Monarch Directory Review 2024: Cost, Pros & Cons, & Is It Right for Your Practice?

Monarch Directory Review – Key Takeaways

• A listing on the Monarch directory is included with some SimplePractice plans – starting with the “Essential” plan at $69 monthly. A subscription includes full access to the SimplePractice EHR system, as well as a professional website.
• Monarch integrates very well with the rest of SimplePractice and makes it an impressive one-stop-shop for the management of therapy practices.
• Monarch does not require credential or licensure verification for practitioners, which is helpful for some non-licensed practitioners but could be considered risky for clients, as credentials may not be as clear. Verified practitioners receive a unique badge.

What Is the Monarch Directory?

Monarch directory, by SimplePractice, is the practitioner directory built-in to the SimplePractice suite of practice management offerings. It allows practices that use SimplePractice to create a directory listing and market their services to clients nationwide, for remote and in-person services. Monarch is included in SimplePractice Essential ($69 monthly) and Plus ($99 monthly) subscriptions.

To better understand SimplePractice and all it offers, read our full review of SimplePractice.

Practice Management With a Built-In Directory

SimplePractice is one of the unique practice management systems that offer the ability to list your practice in a practitioner directory. Monarch can’t be used by just anyone – you have to subscribe to the whole SimplePractice practice management suite to be able to use it.

If you already have a practice management system that you are loyal to, this could be a hindrance, but if you’re already a SimplePractice user or are considering becoming one, it’s a nice freebie and certainly sweetens the pot of the whole package. Combined with the ability to create a professional website, SimplePractice creates an impressive one-stop shop for managing and promoting your practice.

You can read more about building a website with SimplePractice in our comprehensive review of SimplePractice Website Builder.

Small, But Easy to Use

No doubt, SimplePractice Monarch is smaller than some of the most popular directories. When comparing traffic to their homepages, Monarch brings in roughly ten thousand visitors per month, whereas GoodTherapy brings in over one million. There are upsides to this, however. Being a smaller directory, you will likely have less competition to deal with, which can be very beneficial in large, densely populated areas.

How Much Does the Monarch Directory Cost?

A Monarch directory profile can only be accessed by joining SimplePractice which costs $69 – $99 monthly. With this subscription cost, you also gain access to the full SimplePractice suite, including EHR features, scheduling, documentation management, and a professional website.

SimplePractice Subscription Costs

Who Is Monarch by SimplePractice Right For?

Monarch by SimplePractice is best suited for practices seeking a full practice management suite, and those who already have, or are considering joining SimplePractice.

Practices Seeking a Full Practice Management Suite

If you’re in the market for a piece of software that can manage every aspect of your practice, then SimplePractice is a great choice. With it, you can manage client intake, telehealth sessions, scheduling, documentation, and marketing, all from one place.

Those Who Already Have SimplePractice

Many practitioners today already use SimplePractice. If you’re already a customer, then Monarch might be available to you already. In this case, there isn’t much downside to creating a Monarch profile.

Who May Want an Alternative to Monarch by SimplePractice?

SimplePractice and the Monarch directory may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are looking to avoid SimplePractice, or are on a tight budget, other options may serve you better.

Those Looking to Avoid SimplePractice

Maybe you had a bad experience with SimplePractice, or you’ve decided that SimplePractice just isn’t for you. Regardless, it wouldn’t make much sense to sign up for an entire EHR system just for Monarch. Better alternatives might be Psychology Today or GoodTherapy.

Read our review of Psychology Today and our GoodTherapy review for more details.

Practices on a Tight Budget

SimplePractice is relatively expensive – while it offers great value for the cost, the high price tag may be prohibitive to some. If you are on a budget and solely looking for a directory listing, a better option might be creating a free directory profile with TherapyDen.

Read our review of TherapyDen for more details.

Monarch Vs. Psychology Today

Monarch and Psychology Today offer very similar directory systems, however, Psychology Today is far larger, with more traffic from therapy seekers, and can expose your practice to a much wider audience. Psychology Today, however, does not offer any additional features aside from a telehealth platform, so a practice would need an additional EHR software in conjunction with it to run a practice.

In terms of price, Psychology Today costs $29.95 monthly, whereas SimplePractice Monarch only comes with a suite of services that cost $69 – $99 monthly. Ultimately, if you are planning on joining SimplePractice, it would make a lot of sense to sign up for Psychology Today, as well, to make sure all of your bases are covered.

Monarch Directory Vs. TherapyDen

TherapyDen is different from just about every other therapist directory out there, Monarch included. It allows you to create a profile for free, with premium features available on a pay-what-you-can system. TherapyDen attracts a bit more traffic from therapy seekers than Monarch does and is more inclusive and robust in its filters than Monarch.

TherapyDen costs $0 – $30 monthly, whereas SimplePractice costs $69 – $99 monthly. TherapyDen doesn’t have any additional features aside from the directory.

Monarch Directory Review – Our Final Verdict

If you use something other than SimplePractice to manage your practice or are uninterested in trying SimplePractice, then Monarch is not worth the price considering the volume of people using it. However, if you are planning to buy into the SimplePractice suite, or are already a SimplePractice user, then it’s definitely worth your time to create a Monarch profile.

Ultimately I would consider Monarch more of a bonus to SimplePractice, rather than a directory worth going out of your way to sign up with.

You should consider creating a Monarch Directory listing if you:

• Already have or are planning to join SimplePractice
• Want a unified platform for practice management and marketing

You should consider looking for an alternative to Monarch Directory if you:

• Are looking to avoid SimplePractice
• Already have an EHR or practice management system that you are happy with

How to Get Started with Monarch Directory

Getting started with the Monarch directory is as simple as joining SimplePractice. Navigate to the SimplePractice sign-up page and enter a few details to get your 30-day free trial started.

The steps for getting started with Monarch Directory are:

1. Sign up for a free SimplePractice trial. Enter some basic details to get a SimplePractice account set up. No credit card info is necessary. (~2 minutes)
2. List your focus areas. SimplePractice will have you provide the most prominent focus areas that you treat. (~5 minutes)
3. Provide your accepted insurance payors. If you accept insurance, you’ll need to list out the payors that you work with. (~2 minutes)
4. Turn on your contact form and appointment requests. SimplePractice will direct you to set up the email you’d like client communications to go through. (~2 minutes)
5. Write your bio. This is where you get to exercise some creative liberty in introducing yourself to your new clients. Be as detailed and personable as you can. (~20 minutes)
6. Publish your Monarch Directory profile.

History of Monarch by SimplePractice

SimplePractice released the Monarch Directory in 2021. According to the company’s FAQ page, they released Monarch as the first nationwide practitioner directory that integrates directly with an EHR system.

According to SimplePractice, the name Monarch harkens to the monarch butterfly, which is a symbol of transformation and growth.¹

FAQs for SimplePractice Monarch Directory

Is Monarch Free to Use?

No. A Monarch Directory profile requires a SimplePractice subscription, starting at $69 monthly.

Do You Have to be Licensed to Use Monarch?

No. Monarch is one of the few directories that does not require licensure verification. However, licensed providers do gain a verification badge on their listings.

Does Monarch Offer a Free Trial?

Yes. SimplePractice offers a 30-day free trial that includes access to Monarch directory.

How Do I Enable Monarch on SimplePractice?

Once you have an account with SimplePractice, all you have to do is navigate to your account settings, go to the marketing section, and fill out the information required to get started with Monarch.

Is Monarch Free with SimplePractice?

A Monarch profile is included with SimplePractice Essential ($69 monthly) and Plus ($99 monthly) plans.