I recently revisited Carepatron as part of our ongoing mental health EHR review updates, testing it hands-on alongside other EHR platforms. Carepatron stands out primarily for its low cost and unusually generous free plan, offering core features like scheduling, documentation, telehealth, and a client portal at a price point well below most competitors.
Carepatron is a great fit for solo clinicians and small practices that want a simple, modern system offered at a low cost, without paying for advanced business or reporting tools. Carepatron’s main limitations show up as practices become more complex, and are particularly centered around insurance workflows, analytics, and deeper customization.
Carepatron At a Glance
Cost: $29–$49 monthly per clinician (an optional free plan may be feasible for some very small practices)
Best For: Solo clinicians and small practices that want a low-cost, modern EHR with strong clinical forms and automation
Pros & Cons
Pros - Very low monthly cost compared to most therapy EHRs
- Large shared library of templates for notes, intakes, and assessments
- Generous free plan for testing before committing
- Clean interface with strong automation and AI-assisted tools
- Core features included without heavy upsells
Cons - Reporting and analytics are limited for more complex practices
- No built-in marketing tools (directory, website builder, announcements)
- Insurance billing is functional but not especially advanced
Preview Carepatron
Carepatron is a modern, budget-friendly EHR that covers the essentials without inflating costs or locking features behind high-tier plans. Scheduling, telehealth, documentation, billing, and a client portal are all included at a price point that’s hard to beat, and its large template library makes it easy to get started without building everything from scratch.
While Carepatron handles most day-to-day workflows well, it lacks advanced reporting, marketing tools, and some of the more state-of-the-art features found in higher-priced platforms. For solo clinicians or small practices that want a straightforward, affordable system with thoughtful automation, Carepatron offers strong value. Practices that need deeper analytics or business-building tools may eventually outgrow it.
If Carepatron doesn’t seem like the best fit for you, check out the closest alternatives, or visit our list of the best mental health EHRs for more options to suit your practice.
SimplePractice’s EHR for therapists has everything you need to run your practice easily and efficiently. From booking and scheduling to insurance billing, SimplePractice does it all.
My Best Practice is an EHR designed by therapists to support therapists using evidence-based treatments. From online booking to note taking to insurance billing, My Best Practice makes running your practice easy. Starting at just $39 per month.
Detailed Review of Carepatron
Carepatron is a budget-friendly mental health EHR that focuses on delivering core practice management features at a much lower cost than most competitors. In hands-on testing, it covers scheduling, documentation, telehealth, billing, and client management reliably, while standing out for its large shared template library and built-in automation tools. Where Carepatron shows its limits is in its lack of reporting depth, advanced administrative controls, and built-in business or marketing features.
Review our scoring criteria for EHRs, EMRs, and PMS for therapists.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
Client Records & Intake Management
Carepatron handles client records in a way that feels practical and well thought out, especially for a low-cost platform. The client list view is clean and customizable, allowing you to sort, filter, and show or hide columns based on what you actually track day to day. You can change client status directly from the list, assign clients to teams, and import large caseloads using a pre-formatted CSV.
Carepatron’s import tool supports direct migration from platforms like SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, and other EHRs, and in our testing it handled uploads quickly and accurately. This makes Carepatron a little easier for clinicians switching systems.
Inside an individual client chart, information is organized in a logical way. An overview page surfaces upcoming appointments and balances, followed by clear tabs for documentation, demographics, relationships, billing, insurance, and files. The demographics section is customizable, allowing you to rearrange fields or add new sections to better match your workflow.
Carepatron also includes a dedicated Relationships tab for tracking family members, caregivers, emergency contacts, or other providers involved in a clients care. Permissions and portal access can be set per relationship, which is especially useful for family-based, collaborative, or supervised care models.
Intake forms and documentation are where Carepatron really stands out. Even on the free plan, you get access to a massive library of prebuilt templates covering intake forms, SOAP notes, treatment plans, assessments, worksheets, and client handouts. In addition to Carepatron’s built-in templates, you can browse and use thousands of community-shared documents, making it easy to get started without building everything from scratch.
