SimplePractice Pricing 2026: Complete Breakdown ($29-99/mo + Hidden Costs Revealed)

SimplePractice costs $29-99/month depending on your plan, but hidden fees can add $50-200/month. After analyzing all three plans and testing for 6 months, here's what you'll actually pay - and whether it's worth it.

Quick Pricing Summary

Plan	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	Best For	Hidden Costs
Starter	$29	$290 (save $58)	Solo therapists, new practices	+$30-80/mo fees
Essential	$59	$590 (save $118)	Established solo practices	+$50-150/mo fees
Plus	$99	$990 (save $198)	Group practices (2-5 providers)	+$80-200/mo fees

Total First-Year Cost (Realistic):

• Starter: $638-1,250
• Essential: $1,190-2,390
• Plus: $1,950-3,390

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SimplePractice Starter Plan: $29/Month

What's Included

Core Features:

• ✅ Unlimited clients
• ✅ Online scheduling
• ✅ Client portal
• ✅ Appointment reminders (email)
• ✅ Telehealth (unlimited)
• ✅ Basic documentation
• ✅ E-signatures
• ✅ Secure messaging

Billing Features:

• ✅ Credit card processing (2.7% + $0.30)
• ✅ Invoice generation
• ✅ Payment tracking
• ❌ No insurance billing
• ❌ No automated claims

Limitations:

• ❌ No insurance billing
• ❌ No custom forms
• ❌ No group notes
• ❌ No outcome tracking
• ❌ Limited integrations
• ❌ Basic reporting only

What's Missing

Critical Missing Features:

• Insurance billing (must upgrade to Essential)
• Custom intake forms (must upgrade)
• Advanced reporting (must upgrade)
• API access (must upgrade to Plus)
• White-label client portal (must upgrade to Plus)

Hidden Costs on Starter Plan

Credit Card Processing:

• Rate: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
• Example: $100 session = $3 fee
• Monthly cost: $30-80 (for 10-30 clients)

SMS Reminders:

• Cost: $0.04 per text message
• Example: 100 clients × 2 reminders/month = $8
• Monthly cost: $5-15

Additional Users:

• Cost: $20/month per additional user
• Not available on Starter (must upgrade)

Total Hidden Costs: $35-95/month

Realistic Monthly Cost: $64-124/month

Who Should Choose Starter?

Ideal For:

• ✅ New therapists (first 6-12 months)
• ✅ Private-pay only practices
• ✅ Solo practitioners with <20 clients
• ✅ Budget-conscious therapists
• ✅ Therapists who don't need insurance billing

Not Ideal For:

• ❌ Therapists who accept insurance
• ❌ Group practices
• ❌ Established practices (>30 clients)
• ❌ Therapists who need custom forms

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SimplePractice Essential Plan: $59/Month

What's Included (Everything in Starter, Plus:)

Insurance Billing:

• ✅ Insurance claim submission
• ✅ ERA (Electronic Remittance Advice)
• ✅ Claim tracking
• ✅ Superbill generation
• ✅ Insurance eligibility checks (limited)

Advanced Features:

• ✅ Custom intake forms
• ✅ Custom templates
• ✅ Group notes
• ✅ Outcome tracking
• ✅ Advanced reporting
• ✅ Calendar sync (Google, Outlook)

Client Engagement:

• ✅ Automated appointment reminders (email + SMS)
• ✅ Online booking widget
• ✅ Waitlist management
• ✅ Package/membership billing

What's Still Missing

Features Only in Plus:

• ❌ API access
• ❌ White-label client portal
• ❌ Advanced integrations
• ❌ Priority support
• ❌ Dedicated account manager

Hidden Costs on Essential Plan

Credit Card Processing:

• Rate: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
• Example: 30 clients × $100 = $81 in fees
• Monthly cost: $50-150

SMS Reminders:

• Cost: $0.04 per text
• Example: 50 clients × 3 texts/month = $6
• Monthly cost: $10-25

Additional Users:

• Cost: $20/month per user
• Example: 1 assistant = $20/month

Insurance Claim Rejections:

• Cost: Time spent on resubmissions
• Estimated: 2-5 hours/month = $100-250 value

Total Hidden Costs: $60-195/month

Realistic Monthly Cost: $119-254/month

Who Should Choose Essential?

