          2

          1

          5

          64

          62

          22

          9

          9

          5

          11

          6

          0

          8

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Users generally appreciate the comprehensive features and ease of use but note limited pricing transparency and smaller user community.

          What buyers like

          • Feature completeness
          • Patient communication
          • Workflow efficiency

          Common complaints

          • Pricing clarity
          • Limited user feedback

          Buyer sentiment

          Users appreciate Kareo's ease of use and comprehensive features tailored for small medical practices but note concerns around pricing transparency and limited advanced customization.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Comprehensive feature set
          • Effective billing automation

          Common complaints

          • Pricing transparency
          • Limited advanced customization

          What buyers like

          • Easy to navigate and customize templates for individual needs, with support from the user community.
          • The system is user-friendly, quick to navigate, and has good training resources available.
          • Combines EHR and Practice Management into one system, providing a seamless experience.

          Common complaints

          • The interface design may feel outdated and lacks modern features, affecting user experience.
          • Some functions require multiple clicks to access, slowing down workflow efficiency.
          • Reports and customization options can be complex and challenging to set up, especially for large-scale systems.

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is mixed across 30 reviews, so it is worth reviewing the tradeoffs closely.

          What buyers like

          • Convenient and easy to share and update electronic records.
          • Intuitive scheduling system, helpful for both office staff and patients.
          • User-friendly interface, especially for daily patient record tracking.

          Common complaints

          • Disappointing implementation experience with setup complexities and lack of pre-formatted tools.
          • Limited training and support resources, making navigation difficult for new users.
          • Some users find the system non-intuitive in workflows.

          Pros and Cons

          • Comprehensive feature set including eRegistration, automated reminders, and mobile check-in

          • Secure patient communication portal

          • Unified platform for practice management tasks

          • Limited publicly available pricing information

          • Smaller user base with limited review volume

          • Intuitive onboarding and user-friendly interface tailored for medical professionals

          • Comprehensive all-in-one platform including clinical documentation, billing automation, telemedicine, and patient engagement

          • Integrated billing and marketing solutions that automate claims and support practice branding

          • Pricing is quotation-based with no publicly available starting price, complicating budget planning

          • Limited suitability for large enterprises with complex customization needs

          • Easy to navigate and customize templates for individual needs, with support from the user community.

          • The system is user-friendly, quick to navigate, and has good training resources available.

          • Combines EHR and Practice Management into one system, providing a seamless experience.

          • The interface design may feel outdated and lacks modern features, affecting user experience.

          • Some functions require multiple clicks to access, slowing down workflow efficiency.

          • Convenient and easy to share and update electronic records.

          • Intuitive scheduling system, helpful for both office staff and patients.

          • User-friendly interface, especially for daily patient record tracking.

          • Disappointing implementation experience with setup complexities and lack of pre-formatted tools.

          • Limited training and support resources, making navigation difficult for new users.

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          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

          No reviews available for the product

          List of Customers

          Customers

          No Customers information available.

          No Customers information available.

          Vision Care

          Vision Care

          KATZEN EYE GROUP

          KATZEN EYE GROUP

          Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services

          Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services

          No Customers information available.

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          Dashboard

          2 Screenshots

          Dashboard

          1 Screenshots

          Videos

          video-0

          3 Videos

          video-0

          2 Videos

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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, PracticeSuite or Kareo?
          PracticeSuite edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
          Do PracticeSuite and Kareo offer a free trial?
          PracticeSuite offers a free trial. Kareo does not.
          What is the starting price of PracticeSuite vs Kareo?
          PracticeSuite starts at Contact for pricing. Kareo starts at Contact for pricing.
          What are the top alternatives to PracticeSuite?
          Top alternatives to PracticeSuite include Practice Fusion, PracticeStudio, PrimeSuite, AdvancedScheduling, Qualified.
          What are the top alternatives to Kareo?
          Top alternatives to Kareo include NextGen Healthcare EHR, Athenahealth EHR, Doctor Sahab, Qualified, Drchrono.

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