Creating or modifying templates is straightforward thanks to a drag-and-drop editor that works consistently across notes, intakes, and handouts. Templates can be organized into folders, reused across workflows, and customized without needing technical setup. For clinicians using Carepatron’s AI Scribe, templates can also include Smart Prompts that automatically populate fields or trigger tasks based on session transcripts, which can meaningfully reduce documentation time once configured. All of these forms can also be organized into packets and automated workflows.
Taken together, Carepatron delivers one of the strongest client records and intake experiences available for such a low price point. The combination of flexible client management, smooth imports, and an unusually large template library makes it well suited for a wide range of practice styles. Based on our scoring criteria, Carepatron earns 4 out of 5 stars for Client Records & Data Management and 5 out of 5 stars for Intake & Assessment.
Scheduling & Calendar Management
Carepatron’s calendar system is simple, intuitive, and low-friction. You get a familiar drag-and-drop interface with daily, weekly, and agenda views; nothing flashy, but everything works the way you’d expect. Setting up appointments is quick, and you can customize session types, durations, reminders, and availability with ease.
The calendar is well-integrated with the rest of the platform. You can launch telehealth sessions directly from an appointment, tie appointments to billing or documentation workflows, and quickly access client records or notes without switching tabs.
Clients can request appointments through the portal, and availability syncing is included even at lower pricing tiers.
Carepatron’s calendar and scheduling features are easy to use, dependable, and well-integrated, earning them 4 out of 5 stars in the Calendar & Scheduling rating category.
Clinical Documentation & Treatment Planning
Carepatron strikes a good balance between structured documentation and flexible workflow. You can choose from dozens of built-in note templates: everything from SOAP and DAP to more narrative-focused styles—or you can create your own using the same intuitive drag-and-drop system used for intake forms.
As I mentioned earlier, I was very impressed with the huge library of templates available on Carepatron, and the same is true for clinical documentation. In addition to the documentation templates provided by Carepatron, practitioners have shared hundreds of different options that you can import and use for free.
Carepatron’s AI Charting Assistant allows you to transcribe telehealth sessions or dictate progress notes directly, then uses that transcript to generate a full note. You can also use AI Smart Prompts within notes and treatment plans to summarize content, generate client goals, or even draft referral letters based on what’s already written. Since I’m not always the biggest fan of having AI scribes listen in on client sessions, I appreciated the ability to simply dictate a summary to the tool directly.
In testing, the charting assistant was fast, accurate, and impressively easy to use. Even basic notes can benefit from automation via saved templates and reusable fields. The huge number of integrations you can add to templates makes the AI scribe very versatile. Carepatron states that its AI features remain HIPAA, GDPR, and PIPEDA compliant and that it ensures no transcript data is ever used for AI model training. Carepatron does not publicly state what tech or specific LLM their AI tools are based on, or the precise details of how data is handled.
We rated Carepatron’s documentation system 4 out of 5 stars in this category.
Telehealth & Client Engagement
Carepatron’s built-in telehealth platform feels modern and easy to use. Launching a video session is as simple as clicking an appointment on your calendar, and once you’re in, the layout quickly makes sense. The system is very reminiscent of Google Meet in both design and functionality. You get everything you’d expect: screen sharing, in-session chat, background blur, virtual backgrounds, emoji reactions, and stable video performance.
Carepatron’s optional AI scribe is built into the telehealth platform. During setup, you can customize the scribe’s level of detail, as well as how it refers to each participant (by name, role, etc.). You can enable the scribe at any point during the session, and it will generate a full transcript and structured progress note using the information from the call. It’s fast, surprisingly accurate, and really could be a time-saver. If you prefer, you can dictate a session summary to the AI scribe rather than having it listen in during the session.
