DrChrono vs athenaOne is a choice between two different kinds of EMR software. DrChrono suits small practices that want an EHR, practice management and billing in one mobile-friendly system with three named plans. athenaOne suits larger practices and health systems that want EHR, revenue cycle and patient engagement combined, priced as a percentage of collections. Neither vendor publishes a plan price, so both require a quote. This comparison uses only each vendor’s own published facts and the Software Picker Hub product pages for DrChrono EMR software and athenaOne EMR software, plus the EMR software hub.
Key Takeaways
- Neither DrChrono nor athenaOne publishes plan pricing; both require a quote.
- DrChrono offers three named plans: Foundation, Growth and Premium.
- athenaOne combines athenaClinicals, athenaCollector and athenaCommunicator in one service.
- DrChrono includes telehealth and mobile EHR apps in every plan.
- Choose DrChrono for a small practice; choose athenaOne for a larger group or health system.
How do DrChrono and athenaOne compare at a glance?
DrChrono and athenaOne both combine an EHR with practice management and billing, but they are built for different practice sizes. DrChrono’s plan table makes the differences between its three plans explicit, including reminder and fax allowances, while athenaOne sells one combined service priced as a percentage of collections.
| Comparison | DrChrono | athenaOne |
|---|---|---|
| Published price | Not published; Request A Quote | Not published; percentage of collections |
| Plans | Foundation, Growth, Premium | One combined service |
| EHR | Included in all plans | athenaClinicals |
| Practice management | Included in all plans | Included |
| Billing and revenue cycle | Billing in Foundation; revenue cycle software in Growth and Premium | athenaCollector |
| Patient engagement | Included in all plans | athenaCommunicator |
| Telehealth | Included in all plans | athenaTelehealth |
| Mobile apps | Fully integrated EHR mobile apps in all plans | athenaMobile |
| Text and phone reminders | 250/100 Foundation; 500/250 Growth; 1000/750 Premium | Not published |
| Incoming and outgoing e-faxes | 500 Foundation; 1000 Growth; 2000 Premium | Not published |
| Claim management | Per claim on Foundation; included on Growth and Premium | Included in athenaCollector |
| Payments processing | DrChrono Payments at 2.9% plus $0.35 per transaction | Not published |
| Best for | Small practices and mobile-first teams | Larger practices and health systems |
What does DrChrono offer?
DrChrono is an EHR, practice management and medical billing platform built around iPad and iPhone use, with three plans that add capability step by step. Foundation covers essential EHR, patient engagement, practice management and billing tools. Growth adds advanced features and automated revenue cycle workflows. Premium adds advanced AI, premium add-ons and enhanced tools.
DrChrono strengths
- Three named plans make it easy to see what each level adds, from Foundation to Premium.
- Telehealth, patient portal, check-in kiosk, unlimited staff accounts and unlimited email reminders are included in every plan.
- Fully integrated EHR mobile apps are included in every plan, supporting mobile-first practices.
- Reminder and fax allowances grow with each plan: 250/100 text and phone reminders and 500 e-faxes on Foundation, rising to 1000/750 and 2000 on Premium.
- Medication management, speech-to-text and EverHealth Scribe are included on higher plans rather than missing entirely.
DrChrono limits
- No plan price is published; every plan requires Request A Quote.
- On Foundation, claim management and insurance eligibility checks are charged per claim or per check, so billing volume changes the cost.
- Medication management is an add-on on Foundation, and speech-to-text and scribe tools are add-ons on Foundation and Growth.
- Advanced AI and premium add-ons are only in the Premium plan.
What does athenaOne offer?
athenaOne is a single combined service from athenahealth that brings together the EHR, revenue cycle management and patient engagement tools a practice needs, with mobile and telehealth apps. Its components are athenaClinicals for the EHR, athenaCollector for medical billing and revenue cycle, and athenaCommunicator for patient engagement, supported by athenaMobile and athenaTelehealth.
athenaOne strengths
- One combined service covers EHR, billing, revenue cycle and patient engagement, rather than separate products to connect.
- athenaCollector handles revenue cycle work as part of the service, which suits practices that want billing managed in the same system.
- athenaCommunicator, athenaMobile and athenaTelehealth extend the record to patient messaging, mobile access and virtual visits.
- Built for larger practices and health systems that need scale across locations and specialties.
athenaOne limits
- No price is published; athenaOne is priced as a percentage of collections, so the cost depends on practice revenue.
- There are no named tiered plans to compare, so a practice cannot see feature differences between levels from the vendor site.
- The combined-service model may be more than a small practice needs, and a percentage-of-collections price can be harder to budget than a fixed quote.
Which EMR software should you choose?
Choose DrChrono if you run a small practice, value mobile EHR use on iPad or iPhone, and want a clear three-plan ladder with telehealth included. Choose athenaOne if you run a larger practice or health system and want EHR, revenue cycle and patient engagement delivered as one service. Request a quote from both vendors and compare the same basis: included tools, per-claim or per-check charges, and payment processing fees.
Decision framework: choose in five steps
- Step 1: Count providers, locations and specialties; small single-location practices lean DrChrono, larger groups lean athenaOne.
- Step 2: List must-have workflows: charting, scheduling, billing, reminders, telehealth and mobile access.
- Step 3: Request a demo of a real patient visit, from scheduling and check-in to charting and billing.
- Step 4: Request a written quote that states the plan or pricing model, per-claim charges and payment processing fees.
- Step 5: Compare both quotes on total yearly cost for your visit and claim volume, not on list features alone.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not compare a DrChrono plan quote with an athenaOne percentage-of-collections quote without converting both to the same yearly total.
- Do not assume add-ons are included; on DrChrono, medication management and scribe tools are add-ons on lower plans.
- Do not skip the billing workflow check; per-claim charges on Foundation change the cost as volume grows.
Read the full product pages before you decide: DrChrono EMR software, athenaOne EMR software, and the EMR software hub for other options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DrChrono or athenaOne cheaper?
Neither vendor publishes a plan price, so a direct price comparison is not possible from their sites. DrChrono requires Request A Quote for its Foundation, Growth and Premium plans, while athenaOne is priced as a percentage of collections. Request written quotes from both and compare total yearly cost for your volume.
Which is better for a small practice, DrChrono or athenaOne?
DrChrono is the better fit for most small practices, because its three named plans, mobile EHR apps and included telehealth match small-team workflows. athenaOne is built for larger practices and health systems that want a combined EHR, revenue cycle and patient engagement service.
Does DrChrono include telehealth?
Yes. Telehealth is included in all three DrChrono plans: Foundation, Growth and Premium. athenaOne also offers telehealth through athenaTelehealth as part of its combined service.
Does athenaOne include medical billing?
Yes. athenaOne includes athenaCollector, which handles medical billing and revenue cycle management. DrChrono includes billing tools in Foundation and revenue cycle software in Growth and Premium.
Does DrChrono work on mobile devices?
Yes. Fully integrated EHR mobile apps are included in all DrChrono plans, and DrChrono is built around iPad and iPhone use. athenaOne offers mobile access through athenaMobile.
Do DrChrono or athenaOne offer a free trial?
Neither vendor states a free trial on its pricing pages. DrChrono invites practices to Request A Quote and schedule a demo, and athenaOne invites practices to request a demo. Start with a demo of a real patient visit before requesting a quote.