Ideal For:

• ✅ Therapists who accept insurance
• ✅ Established solo practices (30-100 clients)
• ✅ Therapists who need custom forms
• ✅ Practices with 1-2 staff members
• ✅ Therapists who want outcome tracking

Not Ideal For:

• ❌ Private-pay only (Starter is enough)
• ❌ Large group practices (need Plus)
• ❌ Practices needing API access

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SimplePractice Plus Plan: $99/Month

What's Included (Everything in Essential, Plus:)

Advanced Features:

• ✅ API access (for integrations)
• ✅ White-label client portal (your branding)
• ✅ Advanced integrations (Zapier, etc.)
• ✅ Priority support (faster response)
• ✅ Dedicated account manager
• ✅ Advanced security features
• ✅ Custom workflows

Group Practice Features:

• ✅ Multi-provider scheduling
• ✅ Provider-specific permissions
• ✅ Centralized billing
• ✅ Group reporting
• ✅ Provider performance tracking

Enterprise Features:

• ✅ SSO (Single Sign-On)
• ✅ Advanced compliance tools
• ✅ Custom training sessions
• ✅ Onboarding support

Hidden Costs on Plus Plan

Credit Card Processing:

• Rate: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
• Example: 100 clients × $100 = $270 in fees
• Monthly cost: $80-200

SMS Reminders:

• Cost: $0.04 per text
• Example: 100 clients × 3 texts/month = $12
• Monthly cost: $15-30

Additional Users:

• Cost: $20/month per user
• Example: 3 additional providers = $60/month

API Usage:

• Cost: Varies by integration
• Example: Zapier = $20-50/month

Total Hidden Costs: $95-280/month

Realistic Monthly Cost: $194-379/month

Who Should Choose Plus?

Ideal For:

• ✅ Group practices (3+ providers)
• ✅ Practices needing white-label branding
• ✅ Tech-forward practices (API integrations)
• ✅ Practices with complex workflows
• ✅ Practices needing priority support

Not Ideal For:

• ❌ Solo practitioners (Essential is enough)
• ❌ Budget-conscious practices
• ❌ Practices that don't need API access

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Hidden Costs Revealed: What SimplePractice Doesn't Tell You

1. Credit Card Processing Fees (2.7% + $0.30)

How It Works:

• SimplePractice charges 2.7% + $0.30 per credit card transaction
• This applies to ALL credit card payments
• No way to avoid this fee

Real-World Examples:

Solo Therapist (20 clients/month):

• Revenue: $2,000/month
• Processing fees: $54/month
• Annual cost: $648

Established Practice (50 clients/month):

• Revenue: $5,000/month
• Processing fees: $135/month
• Annual cost: $1,620

Group Practice (100 clients/month):

• Revenue: $10,000/month
• Processing fees: $270/month
• Annual cost: $3,240

Comparison:

• SimplePractice: 2.7% + $0.30
• ClinikEHR: 2.5% + $0.25 (save 0.2%)
• Stripe (direct): 2.9% + $0.30
• Square: 2.6% + $0.10

Verdict: SimplePractice's processing fees are competitive but not the cheapest.

2. SMS Reminder Fees ($0.04 per text)

How It Works:

• Email reminders: Free
• SMS (text) reminders: $0.04 each
• Most clients prefer SMS (80% open rate vs 20% email)

Real-World Examples:

20 Clients:

• 2 reminders per appointment
• 20 clients × 2 texts = 40 texts/month
• Cost: $1.60/month ($19.20/year)

50 Clients:

• 2 reminders per appointment
• 50 clients × 2 texts = 100 texts/month
• Cost: $4/month ($48/year)

100 Clients:

• 2 reminders per appointment
• 100 clients × 2 texts = 200 texts/month
• Cost: $8/month ($96/year)

Verdict: SMS fees are reasonable but add up over time.

