Taking medical notes is a skill you have undoubtedly mastered as early as medical school. Because you and other aspiring practitioners know the value of being able to enhance writing down your observations and results, not only will you not fall prey to the fickleness of memory, but you can assist fellow practitioners caring for the same patient with the documentation required for clinical decisions.
This largely varies between practitioners when it comes to preferred note-taking tools. However, since you've stumbled upon our article, it can mean one of two things: one, you're looking to switch from paper to electronic devices, or two, the notes app you're currently using isn't working for you.
Whether you're one or the other, we're here to help!
Continue reading, and you'll find a guide on what to look for in a therapy notes app, followed by a review of a list of the best apps we've seen this year. Hopefully, these pieces of information will help you find an app you will utilize regularly during sessions and more.
What should you look for in free apps for therapy notes?
But before we provide you with a list of the best apps for therapy notes we've found this year, here's a list of what you and fellow therapists must look for in free (and paid) clinical notes software.
Remember that each app specializes in a handful of features and may not offer what others do. So, it would be best to decide which of the features listed below you will consider before deciding on an app.
Security
Given the sensitive nature of the information the practitioner notes down, the therapy note app must ensure the practitioner that only relevant parties can access the document. Aside from being HIPAA-compliant, it's a plus if the app is GDPR-compliant or uses encryption.
Ease of use
Using a therapy notes app should be as easy as writing down on notebooks or sticky notes. A well-designed therapy notes app must be intuitive and easy to navigate. It saves both the practitioner and the client time and effort.
Accessibility and compatibility
One of the main reasons practitioners switch from paper to electronic devices is accessibility. Practitioners must be able to pull out and share their notes anytime and anywhere on any gadget they have on hand.
This goes hand in hand with compatibility. A therapy notes app must be compatible with as many devices and operating systems as possible so practitioners won't worry about spending additional budget to obtain a particular gadget's newest release to use a specific notes app.
Organization
Since a practitioner will produce more than a handful of notes, it'd be helpful if the app helps them organize the notes and place them under the corresponding client.
If you're highly considering this feature, we recommend that you double-check how they organize documents – colors, tags, folders, etc.
Storage
Related to the organization feature, it goes without saying that a therapy note app must be capable of storingelectronic patient records. It'd be great if the app had an option for unlimited storage so practitioners wouldn't have to worry about deleting old documents to stay within the provided storage capacity.
Additional features
Sometimes, additional features are what help practitioners arrive at a decision.
Whether they want to be more efficient or take their note-taking to the next level, these additional features are ones to look out for, especially if you're considering switching from a free or starter plan to a more expensive one.
Downloadable: Practitioners can download their notes in a variety of formats.
Uploadable: Practitioners can upload notes made on a Word or PDF document to edit or store on the app.
Speech-to-text: Practitioners can still produce notes hands-free when preoccupied in an emergency.
Customizable: Practitioners can make important details with typographical emphasis or, in layperson's terms, bold, italicize, or underline certain words or phrases.
Multi-tasking: Practitioners can work on an existing note while referencing a document simultaneously without going back and forth.
Auto-save tool: Practitioners don't have to worry about constantly saving changes they make to their notes and can easily pick up where they left off.
Price
There are several free applications in the market. However, they may not have all the primary or additional features you want. So, we encourage you to consider signing up for applications that offer free and budget-friendly plans and free trials. Who knows, you may find the right one you're willing to pay for when you have the budget.
Reviews and ratings
The best way to know if an app is for you is to check its ratings and read reviews from fellow practitioners who use or used to use it. They know best which app you will benefit from the most.
Now that you have the information on what you should look for in a notes app for therapists, let's review the list of the 9 Best Therapy Notes Apps Available today in 2024.
The 9 best therapy notes apps available in 2025
1. Carepatron
Carepatron is an all-in-one app that medical practitioners, such as therapists, can use to streamline business and clinical processes such as taking notes. Aside from those, you can also find free downloadable resources and additional features in the app that can automate administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments and billing.
Carepatron's best features
HIPAA-compliant and comes with built-in encryption
Offers free, downloadable, and customizable templates in SOAP and DAP formats
You can upload multiple files simultaneously, download templates, and customize them
It has an auto-save feature
It has a free plan
Carepatron's limitations
Unlimited storage comes with paid plans
Speech-to-text capability is in the works
Note-taking capabilities geared mostly toward practitioners rather than clients
Carepatron's pricing
$0/Month/user
$12/month/user (when billed annually)
$19/month/user (when billed annually)
Carepatron's reviews
Capterra: 4.5 stars (69 reviews)
G2: 4.6 stars (132 reviews)
2. TherapyNotes
TherapyNotes is a web-based EHR explicitly designed for mental health professionals. A key feature of TherapyNotes is clinical documentation, wherein practitioners can store notes and access editable templates. Aside from those, they also offer additional features such as telehealth, reporting, scheduling, and billing.
TherapyNotes' best features
HIPAA-compliant
It comes with built-in encryption and multi-factor authentication
Administrative and Process Notes are separate from medical records
Can download templates
Available spell-check feature
TherapyNotes' limitations
No free plan
There is no particular application for mobile
Limited customization for templates
TherapyNotes' pricing
Solo: $49/month (one user)
Group and Enterprise: $59/month (for the first clinician)
TherapyNotes' reviews
Capterra: 4.7 stars (888 reviews)
G2: 4.5 Stars (94 reviews)
3. SimplePractice
SimplePractice is an app designed specifically for mental health practitioners. Aside from offering features therapists need for note-taking, such as documenting and storing clinical notes, SimplePractice also provides other features, such as scheduling and billing.
