9 Best Therapy Notes Apps in 2023
Discover the 9 Best Therapy Notes Apps in 2023 you can use to write down your observations, edit templates, and securely store important documents.
Taking medical notes is a skill you no doubt have mastered as early as your time in medical school. Because you and other aspiring practitioners know the value of 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.
Now, when it comes to preferred note-taking tools, this largely varies between practitioners. 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 you out!
Continue reading, and you’ll find a guide on what to look for in a therapy notes app followed by a list of the best we’ve found 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) apps for therapy notes.
Do remember that each app specializes in a handful of features and may not offer what others do. So, you should 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, it’s essential that the therapy note app ensures 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 methods.
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’s 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 have to worry about spending additional budget to obtain a particular gadget’s newest release just to use a particular 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 storing multiple documents. It’d be great if the app has an option for unlimited storage so practitioners won’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 to 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 a 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 layman's terms, bold, italicize, or underline certain words or phrases.
- Multi-tasking: Practitioners can work on an existing note while referencing a document at the same time without needing to go 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 basic or additional features you’re looking for. 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 that you’re even 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 be looking for in a notes app for therapists, let’s move on to the list of the 9 Best Therapy Notes Apps Available in 2023.
The 9 Best Therapy Notes Apps Available in 2023
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
- Can upload multiple files simultaneously, download templates, and customize them
- Has an auto-save feature
- 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: No review available.
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
- 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
- No separate 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 (755 reviews)
- G2: 4.4. Stars (79 reviews)
3. Simple Practice
SimplePractice is an app designed specifically for mental health practitioners. Aside from offering features needed by therapists to note-takem such as documenting and storing clinical notes, SimplePractice also offers other features, such as scheduling and billing.
SimplePractice’s Best Features
- HIPAA-compliant and comes with multiple layers of encryption
- Offers customizable intake forms
- 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 (2602 reviews)
- 3.9 stars (87 reviews)
4. CounSol
CounSol is a web-based software designed specifically for mental health professionals. Aside from taking notes and sharing documents, CounSol also 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
- No separate app for mobile
- No free plan
CounSol’s Pricing
- Standard: $49.95/month (1 counselor). Add $35/month/counselor.
- Standard Plus: $59.95/month (1 counselor). Add $40/month/counselor.
- Premium: $64.95/month (1 counselor). Add $45/month/counselor.
- Premium Plus: $69.95/month (1 counselor). Add $45/month/counselor.
CounSol’s Reviews
- Capterra: 4.7 stars (833 reviews)
- G2: 4.4 stars (4 reviews)
5. DrChrono
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
- Has a speech-to-text feature
- 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 (468 reviews)
- G2: 3.6 stars (37 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 and straightforward. However, their software still comes with 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 (27 reviews)
- G2: 4.9 stars (18 reviews)
7. Nookal
Nookal is a web-based practice management system designed 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)
Nooka’s Reviews
- Capterra: 4.6 stars (86 reviews)
- G2: 4.5 stars (2 reviews)
8. BetterClinics
BetterClinics is a software designed for a wide variety of medical practitioners including personal, massage, and speech therapists as well as 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
- Comes with an encryption system
- 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 designed 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
- No option to produce written notes from scratch
- Limited ratings and reviews
Mentalyc’s Pricing
- Basic: $39.99/month
- Pro: $69.99/month
Mentalyc’s Reviews
- Capterra: 5 stars (4 reviews)
- G2: No review available
Explore with Next Generation of the 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.
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 helps 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 and sign up at Carepatron today!
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