3. Additional User Fees ($20/month each)

How It Works:

• First user included in base price
• Each additional user: $20/month
• Applies to all plans (Starter, Essential, Plus)

Real-World Examples:

Solo + Assistant:

• Base plan: $29-99/month
• 1 assistant: +$20/month
• Total: $49-119/month

2 Therapists + Admin:

• Base plan: $99/month (Plus)
• 2 additional users: +$40/month
• Total: $139/month

5 Therapists + 2 Admins:

• Base plan: $99/month (Plus)
• 6 additional users: +$120/month
• Total: $219/month

Verdict: Additional user fees are reasonable compared to competitors.

4. Annual Billing Discount (Save 2 Months)

How It Works:

• Pay annually: Get 2 months free
• Starter: $290/year (vs $348)
• Essential: $590/year (vs $708)
• Plus: $990/year (vs $1,188)

Savings:

• Starter: $58/year
• Essential: $118/year
• Plus: $198/year

Catch: Must pay upfront (no refunds)

Verdict: Good deal if you're committed long-term.

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SimplePractice vs Alternatives: Price Comparison

SimplePractice vs ClinikEHR

Feature	SimplePractice	ClinikEHR
Starting Price	$29/mo	Free (20 patients)
Mid-Tier Price	$59/mo	$29/mo
Top-Tier Price	$99/mo	$79/mo
Setup Fee	$0	$0
Credit Card Processing	2.7% + $0.30	2.5% + $0.25
SMS Fees	$0.04/text	$0.03/text
Additional Users	$20/mo	$15/mo
Free Trial	30 days	Forever (20 patients)
Contract	Month-to-month	Month-to-month

Annual Cost Comparison (Solo Therapist, 30 Clients):

SimplePractice Essential:

• Subscription: $708/year
• Processing fees: $1,620/year
• SMS fees: $48/year
• Total: $2,376/year

ClinikEHR Starter:

• Subscription: $348/year
• Processing fees: $1,500/year
• SMS fees: $36/year
• Total: $1,884/year

Savings with ClinikEHR: $492/year (21% less)

Try ClinikEHR Free →

SimplePractice vs TherapyNotes

Feature	SimplePractice	TherapyNotes
Starting Price	$29/mo	$49/mo
Insurance Billing	$59/mo (Essential)	Included
Credit Card Processing	2.7% + $0.30	2.7% + $0.30
Free Trial	30 days	21 days
Best For	Solo therapists	Group practices

Verdict: TherapyNotes is better value for insurance-based practices.

SimplePractice vs Kareo

Feature	SimplePractice	Kareo
Starting Price	$29/mo	$160/mo
Target Audience	Therapists	Medical practices
Insurance Billing	Good	Excellent
E-Prescribing	❌ No	✅ Yes

Verdict: Kareo is better for medical practices, SimplePractice for therapy.

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Is SimplePractice Worth It? ROI Analysis

Starter Plan ($29/month) ROI

Costs:

• Subscription: $348/year
• Processing fees: $648/year (20 clients)
• SMS fees: $19/year
• Total: $1,015/year

Benefits:

• Time saved: 5 hours/week = 260 hours/year
• Value of time: $50/hour = $13,000/year
• ROI: 1,181%

Verdict: Excellent ROI for solo therapists.

Essential Plan ($59/month) ROI

Costs:

• Subscription: $708/year
• Processing fees: $1,620/year (50 clients)
• SMS fees: $48/year
• Total: $2,376/year

Benefits:

• Time saved: 10 hours/week = 520 hours/year
• Value of time: $50/hour = $26,000/year
• Insurance billing efficiency: +$5,000/year
• ROI: 1,206%

Verdict: Excellent ROI for insurance-based practices.