The telehealth feature is user friendly and easy for clients to join. Clients don’t need to install anything or jump through hoops to join a session, and the experience on their end is just as seamless. Group video calls are also supported on the higher-tier plans, making Carepatron a solid option for practices running group therapy or workshops.
Carepatron earns a strong 4 out of 5 stars in the Telehealth & Client Engagement category.
Insurance Billing & Revenue Cycle Management
Carepatron supports both self-pay and insurance billing. Insurance billing is available on all paid plans as a $0.25 per-claim fee and allows clinicians to generate claims, create superbills, and manage insurance details directly within each client’s billing tab. Claims, balances, invoices, and payments are easy to track in one place, and the interface makes setup and submission straightforward. Eligibility checks cost $0.15 each.
Carepatron also supports ERAs and insurance verification, which helps reduce manual reconciliation. However, insurance features remain relatively basic. Practices with complex payer rules, high claim volume, or advanced billing needs may find the automation and configurability more limited than more insurance-focused platforms.
Copay, self-pay, and other payments are processed through Stripe and are available even on the free plan. Clinicians can accept one-time or recurring payments, generate invoices and receipts, and tie charges directly to appointments or services. Clients can view and pay balances through the portal, and built-in reminders help reduce missed payments with minimal setup.
Overall, Carepatron delivers a clean, easy-to-use billing experience that works especially well for self-pay and light insurance use. Based on our scoring criteria, it earns 4 out of 5 stars for Billing & Payments.
Reporting & Administrative Tools
Carepatron handles day-to-day practice operations well, offering a clean and centralized interface for managing clients, appointments, documentation, and billing. It’s particularly strong for solo providers or small teams thanks to built-in tools like team permissions, customizable client fields, shared inboxes (via Gmail or Microsoft integrations), and easy appointment workflows. You can also manage your intake pipeline, document library, forms, programs, and payments without jumping between tabs or systems.
What Carepatron lacks, however, is a robust reporting suite. Unlike some competitors, it doesn’t offer pre-built financial, clinical, or operational reports that can be generated with a click. You can still track individual client data, view balances and invoices in the billing tab, and filter claim statuses, but for full-practice insights or long-term analytics, you’ll likely need to export data manually or use third-party integrations (like Google Analytics or Zapier) to bridge the gap.
Additional features include the ability to change your logo and colors, update PDF templates and headers, and adjust interface preferences. The client portal is clean, easy to use, and includes a helpful “view as client” feature, which makes it easier to preview and adjust your client-facing setup without guessing.
We gave Carepatron 4 out of 5 stars in this category of our scoring criteria.
Support, Onboarding, & Training
Carepatron takes more of a self-service approach to customer support which aligns well with its low price. Most of the help you’ll need can be found in their searchable Help Center, which is well-organized and filled with walkthroughs and short articles on everything from setting up AI charting to customizing your client portal. Most guides are easy to follow, and new users will likely be able to get their practice up and running without much external help. I didn’t run into issues that I couldn’t solve with a quick visit to the help center.
If you do run into issues, live support is included, even on the free plan, which is a nice touch. That said, support volume and responsiveness may vary depending on your plan. Higher tiers advertise priority support, while free users may experience longer turnaround times. There’s no phone support or live chat built into the interface, but email-based support appears to be the standard and is generally well-reviewed in the public feedback we found.
Overall, Carepatron’s support model is efficient and self-service-oriented. It won’t hold your hand every step of the way, but the documentation is strong and the platform is intuitive enough that you may never need much help at all. We rated it 4 out of 5 stars in this category.
Carepatron Cost & Pricing Plans
Carepatron’s pricing is per clinician and ranges from free to $49 per month, with discounted annual billing rates available.
For most mental health practices, the Essential plan ($29 monthly) is the realistic entry point. While the Free plan can work temporarily for very small, cash-pay-only setups, most clinicians will want reminders, calendar sync, and insurance billing fairly early on, which the Free plan lacks.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Carepatron’s pricing plans:
- Free – $0: limited automation; no insurance billing or group features
- Essential – $29 monthly (or $276 annually): best starting point for most solo practices includes everything you need to run a basic in-person or telehealth therapy practice.
