10 Best EHR Systems with Free Trial 2026 (Test Before You Buy)

Quick Answer: Best EHR with Free Trial

ClinikEHR offers the best value in 2026: Start with a Free Plan forever, or try premium features with a 7-day trial. Plus, all features include AI clinical notes, E-Lab with LabCorp, and unlimited telehealth.

Top 3 Options:

1. ClinikEHR - Free Plan + 7-day premium trial, AI features included
2. SimplePractice - 30 days, credit card required
3. TherapyNotes - 21 days, credit card required

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Complete Comparison: 10 EHR Free Trials

EHR System	Trial/Free Plan	Credit Card?	AI Features	Full Access	Best For
ClinikEHR	Free Plan + 7-day trial	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Solo/small practices
SimplePractice	30 days	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	Therapists
TherapyNotes	21 days	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	Traditional practices
TheraNest	21 days	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	Budget-conscious
Practice Better	14 days	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	Health coaches
ICANotes	14 days	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	Psychiatrists
DrChrono	30 days	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	Medical practices
Kareo	Demo only	N/A	❌ No	❌ No	Medical practices
Valant	Demo only	N/A	❌ No	❌ No	Large practices
AdvancedMD	Demo only	N/A	❌ No	❌ No	Enterprise

Winner: ClinikEHR (Free Plan + trial, no CC required, includes AI features)

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1. ClinikEHR - Best Overall Value

Options: Free Plan (forever) + 7-day premium trial
Credit Card: Not required
Premium Pricing: $79/month

What You Get with Free Plan:

• ✅ Basic EHR features
• ✅ Patient scheduling
• ✅ Clinical documentation
• ✅ Client portal
• ✅ HIPAA-compliant storage

What You Get with 7-Day Premium Trial:

• ✅ Full access to AI clinical notes
• ✅ Unlimited telehealth sessions
• ✅ E-prescribing capabilities
• ✅ E-Lab integration with LabCorp
• ✅ Insurance billing features
• ✅ All templates and customization
• ✅ Mobile apps
• ✅ Priority customer support

Why It's Best:

• Start free, upgrade when ready
• No credit card means truly risk-free
• 7-day trial gives you full premium access
• AI features save 2+ hours daily
• E-Lab integration with LabCorp
• Easy cancellation (just don't upgrade)

Start ClinikEHR Free

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2. SimplePractice - Popular Choice

Trial Length: 30 days
Credit Card: Required
Pricing After Trial: $29-89/month + fees

What You Get:

• Client portal and scheduling
• Documentation templates
• Telehealth (limited on Starter)
• Billing features
• Basic reporting

Limitations:

• Must provide credit card
• Auto-charges after 30 days if not canceled
• No AI features
• Hidden fees not apparent in trial

Perfect For: Therapists who want an established platform.

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3. TherapyNotes - Traditional Option

Trial Length: 21 days
Credit Card: Required
Pricing After Trial: $59/month

What You Get:

• Documentation tools
• Scheduling
• Client portal
• Insurance billing
• Telehealth

Limitations:

• Shorter trial (21 days)
• Credit card required
• No AI features
• Dated interface

Perfect For: Traditional practices comfortable with older systems.

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4. TheraNest - Budget Trial

Trial Length: 21 days
Credit Card: Required
Pricing After Trial: $39/month

What You Get:

• Basic scheduling
• Simple documentation
• Client portal
• Billing tools

Limitations:

• Very basic features
• Short trial period
• No AI capabilities
• Limited telehealth

Perfect For: Budget-conscious solo practitioners with simple needs.

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5. Practice Better - Wellness Focus

Trial Length: 14 days
Credit Card: Required
Pricing After Trial: $29-99/month

What You Get:

• Client management
• Meal planning
• Forms and questionnaires
• Scheduling

Limitations:

• Short trial (14 days)
• Not for licensed therapists
• No insurance billing
• No e-prescribing

Perfect For: Health coaches and wellness practitioners.

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6. ICANotes - Specialty Trial

Trial Length: 14 days
Credit Card: Required
Pricing After Trial: $99/month

What You Get:

• Behavioral health templates
• E-prescribing
• Documentation
• Insurance billing

Limitations:

• Very short trial
• Expensive
• Steep learning curve
• No AI features

Perfect For: Psychiatrists who need specialty templates.

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7. DrChrono - Medical Practice Trial

Trial Length: 30 days
Credit Card: Required
Pricing After Trial: $199+/month

What You Get:

• Medical EHR
• Practice management
• Billing
• Patient engagement

Limitations:

• Very expensive
• Medical focus (not mental health)
• Complex setup
• Overkill for therapists

Perfect For: Medical practices, not ideal for therapists.

