SimplePractice vs CoralEHR
SimplePractice is the most popular EHR among therapists, but is it the best fit for a private-pay practice? Here's how the two platforms stack up across pricing, features, and workflow.
Choose SimplePractice if…
- You bill insurance and need built-in claims submission and ERA processing
- You want a large, established marketplace of integrations and add-ons
- You run a multi-discipline wellness practice (not just therapy)
- You need Wiley Treatment Planners for structured treatment planning
- You prefer a platform with a large user community and extensive knowledge base
Choose CoralEHR if…
- You run a private-pay-only practice and want a streamlined, focused workflow
- You want AI-powered clinical notes included at no extra cost
- You want built-in HIPAA-compliant telehealth included in every plan
- You prefer founder-led, personalized support over ticket-based help desks
- You want transparent, simple pricing without per-feature add-on costs
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
O Overview
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Solo & group, all payers | Solo private-pay |
| Scheduling & Reminders | ✓ Email, SMS & voice | ✓ Email & SMS reminders |
| Key Integrations | Stripe, Google Cal, clearinghouses | Stripe, Google Cal |
| Data Export | CSV, PDF, migration support | CSV, PDF export |
P Pricing
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (Solo) | $29/mo | Free Pilot |
| Per Additional Clinician | $29+/mo | TBD |
| Free Trial | ✓ 30-day free trial | ✓ Free pilot program |
| No Setup Fees | ✓ | ✓ |
| Annual Discount | ✓ ~20% off | TBD |
B Billing & Claims
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Billing | ✓ | ✗ Private-pay focused |
| Electronic Claims | ✓ | ✗ |
| Superbills | ✓ | ✓ |
| ERA/EOB Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrated Payments | ✓ Stripe integration | ✓ Stripe integration |
| Cost Per Claim | $0.25/claim | N/A |
| Client Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
T Telehealth
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Video | ✓ | ✓ HIPAA-compliant video |
| Included in Base Price | ~ Essential+ plans | ✓ All plans |
| HIPAA-Compliant Video | ✓ | ✓ E2EE |
| Screen Sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Group Video Sessions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile Telehealth | ✓ iOS & Android app | ✓ |
D Documentation & AI
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| Progress Notes | ✓ | ✓ SOAP & DAP formats |
| Note Templates (SOAP/DAP) | ✓ SOAP/DAP/BIRP | ✓ SOAP/DAP |
| Treatment Plans | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI-Powered Notes | ~ AI Scribe add-on | ✓ AI-powered clinical notes |
| Custom Forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| E-Signatures | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wiley Treatment Planners | ✓ $15/mo add-on | ✗ |
C Client Portal
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| Online Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Digital Intake Forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Secure Messaging | ✓ | ~ Coming soon |
| Client Payment Portal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Document Sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Appointment Reminders | ✓ | ✓ |
S Security & Compliance
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| HIPAA Compliant | ✓ | ✓ |
| BAA Provided | ✓ | ✓ |
| Two-Factor Auth (2FA) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data Encryption | ✓ AES-256 | ✓ E2EE on AWS |
| Audit Logs | ✓ | ✓ |
| SOC 2 Certified | ✗ | ✗ |
S Support
| Feature | SimplePractice | CoralEHR |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | ✗ Essential plan | ✓ Founder's personal line |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Knowledge Base | ✓ | ✓ |
| Onboarding Assistance | ✓ | ✓ Personalized pilot onboarding |
| Dedicated Account Manager | ✗ | ✓ Founder-led support |
Pricing Snapshot
SimplePractice starts at $29/month (Starter plan), but the Starter plan excludes telehealth, secure messaging, and phone support. Most therapists need the Essential plan at $69/month or the Plus plan at $99/month to access the full feature set. Add-ons like AI Scribe and Wiley Treatment Planners cost extra.
CoralEHR is currently in a free pilot program with all features included — AI notes, telehealth, scheduling, payments, and personalized onboarding. No feature gating, no add-on costs.
For a solo private-pay therapist, SimplePractice's Essential plan ($69/month) compared to CoralEHR's pilot (free) represents a meaningful cost difference, especially when you factor in the AI Scribe add-on that SimplePractice charges separately.
Overview
SimplePractice launched in 2012 and has become the most widely used EHR among solo and small-group therapists. It offers a broad feature set covering scheduling, billing, telehealth, documentation, and client management. Its strength lies in breadth: it handles insurance billing, superbills, electronic claims, ERA/EOB processing, and integrates with major clearinghouses.
CoralEHR is purpose-built for private-pay therapists who don't need insurance billing infrastructure. Instead of spreading across every possible use case, CoralEHR focuses on the workflows private-pay clinicians actually use daily: AI-powered note writing, built-in telehealth, Stripe-based payments, and streamlined scheduling. Every feature is included in every plan — no add-on tiers or per-feature upgrades.
The core trade-off is clear: SimplePractice gives you more features (especially around insurance), while CoralEHR gives you a simpler, more focused experience for private-pay work.
Strengths & Weaknesses
SimplePractice Strengths
- Insurance billing infrastructure — full claims submission, ERA/EOB, clearinghouse integrations
- Large ecosystem — extensive integrations, marketplace, and community
- Wiley Treatment Planners available as an add-on
- Mobile app — native iOS and Android apps for on-the-go management
- Mature platform — 10+ years of iteration and polish
SimplePractice Weaknesses
- Feature gating — many core features locked behind higher-tier plans
- AI notes cost extra — AI Scribe is a paid add-on, not included
- Price creep — costs add up quickly with add-ons and per-clinician fees
- No dedicated account manager — support is ticket-based, no direct phone line
- Overbuilt for private-pay — insurance billing features add complexity for therapists who don't bill insurance
CoralEHR Strengths
- AI-powered notes included — no add-on cost for AI clinical documentation
- Built for private-pay — no unnecessary insurance billing complexity
- All features included — telehealth, payments, scheduling in every plan
- Founder-led support — direct access to the founder for onboarding and help
- End-to-end encryption — E2EE on telehealth and data storage
CoralEHR Weaknesses
- No insurance billing — not suitable if you bill insurance
- Newer platform — less track record compared to SimplePractice
- Smaller integration ecosystem — fewer third-party integrations
- Secure messaging coming soon — not yet available
Migration Notes
Switching from SimplePractice to CoralEHR is straightforward for private-pay practices:
- Export your data — SimplePractice supports CSV and PDF exports for client records, notes, and billing history.
- Import to CoralEHR — CoralEHR's onboarding team will help you import client demographics, appointment history, and documents.
- Redirect scheduling links — Update your website and Psychology Today profile to point to your new CoralEHR scheduling link.
- Notify clients — Use CoralEHR's intake forms to re-collect any necessary consents with the new platform.
Most solo practices complete the migration in a single onboarding session with the CoralEHR team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about SimplePractice vs CoralEHR.
Ready to Try CoralEHR?
See how CoralEHR simplifies private-pay therapy practice management with AI-powered notes, built-in telehealth, and Stripe payments.
Reviewed by Aanish Sachdev, Co-Founder of CoralEHR
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