9 Best Therapy Notes Apps in 2024

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 storing electronic 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 2024

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
• There is 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 (848 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
• 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!