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8-10. Demo-Only Platforms

Kareo, Valant, AdvancedMD don't offer true free trials. They provide:

• Sales demos only
• No hands-on testing
• Must schedule with sales rep
• High-pressure sales tactics

Not Recommended if you want to test independently.

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How to Maximize Your Free Trial

Week 1: Setup & Exploration

• Set up your account and profile
• Import sample patient data
• Explore all features
• Test mobile apps
• Try documentation templates

For 7-Day Trials (ClinikEHR):

• Focus on high-value features first
• Test AI clinical notes immediately
• Try E-Lab integration
• Evaluate telehealth quality
• Test customer support responsiveness

For 30-Day Trials:

• Week 1: Setup and exploration
• Week 2: Daily workflow testing
• Week 3: Advanced features
• Week 4: Decision time

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Free Trial Checklist

Before starting any trial, verify:

• [ ] Trial length (7-30 days)
• [ ] Credit card requirement
• [ ] Auto-renewal policy
• [ ] Cancellation process
• [ ] Feature limitations during trial
• [ ] Data export options
• [ ] Customer support access
• [ ] Hidden fees after trial

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Common Free Trial Mistakes

1. Not Testing Thoroughly Don't just sign up and forget. Use the system daily to understand workflow.

2. Forgetting to Cancel Set a calendar reminder 2 days before trial ends if you want to cancel.

3. Testing Only One Platform Try 2-3 platforms simultaneously to compare features and workflow.

4. Ignoring Hidden Costs Ask about credit card processing fees, insurance billing fees, and add-on costs.

5. Not Testing with Real Scenarios Test with actual patient scenarios, not just sample data.

6. Skipping Customer Support Test support responsiveness during trial—you'll need it later.

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Product Insight: Why ClinikEHR's Approach is Different

We designed our Free Plan and trial to be truly risk-free:

Free Plan Forever Start with basic features at no cost. Upgrade when you're ready.

No Credit Card Required We don't want your credit card until you're ready to commit. No accidental charges, no pressure.

7-Day Premium Trial A week gives you focused time to test premium features without rushing.

Complete Feature Access Test AI clinical notes, E-Lab, telehealth—everything. No "trial limitations."

Real Support Our team helps you during the trial just like you're a paying customer.

Easy Upgrade Just upgrade when ready. No cancellation process, no retention calls.

Start Your Risk-Free Trial

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Conclusion

ClinikEHR offers the best value in 2026: Start with a Free Plan, then try premium features for 7 days. While SimplePractice and TherapyNotes offer decent trials, they require credit cards and lack modern AI capabilities.

Test ClinikEHR risk-free and see why thousands of practitioners are switching.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I really not need a credit card for ClinikEHR?

Correct. You can start with our Free Plan without any payment information. When you're ready to try premium features, you get a 7-day trial—still no credit card required.

2. What happens when my 7-day premium trial ends?

Your account reverts to the Free Plan. No charges, no automatic renewal. You can upgrade to premium anytime.

3. Can I export my data if I don't upgrade?

Yes. During and after your trial, you can export all your data. We never hold your information hostage.

4. Can I try multiple EHR systems at once?

Absolutely. We recommend testing 2-3 platforms simultaneously to compare features and workflow.

5. Will I have access to customer support during the trial?

Yes. ClinikEHR provides full customer support during your Free Plan and trial period via phone, email, and chat.

6. Can I use the EHR with real patients during the trial?

Yes, but we recommend starting with test data first. Once comfortable, you can use it with real patients (ensure HIPAA compliance).

7. What if I need more than 7 days to decide?

The Free Plan lets you use basic features indefinitely. You can try the 7-day premium trial whenever you're ready.

8. Are there any features not available during the trial?

No. ClinikEHR's 7-day premium trial includes full access to all features including AI clinical notes, E-Lab, telehealth, and e-prescribing.

9. How do I cancel if I don't want to continue?

With ClinikEHR Free Plan, you don't need to cancel—just don't upgrade. Your account stays on the Free Plan.

10. Can I get a refund if I upgrade and change my mind?

Yes. ClinikEHR offers a 30-day money-back guarantee even after you upgrade.

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Related Reading

EHR Comparisons:

• Best EHR for Solo Practice 2026
• ClinikEHR vs SimplePractice 2026
• Best SimplePractice Alternatives 2026
• Top 5 EHR for Mental Health 2026
• 15 Best Clinical Notes Software 2026
• Best Free EHR Systems 2026

Practice Management:

• How to Switch EHR Without Losing Data
• EHR Pricing Explained: Hidden Costs 2026
• Best EHR for Multiple Providers 2026

AI & Documentation:

• AI Clinical Notes for Therapists
• Best AI Note Taking for Psychiatry 2026

External Resources:

• SimplePractice Free Trial
• TherapyNotes Free Trial
• HIPAA Compliance Guide