EMR software is the electronic medical record a clinic or practice uses to chart visits, order tests and prescriptions, schedule patients, and bill for care. This page is general information only. It is not medical advice, and it does not recommend any product for any practice. Every claim below comes from the vendor’s own published pages, and certification or compliance wording is kept exactly as each vendor states it.
EMR and EHR: what is the difference?
An EMR (electronic medical record) is the digital chart used within one practice. An EHR (electronic health record) is a record designed to be shared across providers — hospitals, specialists, labs, and pharmacies. Vendors use the two terms loosely, and several products in this guide are described by their vendors with both words. On this site, the category is called EMR software because that is the phrase buyers search for, and each product page uses the vendor’s own description.
How to choose
- Practice size and specialty: check whether the vendor’s own pages speak to solo practices, groups, or enterprise systems, and whether specialty templates exist for yours.
- Pricing: only one of the three products here publishes prices. The other two sell by quote — their pages say so instead of showing an estimated figure.
- Revenue cycle: if billing matters to you, compare claims, eligibility checks, denials, and prior authorisation support as published by each vendor.
- Compliance wording: certification and HIPAA wording differs by vendor and is quoted per vendor on each product page. Do not assume one vendor’s claim applies to another.
- Demo: all three products offer a demo route. Use it to test charting and billing with your own specialty’s workflow.
The three products in this guide
| Product | Starting price | Free plan or trial | Best for |
| athenaOne | not published | Demo on request (not described as a free demo); no free trial stated | ambulatory practices that want one vendor for records, billing, and patient messaging |
| DrChrono | not published | Demonstration offered; no free trial stated | small and independent medical practices and specialty practices that want charting, scheduling and billing in a single cloud-based system |
| SimplePractice | $49 per month (Starter, billed monthly; standard price) | Demo offered (length/format not stated); 30-day free trial (begins on Plus plan), no credit card required | solo practitioners and small group practices in health and wellness fields |
athenaOne Software
An all-in-one cloud suite combining electronic records, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement, for practices from solo physicians to large multi-site organisations, according to the vendor. Pricing is not published and is available by quote.
DrChrono Software
A mobile-first platform combining electronic records, billing, scheduling, patient engagement, and AI scribing, built for independent practices. Pricing is not published and is available by quote, with some per-item charges published on its pricing page.
SimplePractice Software
An electronic record and practice-management platform for health and wellness professionals, especially solo and small-group therapy-style practices. It is the only product here that publishes plan prices, and it offers a 30-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
What is EMR software?
Software a clinic or practice uses to keep electronic medical charts, order tests and prescriptions, schedule patients, and manage billing.
What is the difference between EMR and EHR software?
An EMR is used within one practice; an EHR is designed to share records across providers. Vendors often use both terms for the same product.
How much does EMR software cost?
Only SimplePractice, of the three products here, publishes prices. athenaOne and DrChrono sell by quote, and their pages say so plainly.
Is the information on this page medical advice?
No. This page is general information about software only. Clinical and compliance decisions should be made with qualified advisers and confirmed with each vendor.
Last checked: November 3, 2026. Prices and features change — confirm the current details on the vendor’s own website before buying.