- Plus – $39 monthly (or $372 annually): unlocks group workflows and adds more storage
- Advanced – $49 monthly (or $468 annually): adds admin controls, white labeling, and premium support
Free Plan – $0 monthly
The Free plan includes basic scheduling, a client portal, one-on-one telehealth, online payments, and limited automation (1,000 AI credits, 1,000 tasks, 1GB storage per month). It does not support insurance billing, calendar sync, online booking policies, or group sessions.
A realistic fit for this plan is a very small, cash-pay-only solo practice testing Carepatron, or a new clinician setting up systems before seeing consistent volume. Once things ramp up, or insurance is involved, the free plan is no longer suitable.
Essential Plan – $29 monthly (or $276 annually)
The Essential plan is where Carepatron becomes viable for most clinical use. It unlocks appointment reminders, calendar sync, increased automation limits (10,000 AI credits, 5,000 tasks, 10GB storage per month), and—most critically—insurance billing, starting at $0.25 per electronic claim (full insurance billing fees listed below).
This is the best starting point for most solo clinicians, especially those doing a mix of private pay and insurance. Group sessions and advanced video features are still not included at this tier.
Plus Plan – $39 monthly (or $372 annually)
The Plus plan includes the features of Essential, plus unlocks Carepatron’s full group workflow, including group appointments, group telehealth, unlimited tasks and storage, and a much higher monthly automation ceiling (50k AI credits) and unlimited data storage.
This tier makes sense for clinicians who:
- Run group sessions regularly
- Lean heavily on automation and task tracking
- Want fewer limits as volume grows
Advanced Plan – $49 monthly (or $468 annually)
The Advanced plan is designed for larger or more complex practices. It includes the features offered in Plus and adds features relevant to group practices such as customizable roles and permissions, white labeling of the workspace and interfaces, premium support, an assigned onboarding manager, and unlimited AI automation.
Te Advanced tier is less about new clinical features and more about control, branding, and support for larger or more complex organizations.
Additional Costs to Budget For
In addition to base subscription pricing, Carepatron has fees for insurance and payment processing:
- Electronic insurance claims: $0.25 per claim (no separate fee for ERA)
- Eligibility checks: $0.15 per check
- Credit card processing: 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction (via Stripe)
What Carepatron Costs in Real World Scenarios
For a solo practice offering both in-person and telehealth sessions that is mostly cash-pay, total software costs would land around $29–39 per month, depending on whether you choose the Essential or Plus plan.
If that same solo practice begins billing insurance regularly, costs increase gradually based on usage. At roughly 30–40 insurance sessions per month, total monthly costs usually fall in the $40–$50 range, factoring in claim submissions and occasional eligibility checks.
SimplePractice’s EHR for therapists has everything you need to run your practice easily and efficiently. From booking and scheduling to insurance billing, SimplePractice does it all.
My Best Practice is an EHR designed by therapists to support therapists using evidence-based treatments. From online booking to note taking to insurance billing, My Best Practice makes running your practice easy. Starting at just $39 per month.
User Reviews
Across review platforms, Carepatron receives generally positive feedback, especially around affordability, breadth of features for the cost, and flexibility for many practice types. Users frequently frame it as a strong value-oriented alternative to more expensive EHRs, particularly for solo and early-stage practices. That said, reviews also surface occasional concerns around consistency, especially regarding newer features like insurance billing, or advanced workflows, however many negative reviews seem more situational than chronic.
Taken together, user feedback seems to position Carepatron as a capable, budget-friendly EHR that delivers a lot for the price, with tradeoffs in refinement and stability compared to more mature platforms.