Plus Plan ($99/month) ROI

Costs:

• Subscription: $1,188/year
• Processing fees: $3,240/year (100 clients)
• SMS fees: $96/year
• Additional users: $720/year (3 users)
• Total: $5,244/year

Benefits:

• Time saved: 20 hours/week = 1,040 hours/year
• Value of time: $50/hour = $52,000/year
• Group efficiency: +$10,000/year
• ROI: 1,082%

Verdict: Excellent ROI for group practices.

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How to Save Money on SimplePractice

1. Start with Starter Plan

Strategy: Begin with Starter ($29/month) and upgrade when needed.

When to Upgrade:

• When you start accepting insurance (upgrade to Essential)
• When you add providers (upgrade to Plus)
• When you need custom forms (upgrade to Essential)

Savings: $360-840/year by delaying upgrade

2. Pay Annually (Save 2 Months)

Strategy: Pay annually to get 2 months free.

Savings:

• Starter: $58/year
• Essential: $118/year
• Plus: $198/year

Catch: Must commit for full year (no refunds)

3. Minimize SMS Usage

Strategy: Use email reminders when possible.

Savings:

• 50% SMS reduction = $24-48/year
• 75% SMS reduction = $36-72/year

Trade-off: Lower open rates (20% email vs 80% SMS)

4. Avoid Unnecessary Add-Ons

Strategy: Don't upgrade to Plus unless you need API access.

Savings: $480/year (Essential vs Plus)

5. Consider Cheaper Alternatives

Strategy: Compare with ClinikEHR, TherapyNotes, etc.

Potential Savings: $200-1,000/year

Compare Alternatives →

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Cheaper Alternatives to SimplePractice

1. ClinikEHR: $0-79/Month

Pricing:

• Free: Up to 20 patients
• Starter: $29/month (up to 100 patients)
• Professional: $79/month (unlimited)

Advantages Over SimplePractice:

• ✅ Free tier (SimplePractice has none)
• ✅ AI-powered notes (SimplePractice doesn't have)
• ✅ Lower processing fees (2.5% vs 2.7%)
• ✅ Cheaper SMS ($0.03 vs $0.04)
• ✅ E-prescribing included (SimplePractice doesn't have)

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Newer platform (less established)
• ❌ Smaller template library
• ❌ Fewer integrations

Best For: Solo therapists, budget-conscious practices, telehealth providers

Annual Savings: $492-1,200/year

Try ClinikEHR Free →

2. TherapyNotes: $49-99/Month

Pricing:

• Solo: $49/month
• 2-5 providers: $99/month
• 6+ providers: Custom

Advantages Over SimplePractice:

• ✅ Insurance billing included at base price
• ✅ Better for group practices
• ✅ More robust scheduling

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Higher starting price ($49 vs $29)
• ❌ Dated interface
• ❌ Steeper learning curve

Best For: Mental health group practices, insurance-heavy practices

Annual Savings: $120-240/year (if you need insurance billing)

3. Practice Fusion: Free (Ad-Supported)

Pricing: Free (ad-supported)

Advantages:

• ✅ Completely free
• ✅ No patient limits
• ✅ E-prescribing included

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Ads in interface
• ❌ Limited features
• ❌ Not therapy-specific

Best For: Very budget-conscious practices, low-volume clinics

Annual Savings: $348-1,188/year

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does SimplePractice cost?

SimplePractice costs $29/month (Starter), $59/month (Essential), or $99/month (Plus). Hidden costs include credit card processing (2.7% + $0.30), SMS reminders ($0.04/text), and additional users ($20/month each). Total realistic cost: $64-379/month.

What's included in each SimplePractice plan?

Starter ($29/mo) includes basic features and telehealth. Essential ($59/mo) adds insurance billing and custom forms. Plus ($99/mo) adds API access, white-label portal, and priority support. All plans include unlimited clients and telehealth.

Are there hidden fees with SimplePractice?

Yes. Hidden fees include credit card processing (2.7% + $0.30 per transaction), SMS reminders ($0.04 each), and additional users ($20/month each). These can add $35-280/month depending on your practice size.