SimplePractice's best features
HIPAA-compliant and comes with multiple layers of encryption
Offers customizable intake forms
It has a mobile app
Can multi-task, customize, and download notes
SimplePractice's limitations
No free plan
Price can be expensive for the group plan
Users have expressed concerns with document management, attachment, and revision.
SimplePractice's pricing
Solo Starter: $29/month
Solo Essential: $69/month
Solo Plus: $99/month
Group Plus: $158/month (2 clinicians)
SimplePractice's reviews
Capterra: 4.6 stars (2643 reviews)
G2: 4.1 stars (117 reviews)
4. CounSol
CounSol is a web-based software designed specifically for mental health professionals. Aside from taking notes and sharing documents, CounSol offers tools such as client information management, appointment scheduling, billing, and videoconferencing.
CounSol's best features
HIPAA-compliant and comes with an encryption system
Data is backed up hourly
Comprehensive templates for treatment plans, client progress notes, and forms
Notes can be uploaded, downloaded, and auto-saved while writing
CounSol's limitations
Services available only to those in the US and Canada
DrChrono is an EHR platform designed for a variety of medical professionals. Aside from customizing clinical notes, practitioners can also manage patients, chart reports, bill, and schedule appointments.
DrChrono's best features
HIPAA-compliant and comes with an encryption system
Can annotate medical images
Can upload, download, auto-save, build, and edit templates and notes
It has a speech-to-text feature
It has a mobile app
DrChrono's limitations
No free plan
Users report challenges with contacting customer serve
Users report frequent shutdown and downtime
DrChrono pricing
Practitioners must ask for a quotation
DrChrono reviews
Capterra: 4 stars (477 reviews)
G2: 3.6 stars (38 reviews)
6. Quenza
Quenza is software with a mobile and desktop app designed especially for mental health practitioners and coaches. Compared to others, their note-taking interface is simple. However, their software still has several additional features that practitioners will love, such as creating assignments and assessments and viewing their client's progress with their unique pathway feature.
Quenza's best features
HIPAA and GDPR-compliant
Clients can create, upload, and download notes
The app can be translated into several languages
Quenza's limitations
No free plan
Limited reviews and ratings because the company is still new
Currently has limited features compared to other apps and software
Quenza's pricing
Lite: $49/month
Standard: $89/month
Unlimited: $149/month
Quenza's reviews
Capterra: 4.9 stars (29 reviews)
G2: 4.9 stars (19 reviews)
7. Nookal
Nookal is a web-based practice management system for health practitioners, managers, and business owners. Aside from having the feature of creating clinical treatment notes, with Nookal, practitioners can also schedule appointments, generate invoices, produce reports, and integrate with a handful of tools.
Nookal's best features
Annotating on body charts
Offers customizable templates
Speech-to-text capability
Handwriting recognition
Nookal's limitations
Not HIPAA compliant
No free plan
No separate apps for mobile
Nookal's pricing
Starts at $55/month (1 practitioner)
Nookal's reviews
Capterra: 4.6 stars (87 reviews)
G2: 4 stars (3 reviews)
8. BetterClinics
BetterClinics is a software designed for various medical practitioners, including personal, massage, speech therapists, physiotherapists, and psychologists. On BetterClinics, practitioners can create clinical notes, manage clients, schedule appointments, conduct telehealth sessions, and automate payments and invoices.
BetterClinics' best features
It comes with an encryption system
You can download note templates and attach documents to notes
Can Add and annotate body charts
Choose which region to store documents
Comprehensive note search capability and tag functionality
BetterClinics' limitations
GDPR compliant
No mobile app
No free plan
BetterClinics' pricing
Starter: $19/month (1 member, 50 clients)
Solo: $39/month (1 member, unlimited clients)
Huddle: $49/month (3 members, unlimited clients)
Squad: $69/month (10 members, unlimited clients)
BetterClinics' reviews
Capterra: No review available
G2: No review available
9. Mentalyc
Mentalyc is the first AI note-taking software for mental health professionals like psychologists and psychotherapists. They specialize in providing tools to produce downloadable notes from recorded sessions or dictations.
Mentalyc's best features
Is HIPAA-compliant and comes with an advanced encryption system
Relies on Speech-to-text to produce notes
Offers templates like progress notes, SOAP, DAP, and EMDR
Mentalyc's limitations
No free plan
There is no option to make written notes from scratch
Limited ratings and reviews
Mentalyc's pricing
Basic: $39.99/month
Pro: $69.99/month
Mentalyc's reviews
Capterra: 4.6 stars (33 reviews)
G2: No review available
Explore the next generation of therapy notes apps with Carepatron
After seeing the differences among the notes app for therapists, it's easy to see why Carepatron is your best choice. After all, we're all human and value the ease of technological services.
Still not convinced? Here's a list of all of the benefits of using Carepatron:
You can store all patient notes in our secure EHR system that's HIPAA-compliant and comes with an encryption system
You can download for free and edit templates in SOAP and DAP formats
You can upload multiple files at the same time
Your notes are auto-saved
You can access your notes on any gadget you have on hand
The built-in patient portal and tagging system help you organize your notes
You can multi-task while creating notes
Even better, all of these features are available and free for you to access if you have an account on Carepatron. Don't miss out; sign up at Carepatron today!