SoftwareAdvice | 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ~500 reviews
- Positive reviews on SoftwareAdvice are abundant and strongly emphasize value for money. Users consistently praise Carepatron for being easy to learn, affordable, and flexible enough to support solo practices and small teams. Scheduling, documentation, client portals, and telehealth are commonly cited as reliable and straightforward, with many reviewers noting meaningful cost savings after switching from higher-priced EHRs.
- Critical reviews on SoftwareAdvice are relatively rare and generally focus on limitations rather than total failures. Some users mention that reporting and analytics are basic, or that certain workflows feel less refined than more established platforms. A handful of reviewers note occasional performance hiccups or learning curves around advanced features, but these are typically framed as minor drawbacks rather than dealbreakers.
SoftwareAdvice | 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ~490 reviews
- Positive reviews on G2 tend to be more detailed and feature-specific. Users frequently highlight Carepatron’s flexibility, customizable templates, and breadth of included features at a low price point. Many reviews praise the platform for covering essential workflows without forcing costly upgrades. Reliability and overall stability are also commonly mentioned. Note that the vast majority of reviews on G2 are marked as invited by the seller and “incentivized.”
- Critical reviews on G2 are limited in number and generally focus on refinement rather than capability. Some users note that the interface feels utilitarian compared to more design-forward competitors, or that mobile functionality is more limited than desktop use. A small number of reviews mention that advanced reporting or enterprise-level controls may fall short for larger practices.
Trustpilot | 3.4 out of 5 Stars | ~25 reviews
- Positive reviews on Trustpilot tend to focus on cost, accessibility, and customer support. Reviewers often mention that Carepatron offers “everything they need” at a fraction of the cost of competitors, with particular appreciation for telehealth, billing access, and the client portal at low price points. Several users also note responsive support when onboarding or troubleshooting.
- Critical reviews most often raise concerns about reliability and consistency rather than missing features. A handful of reviewers describe occasional technical issues with telehealth, workflow interruptions, or frustrations related to payment processing. These reviews are fewer in number but tend to be more detailed, suggesting occasional situational friction rather than a more widespread dissatisfaction.
Reddit | r/therapists, r/psychotherapy, r/privatepractice
- Positive sentiment on Reddit for Carepatron most often appears in discussions about alternatives to SimplePractice or rising EHR costs. Clinicians who mention switching to Carepatron frequently cite lower monthly fees and fewer surprise charges while maintaining adequate core functionality as key reasons for the move.
- Critical sentiment on Reddit is minimal. Some users ultimately choose other platforms based on aesthetics, ecosystem depth, or personal workflow preferences, but there are few direct complaints about Carepatron itself to be found.
Alternatives & Competitors
Carepatron offers an appealing blend of affordability, usability, and modern AI features, but it’s certainly not the only EHR to consider. Depending on your priorities, you may find that a more established platform offers better insurance tools, deeper reporting, or more advanced customization options. Below, we compare Carepatron to a few popular alternatives: SimplePractice, Sessions Health, Practice Better, and My Best Practice.
SimplePractice
Cost: $49–$99+ monthly
Compared to Carepatron: More established and feature-rich, but significantly more expensive over time.
SimplePractice offers a broader set of features, with stronger reporting, better insurance billing, and built-in marketing features like a website builder and therapist directory. It’s widely used and reliable, particularly for insurance-heavy practices.
Learn more in our full review of SimplePractice.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Strong insurance billing and ERA handling
- More advanced reporting and analytics
- Built-in marketing tools and polished client experience
Cons - Higher monthly cost than many similar EHRs
- Less flexible automation
Sessions Health
Cost: ~$39–$59/month for a solo setup with telehealth and insurance billing
Compared to Carepatron: Simpler and more focused, but with fewer automation and customization features.
Sessions Health prioritizes ease of use and straightforward workflows. It’s designed to be quick to learn and maintain, covering core scheduling, documentation, and billing without extra layers of complexity.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Lower monthly cost for solo practices
- Simple, easy-to-learn interface
- Straightforward insurance billing
- Minimal setup and maintenance
Cons - Limited automation and customization
- Less flexibility in documentation workflows than Carepatron
Practice Better
Cost: $65/month for a solo clinician on the Professional plan
Compared to Carepatron: More powerful client engagement tools, but higher overall cost.