Is there a free trial for SimplePractice?

Yes, SimplePractice offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. You can test all features before committing. However, there's no free tier like ClinikEHR offers.

Can I switch SimplePractice plans later?

Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade SimplePractice plans anytime. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle. No penalties for changing plans.

What about annual billing discounts?

SimplePractice offers 2 months free when you pay annually. Starter: $290/year (save $58), Essential: $590/year (save $118), Plus: $990/year (save $198). Must pay upfront with no refunds.

Do I need the Plus plan?

Most solo therapists don't need Plus. Upgrade to Plus only if you need API access, white-label branding, or have 3+ providers. Essential ($59/mo) is sufficient for most practices.

What are cheaper alternatives to SimplePractice?

Cheaper alternatives include ClinikEHR (free-$79/mo), TherapyNotes ($49-99/mo), and Practice Fusion (free). ClinikEHR offers the best value with a free tier, AI notes, and lower fees.

Is SimplePractice worth it?

SimplePractice is worth it for therapists who need reliable, therapy-specific software and can afford $29-99/month. However, ClinikEHR offers better value with a free tier, AI features, and lower fees. Try both before deciding.

How do I cancel SimplePractice?

You can cancel SimplePractice anytime from your account settings. No cancellation fees. If you paid annually, no refunds are given. Export your data before canceling.

Related Reading on ClinikEHR

EHR Pricing & Reviews:

• PracticeQ EHR Review 2026: PMHNP Assessment
• 15 Best Clinical Notes Software 2026
• Top 5 Free EHR for Private Practice
• SimplePractice vs Alternatives 2026
• EHR Pricing Explained: Hidden Costs 2026

Practice Management:

• How to Start a PMHNP Private Practice 2026
• Private Practice Software: Complete Guide
• Private Practice Resources and Tools
• Best EHR for Solo Practice 2026

Billing & Insurance:

• Medical Billing for Small Practices
• Insurance Credentialing Made Simple 2026
• Private Pay vs Insurance: Which Model Fits Your Practice 2026

Clinical Documentation:

• AI Revolution in Clinical Notes
• Best AI Note Taking for Psychiatry 2026
• Reduce Documentation Time Without Cutting Corners 2026
• How to Switch EHR Without Losing Data 2026

Mental Health EHR:

• Top 5 EHR for Mental Health 2026
• Top 5 EHR for Psychiatrist 2026
• Top 5 EHR for Counseling 2026
• EHR for Therapist: Complete Guide

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Conclusion: Is SimplePractice Worth the Cost?

SimplePractice is Worth It If:

• ✅ You're an established therapist (30+ clients)
• ✅ You accept insurance (Essential plan)
• ✅ You value reliability and established platform
• ✅ You can afford $59-99/month
• ✅ You don't need e-prescribing
• ✅ You want therapy-specific templates

SimplePractice is NOT Worth It If:

• ❌ You're just starting out (<20 clients)
• ❌ You're on a tight budget
• ❌ You need e-prescribing
• ❌ You want AI-powered notes
• ❌ You prefer a free tier to test
• ❌ You want the lowest processing fees

Better Alternative for Most Therapists:

ClinikEHR offers:

• Free tier (up to 20 patients) - perfect for new therapists
• AI-powered notes (save 5-10 hours/week)
• E-prescribing included (SimplePractice doesn't have)
• Lower fees (2.5% vs 2.7% processing)
• Modern interface
• $29-79/month (save $492-1,200/year)

Bottom Line: SimplePractice is a solid, reliable platform, but it's overpriced for solo therapists. ClinikEHR offers better value with a free tier, AI features, and lower costs. Try both and decide which fits your practice better.

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Ready to Save Money?

Option 1: Try ClinikEHR Free → - No credit card required, free forever for up to 20 patients.

Option 2: Try SimplePractice Free → - 30-day free trial.

Option 3: Compare All Options → - See 15 platforms compared.

Need help choosing? Contact our team for a personalized recommendation based on your practice size and needs.

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