Practice Better goes beyond traditional EHR functionality, offering programs, courses, habit tracking, and wellness-focused client engagement. It’s best suited for therapy-plus-wellness models.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Strong client engagement and program tools
- Supports courses, groups, and wellness tracking
- Flexible for non-traditional practice models
Cons - Insurance billing adds additional cost
- Less focused on therapy-specific documentation structure
- Higher overall cost for most practices
My Best Practice
Cost: ~$39–$59/month for a solo setup with telehealth
Compared to Carepatron: Stronger documentation features, but fewer high-end client-facing tools.
My Best Practice is built for clinicians who value structured documentation and session planning. Its session agendas, homework, and progress-tracking tools actively support clinical workflows in ways Carepatron doesn’t.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Strong client engagement and program tools
- Supports courses, groups, and wellness tracking
- Flexible for non-traditional practice models
Cons - Insurance billing adds additional cost
- Less focused on therapy-specific documentation structure
- Higher overall cost for most practices
Why You Can Trust My Review
“I personally spent time using Carepatron hands-on, exploring everything from onboarding to note-taking, telehealth sessions, payments, and more. I tested real workflows, created clients, uploaded templates, and tried out the AI tools to see how it all actually holds up in real-world scenarios.
I also reviewed user feedback from hundreds of verified reviewers and evaluated Carepatron against our in-house scoring system, which looks at real-world usability, customization, reliability, pricing, and support. Carepatron stands out for its flexibility, generous free plan, and forward-thinking AI features. It’s a strong option for solo providers, new practices, or anyone looking to grow without overspending on software.”
History & News
Year Founded: 2019
Founders: Jamie Frew (CEO) and David Pene (CTO)
Headquarters: Tauranga, New Zealand
Carepatron was founded in 2019 by Jamie Frew (CEO) and David Pene (CTO) in Tauranga, New Zealand. The platform officially launched in 2021, with a full release following in early 2022. From the beginning, the goal was to build a lightweight, accessible, and globally focused practice management solution that could work for a wide range of healthcare professionals, not just those in private mental health practice.
Backed by $5 million in funding from investors like Blackbird Ventures and TQ Ventures, Carepatron has grown to serve more than 10,000 healthcare teams across 50+ countries. Their rapid expansion has been fueled by steady feature updates, including a complete 2.0 platform relaunch, the rollout of advanced AI transcription tools, and support for multiple languages.4
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Carepatron (n.d.). Pricing. Retrieved from: https://www.carepatron.com/pricing
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Carepatron (n.d.). Help center. Retrieved from: https://help.carepatron.com/en/
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Carepatron (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from: https://www.carepatron.com/about
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Shu, C. (November, 2023). Blackbird invests in Carepatron’s ‘radically accessible’ healthcare management platform. Retrieved from: https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/03/carepatron/
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Church, M. (2025). SimplePractice Review: Is It Right for Your Practice? Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/simplepractice-review/
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Church, M. (2025). TherapyAppointment Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & Who It’s Right For? Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/therapyappointment-review/
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Church, M. (2025). My Best Practice Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & Who It’s Right For? Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/my-best-practice-review/
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Boudin, M. (2024). The Best Mental Health EHR. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/best-mental-health-ehr/
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD (No change)
Primary Changes: Entire article updated with fresh hands-on testing, revised pricing and insurance cost analysis, and structural improvements for clarity and readability. Refreshed user review insights, updated comparisons to alternatives, and refined the article to better reflect real-world practice workflows.
Author: Matthew Church, MS (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added information about the launch of Carepatron’s integrated insurance billing features as of July, 2025.
Author: Matthew Church, MS
Medical Reviewer: Melissa Boudin, PsyD
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